Skycaptain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)

[ravenus]

Sky Captain and The World of Tommorrow

Sky Captain and the World of Tommorrow - Kerry Conran

While not a 'great' movie I found this one a rather interesting and likeable retro sci-fi movie made in the style of the old American adventure serials and Max Fleischer cartoons. Balloon airships and typewriters cross shoulders with massive automatons and airborne battlestations. The movie bears an intentional hazy soft-focus look that harkens the era it pays tribute to.

This movie was entirely shot against a blue screen, using CGI to render all the (very impressive) backdrops and action sequences...something that's evident in many of the scenes, but I find the overall impression cute and rather in keeping with the 'staged' look of the film. The action sequences are quite thrilling and well worth the look, and the period atmosphere renders the proceedings much more interesting than if the movie had been set in a contemporary world.

Jude Law was not too impressive as the Sky Captain, though...he looks the square-jawed hero but was too Brit and understated. I would have preferred a more gung-ho yankee approach to the role. Gwyneth Paltrow is charming as Polly Perkins, the Lois Lane inspired intrepid reporter who has a thing for the heroic aviator and even Angelina Jolie has a decent cameo. The bad guy ('played' by the late Laurence Olivier...incorporating old footage of him into the movie) was not handled very well...just not enough buildup given to his character before the climax, or anticlimax so to say.

On the whole I would consider this movie as very good time-pass...I'd maybe even get a special edition DVD of it which I hope will have some very interesting commentary.

 

[Cailleach]

Re: Sky Captain and The World of Tommorrow

I haven't seen it yet, because I lacked the time. I do want too. I heard from several people that it's a good movie.

 

[Dave]

Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow (2004)

This is a film set in New York City just before the Second World War. It begins very film noir ‘Philip Marlowe’ –like and centres on a Chronicle reporter, Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow), who has noticed that famous scientists from around the world are disappearing under mysterious circumstances. Quickly leaving behind any possibility of believability to the plot, when giant robots attack the city, she teams up with her ex-boyfriend, the ace aviator Sky Captain H. Joseph Sullivan (Jude Law.) Together they investigate the evil mastermind Dr. Totenkopf who has continued the experiments he began before World War One in Germany with his Unit Eleven scientists. Risking their lives Polly and Sky Captain battle more giant robots, aircraft with bird-like flapping wings, genetically created animals and dinosaurs, and a few odd ballistic missiles; and they travel to exotic locations around the world eventually finding Shangri-la. Luckily they have help from eye-patched Frankie Cook (Angelina Jolie), commander of an all-female British amphibious squadron, and the technical genius Dex Dearborn (Giovanni Ribisi.) with his Ray-Gun. But can they save the world in time from Totenkopf’s evil plans to make ‘a world of the future’? (He wanted to be a latter-day Noah.)

According to the studio this film was "A trailblazing moment in cinematic history." But that relates to the filming technique rather than the actual film itself. The characters are comic book, the dialogue is very cheesy, but it is said with complete and utter conviction. This was the first film where the actors were filmed entirely on a blue-screen with more than 2000 effects shots, and that makes it a stunning retro-reality where anything can happen. Costumes were designed by Stella McCartney. For the plot, cross ‘Flash Gordon’ and other Saturday morning cinema serials with ‘James Bond’, ‘Biggles’, and ‘Fu Manchu’, then add ‘Indiana Jones’, ‘King Kong’, ‘The Island of Dr Moreau’ and ‘Lost Horizon’. First-time writer/director Kerry Conran even manages to work in ‘The Wizard of Oz’. In fact, he spends so much time in homage he neglects to make the film as totally original as it ought to be. What I mean is that there is nothing quite like it, and I’m pretty sure there never will be again. If this film can be made, there must be a hope that every fantasy can be filmed. I read a quote that you must see this film to unbelieve it.

 

[ray gower]

But is it any good?

I am looking forward to finding a copy Spar rental in anticipation of a good comic book romp

 

[Dave]

Personally, I liked it, but it wasn't at all what I expected and I can see why some people don't.

As I said, the dialogue is very cheesy and deliberately clichéd. It's hard to knock it because it's obviously done like that on purpose, only I never laughed!

The characters aren't well developed, but they are 'comic book' characters -- they are 'Flash Gordon' and 'Dale Arden' -- so why should I expect more?

As I said, the plot should be better. It is not enough to have stunning sets and an amalgam of boys own stories, but the second half is faster paced than the first and there are several weak plot twists near the end.

 

[ray gower]

Gosh, it is a very nostalgic film!
Takes one right back to Saturday matinees at the Astra and Dan Dare on the radio!

I do have a soft spot for comicbook films, if only for that reason. And this was a great example of just turn the mind off, ignore the physical impossibilities and go with the flow.

Must say I liked the aircraft carrier-
It struck a bell and had me scrabbling for an old book I have on 'Modern Aviation' (1930) and there it was, sort of, along with a picture of something not unlike the airship in 'Master of the World', as well as a giant Zepplin 'air port' with lifts to the ground.
Nothing new under the sun or deranged imagination

 

[immortalem]

I liked the look of this film but I thought the dialogue was cheesy. I also thought the acting was mediocre. The story was also lame but it was an accomplishment for them to have filmed the entire film in front of a green screen.

 

[Shaun]

I loved the film. It was totally cheesy but I still thought it was great. The film was just so reminiscent of early science fiction. I agree with Ray that you had to turn off your brain and just enjoy.

 

[ray gower]

Originally posted by immortalem
I liked the look of this film but I thought the dialogue was cheesy. I also thought the acting was mediocre. The story was also lame but it was an accomplishment for them to have filmed the entire film in front of a green screen.

I think the increasing use of green and blue screens is going to see a major shake up of Hollywood actors. Just as the introduction of 'Talkies' killed many a name in silent film, there are going to be many famous screen 'actors' who are incapable of performing with the new technology.

That said, and remembering the fantasy nature of the film, I honestly do not think the performances here were so bad?
Okay we know that Jolenne Tomb Raider would only pass the acting test as a tree, but you must admit Polly Perkins had certainly mastered the 'If looks could kill' impression?

 

[Highlander II]

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