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The year, 1899, the cast, great figures from 19th century literature, and the problem, a new arsenal of destruction threatening a world war. Based on a graphic-novel (comic book) this league of unlikely superheroes must come together to stop the Phantom and prevent a world war. If you are thinking you must be well versed in 19th century literature to enjoy this film, well you will not miss a beat even if you never read a single novel that contains these heroes. London is threatened by a tank. An indestructible tank that rolls though the city and smashes into the bank building a sight no one has ever seen before. The Phantom orders all shot except one. The first rule in story telling, one must remain to tell the tale. So Scotland Yard and the Crown must put together a team to defeat this new threat of great destruction. The first recruit is in Africa, the expatriate Allan Quartermain (Sean Connery, Finding Forrester). For those wondering who this hero is, the story would be King Solomon’s Mines. To convince him to return to London a gunfight ensues. Only the guns the enemy use are automatic weapons to his riffles. Back in London, Quartermain is taken to a basement library by M (Richard Roxburgh, Moulin Rouge!) to meet the other recruits. To his surprise is Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah) whom he refers to as a pirate. Well without ever reading 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, you know he is the one who commanded the Nautilus, a brilliant submarine/boat vessel that destroyed ships and robbed them convincing the public a huge squid was the cause of the shipwrecks. The movie never explains this history, but in conversation Nemo tells Quartermain his past is not exaggerated. Joining this team is the Invisible Man Rodney Skinner (Tony Curran, Blade II) only not the original because in the novel, the original Invisible Man died. He took the same potion though. And last to join the crew at this point is Mina Harker (Peta Wilson of the USA Channel’s La Femme Nikita), okay she is not a gentleman, but quite effective never-the- less. If you saw the movie Bram Stoker’s Dracula, based on the novel, she would be Winona Rider’s character. On route to the Nautilus they ride off in a sports car. Long before Henry Ford creates the Model T this hot car drops the crew off at Dorian Gray’s (Stuart Townsend, Trapped). The moment Quartermain mentions a missing picture it all comes back, Oscar Wilde's novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. His story is revealed when he is shot with hundreds of bullets and heals immediately. His portrait ages, but he does not. Not until he looks at his portrait will the spell be broken. While at his house, Phantom and his men make an appearance to stop this crew. Putting a snafu to this plan is Tom Sawyer (Shane West, A Walk to Remember), US Secret Service. He invites himself to join this party and is accepted by Quartermain because he brought two really cool rifles with him. This group is off to Paris to recruit one more, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Jason Flemyng, From Hell). He is in his Hyde form at the moment, and this dude beats The Hulk in leaps and bounds, not literally. Once they are all aboard the Nautilus heading to Rome to stop the Phantom they discover one of the members of this League is working against the group. Many clues are given at this point. An interesting feature is this is not the only literary characters used and, “call me Ishmael” needs no explanation for one example. As an action film this movie has it all, gun battles, explosions, special effects, and the most graphic vampire scene I have ever witnessed, and I go to most vampire flicks. The concept of many heroes coming together to combat evil with their own unique ability has always been a good draw. I particularly enjoyed using great literary characters to create a new story and leave it open for a sequel. I gave this movie a 10 on the About-Movies.com scale. Later gator.
Last updated: Thursday, March 20, 2008 02:49:26 AM Click Here to get back into frames.
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