The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen [Blu-ray] Reviews

• Fantasy, action and adventure.

  
  By A12DP14GPRZF7E on 2003-12-22
  This is a movie about a very unlikely group of heroes and superheroes that must join each other to win a battle against an evil madman and save the world from his malevolent, ultimate-destruction plan. This movie is a must for readers of classic literature since its main characters are:
  *Allan Quatermain from the novel "King Solomon's Mines" by H. Rider Haggard
  *Captain Nemo from "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" by Jules Verne
  *The Invisible Man from "The Invisible Man" by H. G. Wells
  *Wilhelmina Harker from "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
  *Dorian Gray from "The Portrait of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde
  *Tom Sawyer from "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain
  *Dr. Jeckyll from "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson
  For all of you who don't know who these characters are and have never read the original "League of Extraordinary Gentleman" graphic novels by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill, if you really want to enjoy this movie as much as I did, you probably should read some of these classic novels first.
  The plot is a very old and tried one, which has been re-done in this movie surprisingly well. Although you shouldn't expect many unanticipated twists in the story, do look for enjoyable references to other novels like: "Crimes of the Rue Morgue" by Edgar Allan Poe, "The Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux and "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, among others. It even pays homage to Ian Fleming's 007 (James Bond) characters and Sir Sean Connery himself, as it includes a short banter with two characters named M and Q.
  The direction and editing of the movie is good, the story is coherent and follows a reasonable path so you won't be disappointed, the characters and their dialogues are right on target, and the setting, costumes and actor's performances are great. There are only two reasons why I give this movie only four stars: first, some very bad special effects (although, most of them are superb and it's a treat to watch how these were done on the Special Features) and second, a not-so-unexpected ending that yells, "Sequel, sequel, sequel!"
  Surprisingly good fantasy/action/adventure movie overall.
  --Reviewed by Maritza Volmar
  
  

• LEAGUE is a solid, if shallow, action flick

  
  By A28ILXH590CMRJ on 2003-07-29
  Years after his prime adventuring days in Africa, the great hunter Allan Quartermain (Sean Connery) is recruited by the British government to lead an elite squad and prevent a World War. When he finally arrives in London he finds that his fellow squad members are each gifted with unique talents.....and even darker secrets. Reading like a Who's Who of 19th Century literature, Quartermain must deal with characters ranging from the never-aging Dorian Gray to the infamous Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Given the unstable personalities, can this squad complete its mission...or will they turn on each other? THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN takes this conceit and crafts a flick that, while short on depth, provides a non-stop ride of action and thrills. Based on the now-classic comic book series by Alan Moore, the film is wonderfully mounted and harkens back to the old days of 19th Century thrillers. The movie moves at a good clip and never drags as events move along. Also, the special effects are very solid, with Captain Nemo's famous sub, the Nautilus, being the most impressive. By now, Sean Connery is an old hand at this types of roles, and he brings a delightful crustiness as the aging Quatermain. Stuart Townsend is delightfully snide as Dorian Gray, while Peta Wilson smolders with sexuality as the vampiric Mina Harker (the heroine from Bram Stoker's "Dracula.") Naseerruddin Shah is stern and stalwart as the legendary Captain Nemo.
  However, the movie isn't without its flaws. Fans of the comics may find themselves disappointed, since the film substitiues a new plot for the comic's and only Shah's Nemo is true to the source. Also, aside from Connery and Shah, the characters are pretty much one-demensional. Indeed, the movie assumes that you already know the back stories of these characters. As a result, if you haven't read the comics or the novels in which these characters appeared, you'd be at a disadvantage. Also, when Quartermain deduces the identity of the real villian near the end of the film, there's no real indication of where he got the knowledge.
  Overall, though, LEAGUE is a solid film that will appeal to the action-lover who takes his English lit with a sense of fun, and it's worth recommending if you have the right frame of mind.
  
  

• The movie might be good but the trailers for it are horrible

  
  By A2NJO6YE954DBH on 2003-05-23
  First, this is not a review about the upcoming movie, "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." I intend to have my children take me to see the movie for my birthday and will write a review at that time. This is a rant (with a touch of raving) about the ad campaign that 20th Century Fox has put together for this film.

