The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Plot synopsis:
In an alternate 1899, several high profile crimes occur in various nations throughout Europe, each allegedly carried out by nationals of other countries, leading Europe to the brink of war. An emissary of the British government, Sanderson Reed (Tom Goodman-Hill), arrives in a gentlemens club in Kenya, hoping to recruit the legendary, but now aged, hunter and adventurer Allan Quatermain(Sean Connery) to investigate the situation. However, Reed finds that Quatermain's sense of patriotism has declined over the years, and he refuses to offer his services. Suddenly, a group of armoured men armed with machine guns appear, and begin killing the club members. Quatermain defeats the attackers single-handed, giving chase to finish the last one, thereby surviving the club's destruction by a bomb planted by the men. Quatermain reluctantly agrees to return to England, deciding that a full scale war between the nations of Europe will quickly spread to Africa.Some time later, Quatermain arrives in London and meets the mysterious 'M'(Richard Roxburgh), who explains his plan to assemble a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen to combat the threat of The Fantom, who is the true mastermind of the current crisis, and ensure world peace, by stopping him from destroying Venice. In short order, Quartermain meets Captain Nemo(Naseeruddin Shah), the invisible gentleman thief Rodney Skinner(Tony Curran), and Mrs. Mina Harker(Peta Wilson), whom 'M' introduces as a well-regarded chemical scientist. Skinner had stolen an invisibility formula from its creator and is now helping the government in return for an antidote.'M' sends the group to meet up with the mysterious Dorian Gray(Stuart Townsend), whom they hope to convince to be another member of the League, but he refuses to join. While talking to Gray, Quatermain points out that a painting is obviously missing from a wall. Suddenly, the 'Fantom' and his men arrive, and the whole room erupts in a blazing gunfight, but one henchman reveals himself to be a friend of the group. During the fight, Dorian Gray's physical invulnerability is revealed, and The Fantom escapes. The fight ends with Mina being held with a knife at her throat. Mina's eyes suddenly turn red and she rips the throat from her assailant and feeds voraciously from his neck. Mina then explains her background, regarding her encounter with Dracula and her resultant powers. It is revealed the friendly 'henchman' is an American, Secret Service Agent Tom Sawyer(Shane West), whom a mildly impressed Quartermain allows to join them. The previously reluctant Dorian changes his mind and agrees to join the League. The League then takes Nemo's submarine, the Nautilus, to France to round up the Leagues last recruit.In Paris, Quartermain and Sawyer capture Mr. Hyde(Jason Flemyng) who quickly reverts to the meek and haunted Dr. Jekyll. He is happy to help when he learns that the Queen will allow his return to London if he does so. With the team complete, the Nautilus sets off for Venice. The group worry there is a traitor in their midst when flash powder is found in the wheel room of the Nautilus, and a vial of Jekylls serum is determined to be missing. Naturally, all think that the invisible thief, Skinner, is the culprit, but nothing can be done about it since Skinner is nowhere to be found.The Nautilus sails up the narrow canals of Venice, stopping under a bridge where it can go no further. A series of bombs has been planted under the city; they start to detonate and begin toppling buildings in a domino effect, one explosion after another. The team decides that knocking one of the buildings out of the sequence is the only way to stop the chain of explosions. Nemo has a missile that can be fired from the Nautilus at the building in question, but only if a beacon can be set in place. Since Nemo can track his "automobile," allowing it to serve as the beacon, the League piles in, with Sawyer at the wheel, and go racing along the streets of Venice.Along the way, Gray and Mina jump out separately to fight groups of henchmen. Quatermain also jumps from the vehicle to give chase to the 'Fantom' on foot. The two fight in a graveyard, where the 'Fantom' loses his mask. Before he makes his escape, the 'Fantom' is revealed to be none other than the mysterious 'M'. At the same time, Sawyer crashes the car into the target building, while firing a flare, which signals Nemo to launch his missile. The building is destroyed, the chain of explosions stops, and Venice is saved. Meanwhile, back at the Nautilus, the first mate Ishmael is met by Gray and blames Skinner for their troubles, but is proven wrong when Gray shoots him.The League regroups at the Nautilus, where Quatermain reveals that "M" is behind the whole thing. The dying Ishmael appears, denouncing Gray as the traitor. A small submersible vessel suddenly breaks from the Nautilus: it is Gray, making his escape with a smile and a wave to the assembled team. Nemo sets the Nautilus in pursuit, but along the way, a record is found and played on a gramophone. The voice of 'M' floods the room, as he reveals the scope of his plans. Everything leading up to this moment was a ruse so that 'M' could steal physical elements from each of the League members, so as to construct an army of super-powered soldiers; Captain Nemo's science, Jekyll's formula, Mina's blood, and a sample of Skinner's invisible skin. He also explains that he needed Quatermain only to capture Mr. Hyde. 