Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow Movie
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Storyline
TAGLINES
Join the Resistance
The world will tremble.
Who will save us?
Without Warning. Without Mercy.
The Battle for Tomorrow is About to Begin...
Set in New York City circa 1939, the film centers on a reporter who notices that the world's scientists are disappearing. Teamed with a skilled pilot and an adventurous colleague, it's up to her to thwart the plans of a mad scientist bent on world domination.
| Michael Gambon | Editor Paley |
| Jude Law | Joe "Sky Captain" Sullivan |
| Angelina Jolie | Franky |
| Gwyneth Paltrow | Polly Perkins |
| Giovanni Ribisi | Dex |
| Ling Bai | Mysterious Woman |
| Omid Djalili | Kaji |
| Laurence Olivier | Dr. Totenkopf |
| Trevor Baxter | Dr. Jennings |
| Julian Curry | Dr. Vargas |
| Peter Law | Dr. Kessler |
| Jon Rumney | German Scientist |
| Khan Bonfils | Creepy |
| Samta Gyatso | Scary |
| Louis Hilyer | Executive Officer |
| Kerry Conran |
6.40 out of 10 (23571 votes)
Visitor Reviews
It should have been older and cheaper
posted on 26 Aug 2009Watching this movie, I thought that it was made in the wrong moment. Evil scientists in the 40s trying to conquer the world, and all that... If this movie had been made in 1930, with a low budget, and with the same plot mistakes and errors that this movie has, it would have been a classic! The good thing as it was made was having Gwyneth Paltrow as the main actress, however. Robot Monster, Plan 9 from Outer Space, etc. do not have actresses as beautiful as GP. Overall, then, a missed chance to make a cult film. It should have been made 50-70 years earlier, with a small budget...6/10
Well, I was sort of disappointed...
posted on 24 Aug 2009I've said this in other reviews, without a story, you can give the audience all the smoke and mirrors you want, still no one will give a damn.The director seems to have a great eye for 30s art deco (which I love), and I think the idea of using all digital backgrounds and such could indeed be the wave of the future in movie making. However, it's obvious the director got so interested in the digital rendering of his movie, he forgot to film many scenes which would have enormously helped this surprisingly thinned-plotted film. (SPOILER) For crying out loud, they forgot to have a villain in this thing! OK they have one, but he's been dead for 20 years by the time the movie takes place. Conran misses the point of HAVING a villain. As far as action goes, well let's see, Sky Captain (Law) shoots down ONE robot, two or three of the flapping wing airplanes (before Dex (Ribisi) tells him to stop shooting them down!!!), and a couple robots, but mostly spends his time looking dashing and getting others to fight his battles for him. Paltrow as Polly or Peggy or Punky or whatever is totally wasted in this movie (the reviewer who comments on hers and Law's lack of chemistry is so right) and I for one got a little sick of seeing repeated shots of the top of her camera, showing she ONLY HAS TWO SHOTS LEFT, both of which she wastes subsequently in the movie, one uncomically, one quite funny, although I saw it coming from 70 years away. No one except Law and Paltrow have any significant time on screen, and that's the movie's real flaw. An audience doesn't identify with robots, they need a hero to root for, and a visible, despicable villain to hate. Without that, plus a good engaging story, all the CG in the world won't help.
did a 7 year old write this story
posted on 24 Aug 2009This movie really lacked a good story. It was so simple like a child wrote it. The dialog was bad. The visuals were unique and that was the big advertisement for this movie, but so what. It was all special effects and I really didn't care for the "soften" images and the stylish cartoon look. I don't know how they got 3 big name actors to appear in this. I wonder how long it sat on the shelf before being released.Angie Jolie must have needed a quick pay check to appear in this for about 3 minutes. Her character was so unnecessary. She's not even good at making Polly jealous.FINAL VERDICT: This is an adventure movie, but I didn't care for it. The story doesn't flow together. I don't recommend it.
