The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)

Today has been a long day. Between a field trip to the ATC Tower, softball, Soccer and a miserable storm, I could not wait for the day to end. Once I finished my stuff for Steelers 101 and posted a short story in my class, I decided it was time to finish the review for one of the last flicks I watched, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen from 2003.

Plot/ In an alternate Victorian Age world, a group of famous contemporary fantasy, Sci-Fi and adventure characters team up on a secret mission.

Having not read the comic or graphic novel, I had no preconceived notion about this movie. What I found was a fun and interesting journey into a fantasy world that I would love to be a part of. Sure, some may not like the over-the-top storyline, the strange mixture of characters, and the crazy steampunk influenced weaponry, but those are off base and extremely too serious. This movie is entertaining with some solid performances, a great cast, and a fun atmosphere. In the end, it is definitely not for everyone, but it is an entertaining movie that should not be taken seriously. Open your mind, suspend reality, and give it a shot!

Dorian Gray (2009)

  

After a long day searching for items for my ETSY page, I sat down to see what I could find on the different movie channels I subscribe to. What I found was 2009s Dorian Gray.

Plot/ A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty eternally, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all.

Honestly, I had no idea what to expect with this film. It seems that this is one of the more polarizing films that have come out in recent years. After watching it, I totally understand why. To me, it has to be the way the movie strayed from the literary classic, creating characters and a large amount of nudity (not to mention the misguided classification as a horror flick). The cinematography and atmosphere are very good, not to mention some decent performances within this surreal-like thriller. However, there are times where the plot seems to disappear and the pacing seems off, almost crawling. In the end, this movie as a stand-alone thriller is worth watching. Unfortunately, while inspired by the classic tale, this adaptation does a poor job capturing the beauty of Oscar Wilde’s Victorian masterpiece and should be viewed with that in mind.