The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Review:

The concept of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is very original, but the film itself comes nowhere close to being an entertaining film. Based off of the graphic comic novel, LXG comprises of a group of literary characters as heroes fighting to save the world.

The film takes place in 1890 and a madman known as the Fantom plans to take over the world by killing every country’s political leaders. In fear of the world, Britain recruits a group of individuals known as the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen to save the world from chaos. Their leader is H. Rider Haggard’s Allan Quatermain (Sean Connery) and their navigator is Jules Verne’s Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah). The one woman of the group is Bram Stoker’s vampire Mina Harker (Peta Wilson). Another immortal is Oscar Wilde’s aristocrat Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend), also involved are H.G. Wells’ the invisible man (Tony Curran) and Robert Louis Stevenson’s alter-ego Dr. Jeykll & Mr. Hyde (Jason Flemyng). The last of the group to arrive is the all grown up Tom Sawyer (Shane West) from Mark Twain, who is now a member of the U.S. Secret Service.

This film really never gets going from the beginning. The association of literary characters is inventive, but director Stephen Norrington and writer James Dale Robinson take their own liberties with them. An example is that Mina Harker, a vampire moseys around in sunlight, and Captain Nemo is an expert in the martial arts. The film is also rushed, without hardly any light or background shed on the characters. The writing also reaches with the building of a father-son relationship between Quatermain and Sawyer, which just does not work. The action in the film is overly expensive, but it is at times sloppy, and nothing consistent.

Picture & Audio

The disc is transferred from film with no scratches, but there are a few moments in Venice where the scenes are very dark. In a very picky way, these moments could have been brightened a little bit, but that was the choice for the look of the film.

The sound of the disc is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1. The sound is very loud, not as loud as some action films, but some scenes, especially the ones with Mr. Hyde are so enhanced that it will remind you of Hulk transforming. Overall though the sound is fine, and is pack with explosions and the terrific voice of Sean Connery.

Extras

Audio Commentaries
• Producers Trevor Albert and Don Murphy and Actors Shane West, Jason Flemyng and Tony Curran
• Costume Designer Jacqueline West, Visual Effects Supervisor John E. Sullivan, Make-up Effects Supervisor Steve Johnson and Miniatures Creator Matthew Gratzner

“Assembling the League”
A six part making of the film shorts that looks at all areas of the production. Included are interviews with the cast and crew, as well as instantaneous fact snippets that flash upon the screen as reflective of the layout of a comic book. Producer Don Murphy explains how the film came about from graphic comic book concept. Also interesting is that the whole film was shot in Prague, even the scenes in Italy and Prague. Sean Connery also tells in an interview that he originally turned down The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings, because he did not understand them. Connery continued by stating that he did not understand The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen either but was not about to pass up on the film. There are also in-depth looks into the special effects, production design, costumes, and makeup involved in the film. However, the most interesting segment of this featurette is the “Making of Hyde,” in which the visual effects and makeup team come up with the mobile 45 pound suit for Jason Flemyng to wear as Mr. Hyde from various storyboards.

Deleted Scenes
This disc contains 13 deleted or altered scenes that offer a little bit more of insight into the characters and their actions, but not too much less. In one scene more is told about Mina Harker and Dorian Gray’s past relationship as lovers, with Gray professing to Harker that he told the rest of the league that he knew her as a friend of her family. Another scene expands on Nemo confronting Dr. Jekyll about his inner demon Mr. Hyde. The scenes were rightfully cut or trimmed for the film, though the expansion of some of the characters actions are more understood, but still would not have saved the film.

Special Message
A powerful anti-drug ad included which shows a haunting clip of a man losing his brother to a driver under the influence of marijuana.

