Rating: 
Country: USA
Release Date: September 17, 2004
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Movie Review: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
by Jim Pappas
Published: September 14, 2004
Distributor: |
Director: |
Cast: |
Paramount |
Kerry Conran |
Gwyneth Paltrow as Polly Perkins
Jude Law as Joe Sullivan
Giovanni Ribisi as Dex
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For more information: IMDb Link |
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Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Joe Sullivan (Jude Law) brave danger in "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow."
What happens when you combine unimaginative writing and pedestrian direction with inspired special effects and good acting? Well, what you get is "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow." It is an earnest but basically weak film that once again proves no amount of extraordinary effects sequences can take a flimsy premise and make it into something special. Playing as though it were an extended dream sequence, replete with fuzzy background shading that provides that dreamlike look you often see in flashback sequences or dreamed moments in other films, "Sky Captain" borrows much from the Indiana Jones and Star Wars series of films, including an overt nod to George Lucas part of the way through the proceedings.
My main complaint with this film is that the plot that drives the characters actions is not compelling enough for an adult mind to involve itself with the story in a way that is satisfactory, from a logical viewpoint. I found myself, about half way through the movie, wishing that it would get to the what had to be obvious conclusion. I will say that this movie is probably something children between the ages of 8 and 12 should love, and should see by the way, but I was hoping for something more given the talent of the cast, and the awesome special effects sequences.
The movie opens with the airship "Hindenburg III" (one would have thought that given what happened to the first one there wouldn't be a "II" much less a "III") approaching New York City and finally docking with a building into which the passengers disembark. A scientist (we learn), Dr. Walter Jennings, has hastily scribbled a note which he hands to a porter, and we're off and running into this surreal world, one that mixes the past with some comic book like imaginary reality that is best described as a child's fantasy. An early sequence shows the date above a newspaper headline saying it is Mar. 2, 1989, whatever that is supposed to mean here, because nothing is much with which most of us can identify. For example, we meet Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) who is an intrepid and courageous journalist for her New York newspaper, and for some reason we see her writing copy on an old fashioned typewriter (non-electric). The room she is working within has a decor straight from the 1940's. I guess I'm trying to explain the overall ambience in which this film resides. It is neo-retro-deco, if there is such a concept.
Quickly, the city is invaded by giant robots, and we get to meet the Sky Captain himself, Joe Sullivan (Jude Law), a dashing, daring and reckless airplane pilot, who was once involved with Polly. He saves her from the robots, and we then become involved with an adventure that leads us from New York, to Tibet, to the Atlantic Ocean, and places in-between. There is much illogic involved, as the sense of time passing is skewed by the film's editing, and the direction is all over the map. One has to see the film in order to appreciate the underlying lack of cohesiveness.
Angelina Jolie is Franky (possibly a former romantic partner of Sullivan's), the Captain aboard a flying airbase who rescues Polly and Sullivan during their adventure, and she aids the two the rest of the way. The other major player here is Dex, played by Giovanni Ribisi, and I found his performance especially satisfying. He plays the sidekick and best friend role to the hilt here, and we both believe and respect him. The music is mostly forgettable but the production values and other technologically based enhancements are first rate, and deserve recognition.
This is a movie for children, not necessarily those below 6, but it might inspire some young minds in it's own way.
Overall Rating C+
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Ends May 28, 2013
Drifting ever so slightly away from traditional folk music, this Colorado band delivers harmony and energy aplenty. |
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