| 首頁 Home | 電影 Films | 評論 Opinions | 戲院 Cinemas | 資訊 Information | 網站地圖 Site Map

首頁 -> 電影 -> 香港每年上映電影 ->
Home -> Films -> Films Released in Hong Kong by Year ->


開畫日期 Release Date   
片長（分鐘） Running Time (Min.)  
級別 Category  
上映戲院（首週） Cinema Line-Up  (First Week)  

< 偷 天 陷 阱 > 辛 康 納 利
奧 斯 卡 最 佳 特 技 視 覺 效 果 <22 世 紀 殺 人 網 絡 > 珍 歷 斯 雅 士
< 幽 靈 刺 客 > 史 提 芬 諾 寧 頓 導 演

奇 幻 兵 團 LXG
THE LEAGUE
OF
EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN

9 月 4 日 天 降 奇 兵

神 秘 的 M 先 生 到 處 召 集 天 賦 異 能 的 奇 人 異 士 ， 為 的 是 保 衛 大 英 帝 國 ， 繼 而 拯 救 地 球 。 他 召 集 了 一 行 七 人 的 奇 幻 兵 團 ， 包 括 了 槍 法 如 神 、 堪 稱 世 界 上 最 偉 大 冒 險 家 獵 人 王 艾 倫 確 特 曼 ， 以 他 為 首 率 領 有 豐 富 航 海 經 驗 並 對 機 械 建 設 瞭 如 指 掌 的 超 智 者 尼 摩 船 長 、 不 死 的 德 古 拉 吸 血 姬 美 娜 夏 加 、 隱 形 士 洛 利 士 堅 拿 、 長 生 不 老 的 幽 靈 客 杜 利 恩 格 雷 、 擁 有 豐 富 歷 險 經 驗 及 偵 探 頭 腦 的 追 捕 手 湯 姆 梳 亞 及 變 形 魔 亨 利 傑 克 博 士 / 愛 德 華 海 德 。

他 們 這 次 的 任 務 不 容 有 失 ， 每 人 雖 擁 有 不 同 的 背 景 與 過 去 ， 各 懷 目 的 ， 卻 要 互 相 投 以 百 分 之 二 百 的 信 任 。 時 間 緊 迫 ， 這 隊 奇 幻 兵 團 乘 坐 尼 摩 船 長 的 超 凡 潛 艦 " 羅 德 勒 斯 號 " 往 威 尼 斯 對 付 魅 影 。 魅 影 就 是 策 劃 搗 亂 在 那 裏 舉 行 的 世 界 領 袖 組 織 高 峰 會 議 ， 他 建 立 了 一 個 毀 滅 地 球 的 武 器 王 國 ， 引 發 一 連 串 爆 炸 。 奇 幻 兵 團 卻 從 中 揭 發 了 魅 影 的 真 正 面 目 ， 更 要 面 對 兵 團 成 員 的 背 叛 ， 究 竟 這 隊 奇 幻 兵 團 能 否 化 險 為 夷 對 抗 死 敵 ？

特 技 細 緻 ， 效 果 超 卓

《 奇 幻 兵 團 LXG 》 是 改 編 自 艾 倫 摩 亞 及 卡 芬 奧 尼 爾 的 著 名 漫 畫 ， 7 位 主 角 皆 脫 胎 自 各 大 著 名 小 說 ， 如 吸 血 姬 、 隱 形 士 等 皆 耳 熟 能 詳 。 由 善 於 處 理 特 技 動 作 的 《 幽 靈 刺 客 》 導 演 史 提 芬 諾 寧 頓 執 導 。 5 個 多 月 的 拍 攝 大 部 分 於 布 拉 格 取 景 ， 其 他 地 方 包 括 馬 爾 他 及 洛 杉 磯 等 。

本 片 對 視 覺 效 果 要 求 甚 高 ， 皆 因 特 技 效 果 總 監 乃 憑 藉 《 22 世 紀 殺 人 網 絡 》 而 勇 奪 奧 斯 卡 最 佳 特 技 視 覺 效 果 大 獎 的 珍 歷 斯 雅 士 。 單 是 大 型 場 景 便 有 58 個 ， 而 尼 摩 船 長 的 超 科 幻 水 底 皇 宮 及 龐 大 的 街 景 便 動 用 了 超 過 200 名 製 作 人 員 建 成 。 " 羅 德 勒 斯 號 " 內 裏 的 設 計 其 實 是 在 一 個 超 大 的 船 塢 貨 倉 內 動 工 ， 他 是 尼 摩 船 長 的 完 美 世 界 ， 所 以 裝 璜 極 盡 華 麗 。 在 拍 攝 期 間 ， 這 艘 " 潛 艦 " 卻 諷 刺 地 遇 到 布 拉 格 130 年 來 最 嚴 重 的 水 災 ， 浸 沒 了 整 個 貨 倉 ， 水 位 至 20 尺 高 ， 毀 壞 了 內 裏 所 有 的 東 西 ， 包 括 特 技 中 心 、 道 具 、 服 裝 等 。 幸 而 當 時 已 安 排 移 到 馬 爾 他 繼 續 拍 攝 ， 才 不 致 影 響 拍 攝 進 度 。

代 表 著 變 形 魔 亨 利 傑 克 博 士 邪 惡 一 面 的 愛 德 華 海 德 ， 他 是 一 個 9 尺 高 的 怪 物 ， 由 一 位 身 高 6 尺 的 男 子 穿 上 45 磅 重 的 道 具 衫 及 需 要 拉 線 才 能 活 動 的 手 臂 ， 為 求 迫 真 ， 單 單 是 愛 德 華 海 德 這 套 戲 服 便 需 時 12 小 時 製 造 ， 30 技 術 人 員 合 作 ， 8 個 主 要 配 件 及 5,900 件 活 動 小 組 去 製 造 手 腕 及 手 指 。 每 次 拍 攝 需 要 足 足 7 小 時 化 妝 ， 每 根 在 人 造 頭 皮 上 的 頭 髮 都 是 用 人 手 釘 上 ， 而 每 塊 價 值 5,000 美 元 的 人 造 頭 皮 只 能 用 一 次 。 每 次 拍 攝 愛 德 華 海 德 時 都 需 要 用 不 同 的 特 技 攝 影 機 拍 攝 ， 相 當 講 究 。

奇 幻 兵 團 七 大 成 員

獵 人 王 艾 倫 確 特 曼 -- 辛 康 納 利 飾 演
強 項 : 無 敵 槍 擊 手 、 大 無 畏 、 具 領 導 才 能
弱 點 : 善 變
出 自 經 典 小 說 : King Solomon ' s Mines (By H.Rider Haggard)

大 無 畏 的 冒 險 家 艾 倫 確 特 曼 ， 曾 對 抗 無 數 頑 強 的 敵 人 ， 當 中 包 括 人 類 與 猛 獸 。 他 手 持 的 非 洲 狩 獵 來 福 槍 是 當 時 最 長 身 的 手 槍 並 且 是 極 度 危 險 的 武 器 ， 它 能 遠 距 離 及 高 速 發 射 ， 威 力 勁 至 能 一 槍 毀 滅 400 碼 外 的 目 標 。 艾 倫 懂 得 在 極 度 惡 劣 環 境 下 的 生 存 之 道 ， 在 蠻 荒 的 地 方 仍 能 有 強 烈 的 方 向 感 ， 再 加 上 他 冷 靜 的 頭 腦 ， 成 就 他 為 兵 團 的 領 袖 。

超 智 者 尼 摩 船 長 -- 拿 斯 魯 甸 山 飾 演
強 項 : 天 才 發 明 家 、 有 紀 律 、 勇 敢 、 有 毅 力
弱 點 : 獨 行 俠 、 多 疑
出 自 經 典 小 說 : 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (By Jules Verne)

集 科 學 家 、 機 械 家 、 發 明 家 、 自 由 主 義 者 及 海 盜 於 一 身 的 尼 摩 船 長 ， 曾 遊 歷 世 界 各 地 ， 他 自 小 跟 隨 父 親 航 海 去 探 索 海 洋 的 奧 秘 。 超 凡 的 " 羅 德 勒 斯 號 " 更 是 他 親 手 鑄 造 的 快 速 致 命 潛 艦 。 為 保 衛 自 己 國 家 ( 印 度 ) 人 民 的 自 由 而 戰 的 關 係 ， 他 發 明 了 一 系 列 精 銳 的 武 器 及 擁 有 一 支 忠 心 不 移 的 英 勇 水 軍 ， 令 他 成 為 這 隊 兵 團 的 技 術 統 籌 。 他 參 與 此 戰 的 目 的 就 是 想 大 英 最 後 能 還 回 印 度 自 由 。