  I have seen the teaser for this film and at least two different trailers, including the most recent one to make its appearance on television. Clearly, the main selling point for the film is actor Sean Connery, and that is not something about which I would be inclined to complain. However, here is a film that can easily be sold to the public in a sentence or two that would run essentially as follows:

  "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" brings together the "original" superheroes of late 19th-century fiction: Allan Quartermain, Mina Murray Harker, Captain Nemo, the Invisible Man, and Dr. Jekyll (and his alter ego Mr. Hyde.

  Now, that was based just on my having read all of the comic books by Mr. Alan Moore & Mr. Kevin O'Neill. Clearly the film version is doing some tinking with the lineup: Dorian Gray has been added and apparently Dracula's bite had an effect on Mina. But even the most recent trailer, which talks about "VAMPIRE" and "BEAST" and such, STILL does not mention who these characters are and that this is not just any invisible man but the creation of H.G. Wells.

  Ironically, Connery's character is the least recognizable of the bunch since H. Rider Haggard's "She" and "King's Solomon Mine" have not had the cinematic exposure of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" let along "Dracula." Maybe the explanation for this simplistic and stupid ad campaign is that nobody in Hollywood has read let alone heard of those original novels and think that Oscar Wilde writes British drawing room comedies.

  But what I know is that every time I have explained to somebody WHO those characters are in the action-packed and pretty confusing trailer for "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," that their interest in seeing the film has at least DOUBLED. Even if you have only seen the trailers and have not read the comic books, I think you can see the validity of my point.

  Will 20th Century Fox get its act together and put out an intelligent trailer before the film opens on July 11th? Will Allan Quartermain and his associates be able to save the Empire for her majesty Queen Victoria? I must admit I have much more faith in the abilities of a pulp fiction character than I do the collective intelligence of Hollywood studio executives. Despite the inept ad campaign I look forward to the movie and to writing an actual review. Thank you for your attention to this rant.
  
  

• Entertaining Popcorn Fantasy

  
  By A24E8WGMRLR956 on 2005-03-14
  LXG is a far-out cheesy marvel of a movie that I enjoyed every second of. The film features various fictional characters brought together as a sort of original x-men team of the past. Once united they battle the evil masked Fantom and his army who want to plunge the planet into a world war. The movie's larger than life elements make it an easy target to pick on, but I won't. I just can't pick on something that made me smile so much. This is wonderful stuff to enjoy with lots of popcorn and a favorite beverage.
  
  

• Who Says "Classical" Literature Is Boring?

  
  By AESBFGFANW22H on 2003-05-03
  Just the idea of this rocks. What would the world be like if the fictional characters from classic literature were "real" and interacted with each other in the same world?

  Taken from the comic book of the same name the, always interesting Alan Moore created a world where Alan Quartermain, Wilhimina Murray ("Mina" from Dracula), Dr. Henry Jeckyll (and his alter-ego, naturally), Captain Nemo, and Griffin (the Invisible Man) all exist. Brought together by British MI5, they must use their extraordinary talents to stop a menace that threatens the British empire. Without their help, the sun might set on the British Empire.

  Combine the elements of Victorian/Edwardian style, pulp action heroes, spy novels, and a little steampunk and that is the the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. The shared universe idea has been around for many years, but Alan Moore has taken it in a interesting direction. In the comic book, Moore fills his world with characters of 19th/early 20th century literature, including Fu Manchu, Professor James Moriarty, and Inspector Dupin (go read Edgar Allen Poe). And yes, even Shelock Holmes makes an appearance.

  God Save the Queen!
  
  

• Film of Exceptional Concepts
  By A223UJ9MON2Y8N on 2005-03-23
  The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is witty, action packed and smart. The film is, of course based on the comic book literary characters, and not so much on their traditional literary roles. One of the most interesting things done in this film dealt with Professor Moriarty. At the beginning he is portrayed as a middle aged gentleman, and at the end he is shown in younger form. Of course this is reminiscent of the idea that there were actually 3 Moriarty brothers - the elder being a professor, and the youngest being a criminal mastermind. The younger, according to his creator, Jules Verne, kills the elder and disguises himself as the professor. The only thing that would have been even wittier in this film would have been if they had managed to get Richard Roxburgh to play three roles instead of two, also posing as Captain Nemo. There is a strong belief among Jules Verne scholars that Captain Nemo was infact Professor James Moriarty!!! This film is an excellent action piece, whose only short coming would be the CGI effects (and no, Mr. Hyde is not CGI!!). There are a few characters that were CGI rendered which were obviously fake. Other than that the film is Extraordinary, but it must be taken for what it is - a film adaptation of a comic book.
  
