Product Description
In this science fiction adventure set in the 1930s, New York City reporter Polly Perkins starts to investigate why so many famous scientists are being reported missing. Soon, she gets clues, as strange flying machines and giant robots threaten the city. Luckily, her old flame, aviator Captain Joseph Sullivan aka Sky Captain, is there to battle the bad guys with the Flying Legion, in his Warhawk P-40. Now Polly must fly away with Sky Captain to Nepal to find a crazy scientist, Dr. Totenkopf, who apparently wants to destroy the world!
System Requirements:
Running Time: 90 mins
Format: BLU-RAY DISC
Customer Reviews:
Sky Captain rules!.......2007-02-18
If you missed this movie - now is the time to try it in HD! Shame that the movie failed at the box office, but it's good to own it now in Blu Ray. Nice transfer, though the movie itself is very soft visioned, so you won't get this very special sharpness feeling (like i.e. with Mi:3)
poor acting but effects are good.......2007-02-16
THe story is not bad but the acting is quite poor. On the other hand the high definition picture makes up for them and this movie can be enjoyable
I loved this movie..........2006-12-10
I may be in the minority but I really enjoyed this movie. From the retro 'CG heavy' visuals to the 1930's movie seriel feel, this movie is a breath of fresh air. The characters are transparent as cartoon characters but it all fits together nicely to create a unique movie experience.
Would Have Been Great As A Saturday Morning Serial.......2006-11-21
SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW comes off as too campy and too two-dimensional. Polly Perkins (Gyneth Paltrow) and Joseph "Sky Captain" Sullivan just don't ever come to life as characters. We never get to see why they do what they do, or why they're romantically drawn to each other -- except for the handsome rogue and the independent woman that they are.
The plot is almost a standard culled from any of the 1930s science fiction magazines, and even takes a few riffs from Max Fleischer's Superman cartoon with the giant robots wreaking havoc in the streets. After the Great War (World War I), several scientists were pulled into a think tank called Unit 11. No one knows what they were working on, but now all of these men are starting to disappear again. Giant flying robots seek out the scientists as well as machinery and raw products, but no one knows what for.
Sky Captain gets called in. His mercenary band quickly assembles and gets ready to probe into the mystery, but they're attacked first and Sky's right hand man and innovative thinker, Dex, is capture. But not before leaving a clue that tells Sky Captain where the source of the mysterious robots is broadcasting his commands.
The movie quickly becomes a chase as Sky Captain and Polly track down one clue after the other to figure out what's going on. This is familiar fare for anyone who's seen the Indiana Jones movies or the Buck Rogers serials released on DVD.
The CG work for the movie is absolutely amazing, though the opening 30 minutes or so are really too dark in my opinion. They seem drenched in warm sepia tones that I found distracting. The actions sequences came along regularly enough, but most of them were far too predictable. The most inexcusable part, though, is the lack of interesting heroes. They were paper thin and tended to meander through scenes without substance.
Still, as a Blu-ray release, it's an interesting one worth picking up. The high-def presentation is fantastic, and the audio is well sorted out to get the most from your surround sound system. There aren't any other enticements to pick up the movie if you already own it on DVD other than the presentation.
Only two shots left.......2006-09-28
This is a 2004 view of what a 1930's view of the future could look like. Most of the CGI and blue-screen overlays had to be a tad fuzzy to make the scenes work. The language may be a tad stilted but it also is designed to be a thirties movie rendition.
Seems that somewhere towards the end of the last war a brilliant scientist with a vision disappeared and the whole Group 11 project was disbanded. Today top scientists are going missing and it is up to Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) reporter-photographer to find the reason. Mean while it looks as though a destructive minus is ravaging the city (looking for something) and the only person capable of foiling the evil plot is, you guessed it, Joe "Sky Captain" Sullivan (Jude Law, of "GATTACA" fame).
Eventually Joe runs out of gas and only Franky (Angelina Jolie) can save him if there is time. Meanwhile Polly finds that her camera has only two shots left; can she make the best of them?
How can this daring duo and their pals foil the nefarious plot that may prove fatal to the world as we know it?
Average customer rating:
- Another take
- "Sky Captain": Old-Fashioned, Silly Escapism
- A Flight of Fancy
- I loved it
- A truly unique viewing experience
|
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (Widescreen Special Collector's Edition)
Starring:
Gwyneth Paltrow ,
Jude Law ,
Giovanni Ribisi ,
Michael Gambon , and
Ling Bai
Director:
Kerry Conran
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
 Crime
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Sci-Fi Action
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Gambon, Michael
| ( G )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Jolie, Angelina
| ( J )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Law, Jude
| ( L )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Ling, Bai
| ( L )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Olivier, Laurence
| ( O )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Paltrow, Gwyneth
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Ribisi, Giovanni
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Action & Adventure
| Paramount Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
All Paramount
| Paramount Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
( S )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Special Editions
| Fully Loaded DVDs
| Features
| DVD
| Video
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ASIN: B0006IIPIK
Release Date: 2005-01-25 |
Amazon.com
While setting a milestone in the progress of digital filmmaking, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow resurrects a nostalgic fantasy world derived from a wide variety of vintage inspirations. It's a dazzling dream for anyone who appreciates the look and feel of golden-age sci-fi pulp magazines, drawing its unique, all-digital design from such diverse sources as Howard Hawks adventures, Fritz Lang's Metropolis, Buck Rogers, Blackhawk comics, The Third Man, cliffhanger serials, and the action-packed Indiana Jones franchise. Writer-director Kerry Conran's feature debut is also guaranteed to inspire digital dreamers everywhere, suggesting a paradigm shift in the way CGI-dominated movies are made. It's a giddy adventure for the young and young-at-heart, in which ace pilot "Sky Captain" Joe Sullivan (Jude Law) and intrepid reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) must save the world from a mad scientist whose vision of the future has tragic implications for all humankind. Angelina Jolie drops in for a glorified cameo, but it's the ultra-fortunate neophyte Conran who's the star here. His clever riff on The Wizard of Oz is a marvel to behold, and the method of its creation is nothing less than revolutionary. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Another take.......2007-08-30
A lot of people here seem to like this movie, I am not one of them. I got this as one of the five films you get via coupon for buying a HD DVD player, and at free it is not worth the price. The concept is great, but the plot is silly and disjointed, the acting sucks (yes I am talking about Gwyneth Paltrow in particular). It just left me flat. A concept that could have worked well turns out to be just a mess in execution. At least they tried something different.
"Sky Captain": Old-Fashioned, Silly Escapism.......2007-08-27
Years ago, when I left the theater after watching "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" (hereafter "Sky Captain"), an amazing thing happened. A little boy began chasing his friend around the lobby and cheering at the top of his lungs: "Sky Captain to the rescue!!!" After which his father, who'd evidently done his parental duty for the day, rolled his eyes and tried to convince his son the film was just "Ok." That, in a nutshell, is the problem with "Sky Captain"--you either love it or leave it. It has no pretensions other than to be silly escapism, and if you can't look at it the way a six-year-old would, chances are you'll rather leave it. There's no deep intellectual subtext at work here, no verisimilitude masking a philosophical meaning; rather, this movie is about a long-lost era--the age of matinee serials, when a mad scientist could build gargantuan robots to take over the world and only an ace fighter pilot could stop him, rescue the plucky damsel in distress, and then crack a sly one-liner. If that isn't your kind of thing, then like the father of that entranced six-year-old you'll spend most of your time trying to convince yourself the movie's just "Ok."