吸 血 姬 美 娜 夏 加 -- 彼 達 韋 遜 飾 演
強 項 : 聰 穎 果 敢 、 有 超 凡 人 力 量 、 不 死 、 戰 無 不 勝 、 能 與 動 物 溝 通
弱 點 : 害 怕 強 光 、 嗜 血
出 自 經 典 小 說 : Dracula (By Bram Stoker)

兵 團 中 唯 一 的 女 成 員 ， 其 他 的 團 員 可 能 認 為 美 娜 身 為 女 性 ， 便 需 要 他 們 的 保 護 。 其 實 美 娜 是 一 個 戰 士 及 預 言 者 。 她 是 黑 暗 僅 餘 的 勢 力 ， 就 在 一 次 遭 吸 血 殭 屍 德 古 拉 吸 血 以 後 ， 便 由 普 通 的 小 婦 人 變 成 女 吸 血 殭 屍 ， 為 她 帶 來 無 比 的 力 量 。

隱 形 士 洛 利 士 堅 拿 -- 東 尼 卻 能 飾 演
強 項 : 隱 形 、 善 於 偷 竊 、 犯 罪 技 術 高 超
弱 點 : 賊 性 難 改
出 自 經 典 小 說 : The Invisible Man (By H.G. Wells)

自 稱 為 「 紳 士 小 偷 」 的 洛 利 士 堅 拿 ， 他 在 偷 取 隱 形 藥 時 不 慎 令 自 己 遭 殃 ， 從 此 便 成 為 隱 形 人 ， 他 參 與 是 次 兵 團 的 任 務 實 是 為 著 一 己 之 私 ─ 希 望 取 得 解 藥 。 洛 利 的 態 度 與 行 為 令 人 生 厭 ， 但 他 的 隱 形 特 質 是 兵 團 的 重 要 武 器 。

幽 靈 客 杜 利 恩 格 雷 -- 史 超 活 湯 辛 飾 演
強 項 : 不 死 、 風 度 翩 翩 、 富 有
弱 點 : 自 私 、 無 良 心 、 不 道 德
出 自 經 典 小 說 : A Picture Of Dorian Gray (By Oscar Wilde)

迷 人 的 杜 利 恩 格 雷 是 一 位 自 傲 的 貴 族 ， 他 害 怕 看 見 自 己 年 華 老 去 的 樣 子 ， 年 少 時 畫 了 一 幅 自 畫 像 ， 將 靈 魂 藏 於 畫 中 ， 並 許 下 不 老 不 死 的 願 望 ： 只 有 畫 中 人 方 會 年 老 而 他 的 真 身 永 遠 年 青 。 他 的 願 望 真 的 實 現 了 ， 每 年 他 的 畫 中 人 都 會 年 長 ， 而 他 的 惡 行 亦 應 驗 於 畫 中 靈 魂 日 漸 腐 朽 。 他 基 本 上 是 打 不 死 ， 為 了 贖 罪 才 加 入 兵 團 ， 希 望 能 拯 救 大 英 帝 國 ， 拯 救 自 己 。

追 捕 手 湯 姆 梳 亞 -- 桑 韋 斯 特 飾 演
強 項 : 超 凡 槍 擊 手 、 善 於 搏 擊 、 勇 敢
弱 點 : 衝 動 、 無 知
出 自 經 典 小 說 : The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn(By Mark Twain)

在 密 西 西 比 河 遊 歷 多 年 ， 揭 發 無 數 兇 殺 案 ， 甚 至 發 掘 出 寶 藏 來 ， 湯 姆 的 偵 探 頭 腦 得 到 美 國 政 府 的 垂 青 ， 羅 致 他 成 為 國 際 偵 探 。 作 為 美 國 最 新 成 立 秘 密 組 織 的 成 員 ， 湯 姆 有 特 權 動 用 頂 尖 部 隊 去 完 成 任 務 。 他 雖 然 沒 有 超 人 的 異 能 ， 卻 有 闖 槍 林 彈 雨 的 勇 氣 ， 為 兵 團 帶 來 新 衝 擊 。

變 形 魔 亨 利 傑 克 博 士 / 愛 德 華 海 德 -- 積 遜 費 明 飾 演
強 項 : 無 敵 科 學 頭 腦 ( 人 性 ) 、 力 大 無 比 ( 獸 性 )
弱 點 : 軟 弱 ( 人 性 ) 、 不 受 控 制 ( 獸 性 )
出 自 經 典 小 說 : The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde(By Robert Louis Stevenson)

亨 利 傑 克 博 士 不 斷 鑽 研 人 的 雙 重 性 格 ， 尋 找 人 性 的 醜 惡 ， 深 信 自 己 能 把 人 性 的 善 與 惡 分 開 ， 亨 利 傑 克 於 是 用 自 己 作 為 實 驗 品 ， 結 果 成 功 把 自 己 潛 藏 的 獸 性 抽 出 變 為 兇 殘 的 怪 物 愛 德 華 海 德 ， 愛 德 華 海 德 從 此 凌 駕 亨 利 傑 克 ， 成 為 他 的 主 人 。 利 用 亨 利 傑 克 博 士 獸 性 的 一 面 是 非 常 危 險 ， 他 能 擔 任 兵 團 破 壞 力 極 強 的 戰 士 ， 同 時 亦 威 脅 著 兵 團 本 身 的 安 危 。

《 奇 幻 兵 團 LXG 》 角 色 對 名 表

English Name  中 文 譯 名  別 名
League 奇 幻 兵 團  
Allan Quartermain 艾 倫 確 特 曼 獵 人 王
Captain Nemo 尼 摩 船 長 超 智 者
Tom Sawyer 湯 姆 梳 亞 追 捕 手
Dr Henry Jekyll 亨 利 傑 克 博 士 變 形 魔
Mr. Edward Hyde 愛 德 華 海 德  
Mina Harker 美 娜 夏 加 吸 血 姬
Dorian Gray 杜 利 恩 格 雷 幽 靈 客
Rodney Skinner 格 利 士 堅 拿  隱 形 士
Fantom 魅 影  
Professor James Moriarty 占 士 莫 里 亞 提 教 授   

幕 前 靈 魂

辛 康 納 利 參 選 環 球 先 生 出 身 ， 繼 而 晉 身 模 特 兒 行 列 ， 最 後 更 躍 上 大 銀 幕 成 為 男 演 員 ， 1954 年 演 出 第 一 部 電 影 ， 直 至 他 接 拍 第 一 部 占 士 邦 系 列 的 電 影 開 始 紅 遍 國 際 。 當 年 首 部 占 士 邦 電 影 《 鐵 金 剛 勇 破 神 秘 島 》 (1962) ， 只 是 一 部 低 成 本 的 製 作 ， 卻 奠 定 了 占 士 邦 在 電 影 史 上 經 典 地 位 ， 亦 令 辛 康 納 利 延 續 了 多 年 的 經 典 ， 包 括 《 鐵 金 剛 勇 破 間 諜 網 》 (1963) 、 《 鐵 金 剛 大 戰 金 手 指 》 (1964) 、 《 鐵 金 剛 勇 破 魔 鬼 黨 》 (1965) 、 《 鐵 金 剛 勇 破 火 箭 嶺 》 (1967) 、 《 鐵 金 剛 勇 破 鑽 石 黨 》 (1971) 及 《 鐵 金 剛 勇 奪 巡 航 導 彈 》 (1983) 等 。 其 後 辛 康 納 利 亦 演 出 多 部 賣 座 電 影 ， 包 括 《 聖 戰 奇 兵 》 、 《 追 擊 赤 色 十 月 》 、 《 石 破 天 驚 》 、 《 偷 天 陷 阱 》 等 ， 《 義 膽 雄 心 》 更 令 辛 康 納 利 榮 獲 奧 斯 卡 及 金 球 獎 最 佳 男 配 角 。 年 過 70 的 辛 康 納 利 魅 力 不 凡 ， 魄 力 依 然 ， 除 了 為 本 片 飾 演 艾 倫 確 特 曼 一 角 外 ， 亦 擔 當 執 行 監 製 這 項 重 任 。

其 餘 的 演 員 包 括 有 《 流 星 初 戀 》 的 桑 韋 斯 特 、 《 幽 靈 刺 客 2 變 種 復 活 》 《 珍 珠 港 》 及 《 帝 國 驕 雄 》 的 東 尼 卻 能 、 < 鬼 潛 艇 > 的 積 遜 費 明 、 著 名 美 國 電 視 劇 La Femme Nikita 女 主 角 彼 達 韋 遜 、 《 Monsoon Wedding 》 的 拿 斯 魯 甸 山 、 《 情 陷 紅 磨 坊 》 的 理 察 洛 斯 堡 及 《 屍 纏 妖 后 》 史 超 活 湯 辛 等 ， 各 具 特 色 ， 陣 容 頂 盛 。

