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Swedish Nightingale
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Re: OPINIONS ON LXG - Post 'em Here ** SPOILERS **
Viewing the movie completely separately from its source materials the comic books, of course, but also the original stories of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, etc. it was a fun, fast-paced, amusing bit of summer fun.
The story: Alan Moore could have done a lot with the outlines of this movie. James Robinson, on the other hand, seemed to have trouble deciding what he wanted to focus on. The kidnapping of the curses/abilities of each League member was the most interesting part, in my opinion, but didnt show up until the last third of the movie, and wasnt developed nearly as well as it could have been. The characters basically having to fight themselves, as evidenced by Hydes titanic final battle, could have been incredible.
The characters:
Qua[r]termain: This was not H. Rider Haggards Allan Quatermain. This was Sean Connerys QuaRtermain, dashing, heroic, and rather obnoxious. He was the only character in the movie I really couldnt find any positive attributes in, or any reason to like. Quatermain is an interesting hero because hes so flawed and so self-conscious in Haggards and Moores takes on the character but obviously this was not a character Connery was willing to play. Basically, he became an older version of his other most famous roles, suave and witty, and almost buried in clichs: gallant leader, father figure and mentor with guilty conscience who then sacrifices himself to finally assuage said guilt. If Quatermain had died at the end of the first volume of LoEG, it would have been poignant and sad; when Quartermain died at the movies conclusion, the only thing sad was the idea that they were so afraid to kill off Sean Connery that they had to hint at a miraculous resurrection for the sequel.
Mina: Again this was not Mina Murray, but Mina Harker. While I felt that Peta Wilson did a good job with what she was given, and Mina did manage to retain some of her sharp edges and intelligence, she was definitely relegated to a background role sexy vampire chick. Her past with Dorian Gray was rather sketchy if they were lovers, why didnt she realize he didnt age? but their final fight was one of the best in the movie; certainly one of the easiest to follow. The banter with Quartermain was weak and so was her explanation of what happened between the events in Dracula and this movie was Jonathan killed then? Did he die later? How did she and Gray actually get together, and when? Nevertheless, the only real problem I had with Mina was how small her part had become; while Quartermain was playing up sorrow of the past, she didnt come across as deeply troubled, the multifaceted character of the comics, only cold.
Nemo: I never felt like I could get a grip on Nemos character. Hes a technological genius who invents the first car, but he wont carry a gun? And where did those fighting skills come from? But Ive never been much of a Nemo fan...
(Continued next post.)
Last edited by Swedish Nightingale, 12/7/03, 14:16
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12/7/03, 14:14
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Swedish Nightingale
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Re: OPINIONS ON LXG - Post 'em Here ** SPOILERS **
Jekyll/Hyde: Great character(s)! Definitely the ones who came closest to the originals. Jekyll teetered on the brink of brilliant madness, while Hyde was an almost perfect capture of the there is no purity to evil quality Moore developed, especially in volume 2, that allows him to be a (paradoxical?) heroic monster. When the record was playing, the reflection of an anguished Hyde begging Jekyll to turn if off was wonderfully ominous, as was Jekylls oversized shadow earlier in the film. During the underwater transformation, there was even one particular moment when Jekylls anguished expression was an almost perfect replica of his face in the comics when he was with Quatermain, looking for information on the Doctor, and struggling not to change. It seems strange, but Jekyll and Hyde were the most developed characters, in a believable way (unlike Quartermain), in the movie.
Skinner: Not as funny as Griffin, not nearly as shifty which is what gave away the fact that he wasnt the betrayer but the most enjoyable, in my opinion, of the new characters. Except for the inexplicable dark stubble, his makeup was very good, especially the white eyebrows, and that first application of greasepaint was fantastic-looking. The self-serving menace Griffin had was missing, unfortunately. The accent got a little old. But he had the best lines in the movie, even when he was absent the Indian sailor reading the coded message sent from the Nautiloid was one of the few really funny moments in the movie. Surprisingly likeable.
