Leaden adventure fantasy features a bulky, badly-toupeed, unconvincingly intrepid Sean Connery leading a cast of young unknowns pretending to be heroes from 19th century literature.
Okay, I didn't read the comic books, but I've always had a high regard for writer Alan Moore ever since WATCHMEN. So I admit this is an intriguing concept, teaming Allan Quatermain (Connery) with An Invisible Man (apparently they couldn't clear the rights to Wells' 'The'), Dorian Gray, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Captain Nemo, Mina Harker from "Dracula," and even Tom Sawyer (whom I understand is not in the comic books but was added to appeal to American audiences). Lots of possibilities here. There's even a villain from Arthur Conan Doyle, Moriarty (but alas not his nemesis).
Unfortunately this film wallows in overblown action sequences in lieu of plot and an overuse of CGI that runs the gamut from good to shoddy. Production design by Carol Spier (frequent collaborator with David Cronenberg) is occasionally endearing but too often rendered ludicrous by sheer extravagant scale -- wait till you lay eyes on Nemo's gargantuan submarine Nautilus. Also, for a story set in 1899, anachronisms abound: automatic weapons, ballistic missiles, a car that could compete at Indy, etc.
'Based on a comic book' is often a a handicap to overcome, at least in the perception of those in the audience who are not fans. What the filmmakers have done here is cater to the 'kid factor'; you know, the way a 10-year-old boy would think it was COOOOL if, for example, when Dr. Jekyll drinks his potion, he doesn't just become an evil, lust-filled alter ego; no, he turns into the INCREDIBLE HULK! And Mina Harker can morph into a ferocious BAT-MONSTER at will! And the bad guy looks like DOCTOR DOOM! And Nemo kicks butt like JACKIE CHAN! And fruity Dorian Gray is invulnerable to bullets and swords kinda like SUPERMAN! And did you know that you can drive a submarine the size of the nuclear aircraft carrier Nimitz beneath the streets of Venice, Italy? COOOLLLL!!!!!
It's as dumb as it sounds.
Okay, I didn't read the comic books, but I've always had a high regard for writer Alan Moore ever since WATCHMEN. So I admit this is an intriguing concept, teaming Allan Quatermain (Connery) with An Invisible Man (apparently they couldn't clear the rights to Wells' 'The'), Dorian Gray, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Captain Nemo, Mina Harker from "Dracula," and even Tom Sawyer (whom I understand is not in the comic books but was added to appeal to American audiences). Lots of possibilities here. There's even a villain from Arthur Conan Doyle, Moriarty (but alas not his nemesis).
Unfortunately this film wallows in overblown action sequences in lieu of plot and an overuse of CGI that runs the gamut from good to shoddy. Production design by Carol Spier (frequent collaborator with David Cronenberg) is occasionally endearing but too often rendered ludicrous by sheer extravagant scale -- wait till you lay eyes on Nemo's gargantuan submarine Nautilus. Also, for a story set in 1899, anachronisms abound: automatic weapons, ballistic missiles, a car that could compete at Indy, etc.
'Based on a comic book' is often a a handicap to overcome, at least in the perception of those in the audience who are not fans. What the filmmakers have done here is cater to the 'kid factor'; you know, the way a 10-year-old boy would think it was COOOOL if, for example, when Dr. Jekyll drinks his potion, he doesn't just become an evil, lust-filled alter ego; no, he turns into the INCREDIBLE HULK! And Mina Harker can morph into a ferocious BAT-MONSTER at will! And the bad guy looks like DOCTOR DOOM! And Nemo kicks butt like JACKIE CHAN! And fruity Dorian Gray is invulnerable to bullets and swords kinda like SUPERMAN! And did you know that you can drive a submarine the size of the nuclear aircraft carrier Nimitz beneath the streets of Venice, Italy? COOOLLLL!!!!!
It's as dumb as it sounds.