幕 後 功 臣

本 片 漫 畫 原 作 者 是 出 生 自 英 國 的 艾 倫 摩 亞 ， 他 的 另 一 著 名 漫 畫 < 屠 出 地 獄 > 亦 曾 拍 成 電 影 並 深 受 歡 迎 。 他 年 少 時 家 境 窮 困 ， 在 18 歲 時 未 完 成 中 學 課 程 便 與 朋 友 合 作 出 版 Embryo 雜 誌 ， 直 至 他 26 歲 時 便 為 著 名 音 樂 周 刊 Sounds 畫 漫 畫 ， 他 隨 後 亦 有 參 與 Doctor Who 周 刊 的 漫 畫 工 作 。 他 最 重 要 的 兩 部 傑 作 Marvelman( 美 國 譯 作 Miracleman) 及 V For Vendetta 更 為 艾 倫 摩 亞 分 別 在 1982 年 及 1983 年 帶 來 British Eagle Awards 最 佳 漫 畫 創 作 人 大 獎 。 艾 倫 摩 亞 的 漫 畫 創 作 才 華 招 徠 了 美 國 的 垂 青 ， 他 首 部 美 國 漫 畫 系 列 Saga of the Swamp Thing 踏 出 成 功 的 第 一 步 。 他 的 創 作 不 斷 挑 戰 高 難 度 ， 取 材 範 疇 很 廣 ， 包 括 槍 械 、 種 族 及 核 廢 料 等 敏 感 題 材 ， 而 艾 倫 在 1986 年 把 自 己 的 創 作 Watchman 重 新 包 裝 ， 跟 Frank Miller 的 蝙 蝠 俠 大 玩 Crossover ， 創 作 出 The Dark Knight Returns 。 Watchman 更 是 首 本 漫 畫 獲 得 尊 貴 的 Hugo Award 。 1988 年 ， 艾 倫 摩 亞 轉 向 出 版 界 發 展 ， 成 立 了 Mad Love Publishing 。 近 期 艾 倫 摩 亞 以 America ' s Best Comics (ABC) 重 新 投 入 漫 畫 創 作 ， 而 《 奇 幻 兵 團 LXG 》 便 是 其 中 的 傑 作 ， 更 被 選 為 2002 年 最 佳 漫 畫 書 。

導 演 史 提 芬 諾 寧 頓 對 於 拍 攝 改 編 自 漫 畫 的 電 影 可 謂 手 到 拿 來 ， 早 年 執 導 同 樣 改 編 自 著 名 漫 畫 的 《 幽 靈 刺 客 》 ， 一 上 映 旋 即 登 上 美 國 票 房 冠 軍 ， 並 且 蟬 聯 兩 週 ， 深 受 美 國 年 青 人 歡 迎 。 其 實 史 提 芬 諾 寧 頓 曾 參 與 電 影 幕 前 幕 後 多 個 崗 位 ， 當 中 包 括 《 異 形 》 的 特 技 效 果 ， 難 怪 他 執 導 這 些 充 滿 特 技 的 漫 畫 改 編 電 影 能 這 樣 揮 灑 自 如 。 而 本 片 的 特 技 效 果 總 監 珍 歷 斯 雅 士 ， 曾 憑 藉 《 22 世 紀 殺 人 網 絡 》 而 勇 奪 奧 斯 卡 最 佳 特 技 視 覺 效 果 大 獎 ， 定 必 令 本 片 的 官 能 刺 激 大 大 提 高 。

主 演 :    < 偷 天 陷 阱 > 辛 康 納 利
< 夠 殭 人 魔 > 桑 韋 斯 特
< 屍 纏 妖 后 > 史 超 活 湯 辛
彼 達 韋 遜
< 鬼 潛 艇 > 積 遜 費 明
音 樂 :  < 驚 天 13 日 > 卓 華 鍾 斯
聯 合 監 製 :  < 羅 密 歐 與 茱 麗 葉 後 現 代 激 情 篇 > 米 高 尼 遜
剪 接 : <3x 反 恐 暴 族 > 保 羅 胡 比 爾 ,A.C.E.
美 術 : < 幽 靈 刺 客 > 嘉 露 史 柏 亞
攝 影 : < 夜 驚 客 > 丹 羅 斯 徹 辛
執 行 監 製 :  < 魔 女 搵 老 襯 > 卓 華 艾 拔
麥 克 哥 頓
辛 康 納 利
監 製 : < 屠 出 地 獄 > 當 梅 菲
原 著 漫 畫 : < 屠 出 地 獄 > 亞 倫 摩 亞
奇 雲 奧 尼 爾
編 劇 :  占 士 迪 爾 羅 賓 遜
導 演 : < 幽 靈 刺 客 > 史 提 芬 諾 寧 頓
特 技 效 果 總 監 :  <22 世 紀 殺 人 網 絡 > 珍 歷 斯 雅 士
發 行 : 二 十 世 紀 霍 士 公 司

Sean Connery stars as Allan Quatermain, the world's greatest adventurer, who leads a legion of superheroes the likes of which the world has never seen, in THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN.

Quatermain's extraordinary League is comprised of Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah), Dracula vampiress Mina Harker (Peta Wilson), an invisible man Rodney Skinner (Tony Curran), American secret service agent Sawyer (Shane West), Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend), and Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde (Jason Flemyng). Richard Roxburgh ("Moulin Rouge") plays the League's enigmatic recruiter, M.

The League members are staunch individualists, outcasts in fact, with checkered pasts and singular gifts that have been both blessing and curse. Now they must learn to trust each other and work as a team for the very hope of civilization. With little preparation and no time to lose, they will be transported via Captain Nemo's extraordinary submarine, the Nautilus, to the frontline of defense: Venice, Italy. There, a masked madman known as the Fantom plans to sabotage a conference of world leaders by setting off a domino chain of explosions, sinking the entire city. The threat is catastrophic, the risks are staggering. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen has 9�� hours to save the world…

Based on the acclaimed comic books by Alan Moore (From Hell) and Kevin O' Neill, the film is directed by Stephen Norrington ("Blade") from a screenplay by James Dale Robinson. Don Murphy ("From Hell," "Natural Born Killers") and Trevor Albert ("Groundhog Day," "Bedazzled") are the producers, and Sean Connery and Mark Gordon ("Saving Private Ryan") are executive producers. The co-producer is Michael Nelson.

Principal photography on the 20-week shoot occurred almost entirely in Prague, with additional shooting in Malta and Los Angeles.

THE STORY

At the apex of the Industrial Age, a merciless oppressor has developed and deployed frightening new weaponry in a diabolical plan to place the world at his disposal. Combating this threat are the anomalous attributes of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

"Superheroes before there were superheroes," says director Stephen Norrington.

Along with their preternatural gifts, it is the League's very human traits - courage, loyalty, honor and sacrifice - that will be called upon to defeat the technological terror wielded by the man known as "The Fantom."

"The story is a fun and �{spirited fantasy, but it also points out the dangers of one person, or one country, assuming the right of invincibility," says screenwriter James Dale Robinson.

Producer Don Murphy, whose lifelong love of comic books has helped him forge relationships with some of the genre's best-known figures, got a sneak peek of the comic books by Alan Moore in 1998. It was one of several concepts Moore was developing for his new line, ABC (America's Best Comics).

"I was chatting with Alan, who I think is a creative genius, about a number of things, and casually asked him, 'Well, what else are you working on?'" Murphy recalls. "He told me about his idea for 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,' which I thought was brilliant. He sent me a treatment, which I brought to Fox, where I was doing another Moore project, 'From Hell.' Fox got behind the story immediately, and we put it into development within a matter of weeks."

Murphy and studio executives turned to the comic book world again for screenwriter Robinson, himself a friend of Moore's and a well-respected graphic novelist. Robinson relished the opportunity to adapt his colleague's work to the screen.

"Alan has the ability to rethink existing properties and turn them on their head," states Robinson. "His source material has a dark and somewhat amoral tone, and a very British sensibility, which appeals to me. The singular and disparate League members, all accustomed to reigning supreme in their own milieu, must somehow forge an alliance."

The members of the League enter their union with inherent suspicion toward one another. Quatermain views Nemo as a lawless menace on the high seas, while the Indian naval captain sees the former as an embodiment of the hated British imperialism that led him to build and seek refuge in his remarkable submarine. The immortal Dorian Gray is the estranged former lover of Mina Harker, while Skinner and Dr. Jekyll are societal freaks - metaphoric mutations spawned by unchecked, unprincipled advances in science and technology. Strange bedfellows, to say the least.

Says Sean Connery, "A man like Allan Quatermain allied to Dorian Gray creates an interesting chemistry. The conflicting characters in this story are a heady mix."