'M' seeks to profit by starting a world war and selling armaments and weapons based on the powers of the League to the combatant countries. He blackmailed Gray into helping him by stealing his enchanted portrait, the missing picture from his home. As the record is played, it's second unheard signal sets off three bombs in the ship, but Mr. Hyde is able to stop the ship from sinking, earning the congratulations of Dr. Jekyll. Following a signal from Skinner, the Nautilus follows to the Asiatic Arctic and the League travel across the frozen wastes to a cave overlooking an industrial fortress. Skinner approaches (he had fled when he learned of their suspicions of him), and tells them that 'M' has a number of scientists and their families held as hostages and slaves in his munitions factory. The workers are constructing Nautiloi (copies of the Nautilus), while the scientists are working on an army of Hyde-like brutes, invisible spies, and vampire assassins.Splitting up, the League infiltrates the factory. Nemo and Hyde attempt to free the scientists and their families, while Sawyer and Quatermain go after 'M'. Mina goes in search of Gray, while Skinner sets off to plant some explosives. Nemo and Hyde run into the second-in-command, Dante, who drinks a very large dose of Jekyll's formula and transforms into a huge, hulking monster to combat Hyde. Mina has her showdown with Gray, which leads nowhere (as they are both immortal) until she confronts him with his enchanted portrait, causing him to decay before her eyes. Quatermain confronts 'M' in his lair and reveals his deduction that 'M' is none other than the supposedly dead Professor James Moriarty (nemesis of Sherlock Holmes). As Hyde is battling Dante, the explosives go off and Dante is crushed to death by falling debris. Quatermain, while holding Moriarty at gunpoint, sees in a reflection that an invisible man (Sanderson Reed), has Sawyer held at knife point behind him. He turns and shoots the invisible villain, only to be stabbed in the back by Moriarty, who makes another escape, fleeing across the ice. Quatermain is mortally wounded; Sawyer is forced to use the marksmanship skills that Quatermain had taught him. He shoots Moriarty before he can leave in his stolen submersible vessel. Moriarty's case, containing the secrets that Gray had stolen from the League, falls into the ocean, and Moriarty dies on the spot. Quartermain also dies soon after.The group assembles in Africa to bury Quatermain. As the group sadly departs, a tribal witch doctor takes handfuls of dirt from Quatermain's grave and begins a ritual chant. We are reminded of a witch doctor's pronouncement, recounted by Quatermain at the beginning of the movie, that "Africa would not let [Quatermain] die." The earth shakes violently, making the rifle that Sawyer had left on the grave shake. Lightning strikes Quatermain's grave right before the screen cuts to black.

Tags: gothic, murder, paranormal, cult, alternate reality, violence, sci-fi

Review:
It seems to be divided between people who don't like the movie because it's not enough like the original graphic novel and people who don't like it because they've never heard of half of the characters that are members of the League.
Having been critically panned by both film critics and fans of the original comic book version, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (which is hardly a league of "Gentlemen" considering the presence of a female character) was absolute rubbish.
However, despite the flagrant misuse of characters established in classic Literature (Dracula, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Invisible Man, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and especially The Adventures of Tom Sawyer) there is an essentially a massively fun film to be found, made all the more enjoyable if you disengage your brain and just don't question the ridiculous goings on of the alternate Victorian universe the film is set in.So in conclusion, if a night of brainless action adventure fun is what you'r after, then the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is sufficiently enjoyable material..
(League is based on a comic book series that I have not read, nor if I had would not use as a comparison.)  Our team of intrepid super heroes consists of Alan Quartermain (Sean Connery), Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah), a now vampiress Mina Harker (Peta Wilson), The Invisible Man (Tony Curran), Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend), Tom Sawyer (Shane West) and Dr Jekyll/Mr. Hyde (Jason Flyming).