But man, is "Sky Captain" cool... and cool to watch, too. It may say a lot about my tastes as a sci-fi/adventure fan, but this flick is the most fun to come out of Hollywood in recent years. That's largely because it's so innocently Romantic and unabashedly old-fashioned, with a superhero who isn't driven by some dark psychosis or the sociopathic urge to kill. The plot is a standard adventure yarn: giant robots suddenly attack NYC, and Captain Joe Sullivan (Jude Law), daredevil pilot of the Flying Legion, races to the rescue in his modified P-40 Mustang fighter plane--only to find the robots are the first wave in an assault launched by the mysterious Dr. Totenkopf (Sir Laurence Olivier, in a posthumous but effective performance). Totenkopf wants to destroy the human race, but of course, the more our hero discovers about him, the more complicated his mystery becomes. Along the way, Sky Captain meets his old flame, feisty reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow), and together they engage in witty banter back-and-forth until it's obvious neither one's flame ever died out.
Jude Law is dashing as the eponymous superhero and seems to be channeling Errol Flynn-meets-Han Solo. Some might complain that he's harsh, even abusive, in his rough-and-tumble treatment of Gwyneth Paltrow's Polly Perkins (what a name...), but to say this is to give Polly far too little credit. First, Joe "Sky Captain" Sullivan is a swaggering ironic hero. Second, Polly's no dainty flower waiting to be trampled, either. Third, every character in this flick is pastiche--playing on classic remembrances of the larger-than-life legends your great grandparents grew up on. There's Giovanni Ribisi the geeky sidekick, Michael Gambon the grizzled newspaper editor, and Angelina Jolie the secret agent squad commander. When George Lucas began writing the original "Star Wars" in the 1970s, he had stuff like "Sky Captain" in mind. So anyone looking for political incorrectness in this film needs to remember that it's about giant robots with death rays coming out of their chests.
The film is an amalgamation of nearly every 1930s serial ever produced, from "Buck Rogers"-style dogfights to a sequence on an island reminiscent of "King Kong." Writer-director Kerry Conran clearly loves the old pulp fiction that inspired this stuff, and who can blame him? Watching Sky Captain and Polly engage in heart pounding aerial chases through the skyscrapers of Manhattan is a like a dream-come-true for the inner child. Throw in a wild, swashbuckling score by Edward Shearmur, who's REALLY playing up the "Buck Rogers" angle, and you've got action scenes that are a wonder to behold--thrilling, tongue-in-cheek, and amazing in how their computer generated imagery not only comes together, but also looks like a comic book right out of the 1930s. Conran and his team filmed the actors in front of blue screens and then digitally superimposed the backgrounds and sets into frame. Thus, you have real actors acting in non-existent environments, and amazingly, it works. The final film is even processed in sepia-tones, giving it the nostalgic, mythic appearance of fantasy.
Yet if a criticism can be leveled against "Sky Captain," it does tend to get a bit too silly in its eagerness to entertain. For example, I can accept that the Captain's P-40 Mustang turns into a submarine (I mean, with a movie about giant robots, who am I to judge?), but that it can submerge into the New York Harbor at mach 5 without shattering into a million pieces is a stretch too far. Particularly since the robots chasing after it burst into fireballs the moment they hit the water. If you're creating your own little cinematic world (and Conran is), then you've got to be consistent. "Sky Captain" isn't, and that's what keeps its deus ex machina-ridden self from being a grand slam. Still, for those seeking a popcorn flick that has a hero with a sense of humor to match his old-time derring-do, and a heroine whose wit can match, you could do a lot worse than to give "Sky Captain" a look and escape to a time when American cinema wasn't so psychotically postmodern. If nothing else, see it for the dogfights and pretend you're six again... who knows? Maybe you'll even be cheering, "Sky Captain to the rescue!"
A Flight of Fancy.......2007-07-16
Wow!!! What a fantastic movie and a genuine achievement in special effects Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is. The marriage of CGI and live action is seamless and its saturated colours and striking production design make it one of the most visually stunning films I have ever seen. From start to explosive finish I was riveted to the TV screen and alas, it made me wish I had only gone to see it at my local cinema. Sky Captain is fast paced and exiting with a great cast of A-Grade actors and actresses and a good script. It has a vibrant and decidedly retro aesthetic that perfectly captures the look, feel and spirit of pulp sci-fi from the 1930s & 40s. With its fearless heroes (and heroines!) giant robots, ray guns and rocket ships inspired by the likes of Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon, it is a true escapist's delight. And to think it is brought to life almost entirely with cutting edge 21st century technology in a truly breathtaking, elegant and stylish way. It is hard to believe that the cast had only a minimal amount of props to work with... amazing.
The Art Deco and "Streamlined Moderne" look of the film was for me a major part of its appeal with its references to important industrial designers and architects from that bygone inter-war era. We follow our heroes, Joe Sullivan (Jude Law) & Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) on a globetrotting adventure that takes them from a mythical and idealized modern metropolis (New York) that is under siege by an army of giant robots to an exotic Shangri-La (Tibet) high, high up in the Himalayas. We then travel to the bottom of the ocean to confront the evil genius Dr Totenkopf in his island lair, the apparent source of the mechanical mayhem. He is plotting to destroy the world which he believes has become decadent and corrupt and must be stopped by our daring heroes at all costs.
Yes, while the plot is silly and predictable and the acting a bit stiff and wooden, remember Sky Captain is not an "art film" but an entertaining and over the top flight of fancy. The movie is also admittedly a bit derivative, especially in terms of the Indiana Jones franchise and the computer game Crimson Skies but this really doesn't detract from the film which is exceptionally well made for a first time director and extremely enjoyable. Something I find hard to fathom is that Sky Captain failed at the box office, while not the best film I have ever seen the extraordinary graphic quality and innovative presentation alone should have given it a high measure of success. And let's face it there are far worse movies out there these days.
So if you enjoy good old fashioned action-adventure movies in the vein of King Kong, The Mummy or Indiana Jones, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is for you. It might not have much depth, but it does have heart. So don't be put off by the bad reviews, for in my mind it is one of the best films of its genre made in some years and I look forward to the special edition DVD.
I loved it.......2007-06-14
Totally original, very true to the genre it was imitating.
A truly unique viewing experience.......2007-05-07
After viewing Kerry Conran's "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow," I was definitely looking forward to tomorrow. Here's a film that looks and feels so different from anything modern movie audiences are used to that it's sort of difficult to get your head around the whole thing. Maybe it had something to do with the techniques Conran used to create the movie. According to the featurettes on the DVD, he created everything we see on his computer. None of the sets existed in reality. Only the actors and actresses are real (although one can certainly make an argument that Gwyneth Paltrow is not real in any way, shape, or form--an argument for another day, alas), and they had to stand in front of blue screens and basically imagine what was going on. Conran filled in all the details later. This process creates an intriguing world--the equivalent of eye candy of a particularly delicious sort I must say--albeit one that doesn't favor a human focus. We're so caught up in the breathtaking visuals that the actors and the story sort of slide into the backseat. Truth be told, there isn't much of a story to tell. What story there is exists to showcase the visuals.