Perhaps no one else in the League is more defined by his past than Quatermain, whom Connery describes as "an instinctive, old�{fashioned character embodying a different era." Once an avowed proponent of Her Majesty's government, Quatermain is now a disillusioned and idle legend. Quatermain is introduced in Nairobi inside the dusty, sunlight-streamed Britania Club: a quiet respite from the relentless African heat. Here, British expats remember past glories and drink gin amidst faded trappings that portend an Empire whose sun is beginning to set.

Avowing to hasten that sunset is the fiendish meglonomaniac known as the Fantom. It falls to the mysterious British intelligence agent, M (Richard Roxburgh), to counter the Fantom with a team of singular individuals he recruits through inducement, threat or plea.

Quatermain is lured by the opportunity to fight, perhaps for the final time, the good fight. Nemo is offered amnesty for charges of high treason, while Mina Harker is secured by an offer of a breakthrough treatment for her peculiar medical condition. Likewise Rodney Skinner, the invisible "gentlemen thief." Dorian Gray is swayed by the feminine charms of Mina Harker, which he hopes to enjoy in the intimate manner he formerly did. Gray is not, however, the only one casting an admiring eye towards Mina. The dashing young American secret service agent known as Sawyer, who joins the League of his own accord, is immediately smitten, though he is as of yet unaware of her nocturnal tendencies.

Adding the straight-shooting Sawyer to the mix was one of Robinson's chief tasks in broadening Alan Moore's story. The young man soon comes to view Quatermain as a father figure, and the special bond that forms between them becomes perhaps the most vital link in the group.

The story's most dynamic link is between the dual personas of Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde. The film's version of Hyde is a nine-foot-tall towering mass of menacing power. As the alter ego of the timid and repressed Dr. Jekyll, who yearns to escape the extreme constraints placed upon gentlemen, Mr. Hyde is a brutish, uninhibited monstrosity driven by the basest instincts and darkest desires of the human soul.

As the League discovers, it is difficult and dangerous to deny a monster his pleasures.

Able to vanquish a score of men with minimal effort, Hyde's ferocity instills awe and fear among those witnessing his unleashed fury.

"All of the characters' attributes and special abilities have been ramped up in the film," says Don Murphy. "Essentially, they've been 'superhero-sized.'"

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTERS

ALLAN QUATERMAIN (Sean Connery) is a fearless hunter, adventurer, and fighter. He has fought every imaginable enemy, man and beast, and brings deep experience and precise lethality to the League. It is his job to keep the team together - no matter how impossible that may seem.

The African safari rifle that Quatermain wields is just like the man himself - extremely dangerous. One of the longest handheld guns of the time, this long range, high velocity hunting rifle fires an ordinance with enough fire power to spin, shred, shock, and destroy a moving target with one blast from 400 yards.

Quatermain has led great bands of adventurers through unknown and secret lands hidden deep within the ancient jungles of Africa and returned to tell the tale. His intuitions have been finely tuned by a lifetime in the wilderness. Quatermain rarely makes mistakes or gets lost, even in the wildest and strangest locations. Finding a way through the strangest and most dangerous territories, he uses his brain like the most cutting-edge of human technologies.

In the stalwart Quatermain, the League has acquired a leader with steely nerves, quiet determination and the instincts of a great hunter. All of his strengths and experience will be required to capture the deadliest foe the world has yet seen.

Scientist, mechanic, engineer, inventor, freedom fighter, and pirate, CAPTAIN NEMO (Naseeruddin Shah) has seen the world over and over, from above and below.

Nemo's career as a worldwide adventurer began at a young age, when he left the comfort of his shipbuilding father to journey into the great sea of mystery. In his career, Nemo has seen wonders that have been hidden to all other eyes, fought creatures long thought imaginary, and transported himself in ways previously thought impossible.

Nemo built from scratch the greatest inventions ever seen, including the Nautilus, Sword of the Ocean. A tremendous underwater vehicle, the Nautilus is fast, elegant and deadly.

A true enemy to oppression, Nemo has waged a personal war against War itself. Often considered a pirate by those who have heard of his attacks on Imperialist British ships, Nemo is in fact a freedom fighter, dedicated to bringing down the British Empire and pushing them out of his native country, India. To this end, he has assembled not only his amazing array of weapons and inventions, but also a small army who serve as his renegade security force and ship's crew. Nemo is the technological heart of the Extraordinary Gentlemen.

If all he brought to the League was the Nautilus, that alone would be more than enough to tip the scales in their favor. But Nemo's collection of weapons and devices seems infinite, the loyalty of his men unwavering, and his skills in hand-to-hand combat are astounding. He has learned the secret techniques of the deadliest fighters on Earth.

Nemo is driven by his quest for freedom - his interest in the League is practical. If his mission is successful, he hopes that he will be able to move Britain to loosen their oppressive shackles from his people.

As the only woman member of the League of Extraordinary Gentleman, some might consider MINA HARKER (Peta Wilson) to be vulnerable in the face of the Fantom's might. Quatermain does. But as she avows to an enemy soldier, it would be a "mistake thinking I need [the League] to protect me." In a time when women are meant to be seen and never heard, Harker is both a warrior and visionary.

Mina is the sole survivor of a mysterious horror that crept through the sinister London fog. When she emerged from the darkness she was reborn as a powerful, terrifying creature of the night.

Mina was once Mina Murray, an assistant schoolmistress married to the young and prosperous bank clerk Jonathan Harker. One fateful business trip, Harker set off to Transylvania to finalize the purchase of British property by one Count Dracula. When Dracula arrived in England a short time later, he began a reign of nighttime terrors. Proving her extraordinary intelligence and courage, Mina teamed up with fellow scientist Doctor Van Helsing to destroy the vampire - but not before he managed to sink his teeth into her.

The cruel blood of Dracula, the vampire king, runs through Mina Harker's veins, instilling her with an arsenal of paranormal powers and biological weapons. With her immense willpower, Mina has mastered her undead urges while gaining the full strength and lethality of a master vampire. She can move at blinding speeds, tear through flesh, wood, and metal; she can communicate with bats, scale flat walls, and survive almost any attack.

A former lover of Dorian Gray, Mina exploits their still burning passion to lure him and his invaluable services to the League, a decision they may both soon regret.

As a self�{proclaimed "gentlemen thief," RODNEY SKINNER (Tony Curran) assumed he had stumbled upon a gold mine after stealing a potion that renders one invisible. Alas, he failed to consider the consequences of having to remain in that state indefinitely. The caustic Skinner's manners and decorum are as lacking as his visibility. He's accepted the League's mission for purely selfish reasons. "I'll be provided an antidote if I'm a good boy," he declares to Quatermain.

While Skinner's invisibility may prove to be detrimental to the Fantom and his goons, it is unquestionably so to the League. Skulking sight unseen through the cabins of the Nautilus, he wears out his welcome as quickly as the submarine cuts through the waters of the Atlantic.

"It's unclear whether Skinner is a good guy or a bad guy," says Tony Curran. "But his stealth makes everyone fearful of him, and being feared tends to bring out the worst in people."

If he can survive the animosity of his shipmates, Skinner may prove to be the most effective weapon the League has. Or its greatest vulnerability.

Immortal. Seductive. Dangerous. DORIAN GRAY (Stuart Townsend) made a wish to never age, to never die... but what was the cost to his soul?

A vain aristocrat, Gray had a picture painted of himself when he was in the prime of his youth. Overwhelmed by the fear of his own mortality, he wished that the painting would age while he would remain forever young. Through a dark, occult mechanism, this wish became reality. Somewhere in his vast painting gallery lies the key to his secret powers. With each new year, his painting grows older; and with each new crime, his painting shows a soul in horrific decay.

Gray simply cannot be killed. Even the rapid-fire machine gun bullets wielded by the cutting-edge army of the Fantom pass through his body without harm. This extreme physical prowess coupled with a guiltless conscience makes Dorian a devastating killing machine. And with the knowledge he has accrued throughout his extraordinarily long life, Dorian is perhaps the most dangerous member of the League.

The League has given Dorian a chance to change all that - to atone, finally, for such a long stretch of evil. If he can save the British Empire, perhaps he can save himself as well.

Agent SAWYER (Shane West) spent years touring the Mississippi River, discovering or creating mayhem, solving murders, and even finding buried treasure. A true adventurer, Sawyer is driven purely by thrills, seeking danger and excitement simply because nothing else will do. Thus, when the American government hunted him down, he couldn't turn down their offer to become an International Spy.

As a member of America's newly formed Secret Service, Agent Sawyer has the authority and training to engage in classified missions around the world -- and execute those missions with extreme force.

Sawyer's timely arrival in the story occurs just as the League is under attack from the Fantom. His courage, some might say recklessness, is evident, as he wades into a fierce gun battle without hesitation. Though he may well have saved the day, his presence is greeted apprehensively by most. Handy with a gun, but possessed with none of the supernatural gifts held by the others, Sawyer would appear to be out of his league. Yet his independent spirit and hunger for action may be just what the League needs to survive against the brand new world of its terrifying enemy.

