LXG (as the logo on the promotional posters for this movie would have it) is a serious attempt at bringing an interesting and unusual concept from the comics to the silver screen. It ain't "Spider-Man" or "X-Men", nor does it try to be, because the attitude and atmosphere come from an entirely different sensibility. I think that's perhaps why the film met with such mixed reactions; the strength of your favorable reaction to LXG probably is in direct proportion to your enthusiasm for nostalgia-based entertainment and Victorian-era story telling conventions. And for the mindset of Alan Moore, one of today's most eccentric and unusual graphic story authors (only Neil Gaiman comes close).
Screenwriter James Robinson originally gained a measure of fame and a fan following for his skillful revival of the obscure DC comics character "Starman". What distinguished "Starman" (besides wonderfully atmospheric pencils from Tony Harris) was that Robinson used the character (who was an antiques enthusiast and son of the original "Starman") as a way to make the entire series a tribute to how 'cool' and under-rated the original DC characters from the 40's and 50's really were, and could still be to modern readers if only they were given modern production values and a fresh viewing. It seems to me that Robinson was therefore a good choice to adapt Moore's 19th century heroic archetypes to the 21st century movie screen.
The results? Well...they're mixed. But I am not sure an 'unmixed' adaptation would be possible, so I count my blessings.
Purists will no doubt be irritated by the inclusion of Tom Sawyer and Dorian Gray, and by the decision to turn Mina into an actual vampiress. But I didn't have a problem with it, since I realized that the producers wanted American audiences to have someone to identify with, as well as opportunities to punch up the visuals with CGI. And Sean Connery's version of Allan Q is far more vigorous and adventuresome than the frail, elderly, opium-addicted fellow of the comics, so I am all for that too.
I've heard a lot of comments that the movie simply taxes the credulity of the audience, that there are too many plot holes, inconsistencies and "oh sure" moments. To which I reply: It's a movie about Victorian superheroes! It's set in an alternate FANTASY universe! What did you EXPECT??"
But the real problem is that there are simply too many characters doing too many things, and the viewer never really gets a chance to know or care about any of them...and the plot may test the patience of some people,even fans of "Steampunk" style fantasies. And let's face it, unlike "Spider-Man" and "X-Men" (and "Fantastic Four" later), the movie is pretty cold and emotionless. But I'm OK with that as well...these characters were straight out of the pulps and adventure magazines of the day, and "warm and fuzzy" was never their strong suit...or their appeal.
The director and the actors give it a serious, professional try - the acting is what it needs to be to get the characters across as Moore - or even Robert Louis Stevenson - originally intended, and everyone gets some good lines in. (My favorite is Mina's snarky mockery of Allan Q's "A Chase such as this is no place for a woman, even one such as yourself.")
LXG is one of the movies I will pick up as a used DVD for $5-$6 and watch on occasion with a glass or two of Watney's Red Barrel firmly clenched in my hand. It isn't perfect, but it's fun to look at and it's fun to watch unfold.
Screenwriter James Robinson originally gained a measure of fame and a fan following for his skillful revival of the obscure DC comics character "Starman". What distinguished "Starman" (besides wonderfully atmospheric pencils from Tony Harris) was that Robinson used the character (who was an antiques enthusiast and son of the original "Starman") as a way to make the entire series a tribute to how 'cool' and under-rated the original DC characters from the 40's and 50's really were, and could still be to modern readers if only they were given modern production values and a fresh viewing. It seems to me that Robinson was therefore a good choice to adapt Moore's 19th century heroic archetypes to the 21st century movie screen.
The results? Well...they're mixed. But I am not sure an 'unmixed' adaptation would be possible, so I count my blessings.
Purists will no doubt be irritated by the inclusion of Tom Sawyer and Dorian Gray, and by the decision to turn Mina into an actual vampiress. But I didn't have a problem with it, since I realized that the producers wanted American audiences to have someone to identify with, as well as opportunities to punch up the visuals with CGI. And Sean Connery's version of Allan Q is far more vigorous and adventuresome than the frail, elderly, opium-addicted fellow of the comics, so I am all for that too.
I've heard a lot of comments that the movie simply taxes the credulity of the audience, that there are too many plot holes, inconsistencies and "oh sure" moments. To which I reply: It's a movie about Victorian superheroes! It's set in an alternate FANTASY universe! What did you EXPECT??"
But the real problem is that there are simply too many characters doing too many things, and the viewer never really gets a chance to know or care about any of them...and the plot may test the patience of some people,even fans of "Steampunk" style fantasies. And let's face it, unlike "Spider-Man" and "X-Men" (and "Fantastic Four" later), the movie is pretty cold and emotionless. But I'm OK with that as well...these characters were straight out of the pulps and adventure magazines of the day, and "warm and fuzzy" was never their strong suit...or their appeal.
The director and the actors give it a serious, professional try - the acting is what it needs to be to get the characters across as Moore - or even Robert Louis Stevenson - originally intended, and everyone gets some good lines in. (My favorite is Mina's snarky mockery of Allan Q's "A Chase such as this is no place for a woman, even one such as yourself.")
LXG is one of the movies I will pick up as a used DVD for $5-$6 and watch on occasion with a glass or two of Watney's Red Barrel firmly clenched in my hand. It isn't perfect, but it's fun to look at and it's fun to watch unfold.