Overall

The literary character concept of LXG is the one interesting aspect about the film, but everything else is pretty lame. There is no consistency at all in this attempt summer blockbuster. The extra features on the film have a few highlights, such as the many behind the scene features, including the making of Mr. Hyde. However, there is no commentary by the director Stephen Norrington or the main star Sean Connery. This may be due to the two constantly fighting over creative differences throughout the production of the film. It is very visible in the behind the scenes footage, to where Norrington is always in and out, and hardly utters any words to Connery. This was a lack-luster film from last summer, and watching it twice does not help, you will catch more flaws.

The Film: D+
Video Quality: B-
Audio Quality : B
Extra Features: C+

DVD as a whole: C-

Joseph C. Tucker

The League of Extrodinary Gentlemen was one of this summers big flops in theaters. The League combines 7 different main characters:

Sean Connery plays the lead role of the disgruntled Allan Quartermain ,a rogue that is set to lead the soon to beLeague of Extrodinary Gentlemen. A voodoo doctor has put a spell on him that won'tallow him to die. Once a avid adventurer ,now he just sits in a retirement home in Africa.

Naseeruddin Shah is the infamous Captain Nemo who commands a massive underwater vessel which takes the league to their destinations.

Peta Wilson plays the dark and mysterious Mina Harker.This young beauty turns out to be a vampire with a past that one of the other members of the league was involved in.

Tony Curran plays the role of Rodney Skinner (a.k.a. The Invisible Man). Rodney stole a invisibility formula used by a former scientist who did the same and lost his life in the process. Rodneys only problem now is that he dosen't have a antidote for
the formula and now to be seen he uses makeup on himself.

Stuart Townsend is Dorian Grey a invulnerable immortal that was the former love intrest of the lovely Mina Harker. The only way for Dorian to lose his powers is for him to see a portrait of himself. At which point would cause him demise.

Shane West is the youngest of the League, he met up with them when Dorians home was attacked , and was allowed to join the league is he gave Allan a rifle.

The last of the league is perhaps the most intriguing , the undeniable force that is Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde. Overcome by a syrum that he has invented, Dr. Henry Jekyll turns into the monstrous Edward Hyde when he takes his potion, this makes him a ravaging madman.

With all 7 forces combined The League is set out to find a force known as "The Fantom", who has said that he is going to launch global armageddon. Only to find out later in the movie that The Fantom is no other then the man that hired them to stop The Fantom and find out who he is.

The Movie:

I was weary going into this movie, because i heard many mixed reviews of this movie, I watched the movie and was really surprised, i found that it was very fast-paced and but my love for comic book movies drew me close to it so i went ahead and bought it, interesting. Sean Connery gives a good performance along with the brute forced, Jason Flemying who pulls off the role of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde perfectly. I would highly reccommend this movie to anyone who is into fast-paced action movies.

Video:

The video is what you would expect of a new movie to dvd, its absolutely flawless, there's not one "smudge" or "ciggarette burn" that you can notice throughout the whole movie. It comes in two different aspect ratios, the first is the regular full screen version. The second is a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen which i prefer.

Audio:

The audio is clean and very exciting at momemts, theres alot of action sequences in this movie which really lets you enjoy the dolby 5.1 transfer.

The Extras:

Theres a few. First we have two nice commentarys besides the fact that neither of them include Sean Connery,whom people would probably want to hear the most. One of the commentarys is with the actors,and the other is with the visual effects people. Next we have "Assembling the League" which is a making of decomentary with the thoughts of those such as Sean Connery. The next extra has to be one of the wierdest things ive ever encounterd on a DVD, its called "a special message" , this is a anti-marijuana commercial featured on the dvd. Lastly on the extras is deleted scenes, there are 12 deleted scenes, theres really not that much to say about them, there not that interesting, but something to check out i guess.

Overall:

A surprise for me, i really enjoyed this film, who would have know that one of the biggest mixed reviewd movies of 2003 would have pulled itself a spot in my DVD collection. A Great acting job done from the veteran Sean Connery. Definately worth a watch, get it for your home library today.

score: 7/10

Bryan McCallister

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