A great spoof!
posted on 20 Aug 2009What a hoot! Loads of fun. H. G. Wells meets George Lucas. This saga adds a new dimension to the 'suspension of disbelief.' It rises on the shoulders of a generation of pre-WW2 cartoon and radio heroes - Smilin' Jack, Captain Easy, Terry and the Pirates, Flip Corkin, Buzz Sawyer, Sky King, Howie Wing, and Jack Armstrong to name a few - and then throws in the most improbable touches from James Bond, Titanic, and The Lost World - plus even a hint of Casablanca.The most enjoyable spoof since the original Star Wars, but not for people who take life too seriously. The principles deserve credit for (mostly) keeping straight faces during their dead-pan performances. The writer/director deserves special notes for the way he handles the boy/girl interactions from the 1930's POV.
Somewhat disappointing, but worth matinée ticket price.
posted on 18 Aug 2009This movie looks great, mainly because I'm a fan of the 30's. I'm not so wrapped up in special effects, so those were probably lost on me. I found the story weak, given the amount of money spent to make the film. One would think they would ensure the script was rock solid. This unfortunately was not the case. Perhaps that is the reason the acting came off so poorly, or perhaps acting in front of a blue screen doesn't create enough atmosphere to bring out the best in actors. With little to work with Paltrow was not on her best, she just couldn't capture the character. Law was also a little off his game, but better then Paltrow. I was actually impressed by Jolie, not only was her accent believable, she did a fairly good job with her character, unfortunately her character gets shafted in screen time.I say go see it on a cheap night or at a second release theatre and you will get your money's worth.
Rollicking, good old fashioned escapism
posted on 06 Aug 2009Fun. That is the best way to sum up Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow in one word. Because it is. Sheer, unabashed fun. Right from the first frame up until the very last. It's been a while since I've seen a film that derives pleasure simply from heroes put into life or death situations, romancing damsels in distress, and surviving by the skin of their teeth. Sky Captain has all that in bucket-loads, and enhances it with cutting edge technology to create an unforgettable experience.I was admittedly put off by the title, and I already knew it hadn't done well at the box office. Even though I didn't actually have a clue what the film was about. I assumed it was another big budget, empty headed, special effects bonanza with no style or substance that I've seen all too often (cough Cutthroat Island cough).But I was wrong. Very wrong. When I actually sat down to watch it, I was amazed how it grabbed me from the start, and worked it's magic over me. By the end of the film, I was so blown away by what I'd seen, enjoyed myself so immensely, I realised I'd seen one of the most underrated films ever made.I didn't realise the film was an adventure made in the style of Saturday matinée serials. It recaptures all the death defying thrills and spills you'd expect from them. Sky Captain is perhaps one of the few films that deserves to be mentioned in the same league as Raiders of the Lost Ark, because it has exactly the same energy and self-deprecating sense of irony that transforms it into something equally sublime.I wouldn't even dream of discussing the plot. Most of the film's enjoyment comes from the surprises that are gradually unveiled as the plot unfolds. Because it has more than you could possibly imagine, and then some. Aerial dogfights, mad scientists, beautiful women, killer robots, and lots and lots of gags.The stars are Jude Law as the rugged Sky Captain, Gwyneth Paltrow as the feisty, tough as nails reporter Polly Perkins (I love that name by the way!) and Angelina Jolie as...actually I'd rather not say what part she plays. Because I was very surprised when I found out how she fits in to all this, as it completely reversed my expectations. Unless you've already read about her character in other reviews, for those who haven't, just watch the film, and find out for yourself. Her surprising character (with a very clipped British accent) was one of this film's many pleasures.Although Jude Law never quite convinces as much as Harrison Ford did as Indiana Jones, he makes quite an appealing hero who believes in his cause. And I enjoyed his scenes with Paltrow. Gwyneth Paltrow is one of my favourite actresses, and I loved her as Polly Perkins. No-nonsense, forthright, a real gung-ho gal. I enjoyed every scene she inhabits, and the computer effects seem to render her as a classic belle immortalised on the silver screen. I really enjoyed the running gag where she only has two shots left in her camera, and she won't take any pictures for fear of encountering something bigger on her adventure.The blue-screen technology that created the visuals has unveiled a retro-futuristic film noir world that has some of the dazzling beauty of similar films such as Dark City and MirrorMask. Some of the shots seem like Polaroid images that captures a nostalgic timelessness of a bygone era. And there is so much imagination on display. Repeated viewing is essential to take in everything. From fighter planes that turn into submarines, robots on the rampage (in a cute homage to War of the Worlds they make the same sounds as the death machines), airstrips in the sky, massive laboratories and monumental set-pieces.I could go on praising this film all day. I can't stress this enough how good it is. Don't listen to some of the other critics. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is fantastic fun, and a welcome homage to the serial genre. A marvellous debut feature from director Kerry Conran, who originated the project on a Macintosh computer as a six minute film. I look forward to his next feature.Entertaining, a visual delight, truly thrilling and endlessly enthralling.An absolute must-see.
