THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN
An uneven superhero adventure best saved for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
The premise is imaginative: Sean Connery’s Allan Quatermain joins six extraordinary figures from classic literature to stop a madman from starting a world war. The film has action set pieces, exotic locations, positive moral and redemptive elements, and a fatherly bond between Quatermain and Tom Sawyer.
But the movie never develops most of its heroes deeply enough, and its villain is not compelling enough to match Connery’s bigger-than-life presence. The source review says it fails to generate the emotional, dramatic power and richness of films such as Spider-Man and X-Men.
The content also makes this a poor family choice: very strong action violence, vampire attacks, references to Hinduism and witchdoctors, and other objectionable elements. Adults who are curious may wait for home viewing, but this is WAIT FOR HOME — ADULTS ONLY.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIn 1899, Allan Quatermain is recruited by a mysterious figure called “M” to help England stop a madman bent on starting a world war.
Quatermain gathers a remarkable team: Mina Harker, an invisible thief, Dorian Gray, Tom Sawyer, Captain Nemo, and Dr. Jekyll, who becomes the enormous Mr. Hyde after drinking his potion. Their mission carries them from Paris to Venice and finally toward a secret fortress in Mongolia, where a mechanized army is being built.
Is It Any Good?
Two stars means this is an uneven adventure with an original setup but limited emotional and dramatic power. The film opens well enough and offers action set pieces, unusual locations, and a highly original story drawn from familiar literary characters.
Sean Connery remains the film’s strongest element. The source review praises his grace, dignity, and grit in playing a bigger-than-life hero. But the movie does not spend enough time developing more than a couple of its superheroes, and the villain does not provide a strong enough dramatic opponent. As a result, the film may disappoint both comic-book fans and readers of the original graphic novel.
The Worldview
The film presents a mixed worldview. It includes some positive moral and redemptive or Christian elements, along with patriotic elements and a fatherly bond that grows between Quatermain and Tom Sawyer. Sawyer reminds Quatermain of his own dead son, making their relationship one of the story’s main emotional focuses.
The movie also includes references to Hinduism and witchdoctors, as well as occult elements. One Hindu character worships Kali, the goddess of death. Another character expresses humanist sentiments. These ideas sit alongside the film’s concern with stopping evil and its more positive moral themes.
The film’s central longing is for meaningful human connection, especially the bond between a father figure and a young man. Scripture presents God as the perfect Father: “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him” (Psalm 103:13).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Mixed pagan worldview with moral, redemptive, Christian, and occult elements, including positive references to God, Hindu character worships Kali the goddess of death, and references to witchdoctors, as well as some patriotic elements, and one selfish character expresses humanist sentiments; about 11 light obscenities and five light profanities, including use of British curse “bloody”; some very strong action violence, including lots of automatic gunfire, point blank shootings, explosions, lots of fist fighting, some martial arts fighting, vampire hero feasts on a couple victims and licks blood, man stabs vampire, chest wounds of immortal man disappear after he’s shot point blank, large Hulk-like creatures toss normal men around like toys, large Hulk-like creatures fight, several impalings, tanks crash through walls and fire cannons, buildings fall like dominoes, flame-thrower used against people, burning body, images of burnt flesh, and water floods ship; references to past sexual rendezvous; upper male nudity; alcohol use; brief smoking; and, light miscellaneous immoral elements, such as one hero is also a thief by vocation. GENRE: Science Fiction/Fantasy Pa B C O P H LL VVV S N A
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Quatermain’s relationship with Tom Sawyer grows through a fatherly bond. What responsibilities come with caring for someone younger or less experienced?
Ephesians 6:4 · Psalm 103:13The film places worship of Kali alongside references to God. Why does Scripture insist that worship belongs to God alone?
Exodus 20:3 · 1 Corinthians 10:14The League must unite to oppose a dangerous enemy. What does it mean to overcome evil without becoming shaped by evil?
Romans 12:21 · Ephesians 5:11One character expresses humanist sentiments. Where do you look for the source of truth, morality, and human dignity?
Proverbs 3:5–6 · John 14:6The Final Word
This imaginative literary-superhero adventure has Sean Connery’s dignity and grit, but it is emotionally thin and carries serious content concerns. Watch at home if you are an adult who remains interested; choose something else for children and young teens. Our verdict: WAIT FOR HOME — ADULTS ONLY. For better family options, see.