So, if you enjoy reading and would like to look at this movie with a better view, read: The Allan Quartermain books, the Sherlock Holmes books, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, A Picture of Dorian Grey, Dracula, 20000 Leagues Under the Sea, and The Invisible Man..
And you do not need to have read all of these books to understand the movie, but there is a bit of a lack of character developement that you may find, but my friends who hadn't done the reading also enjoyed the movie.It has great visual effects, some really good action sequences, and a really nice looking car.
Allan is teamed up with Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah), Mina Harker (Peta Wilson), Tom Sawyer (Shane West), Dorian Grey (Stuart Townsend), Dr. Jekyll (and Mr. Hyde; Jason Flemyng), and Rodney Skinner known as "The Invisible Man" (Tony Curran).This movie features a team of famous characters of literature that suit this period.
The movie had an interesting story line, good graphics, excellent fight scenes, and an awesome twist.
In fact, my only complaint is that a little too much screen time was devoted to Quatermain (Sean Connery) at the expense of the other characters--a pity, as each one of them (with the possible exception of Sawyer) truly is extraordinary and very much worth exploring in-depth.Overall, I found this film cool, quirky, and utterly enjoyable..
Bravo to the filmmakers for not spending 3/4 of the film explaining back history on these characters (NOTE If you are having trouble with this concept...read a book!) This film was ten times the movie that the overhyped Matrix Reloaded and the god awful Hulk was....oh and by the way; Mister Hyde was a much better Hulk than the Hulk was as well.
The awful truth is that almost no one reads these days, well at least not beyond Maxim´s hottest girls of the year.This film based (although not completely) on the graphic novel (a nice way to call a more sophisticated form of comic) by Alan Moore and Kevin O Neal is great.
Of course, if you have the culture to know what all these Victorian winks mean.Sthephen "blade" Norrington, brings us this fantastic extrvanganza, for the likes of some and the hatred of others, but as I say, if the people who come here trashing this film are the same who came out loving Xmen2...then why bother listening to them.Well the first Blade was a major success but in the end it became just a cult classic, this one has the same fate...by the time it gets to DVD it will become one of the most expensive cult movies of the year.
But I would like to think that the people who buy it, are the intelligent cult people who can recognize something good when it is in front of them.Now, not all of it is joy and roses, there are certain changes that did not help either the plot nor the development of characters...I´m aware that if Norrington would have stick up to the original comic plot, he wold have ended up with a R rating, so they lowered down some things, added up some action and even included characters and situations not seen in the book.
I'm sick of critics bashing something just because they seem to be the only ones that don't "get it." I doubt they've even read the original story it's based on.As for the comic book fans, despite all the differences, there's actually quite a few things they stayed true to..
Gentlemen in the movie they are, Gentlemen in the graphic novel they are not.On other grounds, this movie still does a lot to impress with fairly good special effects, action and settings.
Though I haven't read the graphic novel on which the film is based, I have read that both the graphic novel and the movie take place in a reality alternate from both out history and our literary canons; which means that even though Stoker never wrote Mina as turning into a vampire, it's okay for LXG to take the license to do so.
A bunch of fictional characters (Mina Harker, Captain Nemo, Allan Quatermain, the Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dorian Gray, Tom Sawyer) are called together in 1899 to combat a madman who threatens to take over the world.The plot is silly and full of huge holes (Mina Harker was NOT a vampire; Tom Sawyer working for the U.S. government?; Mr. Hyde looks like a cousin to the Hulk; Dorian Gray is an immortal?) but the movie itself looks great, there are plenty of incredible special effects (and, surprisingly, some bad ones) and it moves so quickly that you really don't have time to stop and think about it.
There's a fight or action scene every 5 or 10 minutes or so--you won't be bored.All the acting is pretty good--Connery is excellent (as always) as Quatermain and Peta Wilson makes a very sexy vampire.
The only bad acting comes surprisingly from two good actors--Stuart Townsend is very dull as Dorian Grey and Shane West is way out of his league as Tom Sawyer.
These characters have a well defined existence in the root of many of our classic novels and such.Each of them at-odds with own demons, yet working together for a common good.I recommend this to any body who has imagination and who doesn't "literally" take a movies premise word for word from its original reference..
A Indiana Jones setting for adventure, six great characters from classic fiction, and a good story.Somehow, these elements were lost in the presentation.
