Comparisons with this and the earlier "X-Men"
feature film are no doubt common, as both sport a
cast of quirky super-humans. Regarding entertainment
value, I find this film somewhere between the X-Mens
('Mens' looks funny). I loved the first X-Men, but wasn't so
impressed with the
second.
League takes to the screen with another group of
altruistic (somewhat human) super heroes. Banding
them together is the fun part, with Sean Connery (the
most human hero) more or less chaperoning audiences
through the production. This human element makes
accepting a vampire, an invisible guy, an unkillable
artsy type, Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, etc., more palatable
to those more inclined to love movies than comic
books. To that bunch add the token American, Sawyer
(no doubt a play on Tom Sawyer). I've been told his
inclusion is purely a movie decision and he's nowhere
to be found in the graphic novel.
Overall, the film is quite enjoyable, never too
serious about itself, always in it for the fun and
adventure, up for a good sideways compliment and dry
humorous line. Seldom, if never, dull; League endures
two or three harsh cuts, I suspect chunks of the film
may be on the editing room floor. This may explain an
almost indecipherable climax moment.
Original and fresh, out of the gates with strong
Sean Connery type strength, and solid action, the
film splinters a bit on the whole and undermines
itself with a rather cliche (let's go blow up the bad
guy's den) wind up. Could have been an 'A' film with
a better third act. As is ... a mighty 'B+.'
Though Townsend plays Gray with grace, would have
liked to see Depp in that part -- and Pitt as Sawyer.
Oh, and tremendous art direction (sort of a "Wild Wild West"
verve) -- Kudos!
Interesting bit from the production
notes:
"Ironically, the submarine set suffered the greatest
damage during the catastrophic floods that struck
Prague in early August. Water levels reached more
than 20 feet high in the warehouse that held the set,
destroying virtually everything inside. Garnering
headlines across the world, and prompting Sean
Connery to make a TV plea for assistance on behalf of
the beleaguered city, the flood was the worst to
strike Prague in more than 130 years, and was
estimated to be its second or third worst flood in
1000 years. Dozens of cast members and crew had to be
relocated, most in the middle of the night.
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