The main character in "Sky Captain" is one Joe Sullivan (Jude Law), a sort of citizen of the world, James Bond type who flits around the globe saving us from evil. He owns a really cool underground base filled with planes and various high tech gadgets. He receives help in his missions from Dex Dearborn (Giovanni Ribisi), his head scientist and a crack inventor. Whenever trouble erupts, Sullivan, otherwise known as the Sky Captain, hops in his trusty plane and flies to the scene of the crime. His latest mission promises to be a doozy. Gigantic robots are rampaging through the streets of New York, smashing their way through buildings and sending the civilian population into a frenzy. What sort of madness is this? That's for Sky Captain to find out. Fortunately, his old flame Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) is on the case. She's a hard driven reporter who possesses such a cool demeanor that she's calling her story into the paper as the robots rampage. Sullivan and Perkins must team up, amidst much wisecracking, to unlock the mystery of the robots and to stop the heinous evil behind them.
Their adventures take them from place to place in a non-stop flurry of activity that leaves the viewer breathless. The two literally fly around the world, and under the ocean, to save the world. They discover that one Dr. Totenkopf, a World War I German scientist and all-around jerk, is the man behind the metal behemoths. He resides in an enormous complex located on a secret island guarded by all sorts of perilous henchmen. Before they can pay a visit to Totenkopf, however, Sullivan and Perkins must protect the contents of a couple of mysterious vials, and they must also rescue Dex Dearborn, who was captured during a raid on the Sky Captain's airfield. It's a tall order, but fortunately our dynamic duo can rely on the gregarious Franky (Angelina Jolie with a really cute hat and an eye patch), the commander of a British air fleet that floats, literally, through the air. Franky and the Sky Captain have a past of their own to work through, much to the consternation of Polly, but the assistance rendered by the Brits helps move the adventure along to its over the top conclusion at Totenkopf's over the top fortress. It makes sense that none other than the late Laurence Olivier plays the evil doctor.
I couldn't hate this movie if I tried. "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" bombed big time at the box office, but a lot of critics loved it. I can see why reviewers went gaga over this flick. I think several elements factor into the critical praise. One, it's the plot and style of the film, the way Conran took the 1930s serial actioner and brought it into the modern day, that wins plaudits. The color scheme alone, a mix of blurry browns and blues that makes the movie look like a photograph taken in 1935, shows a love for old movies that literally leaps off the screen. Two, the fantastical elements, the sheer over the top effects seen in every frame of the film, take the viewer back to the heady days of childhood when going to the movies meant stepping into a magical world far different from reality. Three, and finally, the banter between the characters mirrors in no small part the sort of wordplay one would see in an old black and white movie. Movie reviewers think of films in a different way than most people. They really believe that a film should transport the viewer to a different time and place, and they're willing to applaud a movie that does just that. This is why they liked "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow".
Despite the poor box office, I think "Sky Captain" has already proved its influence on the future of film. Just watch "300". A lot of what we see there, in a technical sense, originated with Kerry Conran's picture. Needless to say, the DVD presentation is nearly flawless. The picture and audio quality will make your jaw drop, especially if you watch this on one of those big, fancy television screens. Extras include a couple of commentary tracks featuring Conran, producer Jon Avnet, and selected members of the visual effects crew. We also get a few featurettes giving us a behind the scenes look at the film's production as well as interviews with members of the cast. A gag reel, some trailers, deleted scenes, and the original six-minute film Conran made to sell the idea to a studio round out the disc. Whew! So there you go. Check this one out posthaste. You'll have a great time!
Amazon.com
While setting a milestone in the progress of digital filmmaking, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow resurrects a nostalgic fantasy world derived from a wide variety of vintage inspirations. It's a dazzling dream for anyone who appreciates the look and feel of golden-age sci-fi pulp magazines, drawing its unique, all-digital design from such diverse sources as Howard Hawks adventures, Fritz Lang's Metropolis, Buck Rogers, Blackhawk comics, The Third Man, cliffhanger serials, and the action-packed Indiana Jones franchise. Writer-director Kerry Conran's feature debut is also guaranteed to inspire digital dreamers everywhere, suggesting a paradigm shift in the way CGI-dominated movies are made. It's a giddy adventure for the young and young-at-heart, in which ace pilot "Sky Captain" Joe Sullivan (Jude Law) and intrepid reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) must save the world from a mad scientist whose vision of the future has tragic implications for all humankind. Angelina Jolie drops in for a glorified cameo, but it's the ultra-fortunate neophyte Conran who's the star here. His clever riff on The Wizard of Oz is a marvel to behold, and the method of its creation is nothing less than revolutionary. --Jeff Shannon
Description
After New York City receives a series of attacks from giant flying robots, a reporter teams up with a pilot in search of their origin, as well as the reason for the disappearances of famous scientists around the world.
Customer Reviews:
Another take.......2007-08-30
A lot of people here seem to like this movie, I am not one of them. I got this as one of the five films you get via coupon for buying a HD DVD player, and at free it is not worth the price. The concept is great, but the plot is silly and disjointed, the acting sucks (yes I am talking about Gwyneth Paltrow in particular). It just left me flat. A concept that could have worked well turns out to be just a mess in execution. At least they tried something different.
"Sky Captain": Old-Fashioned, Silly Escapism.......2007-08-27
Years ago, when I left the theater after watching "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" (hereafter "Sky Captain"), an amazing thing happened. A little boy began chasing his friend around the lobby and cheering at the top of his lungs: "Sky Captain to the rescue!!!" After which his father, who'd evidently done his parental duty for the day, rolled his eyes and tried to convince his son the film was just "Ok." That, in a nutshell, is the problem with "Sky Captain"--you either love it or leave it. It has no pretensions other than to be silly escapism, and if you can't look at it the way a six-year-old would, chances are you'll rather leave it. There's no deep intellectual subtext at work here, no verisimilitude masking a philosophical meaning; rather, this movie is about a long-lost era--the age of matinee serials, when a mad scientist could build gargantuan robots to take over the world and only an ace fighter pilot could stop him, rescue the plucky damsel in distress, and then crack a sly one-liner. If that isn't your kind of thing, then like the father of that entranced six-year-old you'll spend most of your time trying to convince yourself the movie's just "Ok."
But man, is "Sky Captain" cool... and cool to watch, too. It may say a lot about my tastes as a sci-fi/adventure fan, but this flick is the most fun to come out of Hollywood in recent years. That's largely because it's so innocently Romantic and unabashedly old-fashioned, with a superhero who isn't driven by some dark psychosis or the sociopathic urge to kill. The plot is a standard adventure yarn: giant robots suddenly attack NYC, and Captain Joe Sullivan (Jude Law), daredevil pilot of the Flying Legion, races to the rescue in his modified P-40 Mustang fighter plane--only to find the robots are the first wave in an assault launched by the mysterious Dr. Totenkopf (Sir Laurence Olivier, in a posthumous but effective performance). Totenkopf wants to destroy the human race, but of course, the more our hero discovers about him, the more complicated his mystery becomes. Along the way, Sky Captain meets his old flame, feisty reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow), and together they engage in witty banter back-and-forth until it's obvious neither one's flame ever died out.
Jude Law is dashing as the eponymous superhero and seems to be channeling Errol Flynn-meets-Han Solo. Some might complain that he's harsh, even abusive, in his rough-and-tumble treatment of Gwyneth Paltrow's Polly Perkins (what a name...), but to say this is to give Polly far too little credit. First, Joe "Sky Captain" Sullivan is a swaggering ironic hero. Second, Polly's no dainty flower waiting to be trampled, either. Third, every character in this flick is pastiche--playing on classic remembrances of the larger-than-life legends your great grandparents grew up on. There's Giovanni Ribisi the geeky sidekick, Michael Gambon the grizzled newspaper editor, and Angelina Jolie the secret agent squad commander. When George Lucas began writing the original "Star Wars" in the 1970s, he had stuff like "Sky Captain" in mind. So anyone looking for political incorrectness in this film needs to remember that it's about giant robots with death rays coming out of their chests.