Magnificent epic that forgets to tell a story
posted on 04 Aug 2009If Star Wars had as one idea to project Earth's history into outer space, Sky Captain does it other way: project future into Earth's past. The monumental fashion does not fail, Hindenburg Zeppelin, Empire State Building and even P-40 Warhawk are among the most exciting objects from the early 20th century and they deserve their place in sci-fi fantasy. Sky Captain does not leave a blank spot, every scene has something mighty to show and it gets bigger all the time. This is a film for a megalomaniac spirit with a fine taste for old time silver screen favourites. This is however also when and where the fun stops.The dialogue is in a word, stupid. There are really no witty lines, but luckily people don't talk much either. Gwyneth Paltrow does look great and she shows that she really is comparable to any Hollywood star from any period. Jude Law doesn't get any more interesting as an actor after seeing this film, but he doesn't need to. Among all these massive and exciting scenes it seems that the storyline is forgotten. There has been myriads of worse films, but this one will struggle to get a status of a classic even if some parts of the production are just awesome. For some minor cult film, this flick has some possibilities.
Ooooeh, doomsday device! Scary!
posted on 31 Jul 2009In the beginning, the film did have some nice moments for the eye. The way of filming was very nice in the 30's style with nice color use. But what is nice in the beginning, becomes very annoying in the later part of the movie. At moments when important moments are happening, the colors were too dark so you can't really see what is going on. The special effects are very nice and I know where the millions-budget is spent on. And that isn't the script.When it comes to the story, things are really lacking. It's predictable, annoying (the shots on the camera of Polly), untrustworthy and most of the time, just plain boring. But especially the predictability of the movie is the worst element of the film. There weren't any moments that I didn't expect to happen. An other aspect is that it seems that the movie exists of loose parts: they are in New York, x happens. They are in Nepal, x happens. They are in the evil lair with the doomsday device and x happens. All these parts seem to have no connection and overlay with each other.I must say that Jude Law did act quite good and seems to enjoy his role, but the other actors don't have any character development and are just playing for the money which you can notice in the movie. One thing is sure: it should be better if the evil genius succeeded in his plan in the real world, so this film never would never have been made. I give it a 3 out of 10.
A high-flying adventure that never really takes off.