  
• The League of Extrodinary Gentlemen
  By A190VSB24P9YZQ on 2003-07-14
  A horribly burned madman, known as the Phantom/Fantom, is making very powerful weapons, is creating a world war and worst of all, it's not even the 20th Century yet! To combat this Phantom of the Opera wacko, "M"(Richard Roxburgh) has recruited 7 literary characters, each with their own special abilities and talents, to stop this madman. This team, which includes the Hunter Allan Quartermain(Sean Connery), the Rouge Rodney Skinner aka Invisible Man(Tony Curran), the Scientist Captain Nemo(Naseeruddin Shah), the Vampire Mina Harker(Peta Wilson), the Immortal Dorian Gray(Stuart Townsend), the Spy Tom Sawyer(Shane West), and the Beast Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde(Jason Flemyng and ugly CGI). Together, they form the League of Extrodinary Gentlemen.

  This looked like a really fun movie. But in the end, it could of been done better. Now, I'm not very familiar with the comic book so I don't know how true this is to the material, but this film's weakest points are the script, which is terribly silly and pointless, and the horrible special effects. The action scenes were clumsy and you don't find any big suprises out of this film.

  The actors range from good to bad. Sean Connery's a great actor, but he's just not believable as Quartermain because of his age. He seems too old to be able to do the physical things he can. Tony Curran is never given a chance to make us like his character. Skinner's a jerk most of the time and going back and forth between an actor in makeup and CGI effects is tedious. Naseeruddin Shah, as Captain Nemo, is fun to watch, but his fighting abilities seem a little hard to swallow. He's one of the better characters in the film. Peta Wilson does a fine job as Mina Harker. Her character is one you're really able to like. Stuart Townsend is great as Dorian Gray. He pulls the role off very well and has some pretty good lines. Shane West is good enough to make us like Tom Sawyer. He's got some really cool moments. Jason Flemyng is perfect as Dr.Jekyll, though the Hyde character looks really stupid(Facial expressions and deformations all over him.)

  Overall, I'd say see it at least once. You might like it, you might hate it. Decide for yourself.
  
  

• good fun
  By A12UBMETGI2DBE on 2005-04-01
  I'm very glad, and pleasantly surprised, to report that LXG is a very fun popcorn movie. It isn't exactly true to the Alan Moore comic, but Alan Moore wasn't exactly true to the original stories or characters either. Moore made changes that were not always for the best. Moore's Quatermain was nothing like Haggard's original. Connery's version is much better. The rest of the casting is also Extraordinary.
  Peta Wilson is one sexy vampire!
  
  
• Interesting Though Uneven
  By A2AOZQ3WTNVVOK on 2003-12-30
  Once again we have the temptation to compare the book to the movie, which I will succumb to just a little. Books and movies are different media, and each brings its own strengths to art. Such is the case here. The book was full and lengthy, and while it brought the same breadth of characters, it was able to provide a broader background for each of the characters. There were some spots where I thought the book was just a bit fuzzy on the plot, but I loved the style.

  The movie provides more visuals, but with a two-hour length it had to cut back on the length of background for the characters. The movie glossed over some of the darker aspects of the characters, particular Alan Quatermain, but enhanced others, particular the background of Mina Harker. The other strange addition was that of the character of Dorian Gray. I also objected to the change in the invisible man character from the book to the movie. I much preferred the book's Hawley Griffin as the invisible man versus Rodney Skinner, who supposedly stole the formula. Griffin was a much stronger, more tormented character, though his characterization would require more film time to establish and would likely have weakened the roles of the primary actors.

  In terms of characterization, Sean Connery clearly shined as Quatermain, as he always seems to do in every role. Peta Wilson is excellent as the sultry, dangerous Mina Harker. Naseeruddin Shah as Captain Nemo returns Nemo to his original characterization by Verne as a Sikh. Shah's Nemo was a welcome variation to previous Nemos, providing a sense of command, control and honor in comparison to those others who sometimes seemed simpering and typically talked far too much for Verne's Nemo. The other actors have insufficient screen time to fully flesh out their roles, partially because of the large number of lead characters.

  The plot itself is a bit of a muddle. It's difficult to follow the progression and contrivances that lead from point-to-point. Often the logic is non-existent, and the viewer is left to wonder how they knew they were headed the right direction other than a trite explanation by one of the lead characters. Had the movie been extended by another 15 or 20 minutes many of the incongruities could have been reduced and the story flow could have been smoothed. To try to minimize the various confusions: Essentially the story is about a group of sort of good guys out to stop a definite bad guy from conquering the world, except the bad guy has been cleverly manipulating the sort of good guys all along and has a nefarious reason (of course) for doing so.