The film is an amalgamation of nearly every 1930s serial ever produced, from "Buck Rogers"-style dogfights to a sequence on an island reminiscent of "King Kong." Writer-director Kerry Conran clearly loves the old pulp fiction that inspired this stuff, and who can blame him? Watching Sky Captain and Polly engage in heart pounding aerial chases through the skyscrapers of Manhattan is a like a dream-come-true for the inner child. Throw in a wild, swashbuckling score by Edward Shearmur, who's REALLY playing up the "Buck Rogers" angle, and you've got action scenes that are a wonder to behold--thrilling, tongue-in-cheek, and amazing in how their computer generated imagery not only comes together, but also looks like a comic book right out of the 1930s. Conran and his team filmed the actors in front of blue screens and then digitally superimposed the backgrounds and sets into frame. Thus, you have real actors acting in non-existent environments, and amazingly, it works. The final film is even processed in sepia-tones, giving it the nostalgic, mythic appearance of fantasy.
Yet if a criticism can be leveled against "Sky Captain," it does tend to get a bit too silly in its eagerness to entertain. For example, I can accept that the Captain's P-40 Mustang turns into a submarine (I mean, with a movie about giant robots, who am I to judge?), but that it can submerge into the New York Harbor at mach 5 without shattering into a million pieces is a stretch too far. Particularly since the robots chasing after it burst into fireballs the moment they hit the water. If you're creating your own little cinematic world (and Conran is), then you've got to be consistent. "Sky Captain" isn't, and that's what keeps its deus ex machina-ridden self from being a grand slam. Still, for those seeking a popcorn flick that has a hero with a sense of humor to match his old-time derring-do, and a heroine whose wit can match, you could do a lot worse than to give "Sky Captain" a look and escape to a time when American cinema wasn't so psychotically postmodern. If nothing else, see it for the dogfights and pretend you're six again... who knows? Maybe you'll even be cheering, "Sky Captain to the rescue!"
A Flight of Fancy.......2007-07-16
Wow!!! What a fantastic movie and a genuine achievement in special effects Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is. The marriage of CGI and live action is seamless and its saturated colours and striking production design make it one of the most visually stunning films I have ever seen. From start to explosive finish I was riveted to the TV screen and alas, it made me wish I had only gone to see it at my local cinema. Sky Captain is fast paced and exiting with a great cast of A-Grade actors and actresses and a good script. It has a vibrant and decidedly retro aesthetic that perfectly captures the look, feel and spirit of pulp sci-fi from the 1930s & 40s. With its fearless heroes (and heroines!) giant robots, ray guns and rocket ships inspired by the likes of Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon, it is a true escapist's delight. And to think it is brought to life almost entirely with cutting edge 21st century technology in a truly breathtaking, elegant and stylish way. It is hard to believe that the cast had only a minimal amount of props to work with... amazing.
The Art Deco and "Streamlined Moderne" look of the film was for me a major part of its appeal with its references to important industrial designers and architects from that bygone inter-war era. We follow our heroes, Joe Sullivan (Jude Law) & Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) on a globetrotting adventure that takes them from a mythical and idealized modern metropolis (New York) that is under siege by an army of giant robots to an exotic Shangri-La (Tibet) high, high up in the Himalayas. We then travel to the bottom of the ocean to confront the evil genius Dr Totenkopf in his island lair, the apparent source of the mechanical mayhem. He is plotting to destroy the world which he believes has become decadent and corrupt and must be stopped by our daring heroes at all costs.
Yes, while the plot is silly and predictable and the acting a bit stiff and wooden, remember Sky Captain is not an "art film" but an entertaining and over the top flight of fancy. The movie is also admittedly a bit derivative, especially in terms of the Indiana Jones franchise and the computer game Crimson Skies but this really doesn't detract from the film which is exceptionally well made for a first time director and extremely enjoyable. Something I find hard to fathom is that Sky Captain failed at the box office, while not the best film I have ever seen the extraordinary graphic quality and innovative presentation alone should have given it a high measure of success. And let's face it there are far worse movies out there these days.
So if you enjoy good old fashioned action-adventure movies in the vein of King Kong, The Mummy or Indiana Jones, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is for you. It might not have much depth, but it does have heart. So don't be put off by the bad reviews, for in my mind it is one of the best films of its genre made in some years and I look forward to the special edition DVD.
I loved it.......2007-06-14
Totally original, very true to the genre it was imitating.
A truly unique viewing experience.......2007-05-07
After viewing Kerry Conran's "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow," I was definitely looking forward to tomorrow. Here's a film that looks and feels so different from anything modern movie audiences are used to that it's sort of difficult to get your head around the whole thing. Maybe it had something to do with the techniques Conran used to create the movie. According to the featurettes on the DVD, he created everything we see on his computer. None of the sets existed in reality. Only the actors and actresses are real (although one can certainly make an argument that Gwyneth Paltrow is not real in any way, shape, or form--an argument for another day, alas), and they had to stand in front of blue screens and basically imagine what was going on. Conran filled in all the details later. This process creates an intriguing world--the equivalent of eye candy of a particularly delicious sort I must say--albeit one that doesn't favor a human focus. We're so caught up in the breathtaking visuals that the actors and the story sort of slide into the backseat. Truth be told, there isn't much of a story to tell. What story there is exists to showcase the visuals.
The main character in "Sky Captain" is one Joe Sullivan (Jude Law), a sort of citizen of the world, James Bond type who flits around the globe saving us from evil. He owns a really cool underground base filled with planes and various high tech gadgets. He receives help in his missions from Dex Dearborn (Giovanni Ribisi), his head scientist and a crack inventor. Whenever trouble erupts, Sullivan, otherwise known as the Sky Captain, hops in his trusty plane and flies to the scene of the crime. His latest mission promises to be a doozy. Gigantic robots are rampaging through the streets of New York, smashing their way through buildings and sending the civilian population into a frenzy. What sort of madness is this? That's for Sky Captain to find out. Fortunately, his old flame Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) is on the case. She's a hard driven reporter who possesses such a cool demeanor that she's calling her story into the paper as the robots rampage. Sullivan and Perkins must team up, amidst much wisecracking, to unlock the mystery of the robots and to stop the heinous evil behind them.
Their adventures take them from place to place in a non-stop flurry of activity that leaves the viewer breathless. The two literally fly around the world, and under the ocean, to save the world. They discover that one Dr. Totenkopf, a World War I German scientist and all-around jerk, is the man behind the metal behemoths. He resides in an enormous complex located on a secret island guarded by all sorts of perilous henchmen. Before they can pay a visit to Totenkopf, however, Sullivan and Perkins must protect the contents of a couple of mysterious vials, and they must also rescue Dex Dearborn, who was captured during a raid on the Sky Captain's airfield. It's a tall order, but fortunately our dynamic duo can rely on the gregarious Franky (Angelina Jolie with a really cute hat and an eye patch), the commander of a British air fleet that floats, literally, through the air. Franky and the Sky Captain have a past of their own to work through, much to the consternation of Polly, but the assistance rendered by the Brits helps move the adventure along to its over the top conclusion at Totenkopf's over the top fortress. It makes sense that none other than the late Laurence Olivier plays the evil doctor.