posted on 31 Jul 2009"Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" is, at least, preferable to "The Rocketeer" - the special effects are a lot better, and writer-director-designer Kerry Conran doesn't give over major chunks of the movie to talk, talk, talk. But though making an entire movie in front of a blue screen is a feat for sure, it ultimately lacks something that can't be done by CGI - a heart. (Ironically, one of the acknowledgements in the lengthy end credits is to Pixar Animation Studios, making this the worst movie to date their name has been on.)Part of the problem is Jude Law as Sky Captain; though he's the nominal hero in his plane and with his own special troubleshooting force, he's all at sea here - he just isn't an action hero, and he and Gwyneth Paltrow as the intrepid reporter (and former flame) who stumbles onto the bad guys have absolutely no chemistry together... maybe Jude's then-partner Sadie Frost (both are credited as producers) stuck to him like glue on the set to keep any funny business at bay.It's a shame that Angelina Jolie, bringing back her Lara Croft accent as a one-eyed pilot (and who, despite being third-billed, essentially has a glorified cameo and doesn't appear until more than halfway through), wasn't playing the SC; not only does she have more charisma than Mr. L, but it would have given the movie a whole new angle ("Gwynnie and Angie sitting in a tree, K - I - S - S - I - N - G ..." if you see what I mean). With such a black hole at the centre of the movie, the action scenes lack the hook they need to get us cheering, leaving the stuff around the fringes to really work; every scene with Giovanni Ribisi is fun, and the running joke about Gwynnie's camera does have a great punchline."Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" has a whole load of winks to those in the know - I like to think the floating airbase is a nod to Spectrum's Cloudbase from "Captain Scarlet" - and it looks very good with its intentionally old-fashioned design and shooting (when was the last time a letter had the words highlighted in a circle with the image outside the circle darkened?); all it needs is for the movie to be in black-and-white for the effect to be complete. But for all the globe-trotting, the movie could have used a decent script to go with the computer-designed backdrops and machines; the storytelling's clumsy, a lot of the dialogue doesn't work, particularly the attempts at banter ("Can we die just once without bickering?") and like Roland Emmerich's "The Day After Tomorrow" it lacks the sense of a proper villain that our heroes are up against. (Though this could be said to be intentional given how it turns out, one wishes the movie made more of the evil assassin played by Bai Ling.) Edward Shearmur's rousing score, sporting the kind of theme soundtrack fans like me leave the cinema whistling, is a plus; but even though it ties into the subtext of the movie, Jane Monheit's ghastly version of "Over the Rainbow" is a minus...Ultimately, it's a movie you can watch and admire without really loving; Conran wanted the technology to service the story, but with not much story it winds up the other way round. He throws in a lot, and it's to his credit that it's not a hyperactive mess a la "Van Helsing" - but if he had some of Stephen Sommers' excess energy it might have made all the difference. The last thing a movie should feel like is a feature-length version of the Centropolis Entertainment logo (see "Godzilla" and "The Patriot"), but that's what this feels like - and can someone explain how CGI technology can give us convincing giant killer robots but still can't do snow falling believably? No amount of 3D animators and inferno artists can beat Gwyneth Paltrow's legs for visual appeal.
Great Escapism.
posted on 31 Jul 2009Based on the trailers for this film and the reviews I expected to dislike this movie intensely. I usually hate CGI stuff but it works here: essentially everything in the movie is CGI, except the actors, and so they avoided 2 major problems with CGI. CGI tends to be very unnatural when they try to use it to create people, just look at the Spiderman movies. And when they use CGI to just past an image on the screen, like the fighter plane in the last 'Die Hard' movie, then it looks hokey as well. But in this case the CGI is used to create an entire imaginary world.This film takes place in a retro-fantasy world, which somehow makes it possible to believe the impossible machines and action and improbable characters. As a fan of old movie serials, 1950's scifi, George Reeves, Buster Crabbe, Clayton Moore, cartoons, and comic books, this movie is as close to tailor-made for me as will ever be. People with similar interests should not hesitate to see this movie, and try to count every homage or reference to a cartoon, comic strip, or movie serial.A few posters have criticized this film regarding a lack of character growth, blah blah blah. Well, this is not a movie for those who want hand-wringing angst or the ambivalent meanderings of modern relationships. This is an escapist adventure, where the story and the action are paramount, and the great mysteries of the human condition are below the surface, only occasionally hinted at. You want that other stuff go see 'Mystic River.' Jude Law doesn't have the appeal of George Reeves, Clayton Moore, or Buster Crabbe, but in this context he comes across as a very suitable hero, a sort of poor man's Indiana Jones. His character is clearly a ripoff/homage to the great comic book hero of World War II, Blackhawk, and as such he does a good job. Gwynneth Palterow is easy on the eyes and does an adequate job but is just nowhere near as compelling as Phyllis Coates, Noel Niell, or Jean Rogers were in similar roles.This movie is more of an adventure film than a modern 'action film,' which is, IMO, a good thing. Also, the climactic sequence gives you more to ponder than most modern adventures, and thus has a bigger payoff.