  The special effects end up providing much of the focus of the movie in lieu of a more coherent plot. Some of the special effects are very good, such as the bizarre image of the Nautilus sailing the canals of Venice. The destruction of Venice by underwater bombs is standard fare by today's standards. The other special effects vary in their quality and effect on the viewer, but are generally good. As noted before, the special effects often substitute for plot.

  Though some of my criticisms are not encouraging, I actually liked the movie. As a B movie it is okay. Clearly not in the league of movies such as The Lord of the Rings, it is nonetheless a rousing adventure. In general the movie rates 3 stars, but I'm giving it 4 stars because of the three actors that really made this movie for me: Connery, Wilson and Shah.
  
  

• Consummate filming and special effects - Quite entertaining
  By A1S2UZT2P0VAYO on 2005-02-05
  Sean Connery is getting on in years, but it doesn't show in this movie. The way the fight scenes are filmed, you would think he is still 007. These scenes are worth seeing.
  
  Each character is true to his or her legend, and all actors render their roles impeccably. The ensemble makes for a unified story with some of the spark that makes a good movie become excellent. The special effects are expertly done. It's not an Oscar nominee, except possibly for the filming and the special effects, but it's worth your money.
  
  
• Allusions, Allusions
  By AFWFAFKZZTCVW on 2005-01-30
  This is either a love it or hate it movie. It has a bit of a cliched and predictable plot, but it will none-the-less keep you watching. If you're a fan of the novels each characters to come from, its especially good. The special effects really add to the already classic stories in this lovely cross over. I really enjoyed it, and everyone should at least give it a try.
  
  
• one of the funnest dvds around
  By AAJKLDI74A31T on 2005-02-02
  i rented lxg and liked it a lot. it was nice to see a movie that's just plain fun. the cast is really good. i'm a fan of the these literary characters and loved seeing them all together. i like comic book styled movies and will adding this one to my collection of dvds. anyone who likes entertaining escapism should see this one.
  
  
• Are you a serious fan of Stevenson, Verne, Wells or Wilde?
  By A3A6GXILVT9JNW on 2005-05-02
  You'll probably be appalled. If your last contact with these authors was as assigned reading in a Lit class watch this to see what made these authors famous. Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, Capt. Nemo, The Invisible Man and Dorian Grey along with Alan Quatermaine (King Solomon's Mines), Mina (Dracula), and Tom Sawyer have assembled to combat a an evil mastermind set on worldwide domination.
  
  This movie is more Saturday afternoon B movie serial than Lit class. The special effects keep coming in wave after wave. The plot is a bit weak and some character details are a bit hazy (vampires out in daylight?, just who is the bad guy(s) anyway?) and it's not quite clear why Tom Sawyer got tossed in the mix but the overall effect is one of fun.
  
  This is in the guilty pleasure category of movie so just settle back with the junk food of your choice and waste a couple of hours with this. If anybody asks what you were doing just mumble something about Twain, Verne, Wilde.....
  
  
• You have got to see this!!!!
  By on 2003-12-03
  First of all, this movie does have some plot holes and "silly" dialogue and action - but I loved it!
  Though it's not intentionally mocking like Pricess Bride (of fairy tales) it is extremely entertaining and extremely fun to watch..like Jumanji and Legend, Meet Joe Black and Edward Scissorhands...all cult classics, but not really accepted during theatrical release.
  If you love any of these, pick this one up NOW!!!!
  It's a perfect holiday companion to Pirates of the Caribbean (which I also loved)!!!!
  An unpraised classic for Gothic, Horror, Suspense and Adventure buffs!!
  
  
• Action and adventure!
  By A2GRC6IJRA7W4H on 2005-01-26
  League Of Extraodinary Gentlemen, or LXG, is one of the most amazing action/adventures Iv'e seen in a long time. This movie is basically an X-Men movie set in a furistic 1899 Europe. Sean Connery, one of my favorite actors ever, plays Allen Quartermain, an Indiana Jones-type adventurer, who is called out of retirement in Africa to battle a masked weirdo known only as 'The Fantom'. He recruits a 'League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen', which includes a variety of literary characters, to help him fight The Fantom. The include:
  The swashbuckling Captain Nemo
  Dorian Gray
  The Invisible Man
  Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde
  some woman named Wilhemina
  Tom Sawyer
  
  Lots of explosions, shootings, and swordfighting ensues.
  