I couldn't hate this movie if I tried. "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" bombed big time at the box office, but a lot of critics loved it. I can see why reviewers went gaga over this flick. I think several elements factor into the critical praise. One, it's the plot and style of the film, the way Conran took the 1930s serial actioner and brought it into the modern day, that wins plaudits. The color scheme alone, a mix of blurry browns and blues that makes the movie look like a photograph taken in 1935, shows a love for old movies that literally leaps off the screen. Two, the fantastical elements, the sheer over the top effects seen in every frame of the film, take the viewer back to the heady days of childhood when going to the movies meant stepping into a magical world far different from reality. Three, and finally, the banter between the characters mirrors in no small part the sort of wordplay one would see in an old black and white movie. Movie reviewers think of films in a different way than most people. They really believe that a film should transport the viewer to a different time and place, and they're willing to applaud a movie that does just that. This is why they liked "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow".
Despite the poor box office, I think "Sky Captain" has already proved its influence on the future of film. Just watch "300". A lot of what we see there, in a technical sense, originated with Kerry Conran's picture. Needless to say, the DVD presentation is nearly flawless. The picture and audio quality will make your jaw drop, especially if you watch this on one of those big, fancy television screens. Extras include a couple of commentary tracks featuring Conran, producer Jon Avnet, and selected members of the visual effects crew. We also get a few featurettes giving us a behind the scenes look at the film's production as well as interviews with members of the cast. A gag reel, some trailers, deleted scenes, and the original six-minute film Conran made to sell the idea to a studio round out the disc. Whew! So there you go. Check this one out posthaste. You'll have a great time!
Average customer rating:
- Another take
- "Sky Captain": Old-Fashioned, Silly Escapism
- A Flight of Fancy
- I loved it
- A truly unique viewing experience
|
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (Full Screen Special Collector's Edition)
Starring:
Gwyneth Paltrow ,
Jude Law ,
Giovanni Ribisi ,
Michael Gambon , and
Ling Bai
Director:
Kerry Conran
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
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| ( L )
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Similar Items:
-
Batman Begins [HD DVD]
-
Serenity [HD DVD]
-
Lara Croft - Tomb Raider (Special Collector's Edition)
-
The Chronicles of Riddick [HD DVD]
-
Pitch Black (Unrated) [HD DVD]
ASIN: B0006IIPJ4
Release Date: 2005-01-25 |
Amazon.com
While setting a milestone in the progress of digital filmmaking, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow resurrects a nostalgic fantasy world derived from a wide variety of vintage inspirations. It's a dazzling dream for anyone who appreciates the look and feel of golden-age sci-fi pulp magazines, drawing its unique, all-digital design from such diverse sources as Howard Hawks adventures, Fritz Lang's Metropolis, Buck Rogers, Blackhawk comics, The Third Man, cliffhanger serials, and the action-packed Indiana Jones franchise. Writer-director Kerry Conran's feature debut is also guaranteed to inspire digital dreamers everywhere, suggesting a paradigm shift in the way CGI-dominated movies are made. It's a giddy adventure for the young and young-at-heart, in which ace pilot "Sky Captain" Joe Sullivan (Jude Law) and intrepid reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) must save the world from a mad scientist whose vision of the future has tragic implications for all humankind. Angelina Jolie drops in for a glorified cameo, but it's the ultra-fortunate neophyte Conran who's the star here. His clever riff on The Wizard of Oz is a marvel to behold, and the method of its creation is nothing less than revolutionary. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Another take.......2007-08-30
A lot of people here seem to like this movie, I am not one of them. I got this as one of the five films you get via coupon for buying a HD DVD player, and at free it is not worth the price. The concept is great, but the plot is silly and disjointed, the acting sucks (yes I am talking about Gwyneth Paltrow in particular). It just left me flat. A concept that could have worked well turns out to be just a mess in execution. At least they tried something different.
"Sky Captain": Old-Fashioned, Silly Escapism.......2007-08-27
Years ago, when I left the theater after watching "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" (hereafter "Sky Captain"), an amazing thing happened. A little boy began chasing his friend around the lobby and cheering at the top of his lungs: "Sky Captain to the rescue!!!" After which his father, who'd evidently done his parental duty for the day, rolled his eyes and tried to convince his son the film was just "Ok." That, in a nutshell, is the problem with "Sky Captain"--you either love it or leave it. It has no pretensions other than to be silly escapism, and if you can't look at it the way a six-year-old would, chances are you'll rather leave it. There's no deep intellectual subtext at work here, no verisimilitude masking a philosophical meaning; rather, this movie is about a long-lost era--the age of matinee serials, when a mad scientist could build gargantuan robots to take over the world and only an ace fighter pilot could stop him, rescue the plucky damsel in distress, and then crack a sly one-liner. If that isn't your kind of thing, then like the father of that entranced six-year-old you'll spend most of your time trying to convince yourself the movie's just "Ok."
But man, is "Sky Captain" cool... and cool to watch, too. It may say a lot about my tastes as a sci-fi/adventure fan, but this flick is the most fun to come out of Hollywood in recent years. That's largely because it's so innocently Romantic and unabashedly old-fashioned, with a superhero who isn't driven by some dark psychosis or the sociopathic urge to kill. The plot is a standard adventure yarn: giant robots suddenly attack NYC, and Captain Joe Sullivan (Jude Law), daredevil pilot of the Flying Legion, races to the rescue in his modified P-40 Mustang fighter plane--only to find the robots are the first wave in an assault launched by the mysterious Dr. Totenkopf (Sir Laurence Olivier, in a posthumous but effective performance). Totenkopf wants to destroy the human race, but of course, the more our hero discovers about him, the more complicated his mystery becomes. Along the way, Sky Captain meets his old flame, feisty reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow), and together they engage in witty banter back-and-forth until it's obvious neither one's flame ever died out.
Jude Law is dashing as the eponymous superhero and seems to be channeling Errol Flynn-meets-Han Solo. Some might complain that he's harsh, even abusive, in his rough-and-tumble treatment of Gwyneth Paltrow's Polly Perkins (what a name...), but to say this is to give Polly far too little credit. First, Joe "Sky Captain" Sullivan is a swaggering ironic hero. Second, Polly's no dainty flower waiting to be trampled, either. Third, every character in this flick is pastiche--playing on classic remembrances of the larger-than-life legends your great grandparents grew up on. There's Giovanni Ribisi the geeky sidekick, Michael Gambon the grizzled newspaper editor, and Angelina Jolie the secret agent squad commander. When George Lucas began writing the original "Star Wars" in the 1970s, he had stuff like "Sky Captain" in mind. So anyone looking for political incorrectness in this film needs to remember that it's about giant robots with death rays coming out of their chests.
The film is an amalgamation of nearly every 1930s serial ever produced, from "Buck Rogers"-style dogfights to a sequence on an island reminiscent of "King Kong." Writer-director Kerry Conran clearly loves the old pulp fiction that inspired this stuff, and who can blame him? Watching Sky Captain and Polly engage in heart pounding aerial chases through the skyscrapers of Manhattan is a like a dream-come-true for the inner child. Throw in a wild, swashbuckling score by Edward Shearmur, who's REALLY playing up the "Buck Rogers" angle, and you've got action scenes that are a wonder to behold--thrilling, tongue-in-cheek, and amazing in how their computer generated imagery not only comes together, but also looks like a comic book right out of the 1930s. Conran and his team filmed the actors in front of blue screens and then digitally superimposed the backgrounds and sets into frame. Thus, you have real actors acting in non-existent environments, and amazingly, it works. The final film is even processed in sepia-tones, giving it the nostalgic, mythic appearance of fantasy.
