The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

release year: 2003
genre: action/adventure
viewing setting: home DVD, 7/22/09 and 1/20/04

synopsis: In 1899, a group of noteworthy individuals band together to prevent a world war.

impressions: This was pretty good, in a fantastic sort of way. This is a great concept (based on a comic book) - collect a great adventurer, the invisible man, a spawn of Dracula, Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, and so on...all in one place. Sure, it gets silly in places (the Venice destruction, for example) but it's all in good fun...and most importantly, it's set in an anternate world where things are different. This, my friends, is why there can exist in 1899 a submarine with sonar, a car, etc. All in all, this movie brings a sense of wonder from all these fictional characters and what they each have to offer.

things to watch for: I thought the fight in Dorian Gray's house was pretty good.

something this movie has that no other movie has: Mr. Hyde, an invisible man, AND a vampire!

acting: Sean Connery does a good job as aging, weary adventurer Quatermain; it never occured to me that the man was 72. Peta Wilson makes an odd, detached vampiress. The actor who played the invisible man was pretty entertaining. The one who played Tom Sawyer did a good job conveying a young, enthusiastic adventurer. The Jekyll/Hyda duo was also well-acted. Captain Nemo (complete with martial arts action moves) was weird.

final word: A little far-fetched, but quite entertaing and action-packed.

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