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Jeff reviews:

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

July 12, 2003
2003, 1 hr 50 min., Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of fantasy violence, language and innuendo. Dir: Stephen Norrington. Cast: Sean Connery (Allan Quatermain), Naseeruddin Shah (Captain Nemo), Peta Wilson (Mina Harker), Tony Curran (Rodney Skinner (The Invisible Man), Stuart Townsend (Dorian Gray), Shane West (Tom Sawyer), Jason Flemyng (Dr. Henry Jekyll aka Mr. Edward Hyde), Richard Roxburgh (M).

None of the trailers for this movie gave me any hope that it would be good. Trying to piggy-back on X-Men 2 this spring by calling it LXG, then using The League in previews this summer led me to believe that creators couldn't figure out how to sell the American public.

What they forgot was that most Americans don't read comic books, and folks like myself never knew the premise, and only in new previews did I catch on to who the Extraordinary Gentlemen are in the first place.

They are: Sean Connery as a legendary African game hunter, the bride of Dracula, a grown-up Tom Sawyer, now a Secret Service agent, the Invisible Man, Captain Nemo, Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde and the immortal Dorian Gray.

So I went in with Kimberly last weekend with minimal expectations. LXG at least met those, and was decently entertaining. Kimberly enjoyed it more than I did, but I agree that it's worth a matinee viewing for a summer popcorn flick action adventure.

We agreed that Dorian Gray was the coolest character, exuding a suave arrogance that was pleasing to the audience. Connery was, well, Connery. You know what he brings, and I for one always look forward to his films.

The action is fast and furious, but you can�t figure out what�s going on half the time. There�s plenty of it, at least. The CGI isn�t as bad as I thought it would be, but doesn�t exactly blend in with the 1899 storyline. I suppose that is the point, since it�s a sort of alternate universe with fancy-smancy technology. Well, that, and the supernatural characters.

Where is this going? Oh yeah, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen gets a thumbs up from Kimberly, aka Superstar Diva � Extraordinaire, since she�s got her own supernatural qualities. This earthbound critic is indifferent, but gives the movie support for a couple of hours of diversion.

The verdict:

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