Definitely a film to check out, if only for the visuals
posted on 27 Jul 2009For me, comic books have a potential, but the direction they've gone to just doesn't do it for me. I enjoy sci-fi, but to a point. When it becomes so over the top that it goes beyond hardcore fantasy (ie alternate dimensions, etc), I lose interest.Which is a shame because they can be a lot of fun. "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" is a case in point. It's simple, has a great imagination, and it's a lot of fun. It's truer to comic book form than any other movie that has graced the big screen ("Sin City" doesn't count, because in my opinion, it's in a totally different ballpark than "Sky Captain").The story is very simple, which is the point. Everything about this movie is done to emulate the feel of a comic book serial (the ones of the good old days, I guess, for I haven't read them). Sky Captain (Jude Law) is a fighter pilot who is periodically called on to save the day when trouble arises. At the beginning, a reporter named Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) is investigating the disappearance of some scientists, which is now in conjunction with attacks on Manhattan by some gigantic flying robots. Of course, the two team up to find the culprit, who, like in every comic book, is out to destroy the world.If you're looking for a completely new story, look away. This isn't it, but that's okay, because that clearly isn't the goal. It's trying to bring to life the old comic book adventures that inject nostalgia into the viewer. In that sense, it works...sort of.Let me start with the good. Anyone who has seen any picture or preview of this movie knows that the visuals are stunning. Fortunately, those aren't just to showcase the movie, the whole movie is like that. The film looks and feels like a superhero movie from the 1930's, which is impressive to say the least. Director Kerry Conran knows what he's doing when it comes to visual effects. Not only are the visuals (shot almost entirely on a blue screen) impressive, they're credible enough that it doesn't feel like its computer generated (even though the material makes it completely obvious). He even brings back Sir Lawrence Olivier from the grave for a brief appearance, and the effect is flawless, because it looks as if he actually filmed Olivier himself. Finally, Conran gets the feel of the comic book down pretty much down pat, but there are other flaws that bog the film down.While Kerry Conran is a master of visuals, he can't boast the same talent when it comes to his actors, or his storytelling, for that matter. I like Jude Law, even though his performances aren't up to what they were previously. He's tremendously talented, but here he is very uneven. Sometimes he seems completely miscast, such as when he gives the superhero one liners. Other times, he seems perfectly suited for the role. The same goes to Gwyneth Paltrow, though more often than not she seems not to care in the least in what she's doing. This is the second time the two of them have shared the screen, the first being in Law's breakout film in "The Talented Mr. Ripley." The two have chemistry, and even when they're not at their best in this movie, it works. Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Gambon, and the perfect Anjelina Jolie fare better.The story is riddled with plot holes, but most are subtle enough that you actually have to pay attention to catch them. Also, Conran sometimes tries too hard to get the comic book feel, and it doesn't work sometimes, such as seeing the radio waves from the transmissions calling for Sky Captain. I guess that's just a personal thing because I probably would have done the same thing. Furthermore, sometimes the visuals are too dark to be clear enough, and also the sound isn't great. Conran also gets a little overambitious and tries to do new things with the story, such as adding an unconventional ending. While I respect that, and compliment him for that, this is not the place. I feel like I'm shooting myself in the foot for saying that in a time where big budget films show a lack of willingness to take risk, something I am very critical of. That said, if one is to pay a homage to something, you are SUPPOSED to copy it, not do something new with it.I'm actually kind of puzzled that this didn't do well at the box office. Marketing it towards kids was a reasonable move, as it is very family friendly, and it's simple enough to be enjoyable by the young. Maybe it has to do with the fact that all the comic book movies nowadays are aimed at the teenage crowd, and people interpreted it that way. Or maybe people just didn't understand what this movie was trying to be. Either way, it's a shame because "Sky Captain" is pretty fun.
Stylized Lameness
posted on 27 Jul 2009If comic books and graphic novels are your thing, then I suppose there is an audience for this thin, plodding, silly CGI effects fest. Otherwise, not enough action for kids; not enough story for the thinking person. About an hour into it, the plot finally starts to move forward, but no compelling characters, but nice costumes and hair.It feels like a foreign person's take on what Americana is.The whole thing is made of trappings.This is one big who-cares of a movie. The only thing that's not cliché about this film is the "bad girl" love interest is really "butch" and there appears to be a visual joke where the filmmakers either tip their hats or flip the finger to "Titantic". In a nutshell, the whole film is Heaven's Gate shot on the set of His Girl Friday. I hope no one thinks this is the future of film.