Yet if a criticism can be leveled against "Sky Captain," it does tend to get a bit too silly in its eagerness to entertain. For example, I can accept that the Captain's P-40 Mustang turns into a submarine (I mean, with a movie about giant robots, who am I to judge?), but that it can submerge into the New York Harbor at mach 5 without shattering into a million pieces is a stretch too far. Particularly since the robots chasing after it burst into fireballs the moment they hit the water. If you're creating your own little cinematic world (and Conran is), then you've got to be consistent. "Sky Captain" isn't, and that's what keeps its deus ex machina-ridden self from being a grand slam. Still, for those seeking a popcorn flick that has a hero with a sense of humor to match his old-time derring-do, and a heroine whose wit can match, you could do a lot worse than to give "Sky Captain" a look and escape to a time when American cinema wasn't so psychotically postmodern. If nothing else, see it for the dogfights and pretend you're six again... who knows? Maybe you'll even be cheering, "Sky Captain to the rescue!"
A Flight of Fancy.......2007-07-16
Wow!!! What a fantastic movie and a genuine achievement in special effects Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is. The marriage of CGI and live action is seamless and its saturated colours and striking production design make it one of the most visually stunning films I have ever seen. From start to explosive finish I was riveted to the TV screen and alas, it made me wish I had only gone to see it at my local cinema. Sky Captain is fast paced and exiting with a great cast of A-Grade actors and actresses and a good script. It has a vibrant and decidedly retro aesthetic that perfectly captures the look, feel and spirit of pulp sci-fi from the 1930s & 40s. With its fearless heroes (and heroines!) giant robots, ray guns and rocket ships inspired by the likes of Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon, it is a true escapist's delight. And to think it is brought to life almost entirely with cutting edge 21st century technology in a truly breathtaking, elegant and stylish way. It is hard to believe that the cast had only a minimal amount of props to work with... amazing.
The Art Deco and "Streamlined Moderne" look of the film was for me a major part of its appeal with its references to important industrial designers and architects from that bygone inter-war era. We follow our heroes, Joe Sullivan (Jude Law) & Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) on a globetrotting adventure that takes them from a mythical and idealized modern metropolis (New York) that is under siege by an army of giant robots to an exotic Shangri-La (Tibet) high, high up in the Himalayas. We then travel to the bottom of the ocean to confront the evil genius Dr Totenkopf in his island lair, the apparent source of the mechanical mayhem. He is plotting to destroy the world which he believes has become decadent and corrupt and must be stopped by our daring heroes at all costs.
Yes, while the plot is silly and predictable and the acting a bit stiff and wooden, remember Sky Captain is not an "art film" but an entertaining and over the top flight of fancy. The movie is also admittedly a bit derivative, especially in terms of the Indiana Jones franchise and the computer game Crimson Skies but this really doesn't detract from the film which is exceptionally well made for a first time director and extremely enjoyable. Something I find hard to fathom is that Sky Captain failed at the box office, while not the best film I have ever seen the extraordinary graphic quality and innovative presentation alone should have given it a high measure of success. And let's face it there are far worse movies out there these days.
So if you enjoy good old fashioned action-adventure movies in the vein of King Kong, The Mummy or Indiana Jones, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is for you. It might not have much depth, but it does have heart. So don't be put off by the bad reviews, for in my mind it is one of the best films of its genre made in some years and I look forward to the special edition DVD.
I loved it.......2007-06-14
Totally original, very true to the genre it was imitating.
A truly unique viewing experience.......2007-05-07
After viewing Kerry Conran's "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow," I was definitely looking forward to tomorrow. Here's a film that looks and feels so different from anything modern movie audiences are used to that it's sort of difficult to get your head around the whole thing. Maybe it had something to do with the techniques Conran used to create the movie. According to the featurettes on the DVD, he created everything we see on his computer. None of the sets existed in reality. Only the actors and actresses are real (although one can certainly make an argument that Gwyneth Paltrow is not real in any way, shape, or form--an argument for another day, alas), and they had to stand in front of blue screens and basically imagine what was going on. Conran filled in all the details later. This process creates an intriguing world--the equivalent of eye candy of a particularly delicious sort I must say--albeit one that doesn't favor a human focus. We're so caught up in the breathtaking visuals that the actors and the story sort of slide into the backseat. Truth be told, there isn't much of a story to tell. What story there is exists to showcase the visuals.
The main character in "Sky Captain" is one Joe Sullivan (Jude Law), a sort of citizen of the world, James Bond type who flits around the globe saving us from evil. He owns a really cool underground base filled with planes and various high tech gadgets. He receives help in his missions from Dex Dearborn (Giovanni Ribisi), his head scientist and a crack inventor. Whenever trouble erupts, Sullivan, otherwise known as the Sky Captain, hops in his trusty plane and flies to the scene of the crime. His latest mission promises to be a doozy. Gigantic robots are rampaging through the streets of New York, smashing their way through buildings and sending the civilian population into a frenzy. What sort of madness is this? That's for Sky Captain to find out. Fortunately, his old flame Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) is on the case. She's a hard driven reporter who possesses such a cool demeanor that she's calling her story into the paper as the robots rampage. Sullivan and Perkins must team up, amidst much wisecracking, to unlock the mystery of the robots and to stop the heinous evil behind them.
Their adventures take them from place to place in a non-stop flurry of activity that leaves the viewer breathless. The two literally fly around the world, and under the ocean, to save the world. They discover that one Dr. Totenkopf, a World War I German scientist and all-around jerk, is the man behind the metal behemoths. He resides in an enormous complex located on a secret island guarded by all sorts of perilous henchmen. Before they can pay a visit to Totenkopf, however, Sullivan and Perkins must protect the contents of a couple of mysterious vials, and they must also rescue Dex Dearborn, who was captured during a raid on the Sky Captain's airfield. It's a tall order, but fortunately our dynamic duo can rely on the gregarious Franky (Angelina Jolie with a really cute hat and an eye patch), the commander of a British air fleet that floats, literally, through the air. Franky and the Sky Captain have a past of their own to work through, much to the consternation of Polly, but the assistance rendered by the Brits helps move the adventure along to its over the top conclusion at Totenkopf's over the top fortress. It makes sense that none other than the late Laurence Olivier plays the evil doctor.
I couldn't hate this movie if I tried. "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" bombed big time at the box office, but a lot of critics loved it. I can see why reviewers went gaga over this flick. I think several elements factor into the critical praise. One, it's the plot and style of the film, the way Conran took the 1930s serial actioner and brought it into the modern day, that wins plaudits. The color scheme alone, a mix of blurry browns and blues that makes the movie look like a photograph taken in 1935, shows a love for old movies that literally leaps off the screen. Two, the fantastical elements, the sheer over the top effects seen in every frame of the film, take the viewer back to the heady days of childhood when going to the movies meant stepping into a magical world far different from reality. Three, and finally, the banter between the characters mirrors in no small part the sort of wordplay one would see in an old black and white movie. Movie reviewers think of films in a different way than most people. They really believe that a film should transport the viewer to a different time and place, and they're willing to applaud a movie that does just that. This is why they liked "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow".
Despite the poor box office, I think "Sky Captain" has already proved its influence on the future of film. Just watch "300". A lot of what we see there, in a technical sense, originated with Kerry Conran's picture. Needless to say, the DVD presentation is nearly flawless. The picture and audio quality will make your jaw drop, especially if you watch this on one of those big, fancy television screens. Extras include a couple of commentary tracks featuring Conran, producer Jon Avnet, and selected members of the visual effects crew. We also get a few featurettes giving us a behind the scenes look at the film's production as well as interviews with members of the cast. A gag reel, some trailers, deleted scenes, and the original six-minute film Conran made to sell the idea to a studio round out the disc. Whew! So there you go. Check this one out posthaste. You'll have a great time!
