Reviews

Kou is an obvious ripoff of Amuro Ray, as they share the same characteristic of being socially awkward but good with machines. Anavel Gato is obviously the better pilot, but why did he kill himself so that Kou, the ripoff idiot, could live? Gato's GPO2A was one of the best Gundams I've seen in recent Gundam series. Cima's death was unnecessary, although I didn't like her.

As for the Uraki-Purpleton romance, it was nice, but unoriginal. The defining moment in the series was when the La Vie En Rose commander was shot and killed. That was tragic.

Before we go on, there are spoilers in this review. A great many. Read along at your own risk.

In LXG, the fragile peace between European nations at the turn of the century are threatened by a villain calling himself the Phantom. When he strikes, nations respond by blaming one another. Desperate, the British government sends for hero-in-exile Allan Quartermain, who has secluded himself to Africa. At first unsuccessful in recruiting Quartermain, the adventurer changes his mind when the Phantom's henchmen ambush and eventually destroy his house.

Taken to Britain, Quartermain meets other members of the League. Namely, Captain Nemo (Neseeruddin Shah), an Invisible Man (Voice of Tony Curran) and the vampire Mina Harker (Peta Wilson). The audience is also introduced to the mysterious M, who has assembled the League (Richard Roxburgh)

Soon they recruit the immortal Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend). We learn that Mina and Dorian may have had a romance in the past. Once again the Phantom's henchmen crash the party after one of the Phantom's guards fire on his own fellow minions. I must say that Stuart Townsend is absolutely captivating in this fight sequence. After all is said and done, the traitorous henchman steps out and introduces himself as American Special Agent Sawyer-Tom Sawyer (Shane West). Although the League is only supposed to consist of 6 people, Sawyer is admitted on Quartermain's say-so.

The League then goes to Paris, where they 'recruit' Edward Hyde/Henry Jekyll (Jason Flemyng).....They more like CAPTURE him. While Hyde is demanding, rude and rather beastly, Jekyll is meek, timid and very shy. He harbors a crush on Mina. Around the same time, the Phantom's master plot is revealed, he wants to blow Venice sky-high! Well, it's off to Venice.

En route, Quartermain gives Sawyer shooting lessons, and we learn more about Quartermain's history. He has buried two wives and a son. In this interlude from action, we see Quartermain and Sawyer develop a father-son relationship. Below deck on Nemo's submarine, the Nautilis, Jekyll discovers on of his elixirs that turns him into Hyde is missing. Since the Invisible Man is a thief by profession, everybody suspects him. Also, nobody has heard from him in a while.

In Venice, a big carnival is going on. It's up to the League to find the bombs hidden by the Phantom before they explode. One bomb explodes, and everything is thrown into confusion. Everybody hops into a car except for Jekyll, who is determined to never let Hyde out again. Eventually, everybody gets out but Sawyer, who shoots a flare before crashing the car. In the end, Venice is saved, but not without damage. Quartermain and and the Phantom face off, and it is revealed that M and the Phantom are one and the same.

Dorian is the first to get back to the ship. He proceeds to shoot Nemo's first mate, Ishmael, which reveals him, and not the Invisible Man as the traitor. Then, Dorian escapes with a sample of invisible skin, vampire blood and a bottle of Jekyll's elixir. The Invisible Man has snuck on board and telegraphs the League the whereabouts of the Phantom's HQ, snowy and cold as heck Mongolia. The Nautilis is attacked, but is saved from sinking by reluctant hero Jekyll/Hyde.

At the Phantom's HQ, the team splits up. Jekyll and Nemo go to free the prisoners and unwilling scientists who are forced to make the Phantom's weapons. Mina goes off to find and kill Dorian Gray. Quartermain and Sawyer are to find and kill the Phantom. While freeing prisoners, Hyde and Nemo come face-to-face with an imitation Hyde, who is bigger, uglier and stronger than the original. I mus comment and say that Nemo's ability with a sword is fully shown here, as he holds the monster at bay while Hyde recovers.

Dorian is preparing to leave when Mina shows up. After some banter, they inflict horrible and normally fatal wounds on each other. Since they're both immortal, this has no effect. Mina eventually pins Dorian to a wall and makes him look at his own portrait. It should be said that Dorian is an immortal because his portrait ages and not him. Once he glances at the portrait, Dorian shrivels away to bones, while his portrait regains its original beauty.