Adventures in the World of Toon-morrow...
posted on 21 Jul 2009SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW has a great closing line.Indeed, had the entire film been as clever and as unexpected as the last two words that Jude Law utters, the film's punchline might rank right up there with "Nobody's perfect!" as one of the great movie endings. But it is not to be. While SKY CAPTAIN is one impressive film to look at and is bursting at the seams with remarkable visuals, it lacks that certain oomph that is the difference between good and great. SKY is good enough, however, that you want it to be so much better.As is, the film is basically live-action animation. The actors are real, but virtually all else is computer generated. An elaborate pastiche of cliffhanger serials and superficial sci-fi adventures of the 1930s and 40s, the film is quite a spectacle. Visually, the film's only great failing is that it is not in black and white, thus falling just short of recreating the grainy noir-ish look of Hollywood's low-budget "B" movie programmers. To compensate, the filmmakers have opted for soft-focus imagery of a washed out sepia-tone look that is striking for a while, but quickly becomes more than a little annoying. The film seems to totally blur the line that separates special effects from animation. Director and writer Kerry Conran has a firm grasp on what he wants visually and -- for better or worse -- seems to have surpassed George Lucas entirely as far as reducing film-making to the level of sheer computer gimmickry. It is from the human standpoint that SKY, like Lucas' STAR WARS series, flounders. The STAR WARS films, while becoming increasingly more proficient in their purely mechanical, almost robotic, style and narrative, have totally lost touch with humanity. THE PHANTOM MENACE and THE ATTACK OF THE CLONES are more for people who prefer watching video games than for viewers who wish to be engrossed in storytelling. SKY CAPTAIN doesn't fall to the cold, calculated level of Lucas's work, but it reflects that mentality. To its credit, the film aims to be more like Lucas' other hits, the Steven Spielberg-directed Indiana Jones films. In Jude Law's Joe "Sky Captain" Sullivan and Gwyneth Paltrow's Polly Perkins, the film makes a decent attempt at capturing the magic that Harrison Ford and Karen Allen shared in THE RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Playing thin stereotypes -- roguish ace pilot and spunky, but klutzy reporter -- the two look their parts and give it a good try but can't quite muster up the chemistry. Perhaps the film relies too much on preconceived expectations that we are already so familiar with these types of characters that introductions aren't necessary. Plus we seem to join the story in mid-stride. Much of the banter between Law and Paltrow depends on events that supposedly happened in a previous adventure; they seem to be sharing a joke that we aren't supposed to get.An intriguing aspect of the film is that it features a cameo appearance by Sir Laurence Olivier, despite the fact that the famed actor died 15 years previously. Using snippets from his previous films, Olivier's image is manipulated into what is really more of an homage to THE WIZARD OF OZ than to the actor himself. This stunt is so slight as to be inconsequential, but it is further evidence of a move away from film as an actors' medium to one of mechanical craftsmanship. I mean they have taken one of the world's most acclaimed actors and forced a posthumous performance out of him with sound and computer bytes -- a clear triumph of machine over man.In the end, I'm not sure whether to be impressed with this effort or be concerned with the new technology that SKY CAPTAIN boldly embraces. It seems to be the next jump in computerized film-making. From 1982's eye-popping, abstract landscapes of Disney's TRON, to Lucas's alien worlds in his STAR WARS sequels, to SKY CAPTAIN's alternate universe, such film-making seems aimed at making the arts of set design and the chore of on location filming obsolete, while reducing actors to the level of props. I suppose that computer generating backgrounds is not all that different from the studio days where actors performed on stock sets and in front of projected backgrounds. Fantasy is fantasy, whatever the source. Yet, the new technology seems to be placing actors at the mercy of computers, not using the computers to support the actors. In style, everything about SKY CAPTAIN is retro, but in film-making, it just might truly represent the world of tomorrow.
