Smell the Movies
Smell the TV
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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| Year: | 2003 |
| Country of origin: | USA / Germany / Czech Republic / UK |
| Director: | Stephen Norrington |
| Genre: | Alternate reality superhero guff |
| Starring: | Sean Connery, Naseeruddin Shah, Peta Wilson, Tony Curran, Stuart Townsend, Shane West, Jason Flemyng |
| Rating: | 4/5 |
| IMDB link: | http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311429/ |
| Tagline: | Prepare for the Extraordinary |
| Favourite line: | "If you can't do it with one bullet, don't do it at all." |
Panned by critics at time of release, this is way better than you may have heard.
Based on a graphic novel by famed recluse Alan Moore, a man that despises all things Hollywood and refuses to co-operate when his works are transferred onto film, this sees an ensemble cast take on the roles of fictional 'superheroes' of the past.
There's Allan Quatermain, Captain Nemo, The Invisible Man, Dorian Gray, Mr. Hyde and more besides, all joined together to do battle against the evils of The Fantom, a creature hellbent on starting a World War, with himself at the helm.
It's CGI city, and some of it looks a bit naff whilst, conversely, the model work is second to none - the scene where The Nautilus rises from the ocean is jaw-dropping - and the plot is wafer thin once the initial setup is over and done with, but this is not about plot contrivances or depth of writing, it's all about the imagery and imagination on show, and on that front it more than delivers.
Whilst Connery is something of a spent force these days, not able to act his way out of a Bag For Life, the other cast members do well enough.
If quality scripting and sharp dialogue interchange are your thang, I wouldn't bother, but if you just want to switch the brain into neutral and coast along for the thrill ride, you could well be entertained.
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