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

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