Amazing...
posted on 21 Jul 2009Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is a mind-dazzling flick that serves you images that almost go beyond believe. Astonishment over and over again while each minute of the movie rolled by. The FX and CGI are of one of the highest possible quality standards. The sets, sceneries and cloths, not even to mention the design of the Alien ships, airplanes and every possible monster that features in this breathtaking film. The actors adapt perfect and know how to set a sublime performance against the blue screen, which isn't any easy job as you consider this is as acting into thin air. In my humble opinion the movie is also a tribute towards H.G. Wells's "The War of the Worlds". In that same opinion, I discovered also a tribute to Ray Harryhousen for his past beautiful creatures / monster designs. The CGI department knew how to recreate in an almost perfect way and you'll be served plenty in this film. The comic book feeling as the "Hero" side of the story you have to take as a burger. You'll have to take it like it comes, but who doesn't enjoy a lot of pleasure by times eating a big fat burger without actually asking what about the nutrition value. The picture certainly more value through the sepia effect they used instead of full colour and was for sure a good decision of the director as the rest of the film crew. So are you in for just a quality flick which doesn't ask too much of your brains? Maybe one that will astonish you by showing you over and over again what's possible with today's CGI. Then this is for sure the one you need to see! I loved this movie, while in fact this one is totally not in my league! 9 outta 10Dario/
Sky Captain is a Lifeless and Dull Indiana Jones
posted on 11 Jul 2009In a word, this film was boring. It lacked life and spark. A big problem is with the two leads. Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow had no chemistry whatsoever. He was boring, and she was annoying. The visuals were interesting, but they didn't enhance the scenes. If anything, the visuals tended to detach the audience from what was happening on screen. None of the action sequences felt real, and hence, the film failed to create any real drama or a sense of danger.The film had potential, but it needed a better script, better acting, and a better director. I kept thinking during the film, you know, this movie would've worked if Harrison Ford was Sky Captain, Karen Allen was Polly, and Steven Spielberg was the director. Ignore the critical acclaims for this film. The critics I think are praising the film because they *want* to like it and want it to succeed even though it fails on so many different levels.
Sit down and let this one entertain you
posted on 11 Jul 2009It's good to be able to sit back and enjoy a movie without having to think too hard about it. This movie is plain old fashion fun. It doesn't pretend to be deep. From start to finish it is purely designed to entertain.Sky Captain is pure fantasy. From the stylized CGI sets that are a mix of 1950's New York and Gotham City, to the wonderful machines and gadgets on show, this whole movie screams at the viewer 'Hang on, this is one heck of a ride'. Homage to the 1940 and 1950 Sci-Fi comics is made by the bucket full. The giant robots have stepped straight from the pages of Amazing Stories, and the characters are every bit the all American Heroes of the post war era. The action is great, totally over the top and wonderfully comic book in delivery.The choice of sepia coloring sets the mood, part sinister and part cartoon, but it never detracts from the fun.If you are looking for a great escape from the world for a couple of hours, grab a beer, some popcorn and some mates, sit back and enjoy.8/10
an anomaly: old-fashioned, yet technically superb story
posted on 11 Jul 2009It is surprising that "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" is as visually stunning as it is, because, at heart, the film is very old-fashioned. Furthermore, it is surprising that despite being visually superb, it tells a great story and it tells it well.In terms of storytelling and style, atmosphere and character this film can be very easily likened to Peter Weir's "Master and Commander." An odd comparison; since both films are quite recent, yet what they share is their dedication to an older form of storytelling. Their sense of humour, pacing, and a certain nostalgia for stories associated with the early years of cinema (whether it be high-seas adventure films or imaginative fantasy epics) serve as a testament to the fact that special effects and technical perfection need not compromise the story told."Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow" is truly a visually beautiful and imaginative film. The images of "Sky Captain" are unique in that they manage to create new worlds while staying true to a specific visual style that mirrors movies from the 1930s. The effects here create an atmosphere and a certain context (namely an old-fashioned story) in which almost exclusively do the story and characters work as well as they do.Still, it was hard for me to get into the style until about 30 minutes into the movie. It's just so entirely different from anything I'd seen, diffused and gritty, so blatantly stylized. The same goes for the characters, which are almost archetypal; the adventurous hero, the beautiful blond reporter who loves him, etc. But these elements come alive so successfully that I was surprised when I found myself enjoying the film. I didn't think it would work, but it grew on me, the story drew me in and the abandonment of certain preconceived notions about reality that precede a great adventure movie settled in.So I liked the movie and I recommend it to those who enjoy old-fashioned adventure stories a la "The African Queen" or "Indiana Jones." But, like with Weir's "Master and Commander," one must keep in mind that "Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow" is not an old-fashioned movie, but an homage to one. It is the re-telling of an old story - almost a remake. However, it works here rather well, or well enough to make us wonder what it is about those great, old adventure movies that sets them apart from most of the special-effects laden drivel of today's cinema. Because, apparently, the formula still works, but maybe few directors actually stick to it with as much passion and good humor as Conran did with "Sky Captain."