Sawyer: Again, surprisingly likeable. He wasnt quite the amiable, hayseed, Howdy, yall, Southern boy I was worried he would be. Obviously, he was just there to give Quartermain some character and to provide, as has been so often noted, an American presence in the movie, but he wasnt nearly as bad as he could have been, and actually had more of an edge than I expected. He shouldnt have gotten the big clichd one last chance at the end, though that was too much. Of course he was going to hit Moriarty. Of course he was going to turn around in triumph and find Quartermain dying. And of course he was going to leave the gun at the grave. The only thing missing was a masculine tear or two... His shooting bravado contrasted by fumbling attempts to get on the good side of Quartermain and Mina were fun. But in case of a sequel hes not leader material.
Gray: He came off as smarmy, not charismatic. There was never any question that he was working for anyone besides himself it was too obvious that it was him, not Skinner, who was the traitor. It was definitely in the filmmakers best interest to kill him off and not save him to continue as an antagonist in a possible sequel. He would have gone from being boring and superficial to boring and irritating.
Moriarty: Basically some of the same complaints as Skinner and Gray very little presence, and what presence there was had no charisma or intricacy at all. The only real James Moriarty that came out was near the end, when he says to Quartermain: To the death. Sounded a little familiar... 
Overall: Light summer fun. If I want something complex and dark, Ill go to the creation of Moore and ONeill. But for an action movie with literary aspirations, this film does very well indeed.
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12/7/03, 14:15
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Griffin209
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Re: OPINIONS ON LXG - Post 'em Here ** SPOILERS **
Great review!!!
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Go see LXG....I mean the League.....NO! The LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN on July 20th, 2003. (Pretty sure thats the day, but correct me if I'm wrong).
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12/7/03, 14:35
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spsmith
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Re: OPINIONS ON LXG - Post 'em Here ** SPOILERS **
I suspect this obsession about vampires burning up in the sun is a movie convention.Apart from Stoker's original novel there are plenty of vampires in folklore ,fiction and movies even.Who operate quite well in daylight.The only draw backs being losing any powers they have during the hours of daylight and having to rest at some point.
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12/7/03, 15:04
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Swedish Nightingale
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Re: OPINIONS ON LXG - Post 'em Here ** SPOILERS **
quote:
Griffin209 wrote:
Great review!!!
Thank you.
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12/7/03, 16:12
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Batfink
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Not a turkey then.
I guess we have to take the good elements (Jekyll and Hyde) with the bad (Allan). Overall you have instilled more hope than I would have expected . Thanks Nightingale.
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I'll protect you from the Hooded Claw, keep the vampires from your door....
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13/7/03, 11:03
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Griffin209
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Re: OPINIONS ON LXG - Post 'em Here ** SPOILERS **
I didn't think Allan was bad. I liked him. He just wasn't developed enough. I still say there should've been 15-20 mins more of character development.
Allan was cool though. I liked all of the members.
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Go see LXG....I mean the League.....NO! The LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN on July 20th, 2003. (Pretty sure thats the day, but correct me if I'm wrong).
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13/7/03, 12:27
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spsmith
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Re: OPINIONS ON LXG - Post 'em Here ** SPOILERS **
So did Campion turn up at the end ? And if so who played him.
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13/7/03, 14:04
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Cefo
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I'll see the movie then (not that I wasn't)
What I would like to know, before I see the movie, is if the photography (or is it cinematography?) used is lousy or not. Does the director go to far on camera tricks?
What's this about Sean-zombie?
What's the problem with banana peals? they have feelings too!
And what about Campion? Did he or did he not show up?
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"I tell you. I must cranch. I have to cranch. It's my worry isn't it?" Martel from Scanners Live in Vain, by Cordwainer Smith
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13/7/03, 14:32
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Griffin209
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Re: OPINIONS ON LXG - Post 'em Here ** SPOILERS **
I'mn not sure how to answer that, but rest assured, the film looks great.
There is no zombie Sean. Don't worry about it. Just see the movie.
Yeah.
No.
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Go see LXG....I mean the League.....NO! The LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN on July 20th, 2003. (Pretty sure thats the day, but correct me if I'm wrong).
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13/7/03, 14:54
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