Monday, May 8, 2017

The Avengers (1998) Review














The Avengers


Release Date: 5th November 1998 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
Jerry Weintraub Productions

Distribution 
Roadshow Films


Genre: Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 89 minutes


Budget: $60,000,000

Box Office Gross: $48,585,416 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
British Ministry agent John Steed investigates a diabolical plot by arch-villain Sir August de Wynter to use his weather control machine to rule the world. Steed investigates the beautiful doctor, Mrs Emma Peel, the only suspect, but at the same time, he falls in love with her and joins forces with her to fight against Sir August.


Cast
Ralph Fiennes - John Steed
Uma Thurman - Emma Peel
Sean Connery - Sir August de Wynter
Jim Broadbent - Mother
Eddie Izzard - Bailey
Fiona Shaw - Father
Eileen Atkins - Alice
Keeley Hawes - Tamara
John Wood - Trubshaw
Carmen Ejogo - Brenda
Shaun Ryder - Donovan
Nicholas Woodeson - Dr. Darling
Michael Godley - Butler
Richard Lumsden - Boodle's
Porter
Daniel Crowder - Messenger
Nadim Sawalha - World Council of Ministers
Christopher Godwin - World Council of Ministers
David Webber - World Council of Ministers
Patrick Macnee - Invisible Jones (Voice)

Crew
Director - Jeremiah S. Chechik
Based on the Television Series "The Avengers" - Sydney Newman
Writer - Don MacPherson
Script Supervisor - Anna Worley
Executive Producer - Susan Ekins
Producer - Jerry Weintraub
Casting Director - Susan Figgis
Production Designer - Stuart Craig
Supervising Art Director - Neil Lamont
Art Directors - Andrew Ackland-Snow,
Mark Harris and Michael Lamont
Art Director: Second Unit - Simon Lamont
Set Decorator - Stephenie McMillan
Property Master - Barry Wilkinson
Stand-by Props - Simon & Jamie Wilkinson
and Gary Ixer
Costume Designer - Anthony Powell
Wardrobe Supervisor - Kenny Crouch
Key Makeup Artist - Daniel Parker
Makeup Artist - Jeremy Woodhead
Makeup/Hair: Uma Thurman - Peter Swords King
Director of Photography - Roger Pratt
Camera Operators - Simon Ransley
and Peter Robertson
Location Managers - Keith Hatcher
and Terry Blyther
First Assistant Director - Terry Needham
Second Assistant Director - Adam Somner
Second Unit Directors - Vic Armstrong
and Arthur Wooster
Second Unit Director/Director of Photography -
Harvey Harrison
Stunt Coordinator - Marc Boyle
Stunt Coordinator: Second Unit - Eddie Stacey
Swordfight Arrangements - William Hobbs
Special Effects Supervisor - Joss Williams
Special Effects Coordinators: Second Unit -
Ian Wingrove and Paul Whybrow
Visual Effects Supervisor - Nick Davis
Visual Effects Producers: CFC - Sharon Lark
and Alison O'Brien
Digital Effects Producer: Cinesite - Alex Bicknell
Digital Composite Supervisors: Cinesite -
Sue Rowe and Niki Wakefield
CG Lead Animator: CFC - Dan Glass
Production Supervisor: Model Unit -
José Granell
Camera Operator: Model Unit - John Morgan
FX Animation Designer: Digital Unit - Steven Bebb
Film Editor - Mick Audsley
Supervising Sound Editor - Peter Joly
Re-Recording Mixer/Sound Effects Editor -
Adrian Rhodes
Re-Recording Mixer - Mike Prestwood Smith
Composer: Theme Song - Laurie Johnson
Music - Joel McNeely
Music Supervisor - Marius De Vries
Music Score Recordist - Shawn Murphy


Review
THE AVENGERS came out in 1998 (no, not the film from Joss Whedon) and was considered the worst screen interpretation ever released. Luckily, it wasn't based on the famous Marvel comic book series but adapted from a classic British spy-fi television series. It's a travesty that this movie nearly derailed the careers of those who participated in its production, namely actors like Sean Connery and Uma Thurman. The lack of background extras, plot holes, severe editing and overall politeness of the chemistry dialogue between Thurman and Ralph Fiennes may have contributed to these criticisms.

Shame on the producers for casting Connery, the former 007, as the weather-controlling megalomaniac in a movie that shows no loyalty to the source material. He should be ashamed of his performance in this abnormal movie. This villainous role would have been perfect for Anthony Hopkins if he had been willing to accept that instead of Connery, who did not retire from acting after THE AVENGERS until 2003.

The film adaptation was not ready to renew interest in the classic TV series. It did no justice for the series that this film is terrible. It will discourage you from watching the TV series, which is decent despite this movie, if this is your first introduction to THE AVENGERS.

Star rating: (2/10) Bad Movie

Back to Home

No comments:

Post a Comment