The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a 2003 Action/Drama movie written by Alan Moore, Kevin O'Neill, and James Robinson and directed by Stephen Norrington. The movie is set in 1899 London England where seven characters from classic literature are tasked to stop an impending war created by a mysterious protagonist by the name of "The Phantom."
Link to IMDb synopsis:
Http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0311429/
*SPOILERS!*
Before I begin my review of this movie, let me preface it with why I chose to watch it. I grew up watching this movie as a kid. When I was younger, I thought it was a wonderfully crafted piece of cinema, full of literary characters and a unique plot. I recently have been reading some classical books (Frankenstein, the Invisible Man, the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) and this movie from my youth continued to pop into my head-- especially after reading the Invisible Man. I went into re-watching this movie full of childhood nostalgia and excited to see how the characters matched up to my new-found literary knowledge.
Needless to say, I finally understand why this movie tanked.
Firstly, let's discuss the plot: Allan Quartermain (from King Solomon's Mines) is recruited from his "retirement" in Africa by the British Empire to help stop a war about to happen. He travels back to England and is introduced to a man by the name of M (later in the movie revealed to be Professor James Moriarty from the Sherlock Holmes novels). M explains that he has been tasked to create the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which has been used in the past to prevent similar situations.
The next character thrown into the mix is Captain Nemo (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea). Quartermain makes it clear that the two have met before, but their intertwined backstory isn't addressed after this. We are then introduced to the Invisible Man which Quartermain questions, as in the book, the Invisible Man is killed. Rodney Skinner (the Invisible Man) explains that while that man died, his science did not. Next, we are introduced to Mina Harker (from Dracula). Quartermain questions her value to the team and claims that she will be an inevitable distraction to the team. It is clear that at this point, he and the others are unaware that she is a vampire.
After these initial introductions are made, the League is sent out to "recruit" a man by the name of Dorian Gray (from the Picture of Dorian Gray). At his house, the group is ambushed by the Phantom's men. One of these men has been replaced by a man named Special Agent Tom Sawyer (yes, the one from the Adventures of Tom Sawyer). During an intense action scene, it is revealed that Gray is invincible and immortal and that Harker is a vampire. Both Gray and Sawyer join the League and the group set out to capture Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde (from the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde).
This is the point in the movie where I got a little annoyed. Having just read the book, I was excited to see how the movie character held up. Quite frankly, he didn't. As the story here is set in 1899, I was curious as to how they were going to resurrect Jekyll/Hyde from the dead, as they had managed to explain with the Invisible Man. Simply, they ignored the fact that Jekyll/Hyde had died and continued on with the story.
Okay, a little frustrating, but I can overlook it.
What I can't overlook is the complete butchering of the characters themselves. In the book, Jekyll turns into Hyde by drinking a potion. But Hyde isn't a Hulk wanna-be. Hyde is, quite simply, Jekyll's dark side; the side that has no conscious and indulges his own desires. The movie turns this character into a lamer version of the Hulk who just wants to help; completely inaccurate.
The movie continues on with its plot, revealing Gray to be a spy for the Phantom, who in all actuality is M. Jekyll/Hyde save the crew from sinking after M tries to blow them up. Skinner saves Sawyer and blows up M's factory. Harker kills Gray for his betrayal and breaking her heart. Sawyer learns to shoot as well as Quartermain and kills M, just as he's about to escape. Quartermain dies and the world is safe from an all-out war.
And, then randomly at Quartermain's funeral in Africa, a witch doctor begins a ritual at his grave, a storm starts, his gravesite begins to shake, and the movie ends. Were the writers attempting to imply that Quartermain is resurrected by an African witch doctor? We may never know with any real certainty.
While the plot itself was unique, the execution of it is stereotypical to Action/Drama movies; romance, betrayal, and explosions and the good guys always win. When I was a kid, I thought it was so amazing that someone was brilliant enough to throw all of these classic literary characters together in an Avengers-esk way. Now, I'm appalled that anyone thought it would be a good idea.
Sometimes, it's best not to go back and watch your favorite movies for your childhood; you may be shockingly disappointed.
Until next time
MJ
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