On A List of Movie Reviews

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The Avengers (1998)

Rate: 3
Viewed: 1/25

Aveng
1/25: I'm curious about one thing: if The Avengers was based on a British TV show that ran during the 60's, what made Hollywood think that it would appeal to anyone in 1998?

No matter what, the following axiom will always be true: it's impossible to convert a bad script to a good movie. While watching The Avengers, I had no idea what was going on, and nothing made sense. The repartees may seem clever in print, but they don't work on screen.

Having initially picked up the film for Ralph Fiennes, I feel he did a decent job, but what a comedown it's been for him since appearing in Schindler's List, Quiz Show, and The English Patient. Uma Thurman may possess the look, but she isn't British and has no chemistry with Ralph Fiennes. Given her appearance, The Avengers is like watching Batman & Robin all over again. I'm not sure why the filmmakers thought Sean Connery would be an ideal choice as the bad guy after playing James Bond so many times.

The cinematography is clean and filled with catchy objects. What's weird is the sight of empty streets in London. I know it's a pretty busy city for the most part. In fact, the cast has barely enough people. On the other hand, the costumes are nice. Both aspects have saved the movie from being a total stinker.

All in all, to rationalize the outcome of The Avengers, Ralph Fiennes wisely said, "I think it's a badge of honor to have a real flop on your résumé."