Sean Connery, Richard Roxborough, Tony Curran, Peta Wilson, Jason Flemying, Stuart Townsend, Shane West and ABOVE all (for Indian Viewers) Naseeruddin Shah. Amazing line up of stars. So what do you expect an awesome warfare, thrills to chill down your spine, adrenaline rushing…. do you get it?
Well that’s a good question to ask, once you have seen the movie.
Produced by Don Murphy and Trevor Albert, written by James Dale Robinson, Directed by Stephen Norrington this fare has it’s share of well executed scenes and a bad (Yes Bad is the word) direction. Mission is to; save the Leaders of the world from the Catastrophic and Dominic chain of explosion set up by Fantom (Masked Man), in Venice, Italy and 9 hours is all they have. So who is going to take up this task…The Superheroes of the story led by a world famous Hunter.
The list of Superheroes includes Invisible man- Rodney Skinner (Tony Curran), American secret services agent- Tom Sawyer (Shane West), Dr. Jekyll/ alter ego Dr. Hyde (Jason Flemying), Dorian Grey (Stuart Townsend), Dracula Vampiress Mina Harker (Peta Wilson), Captain Nemo- Pirate of a sort (Naseruddin Shah), LED by world’s greatest adventurer- Allan Quatermain (Sean Connery). Gee! Did I forget someone, Yes, M (Richard Roxborough), he is the one who gives them this mission (as by the orders of the Queen) and gets them together.
Now, the team has to get used to each other’s working behaviour and attitude. They all think different and are mutual on just one point, THERE IS A TRAITOR AMONGST US! The skepticism about an Indian who prays to Kali, the Goddess of Death shifts to an Invisible man who cannot be seen until he is not dressed. So, who is it…. come on I’m not going to spoil the fun for you!
Well, we liked Sean Connery better in “Entrapment” he did take up a mission there too. Richard Roxborough played a role similar in looks to the one in “Moulin Rouge”. Peta Wilson she was good as a wife of a Doctor or a scientist, playing Vampiress hmmm…they miss depth in the characterization of this one. Ok, it is not only in this one, I agree. The others like Invisible man; he just tried a formula and could never get out of the invisible mode. Dorian Grey, aha! He is invincible. Tom Sawyer, a secret agent from America, so how important was this angle NOT AT ALL. Captain Nemo, contrary to the belief I don’t think he was playing a side kick at all. He is one of the fortunate Indian actors who get the meaty role and lots of dialogues. Captain Nemo provides all the mechanical transportation. Be it a submarine or a car, I’m talking about 1899 pals.
The movie starts well with a lot of action and adventure in its Pandora box. As it progresses you realize it is heading nowhere. Even the scene where the suspense is broken has not been handled well. As the director Stephen Norrington, has been a special effects supervisor, he has taken care of that only. Let me reiterate the movie does not have a bad story, it is more or less the screenplay and the direction due to which everyone suffers. The sets are good, but to the some bad special effects look a too phony at times. Especially the township of Venice, Italy seems unrealistic too. The huge submarine named Nautilus that takes them from London to their final destination hosts an idol of Kali and on top it has a Shivling, any takers.
The definition of movie making is yet to be known. The actors have performed their parts well, but it gets a little tedious at times. No one has been given an emotional approach to the character they are portraying. It is all on Allan (Sean) to express to lead and then to fight against evil. What was the mission and what is the mission. What do they and how do they do (here THEY means the baddies). The screenplay could have been simpler and more involving. Rather I would correct myself there, Evolving.
I would give the production designer full marks for getting the Indian feel in a Hollywood flick. The architecture inside the submarine is awesome. It is amazing! The only problem is that it might remind you of Art Direction of “Devdas”. Cinematography is just ok. The music is again not of great reviews to written, kind. Action, this one is a mess.
It is big, huge, a magnum opus, NO. I really do not know what should I call it. I liked Invisible Man’s character; he was funny and conspicuous by his invisibility. Watch it if you want to, but only in a cinema hall, as I did. On a pirated VCD it might get a little difficult to understand, as it is already.