While chasing the Phantom, a man with a flamethrower and an imitation Invisible Man attack Sawyer. The original Invisible Man shows up and kills the impostor, but not before being burned badly. Sawyer takes care of flamethrower man.

Quartermain and the Phantom face off then. Long story short,

Phantom stabs Quartermain and escapes. Sawyer arrives. Quartermain tells Sawyer to use his rifle to shoot the escaping Phantom, who can be seen through the window. After taking his sweet time, Sawyer shoots the bad guy and Quartermain dies.

In Africa, everybody pays their last respects.

The ending left something to be desired. I'm okay with Quartermain's death, but the paying respects was not a good way to end. Townsend and Shah were the stars of the show.

There are a few things I'd like to point out here, although they have already been pointed out somewhere else. This movie will disgust people who expected the characters to act like their book counterparts. The LXG Dorian Gray was nothing like Wilde's Dorian Gray. Here we go. 1. Quartermain, Nemo, Jekyll/Hyde, Gray all died at the end of their books or series

2. At the end of 'Dracula', Mina is human again

3. The Nautilus is not 10 stories tall

4.Nemo didn't have a first mate called Ishmael

5. The canals of Venice are not going to admit something as big as the Nautilus

6. Considering that this takes place in 1899, and 'Tom Sawyer' takes place in mid 1800's, Tom Sawyer would be about 50 when this took place.

7. Cars weren't out in 1899. They were in production in France at the time.

The second series, with Ichiro and the others, is by far better than the original. Especially the end. This is a huge improvement over the first series. They scrapped all the characters except Jiro and the evil doctor (I can't remember the name), sent Jiro on a new adventure, gave him two brothers to fight with and ended it all in a big bloodbath. It's known that the evil doctor died, so did Ichiro and the other brother, but it's an open question as to whether Jiro survived....and that is just fine with me.

It's still not the best, but I think that if we judge this series alone, it would make a top twenty anime list.

***MILD SPOILERS*** YUSUKE URAMESHI-Juvenile Delinquent who died when he pushed a toddler out of the way of an oncoming car, taking the hit himself. Given a second chance at life, he becomes a Spirit Detective. Able to channel his spirit energy in the tip of his finger, and fire it off as a Spirit Gun.

KAZUMA KUWABARA-Yusuke's rival, and another juvenile delinquent. Driven by a strong sense of duty, honor and loyalty, he wants in on the action when he learns of Yusuke's new after-school job. Can form his spirit energy into a sword, eventually becoming so powerful it can slice through dimensional walls.

SUIICHI MINAMONO/YOUKO KURAMA-Basically referred to as Kurama, whether in his human or demon form. See, Kurama used to be a legendary bandit in the Spirit World, but he was one day seriously wounded and inhabited a human fetus to survive. This boy's name was Suiichi Minamono, planning to go back to the Spirit World ASAP, he became attached to his human mother and decided to stay human, for now. He employs various plants to battle, with effective results.

JAGANSHI HIEI-Owner of the Jagan Eye. Another demon, he is originally introduced along with Kurama and another demon as thieves. Hiei is very skilled with his katana and his fire-based demon powers.

GENKAI-An old martial arts master who eventually takes Yusuke as her student, Genkai trains herself vigorously, and her students even more so. Calls Yusuke 'dimwit'. She used to be a Spirit Detective, but later retired. She is drawn back into the business through her association with Yusuke.

KOENMA-The ruler of Spirit World, at least until his father returns. Often appears as a toddler, but he can also become a teenager at will. Sucks on a pacifier constantly, in both forms.

BOTAN-A rather cheerful Grim Reaper, she acts as Koenma's agent and courier into the Human World. Nonetheless, she is very strong-willed, employing various weapons and devices to help herself and her friends.

KEIKO YUKIMURA-Yusuke's wanna-be girlfriend, even though neither of them will admit it. She plays a large role in bringing Yusuke back to life, and later provides a good slap where needed.

YUKINA-Ice demon and resident healer. Kuwabara has a crush on her, and she is secretly Hiei's sister, although she doesn't know that and Hiei is forbidden from telling her. She is very shy and timid, and she loves animals. Yusuke, Kuwabara and Hiei rescue her from some captors who were exploiting one of her more unusual talents, her tears form crystals that can sell for unlimited amounts of money.