Average customer rating:
- Another take
- "Sky Captain": Old-Fashioned, Silly Escapism
- A Flight of Fancy
- I loved it
- A truly unique viewing experience
|
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Starring:
Gwyneth Paltrow ,
Jude Law ,
Giovanni Ribisi ,
Michael Gambon , and
Ling Bai
Director:
Kerry Conran
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Gambon, Michael
| ( G )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
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| Video
Jolie, Angelina
| ( J )
| Actors & Actresses
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| Video
Law, Jude
| ( L )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
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| Video
Ling, Bai
| ( L )
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Olivier, Laurence
| ( O )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Paltrow, Gwyneth
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
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| Video
Ribisi, Giovanni
| ( R )
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Similar Items:
-
Batman Begins [HD DVD]
-
Serenity [HD DVD]
-
Lara Croft - Tomb Raider (Special Collector's Edition)
-
The Chronicles of Riddick [HD DVD]
-
Pitch Black (Unrated) [HD DVD]
ASIN: B0007KMUJW
Release Date: 2005-01-25 |
Amazon.com
While setting a milestone in the progress of digital filmmaking, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow resurrects a nostalgic fantasy world derived from a wide variety of vintage inspirations. It's a dazzling dream for anyone who appreciates the look and feel of golden-age sci-fi pulp magazines, drawing its unique, all-digital design from such diverse sources as Howard Hawks adventures, Fritz Lang's Metropolis, Buck Rogers, Blackhawk comics, The Third Man, cliffhanger serials, and the action-packed Indiana Jones franchise. Writer-director Kerry Conran's feature debut is also guaranteed to inspire digital dreamers everywhere, suggesting a paradigm shift in the way CGI-dominated movies are made. It's a giddy adventure for the young and young-at-heart, in which ace pilot "Sky Captain" Joe Sullivan (Jude Law) and intrepid reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) must save the world from a mad scientist whose vision of the future has tragic implications for all humankind. Angelina Jolie drops in for a glorified cameo, but it's the ultra-fortunate neophyte Conran who's the star here. His clever riff on The Wizard of Oz is a marvel to behold, and the method of its creation is nothing less than revolutionary. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
In this science fiction adventure set in the 1930s, New York City reporter Polly Perkins starts to investigate why so many famous scientists are being reported missing. Soon, she gets clues, as strange flying machines and giant robots threaten the city. Luckily, her old flame, aviator Captain Joseph Sullivan aka Sky Captain, is there to battle the bad guys with the Flying Legion, in his Warhawk P-40. Now Polly must fly away with Sky Captain to Nepal to find a crazy scientist, Dr. Totenkopf, who apparently wants to destroy the world!
Customer Reviews:
Another take.......2007-08-30
A lot of people here seem to like this movie, I am not one of them. I got this as one of the five films you get via coupon for buying a HD DVD player, and at free it is not worth the price. The concept is great, but the plot is silly and disjointed, the acting sucks (yes I am talking about Gwyneth Paltrow in particular). It just left me flat. A concept that could have worked well turns out to be just a mess in execution. At least they tried something different.
"Sky Captain": Old-Fashioned, Silly Escapism.......2007-08-27
Years ago, when I left the theater after watching "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" (hereafter "Sky Captain"), an amazing thing happened. A little boy began chasing his friend around the lobby and cheering at the top of his lungs: "Sky Captain to the rescue!!!" After which his father, who'd evidently done his parental duty for the day, rolled his eyes and tried to convince his son the film was just "Ok." That, in a nutshell, is the problem with "Sky Captain"--you either love it or leave it. It has no pretensions other than to be silly escapism, and if you can't look at it the way a six-year-old would, chances are you'll rather leave it. There's no deep intellectual subtext at work here, no verisimilitude masking a philosophical meaning; rather, this movie is about a long-lost era--the age of matinee serials, when a mad scientist could build gargantuan robots to take over the world and only an ace fighter pilot could stop him, rescue the plucky damsel in distress, and then crack a sly one-liner. If that isn't your kind of thing, then like the father of that entranced six-year-old you'll spend most of your time trying to convince yourself the movie's just "Ok."
But man, is "Sky Captain" cool... and cool to watch, too. It may say a lot about my tastes as a sci-fi/adventure fan, but this flick is the most fun to come out of Hollywood in recent years. That's largely because it's so innocently Romantic and unabashedly old-fashioned, with a superhero who isn't driven by some dark psychosis or the sociopathic urge to kill. The plot is a standard adventure yarn: giant robots suddenly attack NYC, and Captain Joe Sullivan (Jude Law), daredevil pilot of the Flying Legion, races to the rescue in his modified P-40 Mustang fighter plane--only to find the robots are the first wave in an assault launched by the mysterious Dr. Totenkopf (Sir Laurence Olivier, in a posthumous but effective performance). Totenkopf wants to destroy the human race, but of course, the more our hero discovers about him, the more complicated his mystery becomes. Along the way, Sky Captain meets his old flame, feisty reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow), and together they engage in witty banter back-and-forth until it's obvious neither one's flame ever died out.
Jude Law is dashing as the eponymous superhero and seems to be channeling Errol Flynn-meets-Han Solo. Some might complain that he's harsh, even abusive, in his rough-and-tumble treatment of Gwyneth Paltrow's Polly Perkins (what a name...), but to say this is to give Polly far too little credit. First, Joe "Sky Captain" Sullivan is a swaggering ironic hero. Second, Polly's no dainty flower waiting to be trampled, either. Third, every character in this flick is pastiche--playing on classic remembrances of the larger-than-life legends your great grandparents grew up on. There's Giovanni Ribisi the geeky sidekick, Michael Gambon the grizzled newspaper editor, and Angelina Jolie the secret agent squad commander. When George Lucas began writing the original "Star Wars" in the 1970s, he had stuff like "Sky Captain" in mind. So anyone looking for political incorrectness in this film needs to remember that it's about giant robots with death rays coming out of their chests.
The film is an amalgamation of nearly every 1930s serial ever produced, from "Buck Rogers"-style dogfights to a sequence on an island reminiscent of "King Kong." Writer-director Kerry Conran clearly loves the old pulp fiction that inspired this stuff, and who can blame him? Watching Sky Captain and Polly engage in heart pounding aerial chases through the skyscrapers of Manhattan is a like a dream-come-true for the inner child. Throw in a wild, swashbuckling score by Edward Shearmur, who's REALLY playing up the "Buck Rogers" angle, and you've got action scenes that are a wonder to behold--thrilling, tongue-in-cheek, and amazing in how their computer generated imagery not only comes together, but also looks like a comic book right out of the 1930s. Conran and his team filmed the actors in front of blue screens and then digitally superimposed the backgrounds and sets into frame. Thus, you have real actors acting in non-existent environments, and amazingly, it works. The final film is even processed in sepia-tones, giving it the nostalgic, mythic appearance of fantasy.
