Arnold
CibbuanoLeague of Extraordinary Gentlemen
November 15th 2006 05:23
Biggest disappointment of the cinematic year of 2003? Yes, I think so. I'm glad I was let down by other people before I went to see this, as going in with expectations as high as they would've been could've been dangerous. I would've been hella angry. It's not the shittest film I've ever seen, but it's just aggravating knowing how good this might have been!
Yes, it's another comic book adaptation, this time drawing on all manner of 19th century literary characters and pulling them together in a supposed celebration of pre-modern pop culture. I imagine this would've been quite good as a comic, but unfortunately all the life seems to have been squeezed out of it before it reached the screen. The plot, as I kinda guessed, was full of the usual inconsistencies. There was far too much happening for any sort of even treatment of the many characters (Tom Sawyer, Mina Harker, the Invisible Man, Dr Jekyll, Captain Nemo, etc, etc) and all these literary nods that work so well in the comic world just become crass on celluloid.
As a film, it's strictly paint-by-numbers stuff. It's not even as inspired as 'Daredevil' or 'The Shadow' (eek!). The film has no 'soul'... Connery just goes through the motions, and the rest of the cast, an assortment of almost b-grade actors, give mostly cliched portrayals. The exception is probably Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde (Lock Stock's Jason Flemyng), who managed to intrigue me despite the Hulk-ripoff subplot. The direction is all flash and no style - just because something is based on a comic it hardly means that the film should aspire to be as 2-dimensional and shallow. Oh, and the dialogue is pure corn.
If this film ever gets a sequel it should be straight-to-video. The effects were okay, but that's pretty standard these days so it hardly excuses the rest of the film for being below par. I'm so glad I didn't have to pay to see this.
TRIVIA: Connery and the director had a bit of a falling out over the direction the film went in. Connery probably thought the direction the film should go in was ‘good’.
Tom Sawyer, who features here as an American secret service man, was not in the comic. The writers added him so the film would 'appeal' to Americans.
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Comment by Keira
Keira's Blog
This movie sucked arse.
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
It sucks though, that's for sure.
Comment by JacquiB
Children's Literature
Sorry, kind of tangential point...
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
I had heard that the movie was terrible, but I wanted to check it out anyway. After Connery shot that guy from a mile away, I said 'forget this!'.
Quartermain was supposed to be all weak and useless! Shit!
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Cib, I couldn't imagine connery aggreeing to play a weak and useless character. It's sad to think this will probably be his last film, I don't think he's made another since.