Some of you were likely lured here due to the hip initials used in this week's quote. After all, any abbreviation that includes an X can't be anything less than cool. Even if this X doesn't actually stand for anything. Such is the case for the movie in question, which is otherwise known as The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Aside from being completely incorrect (not all members of the League are male, or even extraordinary), this title only has a small claim to an X. Nevertheless, the producers felt that by slipping an X into the abbreviation, they could make their movie much cooler. Maybe they felt that people wanting to see X2: X-Men United might get confused and end up at LXG instead. Much like one might be confused by the plot of LXG. Regardless, this strategy didn't work for them. I can only hope it will work for me, however, and make this quote much less of a bomb than the movie which inspired it. Admittedly, not too hard a task.
But I have to admit that the League doesn't deserve the amount of criticism it has received. It's not at all what I would call a masterpiece, but it has its moments. And overall, I felt it was an amusing action flick. I'll explain my reasoning while attempting to keep spoilers to a minimum, but I still suggest you read on only with caution. More importantly, this movie starred Sean Connery, and the man still knows how to play an action hero, regardless of his advancing age. He's the main star of this movie, and he doesn't let anyone forget it. On the rare occaisons where the movie tries to develop some of the other characters, Sean is always quick to bring the conversation back to himself. Despite this, there doesn't seem to be anything extraordinary about Allan Quatermain, the hunter that Connery plays. Aside, of course, from the fact that Connery is playing him. The villain of the movie is attempting to mass-produce extraordinary leagues, using components from all its amazing members. But there's really no way nor reason for him to clone Connery. You could say that he's irreplaceable, but that would involve using a particularly bad pun.
Connery's not the only great character in this movie. Captain Nemo is also awesome. He seems to be some sort of cross between a techno-pirate and Jackie Chan. By combining mad martial arts with a far too large submarine, Nemo becomes a character to be reckoned with, and one of the best members of the League. After all, Nemo has an incredibly tough sportscar. If this movie is to be believed, cars in those days were built like tanks. Fortunately, Americans are apparently born with the instinctive ability to drive. Aside from his technology, Nemo also contributed an entire army of Indian soldiers. Some would say that they're the Red-Shirts of the League, but in my opinion, they were very under-appreciated. When all the main characters are doing the classic League high-five before a dangerous encounter, the Indian soldiers are all cut out of the action. They deserve to be members of the league just as much as the Inivisible Man. They have about as much screen time too.
Despite all this (or maybe because of it?), the critics weren't at all kind to LXG. The initials didn't sway them, nor did Connery's stellar acting. Then again, Sean himself was skeptical about the film. According to him, there were only two things wrong with the movie: The producer and the director. Unfortunately, those were rather large flaws that even an eXtraordinary initial couldn't correct.
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