Yet if a criticism can be leveled against "Sky Captain," it does tend to get a bit too silly in its eagerness to entertain. For example, I can accept that the Captain's P-40 Mustang turns into a submarine (I mean, with a movie about giant robots, who am I to judge?), but that it can submerge into the New York Harbor at mach 5 without shattering into a million pieces is a stretch too far. Particularly since the robots chasing after it burst into fireballs the moment they hit the water. If you're creating your own little cinematic world (and Conran is), then you've got to be consistent. "Sky Captain" isn't, and that's what keeps its deus ex machina-ridden self from being a grand slam. Still, for those seeking a popcorn flick that has a hero with a sense of humor to match his old-time derring-do, and a heroine whose wit can match, you could do a lot worse than to give "Sky Captain" a look and escape to a time when American cinema wasn't so psychotically postmodern. If nothing else, see it for the dogfights and pretend you're six again... who knows? Maybe you'll even be cheering, "Sky Captain to the rescue!"
A Flight of Fancy.......2007-07-16
Wow!!! What a fantastic movie and a genuine achievement in special effects Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is. The marriage of CGI and live action is seamless and its saturated colours and striking production design make it one of the most visually stunning films I have ever seen. From start to explosive finish I was riveted to the TV screen and alas, it made me wish I had only gone to see it at my local cinema. Sky Captain is fast paced and exiting with a great cast of A-Grade actors and actresses and a good script. It has a vibrant and decidedly retro aesthetic that perfectly captures the look, feel and spirit of pulp sci-fi from the 1930s & 40s. With its fearless heroes (and heroines!) giant robots, ray guns and rocket ships inspired by the likes of Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon, it is a true escapist's delight. And to think it is brought to life almost entirely with cutting edge 21st century technology in a truly breathtaking, elegant and stylish way. It is hard to believe that the cast had only a minimal amount of props to work with... amazing.
The Art Deco and "Streamlined Moderne" look of the film was for me a major part of its appeal with its references to important industrial designers and architects from that bygone inter-war era. We follow our heroes, Joe Sullivan (Jude Law) & Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) on a globetrotting adventure that takes them from a mythical and idealized modern metropolis (New York) that is under siege by an army of giant robots to an exotic Shangri-La (Tibet) high, high up in the Himalayas. We then travel to the bottom of the ocean to confront the evil genius Dr Totenkopf in his island lair, the apparent source of the mechanical mayhem. He is plotting to destroy the world which he believes has become decadent and corrupt and must be stopped by our daring heroes at all costs.
Yes, while the plot is silly and predictable and the acting a bit stiff and wooden, remember Sky Captain is not an "art film" but an entertaining and over the top flight of fancy. The movie is also admittedly a bit derivative, especially in terms of the Indiana Jones franchise and the computer game Crimson Skies but this really doesn't detract from the film which is exceptionally well made for a first time director and extremely enjoyable. Something I find hard to fathom is that Sky Captain failed at the box office, while not the best film I have ever seen the extraordinary graphic quality and innovative presentation alone should have given it a high measure of success. And let's face it there are far worse movies out there these days.
So if you enjoy good old fashioned action-adventure movies in the vein of King Kong, The Mummy or Indiana Jones, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is for you. It might not have much depth, but it does have heart. So don't be put off by the bad reviews, for in my mind it is one of the best films of its genre made in some years and I look forward to the special edition DVD.
I loved it.......2007-06-14
Totally original, very true to the genre it was imitating.
A truly unique viewing experience.......2007-05-07
After viewing Kerry Conran's "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow," I was definitely looking forward to tomorrow. Here's a film that looks and feels so different from anything modern movie audiences are used to that it's sort of difficult to get your head around the whole thing. Maybe it had something to do with the techniques Conran used to create the movie. According to the featurettes on the DVD, he created everything we see on his computer. None of the sets existed in reality. Only the actors and actresses are real (although one can certainly make an argument that Gwyneth Paltrow is not real in any way, shape, or form--an argument for another day, alas), and they had to stand in front of blue screens and basically imagine what was going on. Conran filled in all the details later. This process creates an intriguing world--the equivalent of eye candy of a particularly delicious sort I must say--albeit one that doesn't favor a human focus. We're so caught up in the breathtaking visuals that the actors and the story sort of slide into the backseat. Truth be told, there isn't much of a story to tell. What story there is exists to showcase the visuals.
The main character in "Sky Captain" is one Joe Sullivan (Jude Law), a sort of citizen of the world, James Bond type who flits around the globe saving us from evil. He owns a really cool underground base filled with planes and various high tech gadgets. He receives help in his missions from Dex Dearborn (Giovanni Ribisi), his head scientist and a crack inventor. Whenever trouble erupts, Sullivan, otherwise known as the Sky Captain, hops in his trusty plane and flies to the scene of the crime. His latest mission promises to be a doozy. Gigantic robots are rampaging through the streets of New York, smashing their way through buildings and sending the civilian population into a frenzy. What sort of madness is this? That's for Sky Captain to find out. Fortunately, his old flame Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) is on the case. She's a hard driven reporter who possesses such a cool demeanor that she's calling her story into the paper as the robots rampage. Sullivan and Perkins must team up, amidst much wisecracking, to unlock the mystery of the robots and to stop the heinous evil behind them.
Their adventures take them from place to place in a non-stop flurry of activity that leaves the viewer breathless. The two literally fly around the world, and under the ocean, to save the world. They discover that one Dr. Totenkopf, a World War I German scientist and all-around jerk, is the man behind the metal behemoths. He resides in an enormous complex located on a secret island guarded by all sorts of perilous henchmen. Before they can pay a visit to Totenkopf, however, Sullivan and Perkins must protect the contents of a couple of mysterious vials, and they must also rescue Dex Dearborn, who was captured during a raid on the Sky Captain's airfield. It's a tall order, but fortunately our dynamic duo can rely on the gregarious Franky (Angelina Jolie with a really cute hat and an eye patch), the commander of a British air fleet that floats, literally, through the air. Franky and the Sky Captain have a past of their own to work through, much to the consternation of Polly, but the assistance rendered by the Brits helps move the adventure along to its over the top conclusion at Totenkopf's over the top fortress. It makes sense that none other than the late Laurence Olivier plays the evil doctor.
I couldn't hate this movie if I tried. "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" bombed big time at the box office, but a lot of critics loved it. I can see why reviewers went gaga over this flick. I think several elements factor into the critical praise. One, it's the plot and style of the film, the way Conran took the 1930s serial actioner and brought it into the modern day, that wins plaudits. The color scheme alone, a mix of blurry browns and blues that makes the movie look like a photograph taken in 1935, shows a love for old movies that literally leaps off the screen. Two, the fantastical elements, the sheer over the top effects seen in every frame of the film, take the viewer back to the heady days of childhood when going to the movies meant stepping into a magical world far different from reality. Three, and finally, the banter between the characters mirrors in no small part the sort of wordplay one would see in an old black and white movie. Movie reviewers think of films in a different way than most people. They really believe that a film should transport the viewer to a different time and place, and they're willing to applaud a movie that does just that. This is why they liked "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow".
Despite the poor box office, I think "Sky Captain" has already proved its influence on the future of film. Just watch "300". A lot of what we see there, in a technical sense, originated with Kerry Conran's picture. Needless to say, the DVD presentation is nearly flawless. The picture and audio quality will make your jaw drop, especially if you watch this on one of those big, fancy television screens. Extras include a couple of commentary tracks featuring Conran, producer Jon Avnet, and selected members of the visual effects crew. We also get a few featurettes giving us a behind the scenes look at the film's production as well as interviews with members of the cast. A gag reel, some trailers, deleted scenes, and the original six-minute film Conran made to sell the idea to a studio round out the disc. Whew! So there you go. Check this one out posthaste. You'll have a great time!
DVD:
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