Literature and cinema have had a very close relationship for donkey’s years. Adaptations seem to be the very backbone of the film industry. Some of the greatest films of all time have been adaptations from novels, comic books, short stories and in the case of “The Fast And The Furious”, a magazine article. We today, in an age of information technology and media spin constantly see books being made into films and films being made into books. So when it was announced that some of literature’s most loved and read about characters were to band together to rid the world of evil in “The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen”, excitement and expectations were of course high. Seeing famous characters like the Invisible Man and Dr Jekyll on the big screen with cutting edge effects power and visual driven director Stephen Norrington at the helm. After the fast and furious comic book stylings that made “Blade” a big hit, we of course would think Norrington would play the same cards again crafting the post modern Victorian world with vast, glorious imagery and visual charm. Despite its superb concept and a director that seems to have been born to helm the film, “The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen” fails on so many levels.

“God schave the queen”

The only actor here with any real screen presence is Sean Connery for obvious reasons. Not only was he the first (and frequently hailed best) James Bond in the long running film series, he has also starred in other big screen hits such as “Highlander”, “The Rock” and “Entrapment”. However, his performance is lacklustre compared to some of the work he has done is previous years but having said that it is the best in the film. Starring in a cast of young nobodies doesn’t help either and on occasion, show Connery up. We are of course subject to Connery’s natural Scottish slur of an accent that we are subject to in every movie. He played a Russian submarine captain in “The Hunt For Red October” and still used his natural accent. At least Connery’s wise enough not to put on a fake/dodgy/laughable accent like many other experienced actors and inexperienced as well. It is the latter that seems to be concerned in this particular case with the remaining members of the league being strangers.

Going against my usual format of analysing each character/actor separately and then making an overall evaluation, for this review, I decided it would be easier to analyse them all together and evaluate as I go because everyone was equally bad. Even Connery seems to be bored for large portions of time as reportedly there were many arguments amongst the ‘League’ cast during filming and this has an effect toward their character’s chemistry and it shows. Stuart Townsend seems to be the only one enjoying the experience and Shane West seems somewhat miscast as an American Secret Service agent. He’s too young if you ask me and albeit he plays a rookie agent, but he possesses the arrogant, child like, whinny mannerisms similar to that of Hayden Christiansen in “Star Wars: Episode II”. Tony Curran is the only one who adds any tone and thus any real performance as sly, occasionally repulsive Rodney Skinner – the invisible man and Shah (Captain Nemo) just seems to hobble around, slicing people with his sword as if they are too incompetent to actually fight back. Flemyng gives your typical stuttering scientist performance as Dr. Jekyll and doesn’t add anything new, likewise with Peta Wilson playing vampire, Mina Harker.

Norrington’s direction is typical comic book style, lots of colours/tones and flashy/ quick camera changes. The problem is, during the action sequences, Norrington and editor Paul Rubell cut and change camera angles too quickly. Fast camera changes are done to inspire visual adrenaline during action scenes and can be effective if done well. In the case of “The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen” it’s cut and changed so much during scenes of total anarchy that you can’t fully register or in fact appreciate what is actually going on. Nemo winning easily in one split second cut, Quatermain dodging bullets in another, it’s like pushing the fast forward button on your remote control. The film’s action sequences beg for ultra violence, the kind that Norrington is very comfortable with. There are some moments where violence seems to be on the card during a sequence but it never shows due to the film’s family friendly certificate. Soundtrack as well, falls flat providing the usual adventurous flare that we expect but the problem is that the film never really feels like an adventure.

BOTTOM LINE
“The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen” starts well, The Fantom reaping all kinds of havoc and Connery returning to his suave Bond roots. From then on the film deteriorates into a story (its not even a story, more like a linear sequence of events) with so many inconsistencies both in plot line and effects and boasts a very poor script. I could write… no, my brother could write a better script. With plenty but almost unrecognisable action sequences that are limited in value and in entertainment because they are too fast, not in duration but in filmed the film ends up wanting. Sadly costume and production design don’t save a film from certain obscurity. Although the film can be fun in places, it’s not recommended but if you’re a DVD fanatic, it could be an excellent audio demo disk as the sound effects are one of the few things that are good.