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Likewise Dorian Gray, the unageing debaucher, Captain Nemo
the captain of the fantastic submarine the Nautilus and man
with a shady career, Tom Sawyer all-round American teen and
trouble-finder and the troubled split-personality Dr Jeckyll
and Mr Hyde. Less well known, but still recognisable are Wilhemina
Harker (widow of Jonathan Harker the fearless vampire killer)
and the Invisible Man (although he is hard to recognise).
These extraordinary folk are brought together by British
intelligence chief M (Richard Roxburgh) in the lead-up to
World War One in a bid to capture a criminal called The Fantom
who is trying to engineer the war to end all wars between
the world's superpowers.
He plans to assassinate every leader at a world conference
in Venice and has rigged a series of explosives to flatten
that glorious part of the globe.
The explosions (we'll not tell you if they were successful)
set in train an ever-increasing action pace that just doesn't
let up.
Now The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is not to be taken
seriously. These characters never existed - except in wonderful
books - and the liberties taken with them by the film are
not only witty, but fun.
The actors Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah), Invisible Man
Rodney Skinner (Tony Curran), Mina Harker (Peta Wilson), Dorian
Gray (Stuart Townsend), Tom Sawyer (Shane West), and Dr Jekyll/Mr
Hyde (Jason Flemyng) - remain true to their different roles.
As usual, Sean Connery stands apart as the experienced campaigner
Quatermain.
The action scenes are full on and the special effects are,
in most cases, pretty damn good. The Nautilus' cruise up the
canals of Venice boggled this mind that's for sure.
Both the audio and video transfers were excellent and I think
those with home theatres and big screens will probably enjoy
it more than others.
Story-wise The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen will not
be everyone's cup of tea, but I went along with - and enjoyed
- the ride.
Conclusion: Movie 80% Extras 75%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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