You will see a huge difference, however, in the quality of the Connery Bond movies and LXE.The other characters were fun at times, but they either ended up underused, poorly portrayed or just odd.Wilson's Harker character was very confusing.
Not as good as Pirates, but still a fun movie, but I never read the books, or comics, but I think people seem to be taking that too seriously.
It didn't bother me that Tom Sawyer was a character in this movie, this was the sort of movie where a little 'goofiness' like that fits right in anyways.I didn't read the graphic novel, but if I had I might have been disappointed at the failure of the movie to really live up to the promise of its source material (judging by how many reviewers here talk about it.).
I however do enjoy watching movies with cool special effects, as well as the more serious and artistic films.
League is a fun movie to watch, it's not going to be nominated for Best Picture or anything like that, but if your looking to escape reality and experience a quite stunning fantasy world with some pretty cool characters then you might rent it.
I've seen better performances by Sean Connery, but I can't say that this one was bad.In summary: Good action movie, just don't get your expectations too high.
the characters were well cast, the movie flowed along at an interesting pace, i didn't know what was going to happen next, and the fight scenes were fun to watch.its a popcorn movie, and to that end i enjoyed it,  the mr hyde character was much better done than the lame cgi hulk, sure some parts could have been done better but this isnt an art film its a movie and it does what its supposed to do..
Based on the graphic novel of the same name (as noted in the credits), it's no surprise at all to see the movie using similar lighting, colours and action that one would expect to find in a comic book.
25 August 2003 League of Extraordinary Gentlemen:Sean Connery is one of the all time greats and I have been a fan of his since the 1950's.
In Venice there's a worldwide congress , the leaders are threaten and a motley group of literature heroes are called to avoid it ; thus , there appear : Allan Quatermain (Sean Connery) of the book , King Solomon's Mines (H.R.Haggard) ; Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde (Jason Fleming) of Robert Louis Stevenson ; captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Sha) of 20.000 leagues of underwater journey by Jules Verne ; Mina Harker (Peta Wilson) of Dracula by Bram Stoker ; Dorian Gray (Stuart Towsend) by Oscar Wilde , Tom Sawyer (Shane West) of Mark Twain and even a Ismael (Terry O'Neill) of Moby Dick (Herman Melville) and Dr.Moriarty of Sherlock Holmes' books by Arthur Conan Doyle .The film is based on a comic by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill where are the same personages but has been added Tom Sawyer for being an American production although it has been also produced by Sean Connery who has got the greatest role .
When I want plot, I'll look elsewhere, but sometimes mindless entertainment beckons, and when it does, nothing satisfies like a fun action movie.
Backgrounds on several characters are missing which would have been helpful to connect better with certain individuals but with most being famous literary characters, the film makers probably figure the audience knows who they are already.The cast that makes of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a mixed bag at best.
Speaking of Dorian, Stuart Townsend is moderate as the character though most of the problems with him involve the background of the character rather then the acting.Overall, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a good film but is really more for fans of the comic book mini-series or those who seriously know their literary figures.
I have read most of the source material (the comic series and about half of the original novels), and I thought this movie did the characters justice.
In general, though, I thought this movie was great fun, and I find myself wondering as I read through these loathsome and unforgiving reviews, just what it was that these critics were expecting..
Thoroughtly enjoyable and rather classy action/sci-fi/costume flick featuring many well-known characters borrowed from classic novels; Tom Sawyer, Captain Nemo, Allan Quatermain, the Invisible Man, Jekyll/Hyde, and Dorian Gray, and Mina Harker (from "Dracula"), with sidelights on a few others, all set in an alternate-reality Late Victorian milieu.
Allan is persuaded out of retirement in Africa to head up a team of 'extraordinary gentlemen' (yes, I know about Mina, but if she weren't a lady, she certainly couldn't be a gentleman)to stop a super-villain who is planning to start a World War.James Robinson's screenplay successfully walks a line between the characters' literary antecedents and their later comic-book incarnations; the result is reminiscent of the the TV show "The Avengers" in its wit and style.
OK it may be slightly silly to see a 72 year old man getting into fist fights and generally running around like Connery did in films like From Russia With Love, but to me thats all part of the fun, and I would much prefer to see Sean do films like this than the likes of Finding Forrester or Rising Sun. Also the rest of the cast are great too, especially Peta Wilson who is absolutely stunning.
