If you know anything about comics and films, you'll know that the relationship between Alan Moore and Hollywood has been strained at best. Many of his most famous works have been adapted in one way or another, often with extremely mixed results ranging from the well-intentioned but flawed to ones which just failed to get the message. Some have developed cult followings or have even encouraged readers to seek out the often far deeper source material, and now we have a chance to see an old sin redeemed.
Originally filmed back in 2003, the original League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen adaptation (infamously abridged to LXG on many posters) was released to less than positive acclaim. Critics derided it and fans disposed it thanks to what should have been Penny Dreadful devolving into The Mummy, remaining just as loud and bombastic as you'd think. Even atop of this, it sadly resulted in Sean Connery's retirement along with director Stephen Norrington following infighting.
Even as someone who admittedly enjoyed the first film as a fun if stupid popcorn flick, it's hard to deny it's about damn time this was done. After over ten years and the comics industry in ascendance when it comes to film adaptation, this is one they should get right. many of the ideas originally in the comic such as My Hyde's far more grotesque nature, the repugnant nature of the Invisible Man and Mina Murray actually leading the group this time would all be welcome returns. Along with The Kingsman and a few others, it would be an opportunity to branch out from superheroes for a while and perhaps draw more people into paying attention to these classics.
And hey, who knows, we might even get to see the Martians or the Mountains of Madness if they go into the sequels.
Well, three things:
ReplyDeleteOne: I never understood why they turned Mina into a Vampire in the movie, since it sort of detracted from what (in my interpretation) made her such a strong character. When Mr. Hyde grabs her arm, and she just tells him to let her go with the same enthusiasm you use when asking someone to pass the salt... damn, the stuff that woman has seen. Nothing faces her anymore.
Two: I Always felt it robbed the Movie somewhat of logic for Dorian Gray to be unable to even look at his own portrait; if that's the case, how does he know what it looks like? Why hang it in the stairwell? Why didn't they have him try and kill Mina, but end up stabbing his painting instead/through her?
Three: I miss Sean Connery. I'm frankly amazed that he stayed in the business as long as he did, considering Zardos...
Ah well, to be fair he mostly did Zardoz to avoid typecasting more than anything else. As insane as that film was, it at least meant he stayed around long enough for us to see him in Highlander and Red October along with Indianna Jones.
DeleteTo answer your other points though, in all honesty I think it was actively trying to be far more of a superhero film in every way. The vampire aspect seemed to primarily be to give her more powers for battle scenes but little else, and the film was driven far more by its action scenes than the comic's character development and establishment. It's really unfortunate, but it's sadly the way things were back then, back when the genre was still recovering from Batman & Robin and trying to offer enough action while being taken seriously.