  
• As extraordinary as the league
  By A1HJZL0WKCOTSF on 2005-05-06
  Reminding you uncomfortably of "Wild Wild West," an anachronistically modern action-adventure set firmly in the 19th century, "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" assembles fantastic fictional personages of the Victorian era for an over-the-top visual-effects extravaganza.
  
  Star and exec producer Sean Connery is on hand to anchor the 1899 comic-book exploits with his formidable presence. Yet nothing anchors the lighter-than-air story as it drifts away under the direction of Stephen Norrington ("Blade") into an FX stratosphere where wit, character and vigorous storytelling cease to matter. As an oddity -- a tentpole summer movie featuring characters more at home in a classic monster movie marathon on TV -- "League" might attract the under-25 crowd this weekend. But these MDCCCXCIX-Men are no X-Men.
  
  The gimmick here, courtesy of comic books by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill, is to bring together an assortment of late-19th century fictional characters, the common denominator apparently being that they all have outlived copyright protection. So in the year 1899, Sean Connery's legendary British adventurer Allan Quatermain is summoned from his gin-sodden slumber in sleepy Africa by Her Majesty's government to defend the realm and Western world against an evil and mysterious Fantom.
  
  He is to recruit and lead a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which includes no gentlemen and one questionable lady. These are: Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah), seen here as a Kali-worshipping Indian sea pirate outfitted with a ridiculous paste-on rabbi's beard; Mina Harker (Peta Wilson), wife to Dracula's discoverer, poor Jonathan Harker, now herself a full-fledged vampire; the Invisible Man's successor, Rodney Skinner (Tony Curran), seen only when he dons clothes or smears his face with makeup; the immortal double bill of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Jason Flemyng), where Mr. H. is deemed a creature not unlike the Hulk -- just not green; American secret agent Tom Sawyer (Shane West), who bears no resemblance to Mark Twain's character; and finally and most improbably, Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend), Oscar Wilde's vile yet ageless wonder. Do the filmmakers really believe the under-25 crowd knows the works of Wilde?
  
  The plot, an elusive thing constructed by James Dale Robinson, initially sends this gang of eccentrics off to Venice in Nemo's Nautilus submarine to save the city from destruction. For all their prowess, an hour into the film, Venice lies in ruins. (Question: Why destroy St. Mark's Square in 1899 with Hollywood special effects when we know it still stands in 2003?) The remainder of the movie gets spent in the frozen wastes of Mongolia, where weapons of mass destruction are being manufactured by the Fantom. (George W. Bush, take note!) It is here that the movie completely surrenders itself to the FX wizards at the expense of character, story and mood.
  
  The movie self-destructs before your eyes. If you are willing to buy a pre-Model T limousine in 1899 London, then this is your film. If lines like "You're missing a picture, Mr. Gray" seem the height of wit, then go for it. If having a multitude of celebrity creatures but not enough time to let them strut their stuff sounds like good planning, then by all means celebrate. Many viewers, though, may be discouraged at the empty stunts and effects, accompanied by a noisy, full-bore score, while good actors get lost in the chaos. That an actor exec produced such a film is a sad commentary on where we stand in early-21st century filmmaking.
  
  
  
• A Great Form of Entertainment
  By on 2004-01-20
  I've read some of the other reviews submitted earlier and it appears everyone who said something negative about the film are avid comic book fans. Well, I am not. Personally, I could take or leave comic book based movies but I'll sit down and watch them at least once. LXG is quite the exception. I would watch this movie over and over again. This movie was unlike all the other comic book based movies I've seen in the past. I like the special effects, the introduction of each character and their special talent, the plot, everything. I think overall it was a great movie to watch. I would definitely recommend people who are interested in watching an action movie with some old time make-believe characters (i.e. Dr. Jeckyl/Mr. Hyde, Mina Harker, Dorian Gray, the Invisible Man, Allan Quatermain, Tom Sawyer, Captain Nemo, etc) then this is the movie for you!

  Boo, to all the nay sayers...GO WATCH IT FOR YOURSELF!!! You'll see what I mean.
  