A modern classic
posted on 07 Jul 2009Sky Captain honors the old serials of the thirties and forties and the whole atmosphere of the piece really looks like the time. I was amazed by the look of the film, the design of the robots and the costumes. How they got Lawrence Oliver to be in this movie is outstanding. Why it didn't do better in the box office is beyond me. SKY CAPTAIN is a feast for the eyes and the story is the gravy. Now I do agree with the critics that said the bickering between Polly and Sky Captain did get in the way of the story. So I must admit that it is a buried treasure and a fun watch. I give it 9 STARS! A great modern day classic that anyone who likes serials.
Visuals can't make up for the poor plot, script and characters
posted on 05 Jul 2009I am a fan of both visual movies and offbeat movies, but I found it hard to like much about Sky Captain.Any amount of interesting visual tones and themes can't make up for:1. a plot that just does not work, is full of obvious holes and is not believable; 2. a really dreadful script; and 3. not the slightest spark or connection between any of the actors.The relationship between Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow reminded me of Princess Leia and Han Solo in Star Wars. But unfortunately, in Sky Captain there is no spark there and all the jokes fall flat.For me, the prime test of a good movie is whether I become lost in the story and forget about the day to day banalities of life. If during the movie I find myself thinking about how the movie doesn't work, or worse, thinking about the washing up or some other irrelevant thing, then I can't rate the movie as good entertainment.Sky Captain is one of those movies in which the audience does not become fully engaged - one is constantly being distracted by the 3 defects mentioned above. You just don't get "into it". So on my prime test Sky Captain was not good entertainment. Therefore I can't recommend it. As a post-script, I find it extremely hard to believe that many of the Sky Captain comments on IMDb are not written by those connected in some way with the movie or its promoters. Comments that wax lyrical at length about a movie whilst failing to mention its obvious flaws can't be written by independent reviewers. Don't believe them or their inflated ratings.You can verify this for yourself as you see the IMDb rating for Sky Captain fall as more votes are registered. Currently it's 6.7 with 7,711 votes counted. 6.7 is clearly way too high for a movie of this quality.4/10
Absolutely stunning!
posted on 26 Aug 2009I had been looking forward to seeing SKY CAPTAIN when I first read about it in various movie magazines. It sounded so fascinating, and the idea of a homage to the 1930s movie serials appealed to me for some reason. And I must say that I was not in any way disappointed when I saw the film last week.I was a bit unsure when I read about the use of archive footage of Lord Olivier to portray main bad guy Totenkopf. But if you actually watch the movie, you'll see that it was a lot of fuss over nothing (there's a MAJOR plot twist, which I won't give away).The CGI world of the picture is brilliantly designed and actually looks real (as far as the sets are concerned). Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Giovanni Ribisi all turn in great performances. Angelina Jolie is good too, but isn't in the film too long. In true pulp fiction style, Sky Captain has his own secret base and private army. Maybe not very plausible but it works here. (In a rather cheesy development, his main gadget man, Dex, is a comic book fan). But the story is great and the action even better.The dogfights against giant robots in 1930s New York are well staged and Bai Ling (WILD, WILD WEST) is a really cool villainness. Overall, SKY CAPTAIN is one of the best movies of 2004, period. Here's hoping that a sequel will come, and Mr. Kerry Conran has a long and prosperous movie career ahead of him!