A strong bond develops between Sawyer and Quatermain, both of whom see the fractions among the group as a serious threat to their mission. Sawyer is an intrepid man who comes of age during the greatest trial by fire imaginable. Rallying the group in its most desperate hour, his courage and determination are lauded by Quatermain, who praises, "And the boy becomes a man. And perhaps a leader of men."

Inside the frail body of DR. JEKYLL (Jason Flemyng) there lurks a monster of unstoppable proportions and unbridled bestial aggression. His name is MR. HYDE (Jason Flemyng).

Eminent London chemist Dr. Henry Jekyll spent a good portion of his career analyzing the dual nature of man, searching for the causes of evil within the hearts of men. Believing he had found the key to separating the good and evil elements in man's nature, Jekyll used himself as a guinea pig to prove his theory conclusively.

His theory was, unfortunately, somewhat askew.

Jekyll created a serum that violently transformed him into Mr. Hyde: a vastly strong and insatiably brutal creature that stalked the London nights. Though Jekyll's serum was able to affect the transformation between the two men, it was not long before the strong and evil Hyde beat out the weaker Jekyll.

Jekyll now finds himself a slave to Hyde. As Hyde, he is a powerful, unstoppable beast who knows what he wants and knows how to get it. As Jekyll, he is the spent shell of a man, wracked with guilt and feelings of incompetence.

Like many weapons, using Dr. Jekyll's beast-within is a gamble. Mr. Hyde is perhaps the strongest human the world has ever seen. His role in the League is straightforward: smash steel, bash heads, and bounce bullets off his rock-hard body.

As an incarnation of the brute within us all, Hyde has no guilt, no fear, and no compunction against using murderous force to solve even the slightest confrontation. This makes him both a secret weapon to the League and a potential hazard of devastating proportions.

THE PRODUCTION

THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN's demanding visual elements required 58 different sets, not including the numerous miniature�{scale sets built in Los Angeles, and the several hundred visual effects and green�{screen shots that created new environments, or expanded the size and scope of existing physical sets. Among the largest and most significant environments created by production designer Carol Spier are the famed Nautilus submarine �{ Captain Nemo's hyper technologically advanced underwater palace �{ and an enormous cityscape exterior of facades and rooftops of Venice, London and Paris. More than 200 construction workers were dedicated to this set alone.

The Nautilus interior was built in a converted former shipyard warehouse on the banks of the Vltava River. The massive set contained the submarine's bridge, opulent stateroom, captain's quarters, guest rooms, ice room, corridors, and rocket room. Painted a sleek alabaster white, and gleaming from the stunning Hindu appointments and relics, the Nautilus appears every bit as wonderous as the underwater hotel described by Jules Verne in his Nemo stories.

Says Carol Spier, "The Nautilus is Nemo's world, and we wanted to introduce Hindu elements to establish a certain symbolism and spirituality to his enigmatic character. Nemo is a highly principled man, reflected in the vessel's orderly, harmonic appearance."

Naseeruddin Shah says of his character's famed submarine, "It's like the Taj Mahal underwater, beautifully white and mysterious, self�{sufficient, and opulent beyond words. Throughout the ship are elaborate carvings and beautiful appointments, and Nemo is very proud of both its beauty and power. It is itself a character in the film."

Ironically, the submarine set suffered the greatest damage during the catastrophic floods that struck Prague in early August. Water levels reached more than 20 feet high in the warehouse that held the set, destroying virtually everything inside. Garnering headlines across the world, and prompting Sean Connery to make a televised plea for assistance on behalf of the beleaguered city, the flood was the worst to strike Prague in more than 130 years, and was estimated to be its second or third worst flood in 1,000 years. Dozens of cast members and crew had to be relocated, most in the middle of the night when the water began its unexpected rise.

"Our Nautilus set was in one of the worst hit areas of Prague," explains co-producer Michael Nelson. "The building that housed it also served as our central production facility. We had our special effects shop there, our props, wardrobe…all essentially lost."

Fortuitously, the company already was scheduled to shoot for a week in Malta in mid-August, allowing filming to continue in a dry, hot climate; meanwhile, conditions in the Czech Republic slowly returned to normal.

The production arrived on Malta's neighboring island of Gozo on August 18th. A massive exterior set of the Nautilus conning tower had been constructed on a stunning clifftop location in the small town of Xlendi. This private, remote location was accessible only by a winding gravel road built by the production, which only smaller vehicles could negotiate.

The tower was built on a rotating base at the edge of a cliff, affording panoramic views of the water and sky, and giving the actors the appearance of being at sea. The Gozo Maritime Authority asked sailors to keep the horizon clear, while a patrol boat ensured that no vessels sailed into the picture. Scenes filmed here include a poignant moment between Quatermain and Sawyer, as the two men shoot targets over the water and let down a bit of their emotional guard.

After four days of shooting in Gozo, the production took a two-week hiatus while Prague sets were rebuilt, and lost or damaged equipment replaced. The internationally based cast and crew retreated to their homes across the globe, reconvening on September 8th to film the exterior portion of the Britannia Club sequence, shot an hour outside Prague in a small village. The numerous goats, pigs, mules and assorted livestock lent a similar realism to this outdoor Nairobi environment as was present on the opening day interior scenes. Here, Quatermain is approached by Sanderson Reed, an emissary of M's, whose appeal for help is cemented by a violent incident that convinces Quatermain that the situation is every bit as urgent as Reed intones.

Having offered his full commitment to the League, Quatermain meets M and three of his fellow League recruits in a secret chamber deep in the depths of London's Albion Museum. In a tense, uncertain encounter, he, the taciturn Captain Nemo, the alluring Mina Harker and the caustic Rodney Skinner take measure of each other �{ and the mission. This scene was shot in four days in the gorgeous Strahov Library, a 900-year-old structure located on monastery grounds at the historic Prague Castle.

As invisible man Rodney Skinner, Tony Curran acts in this sequence with blue makeup covering his face and body, which allows the image to be removed in post production, leaving only his trench coat, sunglasses and hat visible on screen. "Think of a flasher," cracks costume designer Jacqueline West. In addition to enduring regular body shaves for the role, Curran spent nearly two hours having the makeup applied by FX makeup artist Dave Synder. Says Curran, "Because I don't have any eyebrows or visible forehead, which are important visual elements of communication, I have to accentuate my physical expressions and voice inflection. It's a very theatrical sort of role, which is enormously fun to play."

With four of the League recruits in place, the story and the production shifted to a foggy, mysterious dockside manor in London's Tiger Bay, home to the enigmatic Dorian Gray. This set is one of three cityscape facades�{London, Paris, Venice�{built on an aforementioned mammoth exterior site at Prague's CKD, a former heavy machinery factory. Tucked away in a corner of this massive set, the shadowy waterfront warehouse provided the perfect backdrop for a shot of the Nautilus' conning tower rising slowly out of the mist, juxtaposing Nemo's fantastical futuristic imagery with Dorian's old, decaying environs. (Filmed images of this set were composited in postproduction with matte paintings of Tiger Bay.)

The sequence continues inside Gray's dusky library, where the League is accosted by an invading Fantom and his henchmen �{ and aided by the unexpected appearance of Sawyer. It's one of the most action-packed scenes in the movie, entailing a fierce gun battle and dizzying martial arts fighting. Filmed over a two-week period in an old warehouse in Lazne Tousen outside Prague, the sequence involved numerous stuntmen, squib explosions, wire riggings and free falls. The library, housing thousands of books and dusty antiquities, is shredded under a hail of gunfire and explosions.

Fortunate to withstand the Fantom's assault, and with six of their seven proposed members in tow, the League goes hunting for the remaining elusive recruit �{ a man/animal who has been terrorizing the streets of Paris and presents the most challenging prey of Quatermain's career: the oversized alter ego of Dr. Jekyll, a hulking beast known as Mr. Hyde.

Realizing the character of Hyde on screen was a hugely complex process, involving numerous departments. Using forced-perspective sets and camera angles, CGI effects, models, cutouts and even midget actors, the appearance of a nine-foot-tall Hyde was created from a less than six-foot-tall actor in a prosthetic Hyde suit. Designed by Steve Johnson's Edge FX, the Hyde suit worn by Jason Flemyng weighed 45 pounds and featured enormous spring-loaded puppetry arms controlled by levers inside the prosthetic. More than 12 weeks build time, 30 technicians, eight foam�{sculpted parts and 5,900 components were required to make the articulating wrists and fingers. Two other suits, with lesser detail, were used by stuntmen for wider angle shots.

"The musculature and anatomical detail needed for the Hyde prosthetic arms was exact and demanding," says Steve Johnson. "There is no fur on the arms to hide any deficiencies or lack of detail, so it took a lot of research and experimentation to get the right look."

A full seven hours were required to apply the facial makeup and prosthetics to Flemyng, who played video games to help pass the time. Each hair on the headpiece he wore was individually hand punched. These headpieces could be used only once, at a cost of about $5,000. Because of their weight, the prosthetic arms were placed upon him just moments before each take, as the rigors of moving about in the costume were demanding. For Flemyng, widely regarded as one of the most underrated and well�{liked actors in the business, the process was exhausting and exhilarating at the same time.

"When you look in the mirror and see someone who isn't anything like you it's a very exciting experience," he says. "Once I put on the suit, the job's half done. I just have to make sure I walk in the right direction and growl."

The actual filming of Hyde was, of course, far more complex. Essentially, Stephen Norrington and director of photography Dan Laustsen shot Hyde sequences in two separate pieces: an 'A' side for shots when Hyde is not seen on camera, and a 'B' side when he is. The A footage was shot first, and with that, Janek Sirrs and his VFX team then created shot plans, and motion control & tracking moves for the more complicated B side of the shots.

Much of this B footage was filmed with an enormous IMAX format camera as part of a complex, cutting edge technique to make the image of Hyde appear much larger.

Along with a special IMAX camera team, a group of 10 SFX makeup technicians came to Prague to work full�{time with the Hyde suits, which included a range of prosthetics depicting progressive stages of hypertrophic deformity. All were utilized in a stunning scaled composite morphing shot that takes place aboard the Nautilus depicting the excruciating transmogrification of Jekyll into Hyde. Like Flemyng, actors Stuart Townsend and Richard Roxburgh required extensive SFX makeup applications for certain scenes.

One of the film's most elaborate and colorful scenes is set against the famed Carnival masquerade street party in Venice. More than 500 extras clad in elaborate period costumes are joined by firebreathers, jugglers, giant stiltwalkers, and other assorted flamboyant revelers. The festive nighttime sequence was staged and filmed over two nights, including second unit coverage.

The Carnival sequence was shot on the exterior Venice set at CKD, by far the largest and most imposing set in the film. The area was roughly the size of four football fields and was comprised of 80 facades, hundreds of shopfronts, and three water�{-filled canals. When the city is rocked by a series of devastating explosions, some of the sets crumble, collapse or split apart. Two dozen SFX technicians were habitually stationed on the rooftops to throw debris and large fake stones below during takes.

"The sets are fantastic and the scale of this film is epic," admires Sean Connery. "The construction and design are as good as anything I've encountered in all my years."

When the League arrives in Venice aboard the Nautilus, they disembark the ship accompanied by Nemo's sailors, guards and a cadre of well equipped deep-sea divers. But the most impressive spectacle to emerge from the Nautilus is a breathtaking vehicle that whisks the League at daringly high speeds through the streets of Venice. Gleaming white and adorned with bold silver appointments, this spectacularly ostentatious car is declared "the future" by Captain Nemo; the "Nemobile" by crewmembers on set.

The twin-�{steering, front alignment chassis was built in London by Retromotoring, and was powered by a Range Rover LSE 4.2 V8 engine, with independent suspension, hydraulic supports to raise and lower the car, and dual front wheels. The fiberglass body was made in Prague and retrofitted to the car's engineering. The 23 x 9 foot vehicle, which reached speeds up to 59 mph, was a beauty to behold �{ and a bear to drive. Eddie Perez, doubling for Shane West, did much of the driving for frenetic stunt sequences that roar through narrow towpaths, colonnades and a 12�{foot�{wide footbridge.

"The car is amazing," says West. "It makes the Batmobile look silly. I get to do some driving myself, and it was like nothing else I've been in. It's possessed."

The large size and scope of the film's sets are contrasted by the miniature work of New Deal Studio in Los Angeles. The firm created a remarkable set comprising 30 Venice buildings at one�{fifth scale. The largest of these model buildings is 18 feet tall, weighing more than 1,000 pounds. The set was built six feet above ground atop hydraulic lifts, which were lowered to simulate the effect of the buildings sinking into their foundations.

The Venice "miniature" set is replete with windowsills holding pots and plants, balconies, gondolas, bridges, gutters, tables, chairs, lamps �{ even clothing hanging in windows. This all served to establish a critical sense of scale to the set.

Alongside the Venice models, the New Deal Studio team constructed a one-foot-deep, 170-foot-long canal holding 42 tons of water. The canal was used as a scenic backdrop and for specific stunt sequences in which the 'Nemobile' races down a towpath as buildings collapse behind it in a domino effect. Two miniature versions of the car were built for this sequence: One is a full steering, radio-controlled, free-motion vehicle with working headlights and taillights. The other is a cable�{-pulled car traveling up to 38 feet-per-second, used for high-speed driving shots though the crumbling Venice miniature set. Puppets of the actors inside the car are animated with radio control transmitters.

Achieving such complex miniature sequences involved increasingly demanding and resourceful methods. Filming models requires compensatory increases in the frame speed and in the physical movements in front of the camera, in order to create the illusion of mass. Achieving the necessary speed of movement was challenging with some of the larger models. In addition, the miniature effects team had to synchronize the various miniature model and prop movements to within specific moments in a scene.

ABOUT THE CAST

SEAN CONNERY (Allan Quatermain, Executive Producer) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and grew up in a two room flat. As a child, to earn extra money for his family he worked delivering milk in the mornings and papers in the evenings. He continued working odd jobs, from lifeguarding to coffin polishing. After three years in the navy, he played football (soccer) semi-professionally. But it was his hobby of weightlifting that pushed him into the spotlight. Connery represented Scotland in the Mr. Universe pageant and shortly thereafter began to model. He eventually caught the acting bug and entered the theater, later touring with "South Pacific."

Connery first hit the big screen in "Lilacs in the Spring," in 1954. His American film debut came in 1959 in "Tarzan's Greatest Adventure" and he next starred "Darby O' Gill and the Little People," also released in 1959. Connery's bit part in the World War II epic "The Longest Day" - a role that could have been lost among the film's star-studded cast - instead helped lead him to eventual superstardom.

Producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli were looking to cast the role of Ian Fleming's renowned British secret service agent, James Bond. Saltzman may have recognized Connery's refined disposition, but it was Broccoli who glanced out the window and noticed Connery slinking down a street in London, "like a panther." It was then that he knew he had found Bond. And though Ian Fleming's image of his famed creation may not resemble Sean Connery, to the world Sean Connery soon would be James Bond.

Saltzman and Broccoli cast Connery as Agent 007 in a modestly budgeted British picture called "Dr. No," inaugurating one of the longest-running series in film history. Connery starred as Bond in "From Russia with Love," "Goldfinger," "Thunderball," "You Only Live Twice," "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Never Say Never Again." His salary from "Diamonds Are Forever" went to kick-start the Scottish International Education Trust, which helps many young Scottish students fund their education. The trust also funds a drama chair at Glasgow's Strathclyde University.

Connery later starred in Alfred Hitchcock's "Marnie," as well as such films as "Woman Of Straw," "The Hill," "A Fine Madness," "Shalako," "The Molly Maguires," "The Anderson Tapes," "The Red Tent," "Murder On The Orient Express," "The Wind And The Lion," "The Man Who Would Be King," "Robin And Marian," "A Bridge Too Far," "Outland," "Zardoz," "Five Days One Summer," "Meteor," "The Name Of The Rose," "Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade," "The Russia House," "The Hunt For Red October," "Medicine Man," "Rising Sun," "Just Cause," "First Knight" and "The Avengers."

He headlined opposite Nicolas Cage in the 1996 summer blockbuster hit "The Rock," and provided the voice and personality for the animated dragon in "Dragonheart." Connery also led an all star cast in "Playing by Heart," working alongside Gena Rowlands, Angelina Jolie, Gillian Anderson and Dennis Quaid. He then produced the Twentieth Century Fox thriller "Entrapment," in which he starred opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones. Next came "Finding Forrester," directed by Gus Van Sant and which co-starred newcomer Rob Brown.

In addition to receiving both the Best Supporting Actor OscarR and the Golden GlobeR Award in 1987 for his performance in "The Untouchables," Connery has been honored with many other accolades. They include the Legion d'Honneur and Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres (the highest honors given in France), and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Best Actor award for "The Name Of The Rose.". In 1990, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award - a special BAFTA silver mask presented by H.R.H. Princess Anne - to a British actor or actress who has made an outstanding contribution to world cinema.

In 1995, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association presented Connery with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field," at the Golden Globe Awards. In 1997, Connery was honored with a gala tribute by the Film Society of Lincoln Center for his career, and in 1998, BAFTA honored him with its highest award, The British Academy Fellowship. In 1999 Connery was a Kennedy Center Honors recipient and in 2000 he was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the Queen's New Year's Honors List. Connery's proudest moment, and in his mind, his greatest honor, came when he received the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh in 1991.

SHANE WEST (Tom Sawyer) was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and began to realize his passion for acting at age fifteen.