  

• A fun movie that should not be taken seriously!
  By A2MS6UV7ZGTMLR on 2004-12-24
  Q: What do you get when you create a story based on teaming up the combined talents of heroes born of many of the world's most famous literary classics of the past, including H Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines, Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, Robert Louise Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Herman Melville's Moby Dick?
  
  A: A ripping good yarn. But you also inherit a minefield by borrowing from so many loved literary classics.
  
  A ripping good yarn is the way that the big-budget, popcorn action film The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen should be approached. It is a highly entertaining, rip-roaring tale exploring the fantasy of what might have been possible had all these extraordinary fictional characters been able to team up for a common purpose. The thought that these characters were originally created of completely different time periods and not of the same collective fictional universe should be left behind. This film is not meant to be taken too seriously - it is purely and simply a bit of fun. Unfortunately though, many critics have panned the film outright by seizing on numerous inconsistencies in the portrayal of these classic literary characters as not being completely authentic to their original authors. I can appreciate from a literary sense where these critics are coming from and can understand why this film irks those who love the classics. But still, one should hardly expect that a story idea based on bringing together such a highly fanciful collaboration of all these characters will result in anything other than an excuse to have a bit of fun. Viewed with this overriding goal in mind, once you allow your criticism of minor inconsistencies of the character portrayals to be suspended, The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen delivers on the fun scale in spades.
  
  The fun thing about this film is that you don't have to have read all of these literary classic to enjoy the movie. There are many "in-references" inserted throughout to cater for those who have an appreciation of the abovementioned novels and others including the works of Ian Fleming and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but certainly the movie can be appreciated as a stand-alone experience even if you only know some or few of these works. As an aside, the fact that the film tries to be rather cute in playing to the intelligentsia of its audience with its many deliberate "in-references" is only problematic, given that those same audience members to whom such references are aimed will also by corollary tend to be the same people who care enough about the classics to highlight the resultant inconsistencies in the character treatments. I think this, more than any other reason, is ultimately why The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen failed to impress the critics more than it did; you simply can't have your cake and eat it too.
  
  The storyline is very well thought-out, if not arguably a bit too rushed for my liking, with a large amount of story and action crammed into a 110 minute film. The plot is premised around cramming in as much action into the story as possible, with every hero given a chance to shine in their turn. This is also a big-budget action film, so the production values are high, particularly in aspects such as the attention to detail in the character costumes. The special effects are also, for the most part, great - it's just a pity that only one or two dodgy effects shots stand out to prove an exception to a great job (these one or two shots being suboptimal only due to the lack of time available to complete them before the theatrical release date (the usual story)). The acting in this film is certainly rock solid, and this is particularly the case - yet again - with Sean Connery. Can this man do nothing wrong in the acting stakes? I don't think I have ever seen him deliver a poor performance. This view has been stated a million times before me by a million other film reviewers, but I agree that Sean Connery really is one of, if not the, most arresting and most charismatic screen personalities of our time. With all of these positives going for it then, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a highly entertaining action flick.
  
  
  
  
• Get over yourselves!
  By A1VPOEZZ05B2MD on 2003-07-09
  Let me start by saying that I am a huge fan of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comics and have collected them all. It is an amazing comic, and I was thrilled to hear it was being turned into a movie. However, I have read the previous reviews here and have spent time in chatrooms, and am finally fed up with the endless whining from the "purists" who constantly bemoan the fact that the movie has been changed from the books. Has there ever been a movie which has possessed every detail of the book it was taken from? Does that make it less of an achievement? Too many people are ready to write off this movie because it is different from the comic. Grow up! Learn to appreciate this for what it is. It is telling an exciting story in a very different format. Let's be grateful that a beloved comic is generating this kind of attention! I for one am very excited about this movie.
  
  
• Different - not worse - Slant on a Great Story
  By A26EMQO4OQPP39 on 2003-07-15
  The X-Men never wore black leather outfits in the comics but they do in the movie. I didn't like the idea at first - but it works and the movies are great. Batman's suit isn't made out of rubber armour in the comic, and the Joker isn't the guy who shot Bruce's parents - but in the movie it works and is great. Sawyer and Grey aren't in the comics, but they work in the movie. Mina is the strategist and leader in the comic, and is a serious butt-kicker in the movie - and it really works. Q is a dope-addled misanthrope in the comic, and is a man beset by guilt and grief in the movie - to be honest this didn't work that well for me, but Sean connery makes anything look good. And Q is the natural leader of the group.

  And they switch around some of the villain characters from the comic, so there are still surprises for us comic book fans.

