Sort By: By Genre  |  By Rating  |  By Year

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Starring: Sean Connery
Director: Stephen Norrington
Genre: Action
Year: 2003
Rating: 3 / 5

A collection of nineteenth century heroes is gathered together to stop a maniac bent on world domination. That pretty much covers the plot of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, a graphic novel which merely becomes the latest in a long line of big screen adaptations. Rumors have swirled around this project since its inception, and controversy has dogged it throughout its production. All of this is really a shame, since a movie this average is hardly worth the extra attention. Extraordinary, indeed? This special effects spectacular is fine summertime entertainment, offering little originality and even less excitement, yet still managing to move briskly through a formulaic plot. The League ends up barely registering, just another slew of images in a busy summer season.

The vast majority of the buzz around this film has centered on the ongoing feud between director Stephen Norrington and star Sean Connery. Even with filming wrapped and the movie’s press tour underway, Connery and Norrington could still be heard yapping at each other, with the noted actor regularly denouncing his less experienced director. Adding to this bubbling cauldron, flooding in Europe wiped out numerous sets, further impacting production and setting an ominous tone for the entire process. Throw in some minor flap with hardcore fans over the inclusion of an American, one Tom Sawyer, and The League seemed like a powder keg ready to blow. Surprisingly, all of the fuss seems unwarranted, as the lowered expectations make the film seem mildly entertaining instead of grossly underachieving.

In 1899, Allan Quartermain (Sean Connery), noted British adventurer roaming Africa in semi-retirement, is called upon by the British empire to help it during its hour of need. A sinister outfit is using high-tech weaponry to attack countries throughout Europe, bringing the world to the brink of war. Quartermain, along with a team including toothy Mina Harker (Peta Wilson), ageless Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend), and troubled Dr. Jekyll (Jason Flemyng), is dispatched across the globe to stop the twisted plots of this new criminal mastermind and prevent a war. Traitors lurk around every corner, and the heroes must come to terms with each other as well as their own haunted pasts in order to fight this new foe.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen features some fairly wooden characters, a stale plot, and ho-hum special effects, yet it remains light on its feet and a rather flighty diversion. Sean Connery is still exciting to watch, well-suited to the role of the aging adventurer. No one else dares to shine, however, as the supporting characters are mostly relegated to one showy introduction apiece and a moment of redemption. The action passes by, explosions register here and there, and the plot – such as it is – churns forward. The greatest disappointment, unfortunately, is that The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is so terribly ordinary.

Cast:

Certification: Rated PG-13 for violence.
Running Time: 110 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
Comments: Send E-mail