West had a starring role as 'Eli' on the ABC dramatic series "Once and Again." The shows creators, Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz, are the same creative team behind "My So Called Life" and "Thirty Something."

Most recently, West starred in the Warner Brothers feature "A Walk to Remember" opposite pop-singing sensation Mandy Moore. The film is based on the 1999 Nicholas Sparks ("Message In A Bottle") novel of the same name. The story follows a jaded, aimless high school senior, Landon (West), who falls in love with guileless young women, Jamie (Moore), whom he and his friends once scorned before learning that she is dying. Adam Shankman ("The Wedding Planner") directed.

West also recently completed filming an independent feature film titled "A Time for Dancing," starring opposite Larisa Oleynik ("10 Things I Hate About You") and Shiri Appleby, star of the hit television series "Roswell." This is a coming of age story about two very close teenage friends, both classically trained dancers, whose relationship is tested when one of them is stricken with cancer.

West again teamed with his good friend, Ben Foster, whom he co-starred with in the Barry Levinson film, "Liberty Heights," to star in "Get Over It" for Miramax. Set in high school, West plays Foster's nemesis, "Stryker," a self-absorbed young man who has stolen his girlfriend away from him. The film also stars Kirsten Dunst ("Bring It On") and is directed by Tommy O'Haver, who also helmed the independent film "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss."

West received excellent reviews for his work as "Ryan" in the Sony/Phoenix film "Whatever It Takes," a modern day Cyrano de Bergerac tale. His career truly took off when he starred in the Mark Taper Forum's production of "The Cider House Rules." He premiered in the role of "Angel," garnering praise for his first stage role.

When not acting, West plays lead guitar in his band, Jonny Was, for which he writes most of the music and lyrics. The group's song can be heard on the "A Walk to Remember" soundtrack.

STUART TOWNSEND (Dorian Gray) starred as Lestat in the film adaptation of Anne Rice's "Queen of the Damned," shot in Australia, and he co-starred with Charlize Theron, Kevin Bacon and Courtney Love in the thriller "Trapped," He appears in the upcoming film "Shade," starring Sylvester Stallone and Melanie Griffith.

Townsend came to the attention of moviegoers for his title role in "About Adam," which premiered at Sundance in 2000, and his performance in "Wonderland," directed by Michael Winterbottom. His other films include "Simon Magus," "Under the Skin" and "Shooting Fish." Townsend's stage credits include "Orpheus Descending," "Borstal Boy," "Magic Roundabout," "The Unseen Hand" and "Tear Up the Black Sail."

Townsend was born in Dublin to a father who was a professional golfer. He inherited his father's athletic ability, and supported himself as a boxer while studying drama at Dublin's Gaiety School of Acting. Townsend made his feature film debut with a small role in "Trojan Eddie," which landed him a London agent and subsequent appearances in stage and film productions in England and Ireland.

PETA WILSON (Mina Harker) is best known for her starring role in the popular syndicated series "La Femme Nikita," which aired throughout the world for four and a half seasons, from 1997 to 2001. Her other recent credits include the miniseries "A Girl Thing," the 2002 telefilm "Joe and Max," the series "Other People," and the feature films "Mercy" and "One of Our Own."

Prior to her breakthrough role in "Nikita," Wilson appeared in "The Sadness of Sex," "Naked Jane" and "Loser," and was seen in the telefilms "A Woman Undone" and "Vanishing Point." She played a bit part in "Highlander: The Series."

Wilson has trained with numerous acting coaches, including Arthur Mendoza of the Actors Circle Theater in Los Angeles, Tom Waits of TomCats Repetory Group, and Sylvana Gulado.

NASEERUDDIN SHAH (Captain Nemo) was born in India in 1950. An alumnus of both the National School of Drama in New Delhi and the film and the Film and T.V. Institute of India in Pune, Shah is one of the symbols of the New Indian Cinema (along with Om Puri and Shabana Azmi). His roles with mentor Shyam Benegal in "Nishant" ("Night's End,)" "Manthan" ("The Churning") and "Bhumika" ("The Role") established him as one of India's most unusual and interesting actors. Since then he has worked with almost every significant Indian filmmaker, in a number of Indian languages, and played leading parts in international films such as Ismail Merchant's "The Perfect Murder," "Electric Moon"(based on a screenplay by Arundhati Roy, 1992), Kaizad Gustad's "Bombay Boys," and Mira Nair's "Monsoon Wedding."

Besides the dramatic roles for which he is best known, Shah has worked in mainstream Hindi movies, playing in which he has played a variety of characters- having appeared in 150 feature films.

Shah's television credits include the wildlife / ecology programs "Project Tiger" and "Living On The Edge," and science-themed "The Turning Point." His performance as 19th century Urdu poet "Mirza Ghalib" (1996, directed by Gulzar) in the TV series has attained iconic stature among Asian viewers.

In the theatre, Shah has directed and acted in a number of plays in both Hindi and English and has managed his theatre company, Motley, for the last twenty years. Some of his productions have toured throughout the United States. In 2001, he appeared at the Brooklyn Music Academy in Peter Brook's "Hamlet." He played the title role of Cyrano at the National Theatre in England in 1985.

Shah's numerous awards include Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival (1984 for "Paar"), the Padma Shri, awarded by Indian Government (2003), The Sangeet Natak Akademi Purusker (awarded by the National Academy for Music and Dram) and two National awards and three filmfare awards (India's Oscar) for Best Actor.

TONY CURRAN (Rodney Skinner) recently costarred as "Priest" in "Blade 2: Bloodhunt" starring Wesley Snipes and directed by Guillermo del Toro. His other recent film appearances have come in "Pearl Harbor," "Gladiator," "13th Warrior," "Being Human" and "Heavenly Pursuits." Curran just completed a series regular role in "Ultimate Force," following his lead role in the telefilm "Menace." He has performed in more than a dozen BBC television productions, including "Great Expectations" (as Orlick), "Touch of Frost," "The Garden" and The Late Show."

Curran recently completing shooting is second television series, "Ultimate Froce."

Born and raised in Glascow, Scotland, Curran left school at age 16 to pursue acting in New York, where he worked various odd jobs in Bensonhurst while auditioning for roles Off Broadway. He returned to Scotland to attend drama school for three years, which led to his casting in the Robin Williams' starrer "Being Human," filmed on the northwest Scottish coast. Curran's numerous theatrical credits include "Victoria" with the Royal Shakespeare Company, "The Glory of Living" at the Royal Court Theatre, "Silverface" at the Gate Theatre, and "Kidnapped" at the Edinburgh Lyceum.

JASON FLEMYNG (Dr. Jekyll /Mr. Hyde) costarred last year as Jack the Ripper's cowed henchman in the acclaimed Hughes' brothers film "From Hell" with Johnny Depp and Heather Graham. He recently co-starred in Neil Jordan's "The Good Thief" starring Nick Nolte and Ralph Fiennes. After rising to prominence for his supporting roles in Guy Ritchie's hit crime capers "Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch," Flemyng starred in "Lighthouse Hill" and "Anazapta" and costarred in "The Mean Machine" and "The Bunker." His other films include George Romero's "Bruiser," "The Red Violin," "Deep Rising," "Stealing Beauty," "Rob Roy" and "Jungle Book." His next film project is "The Return of James Battie."

Flemyng won the Best Actor Award at the Geneva Film Festival for his role in 1996's "Alive and Kicking." He has appeared in several British television productions, including "Tess of the D'Urbervilles," "The Double," "Beck" and ABC's "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles," directed by Simon Wincer. On stage, he has appeared with the RSC Barbican in "Coriolanus," "As You Like It" and "Moscow Gold."

Flemyng was raised in Putney, in southwest London, by a father who was a television director and a mother who was a social worker. He attended Richmond College, and then the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts before being accepted into the Royal Shakespeare Company, appearing in several productions at Stratford-upon-Avon.

RICHARD ROXBURGH (M) made a big splash with moviegoers with his performance as the Duke of Monroth in the Academy AwardR nominated "Moulin Rouge!" His other film credits include "The Road To Coorain," "Mission Impossible II," "Oscar And Lucinda," "Passion, Children Of The Revolution," and "Thank God He Met Lizzie." Roxburgh won the Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Actor and an Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, for "Doing Time For Patsy Cline." He next co-stars opposite Hugh Jackman in "Van Helsing."

In late 2000, he directed "Twelfth" for Company B, Australia's most cutting-edge theater producers. Roxburgh's theatre credits also include Neil Armfield's production of "The Seagull," and "Hamlet," for which Roxburgh received the Sydney Theatre Critics' Circle Award for Best Actor. Roxburgh has also starred in "Closer" for director Marion Potts, "The Homecoming" directed by Rodney Fisher, and "Burn This" directed by Wayne Harrison, all for the Sydney Theatre Company.

