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THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN
Review by Gordon Justesen
Stars:
Sean Connery, Shane West, Stuart Townsend, Peta Wilson, Jason Flemyng
Director: Stephen Norrington
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Surround
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Features: See Review
Length: 110 Minutes
Release Date: December 16, 2003
“I don’t see what we need a big monkey for.”
“Well, this big monkey has terrorized the Rue
Morgue for months…imagine the mayhem he’ll give the enemy.”
Film
***
If several of the most worldwide renowned characters from literary tales
existed in another universe, they might make one hell of a 19th
century version of X-Men, in this case known as The League of
Extraordinary Gentlemen. And like X-Men, the movie is alive in every
frame in terms of its glorious production design and effects. And the plot,
though in some ways applicable to something a B-movie status, serves the action
adventure element of the movie quite well. It’s something of pure irony that
an adventure movie theatrically released the same week as Pirates of the
Caribbean, could manage to be engaging and entertaining on its own ground.
Set in 1899, the plot of LXG brings together a group of highly
unlikely allies, each of which emerging from the depths of classic literary
adventures. First off, there’s Allan Quartermain (Sean Connery), the legendary
adventurer who’s been assigned to head up The League. Quartermain is reluctant
to even think of leaving his home in Africa, feeling much regret over the death
of his son. Nonetheless, a raging war between Germany and Britain has hit
Quartermain’s homeland, which changes his perspectives a little.
Once summoned to London to a meeting with a government representative
known as M (Richard Roxburgh), which is no doubt a nod to Ian Fleming,
Quartermain is placed as head of the newly formed League. Among those signing on
to the team are scientist/sea-farer Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah); Rodney
Skinner (Tony Curran), who can be considered the original “hollow man”; and
the partially immortal Mina Harker (Peta Wilson), who’s best known for
surviving that whole Dracula fiasco.
With only four days at their disposal, The League’s task involves that
of stopping a ruthless madman known as The Fantom, who is responsible for
igniting the tensions between England and Germany. The Fantom’s primary motive
is profiting from the potential war by selling mass destructive weaponry. The
British government has received word that the madman’s next target is a peace
conference, which is being held in Venice.
Before heading off to Venice, Quartermain is able to recruit three more
members for his League. They are Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend), the legendary
immortal who’s obsessed with recovering a missing portrait; Special Agent Tom
Sawyer (Shane West), doing his part to prevent the hint of war from hitting
across the Atlantic; and lastly, none other than Dr. Jekyll (Jason Flemyng),
whose mighty morphin' alter-ego, Mr. Hyde, will no doubt come in handy to
injecting a heavy dose of fear into their enemy.
The entertainment value of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is
at a grand high level, pure and simple. Once plot setup is executed, it’s all
fireworks from that point on. Once the action turns to Venice, LXG
elevates to a good old rockin’ assault on the senses. It’s easy to dismiss
something like this as all icing and no cake, but since this happens to be
adapted from graphic novelty, by the same author who wrote From Hell,
such an element is not so much bad thing.
It also helps that the director is Stephen Norrington, who directed the
first Blade movie. Norrington has a very distinct and keen visual style,
which is more than beneficial when bringing a comic book or a graphic novel to
the big screen. Credit him, production designer Carol Spier, and cinematographer
Dan Lausten for helping to create a movie of undying visual grace. Just about
each frame of LXG is a treat for the eyes.
Energetically paced and wonderfully mind blowing, The League of
Extraordinary Gentlemen is a dynamite entertainment package that is both a
throwback to the adventures of yesteryear and a state of the art technical
marvel. It’s rare that such a big budget, effects laden movie feels so
go-for-broke-like and gloriously over the top, but LXG is such a rarity,
and I think, is worthy of a potential franchise.
Fox, continuing as always its DVD excellence, prevails with this
remarkable anamorphic offering. The movie, as I mentioned earlier, is a pure
treat for the senses, which is something Fox obviously took to heart with this
stunner of a disc. Picture quality is of ultra-superb quality, never hinting a
single bit of flaws, which is amazing since about 90% of the movie takes place
at night. Colors are superbly natural as expected in this visual triumph. It’s
very much one of the best looking discs of the year, as well as one of Fox’s
best transfers to date.
Likewise,
the 5.1 mix is as loud and ferocious as one could hope for. As far as range
goes, it adds to the effect of the movie, especially during the action
sequences. Be prepared to let your sound system let loose during a high speed
pursuit on the streets of Venice, which did nothing short of rocking my ears,
and I mean that in a good way. Once again, a technical triumph for the people at
Fox.
Fox prevails, as expected, in the extras field for LXG. Included
are two commentary tracks; one with producers Don Murphy and Trevor Albert and
actors Shane West, Jason Flemyng and Tony Curran; and the second with costume
designer Jacqueline West, visual effect supervisor John E. Sullivan, make-up
effects supervisor Steve Johnson and miniatures creator Matthew Gratzner. Also
featured is a six-part behind the scenes documentary, and 12 deleted/extended
scenes.
Summary:
