In Episode 11 we set sail into the steampunk-infused seas of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. This 2003 film, directed by Stephen Norrington and based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill, assembles a team of Victorian literary figures to combat a global threat — and it deserves another look.
What Is The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen About?
Starring Sean Connery in his final film role, The League unites Allan Quatermain, Mina Harker, Captain Nemo, Dr. Jekyll, and others. Each brings a dark past and a unique ability to the team, set against a steampunk Europe teetering on the brink of war.
The Slept-On Cinema Case
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is not tidy, but tidiness would undersell what it attempts: a Victorian literary crossover staged like a proto-superhero team movie, packed with libraries, submarines, gadgets, monsters, and enough exposition to fuel an entire franchise. Stan and Grobe’s defense rests on abundance—the movie keeps giving you something designed, built, quoted, or argued over.
The first pick
Stan goes unexpectedly specific and takes the libraries first overall: Nemo’s, Dorian Gray’s, and the final castle collection all make the literary premise tactile. The pick gets at the hosts’ larger case—the production design often communicates the world better than the crowded plot does.
BOLOs
- Puns, Morpheus sunglasses, mutton chops, and an Austin Powers-style steamroller moment.
- Dieselpunk machinery, a golden gun, a recording disc, and an indoor flamethrower.
- A tiny shot glass, a great library ladder, Freemason symbols, and a questionable sound effect.
- An old tiger, a crotch stab, and the conspicuous scarcity of women with speaking roles.
Worth watching?
Yes, if you enjoy maximalist pulp more than clean franchise engineering. It should probably be shorter, and the storytelling can feel like a relay race of exposition, but its visual imagination and literary toy-box premise keep producing pleasures.
Production observation
The hosts recount a production nearly as unruly as the movie: Prague floods reportedly destroyed $7 million in sets and sank Nemo’s submarine, while Sean Connery and director Stephen Norrington clashed over the director’s painstaking setups. A roughly $70 million film still cleared $200 million worldwide, helped by international business and home video.
Keep the movie night going
- Last Action Hero for another expensive genre experiment with too many ideas.
- Snake Eyes for production design and camera craft with a tighter arena.
- Movies Critics Got Wrong for the larger reappraisal case.
- Shop Movie Optimist gear for the official tee and cap.
Why Critics Were Wrong
The film was ambitious in a way critics punished: it tried to ride the early-2000s ensemble-hero wave while injecting Victorian-era flair, blending icons from completely different stories into one narrative. That swing-for-the-fences quality is exactly what makes it worth revisiting.
Why It Works
Connery anchors the diverse cast with real weight and presence. Visually it's a feast — from the awe-inspiring Nautilus to gritty London streets — and that design work gives the film an aesthetic that still sets it apart in the genre. The behind-the-scenes production story (on-set tension, deviations from the source) is its own fascinating subplot.
BOLO
Be on the lookout for the Nautilus, Connery's Quatermain, and the steampunk production design.
The Bumper Sticker
The League: every great character, one impossible team.
Keep Rewatching the Cluster
FAQ
Who directed The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?
Stephen Norrington directed the 2003 film, based on Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill's graphic novel. It was Sean Connery's final film role.
Is The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen underrated?
Yes — its bold concept and steampunk design have earned it a devoted following despite a rocky original reception.
Tune in to our Slept-On Cinema episode on The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Hear the Full The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Reappraisal
Start spoiler-free, watch the movie, then come back for the Draft, BOLOs, one-change ideas, and the full case from Stan Steamer and GrobeStreet.
Listen to the The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen episode of Slept-On Cinema
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