Roxburgh's direction of the adaptation of the novel "That Eye The Sky," for Burning House Theatre Company, won the Sydney Theatre Critics' Circle John Tasker Award for Freelance Director. He won a Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series and an AFI nomination for Best Actor for his critically-acclaimed lead performance, based on the legendary corrupt Sydney cop Roger Rogerson, in the television drama "Blue Murder."

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

Before turning to directing, director STEPHEN NORRINGTON designed special effects. This is his fourth film as director.

Producer DON MURPHY was born and raised in Long Island, New York . He did his undergraduate work at Georgetown University and then moved to Los Angeles to pursue an M.A. degree at the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television. Straight out of film school he and then-partner Jane Hamsher produced "Natural Born Killers," directed by Oliver Stone, the wild ride of which Hamsher chronicled in her best selling book Killer Instinct.

Murphy produced the feature films "Bully," directed by Larry Clark, "Permanent Midnight," starring Ben Stiller, and "Apt Pupil," based on the novella by Stephen King and directed by Bryan Singer. Murphy's most recent film was "From Hell," directed by the Hughes Brothers and released by Twentieth Century Fox. Like THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, "From Hell" is based on a popular Alan Moore graphic novel.

Producer TREVOR ALBERT, as a journalism and film major at the University of California at San Diego, worked his way through college as a journalist for the San Diego Reader. Upon graduation he moved to Los Angeles to pursue work in the film industry. After working as a film researcher for Universal Pictures and Warner Bros., Albert went to work as an assistant to producer Jon Peters and Barbara Streisand. Peters accepted executive producer duties on Harold Ramis' directorial debut, "Caddyshack," and sent Albert on location as an assistant to Ramis. This marked the beginning of their long term working relationship.

Albert's producing credits include "National Lampoon's Vacation," "Club Paradise," "Stuart Saves His Family," "Groundhog Day," "Multiplicity," "Bedazzled," and most recently, "The First 20 Million." After developing projects at Ramis and Albert's company, Ocean Pictures, Albert has started his own company at Fox called Weekend Films, which has a diverse slate of feature film projects.

Executive Producer MARK GORDON is an award winning motion picture producer who has produced, financed and distributed over 40 motion pictures and television programs with theatrical box office revenues exceeding two billion dollars.

His next film is the epic adventure "The Day After Tomorrow," directed by Roland Emmerich. Twentieth Century Fox releases the film May, 2004.

As a producer, Gordon's films include "The Patriot," "Saving Private Ryan," "Broken Arrow," and "Speed," which catapulted starring Keanu Reeves to international stardom. As executive producer, financier and international distributor, his credits include "Tomb Raider," "Wonder Boys," "Man On the Moon," "A Simple Plan," "Primary Colors" and "The Jackal."

Gordon has also produced more than a dozen films for television. He directed "Nothing But the Sun," a journey through the Holocaust as seen through the eyes of children, for which he received an EmmyR nomination. "The War Between the States" won Gordon an Emmy for Best Children's Program. Among his numerous industry awards are a Golden Globe for Best Picture and a Best Picture Oscar nomination for "Saving Private Ryan." The film also received the New York, Chicago and Los Angeles Film Critic's Awards for Best Picture. Gordon has been honored with the Daryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award from the Producer's Guild of America and received the BAFTA Award (British Film Academy) for Best Children's Film for "Paulie: A Parrot's Tale."

Gordon serves on the boards of the Producer's Guild of America, the Virginia Film Festival, The Children's Performance Workshop and is the Vice-Chairman of Teach for America, Los Angeles. Gordon was honored with the Spirit of Chrysalis Award for his work in helping the financially disadvantaged find employment. Gordon has also served on the board of the Holocaust Documentation and Information Center and is a former member of the Motion Picture Committee of the United States Information Agency.

Gordon's first producing effort was the off-Broadway production of "The Buddy System" at Circle in the Square. He is a graduate of New York University Film School.

Screenwriter JAMES DALE ROBINSON is a London native who has lived in Los Angeles for the past 11 years. He was a successful comic book writer before scripting his first screenplay, "www3.com." His subsequent effort, "Akira," will be produced by Warner Bros.

Director of Photography DAN LAUSTSEN, D.F.F. has shot some 30 movies, many in his native Denmark, with perhaps his best know credits being the features "Mimic" and "Giselle." Laustsen's most recent credits include "Don't Peek," "I Am Dina," "Heart of Light," "Running Free," "Nightwatch," "Carmen & Babyface" and "Boys from St. Petri."

Laustsen studied still photography and was working as a fashion photographer when he decided to attend the Danish Film School for three years. He shot his first feature at age 25 in Denmark. The dailies on his first American show, Miramax's "Nighwatch," caught the eye of Guillermo del Toro, who hired him on "Mimic."

The credits of production designer CAROL SPIER include "Blade 2: Bloodhunt," "Dracula 2000," "eXistenZ," "Mimic," "Crash," "Canadian Bacon," "The Santa Clause," "M. Butterfly," "Consenting Adults," "Naked Lunch," "Where the Heart Is," "Renegades," "Dead Ringers," "The Fly" and "The Dead Zone." Her television work includes "Dash and Lilly" for Showtime, and "Anne of Green Gables."

Born and raised in Manitoba, Canada, Spier studied architecture and design at the University of Manitoba. She began her career designing theatrical productions and Canadian television shows in Toronto and Montreal.

Editor PAUL RUBELL, A.C.E. was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Editing for "The Insider" (shared with William Goldenberg and David Robinson). He also was honored with the American Cinema Editors "Eddie" Award and a Golden Satellite Award for his work on the film. Rubell's other film credits include "XXX," "The Cell" and "Blade"

Rubell won Emmy and Eddie nominations for his work on the acclaimed mini-series "Andersonville." He also was Emmy nominated for the television special "My Name is Bill W." (shared with John Wright).

Costume Designer JACQUELINE WEST received an Academy Award nomination for her work on Philip Kaufman's "Quills." Her credits also include "Just One Night," "Rising Sun" and the upcoming "Leopold Bloom" and "The Banger Sisters."

Born and raised in San Francisco, West enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley with the intention of studying medicine. The death of her father caused her to switch her studies to her favorite subject, art, and she went on to graduate magna cum laude with a BA in art history.

West, whose mother was a fashion designer, then created her own fashion line, sold in such stores as Barneys in New York and Fred Segal in Los Angeles. She entered the film industry after meeting the San Francisco�{based director Kaufman, who hired her to as a creative consultant on "Henry & June."

Visual Effects Supervisor JANEK SIRRS received an Academy Award (shared) for Best Visual Effects on "The Matrix," and served as VFX supervisor for "The Matrix Reloaded." His other credits as supervisor include "The Big Lebowski," "The Man Who Wasn't There," "Mission: Impossible 2" (digital effects) and "Doctor Dolittle."

Sirrs' numerous other effects credits include "Mighty Joe Young," "The Truman Show," "Pleasantville," "Gattaca," "Con Air," "Anaconda," "Liar, Liar," "Mars Attacks!" The Arrival," "The Nutty Professor," "White Squall," "Strange Days," "Waterworld," "Braveheart," "The Hudsucker Proxy" and "1492: Conquest of Paradise."

Composer TREVOR JONES has written scores for more than 60 motion pictures, most recently for "From Hell" and "Crossroads." He received BAFTA nominations for "Brassed Off," "Mississippi Burning" and "Last of the Mohicans," the latter also earning him a Golden Globe nomination. He also received a Golden Globe nomination for his song for "The Mighty," and he was nominated for an Emmy Award for scoring the television miniseries "Merlin."

Among Jones' film credits are "13 Days," "Notting Hill," "Titanic Town," "Dark City," "G.I. Jane," "Richard III," "Desperate Measures," "Kiss of Death," "In the Name of the Father," "Cliffhanger," "True Colors," "Arachnophobia," "Sea of Love," "Angel Heart," "Dominick & Eugene," "Runaway Train," "The Dark Crystal," "Labyrinth" and "Excalibur." His TV work includes "Gulliver's Travels," "Cleopatra" and "The Last Days of Pompeii."

He composed the score for the "Dinotopia" television film and series.

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Jones won a scholarship to London's Royal Academy of Music where he studied for four years before earning an M.A in Film and Media Music from the British National Film School, whose music department he currently chairs. Jones was the first graduate from the British National Film School to win an Oscar (shared credit), with the short film "The Dollar Bottom."

NOTE: SOME CREDITS MAY NOT FINAL

註：以上資訊由片主或其推廣代表提供。本網並不保證此等資訊是否正確。
Note: The information above is provided by the owners of the film or their agents who are responsible for the promotion of the film. We do not guarantee the accuracy of such information.

相關連結 Related Links

搜索本網 Search this Site:

 
Copyright(C) 1999-2011 Hong Kong Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.