  Comics aren't about static chracters and hard-wired story-lines(the gray Hulk, the many versions of Beast, the ever changing Green Lantern) and I really don't want them to be. LEG is probably too young a comic book for fans to accept the evolution that the movie represents.

  The movie is more violent, more action packed and less thoughtful, intellectual and literary than the book, but it is a thrilling yarn for boys and girls. And that, for me, is what the spirit of the comic is.
  
  

• Not that bad
  By on 2003-11-17
  I went into the theater expecting a horrible movie thanks to friends and theatrical reviews. Maybe because of that, I was able to enjoy it. I agree that some parts could probably have been done better, but I feel that way about almost every movie that's come out recently. While this isn't going to have an underground cult following, there's no reason to avoid it. People who waste their time talking about how badly it was done need to calm down. It's just a movie, don't take it so seriously!
  
  
• What a dud ths one turned out to be, I was disappointed!
  By A3DGB4HN3QCGAL on 2004-02-12
  I haven't read the comic book series this movie is based on but I sure hope it is better than this movie was.
  If you remember the TV ads for it you've seen the best bits and that isn't much of an exaggeration. Sean Connery was good but most of the others were just sort of there to take up space.
  The idea of taking characters from several works of 19th century fiction never really works very well and could often have been better developed. Tom Sawyer, U.S. Secret Service, how'd that happen?, we don't get a clue. Mina Harker, Vampire, widow of one of the men who fought Dracula, never a clue as to how she isn't evil or can survive in sunlight, doesn't seem to need to feed very often either.
  The best sets were the club/hotel(?)in Africa where Quatermain is recruited to the League and a couple of libraries in London, all either blown or shot up. Nemo's submarine looked as big as an aircraft carrier in some ways but also like it was razor thin, certainly bigger on the inside than the outside.
  I kind of liked the tank raid evil whatever his name was did on the Bank of England, a bit ahead of it's time but mostly looked OK. Nemo's 1930's style car was really pushing things for 1899, too much for me as what cars there were looked like (and were)horseless carriages. One of the most ridiculous bits was the League's journey from London to Venice. First you have this huge razor thin submarine rising up in the Thames (which is probably too shallow for anything so big) and then they make it to Venice in only three days! Around southern England then France aand Spain and through the Straits of Gibraltar alone would take more time than that even today even without travelling halfway across the Mediterranean Sea.
  Sean Connery did well but I certainly won't be buying it, the rest of the movie is a mess.
  
  
• cute action movie
  By A1D7T3RAIEACI0 on 2004-12-06
  Harmless adventure with plenty of action, explosions, gadgets, humor, sensational famous literary characters, and good casting. Much more fun than some say it is.
  
  
• Read the Book! Watch the Movie! Both are GREAT!
  By A33YTDV6Z8CHO1 on 2005-09-16
  The previous reviewer wants us to read the book. I've read the book version and greatly enjoyed it. I didn't find it much different from the film though. Perhaps the reviewer meant the comic book version? It's not clear. I've read the comic. I've also read all of the novels the comic and film are based on. The original novels are best. You can't go wrong with any of them.
  
  
• "Extraordinary" gentling puts film into an ordinary "League"
  By A307LZV1TBCJJO on 2003-07-15
  The premise is exquisite. Take some of 19th century literature's most iconic figures, and revisit them in a unique and innovative way that captures the spirit of that era. That is the inspiration for "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", both the film and Alan Moore-penned graphic novel upon which it is based. The characters in question (Nemo, Quartermain, Harker, etc.) come from stories that helped define pop culture in the 20th century. The exercise of putting these characters together holds the promise of adventure unparalleled and a meditation on the themes that defined the works of Verne, Stevenson, Wells, et al.

  Unfortunately, that promise remains unfulfilled, and it is a great pity. The roles are extremely well-cast, and the world in both its Gothic/Victorian stylings and faux-future imaginings are well-done. The beginning of the movie shows promise, with a rousing opening in Africa where Quartermain is recruited, and when appraised that a character named "The Fantom" lurks beneath the sewers of Venice and plans to blow up an important gathering, Sean Connery (in the Quartermain role) growls, "How operatic." Alas, that is about as deep as the film goes in plumbing the rich literary origins of its heroes and villains.