I have seen this film on DVD twice in the past day and conclude that -the story line (historical context) lacks credibility (eg Captain Nemo's guided missiles); - the acting is great, Sean Connery in particular; - the fx are superb (such as the black and white views of 1899 London; - the fight scenes are well choreographed and exciting; - the sets and costume are excellent.
Well, a film that includes science fiction/horror literary characters such as Dorian Gray, Jekyll/Hyde, the Invisible Man etc., is clearly a work of true fantasy.
Sean Connery's wit and sarcasm made the movie fun to watch and the action scenes were excellent.
What is really great about this film is the way a group of classic characters from 19th century literature are brought together to become a league of one and save the world.
Overall "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" is a very good movie with a twist in the middle and a typical superhero plot of saving the planet from world domination.
The roster reads: Allan Quatermain (Sean Connery), expert hunter/adventurer; invisible thief Rodney Skinner (Tony Curran); inventor Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah); vampire Mina Harker (Peta Wilson); unstable Dr. Jekyll/Mr.Hyde (Jason Flemyng); immortal Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend); American Secret Service Agent Tom Sawyer (Shane West).
this movie is great for action,explosions,shootings,killings,and special effects but as far as literary concerns.its total nonsense since the characters in the movie come from classic stories and books(and different time lines) you cant take the movie seriously,so just sit back and enjoy 2 hours of mindless fun..
The movie is breezily paced and the screenplay has a fun time tossing around a lot of "in" jokes for those in the audience familiar with the literary backgrounds of these various characters.Sean Connery leads the cast as Allan Quartermain, an aging adventurer contentedly wiling away his golden years in Africa, until he is called back into the queen's service at this critical juncture in the empire's - and the world's - history.
It had everything you would expect from a good comics adaptation:  Interesting characters, great locations, flashy action scenes, one-liners and cool villains to boot(the identity of the true villains turns out only late in the movie, so I won't spoil the fun for you).In fact, the film shared a lot with this year's - at least for me - somewhat overrated X-Men United: Character relationships (the Dr. Jeckyl/Mr. Hyde-character undergoes the same emotional turmoil as Nightcrawler did), the Nautilus standing in as a victorian/aquatic version of the X-Jet and the finale, with the heroes subverting the villain's fortress - each contributing his/her special skills - recalled the ending of that film.
Because The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen is not that bad of a movie at all it is pretty interesting, fun, clever entertainment.
I mean come on let's give this movie more credit.I really enjoy the plot of the film as it centers around a mystery man who calls himself M (Richard Roxburgh) as he hires Allan Quatermain (Sean Connery) to lead a team against a ruthless madman.
This team League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah), Rodney Skinner (Tony Curran), Mina Harker (Peta Wilson), Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend), Tom Sawyer (Shane West), and Dr.Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde (Jason Flemyng).
The Writers did pretty well with playing the viewers they did a smart job with the plot twists that you have to watch to get otherwise it's no fun also the music in the film really matches the story and there is some good characters in this film along with a humor or two in the filmIt's not often we see characters from different series of books join forces so it made the movie interesting enough to me to watch it and I actually like it no it's not best movie in the world but it is not as bad as many say, once you just give it a chance you might be surprise that you did give it the chance because it is actuality an entertainment full, fun action and clever film it just needs a little appreciationI give The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen an 8 out of 10.
The part fit Sean to a tee!Secondly, there are some great characters within the film - the dashing Captain Nemo, the lovely Mina Harker, the handsome Dorian Gray, the creepy Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde, the adventurous Tom Sawyer and the sinister Rodney Skinner (who had to replace the "real" invisible due to copyrights but still worked well in this film).
It's action-packed, a fun adventure and an over all great fantasy film that has a pretty nice story to it.Yes this movie is good!
With decent action performances from interesting characters, good special effects, and an intriguing story, The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen was much more fun than I expected and much more fanciful.
The "hip" title of LXG (which has the stink of a marketing department all over it) is definitely more appropriate than the title League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, the comics upon which this movie (I hesitate to call this a film) was supposedly based.
That's why Connery comes off so well in this movie, he seems like one who has enjoyed being down and dirty for a few too many years.If everything in "League" could have been as good as Connery this would have been one for the year-end "Top Ten" lists.