  It is said that Leonard Nimoy turned down an intended cameo in "Star Trek: Generations" by complaining that any character could have spoken his dialogue and that it simply had the name "Spock" above it. This qualification would cover much of what goes on in "LXG". Each character is given brief, tantalizing moments to discuss their origins and a scene or two where they deal with their issues, but such scenes are fleeting and stand alone from the plot. The fertile backgrounds of the characters are used to establish motivations, but are thrust aside by the mechanics of the plot. The quasi-exception to this being a very inspired imagining of Jeckyll's relationship with Hyde, but all that does is serve as a reminder of how much source material is going neglected.

  The plot itself is a victim of its origins. The works of these 19th century giants inspired 20th century popular culture to the point where everything in this film has been seen before in one fashion or another. It is the return of these characters that is the main draw of the film, and though the actors inhabit the screen constantly, the characters' time on the stage is all too brief. We see Captain Nemo, we see Tom Sawyer, we see Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, but only in quiet moments and then they are lost as backdrop against set pieces that demand their traits, not their essences. Increasingly as one watches "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", it is harder to focus on the story being told and instead to ponder the stories that were not.
  
  

• fun movie
  By AOQ08JXQBTS9J on 2004-12-14
  Want a life changing event? Climb a mountain in Tibet. Want something fun to watch for a few hours? Try a movie. I did and I had a good time viewing League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. It lived up to my expectations and entertained me. More of a showcase for the heroes and villains than anything else but you can't beat the characters in this, and the casting, for a fun time.
  
  
• not to be taken too seriously
  By AU9N80QRIEYOH on 2004-12-20
  LXG reminded me a lot of watching the Indiana Jones movies or the Rocketeer: colorful good guys and nasty bad guys battle over the fate of the planet, over-blown action and special effects keep things moving along at a brisk pace, and there's a good mix of action and humor. The literary angle really makes this something different and Connery and company are all in great form and enjoyable. Good stuff.
  
  
• Connery got Haggard's Quatermain right!
  By A1JES22KI1W7J9 on 2005-06-20
  I simply can't agree with the Moore fans who praise Moore's reimagined version of Alan Quatermain while panning Connery for playing the role in a manner closer to H. Rider Haggard's original character! Haggard's work deserves as much respect as a comic book writer! H. Rider Haggard's Quatermain IS the original! Moore's reimagined version was a drug addicted coward who didn't seem anything like Haggard's Alan Quatermain at all. There were some minor changes to Haggard's character in the LXG film, but it was largely very much on the mark. It was certainly better than what Moore did to the character. Connery did a beautiful job of capturing Haggard's Quatermain's charm, pain, and nobility. He kept it all close to the literary source. I'm a fan of classic literature and I'm very glad that Connery got it right. If you must skip something then perhaps it should be the comic book and not the original literary works.
  
  
• LoEG - Extraordinarily entertaining!
  By A16X61RLY1YJL7 on 2003-07-15
  Suffice it to say that I'd only caught a glance or two at a trailer and had heard that the critics were tearing this movie up. With that in mind, I headed right into the theater with a bit of reticence and an open mind. Not surprisingly though, this film well overcomes critical disdain and is an excellent film! I'd also never heard of any past references to a "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" comic series or anything else so I went into this completely unaware and came out genuinely and pleasantly surprised at what an original concept this phenomenon is. Not to mention the fact that one of the film industry's best actors was starring in it, Sean Connery!

  The premise:

  It is the year 1899 and someone appears to be making all attempts to instigate world war by committing acts against the governments of several key nations, all the while disguised as the opposing nation. In comes the call to Allan Quartermain (Sean Connery) by the Crown, to help organize the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and seek out this terrorist and neutralize him.

  What follows is nothing short of a brilliant, superhero type film with many surprising heroes. From beginning to end this film is filled with exceptional action sequences and a plot that well capable of "suspending disbelief," and entertaining the moviegoer. I highly recommend this film for its merits in every category are well established! {ssintrepid}
  
  

• entertaining and fun
  By A1EZHV4ZHMP4VV on 2004-11-30
  i didn't go into this one with high hopes. i'd heard all the bad reviews and didn't expect much. it's not bad! it's a nutty fantasy/action movie but the characters and actors are all great and there's one fun scene after another so it's never borring. don't take it too seriously and just have fun with it.
  
  

• Hellboy (Director's Cut) [Blu-ray]
• Fantastic Four [Blu-ray]
• The Day After Tomorrow [Blu-ray]
• I Am Legend [Blu-ray]
• National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets [Blu-ray]