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Author Topic: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow Robert L. Fischer Expert Film Handler Posts: 145 From: Montreal, Quebec Registered: May 2004 posted 09-16-2004 11:44 AM                    I struggle to find a real point to this movie, other than being an homage to classic film noir. It does share a similar thematic realm with this year's I, Robot, but the feel of the movie is less serous and more campy. The bluescreen technique is noticable, but the visuals are still stunning, and the dark, yellow-washed cinematography gives the movie the atmosphere it needs. There are a few funny one-liners, and the special effects are entertaining, but I was hoping for something more intellectually engaging -- perhaps in the vain of Gattaca, also co-starring Jude Law. All in all, it's not a bad movie for a little entertainment, but I would've loved to see the same cast and cinematography matched to a more challenging script. 6/10  |  IP: Logged Paul Mayer Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under! Posts: 3836 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Feb 2000 posted 09-16-2004 12:15 PM                        The trailer got me hooked just for the visuals. Then one of the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes described it thus: "Imagine a Chris Van Allsburg book animated by Hayao Miyazaki." That's enough for me. Will see it on my first paycheck this term.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-16-2004 01:13 PM                        I, too, am excited about this. I'm looking forward to seeing it this weekend. I love the art-deco-esque visual style depicted in the poster and trailer.  |  IP: Logged Aaron Garman Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1470 From: Toledo, OH USA Registered: Mar 2003 posted 09-16-2004 03:00 PM                     I enjoyed this one, after having looked forward to it since I saw the first trailer. Sure, the story and script were lacking at times, but the visuals, action, and overall style of the picture were just incredible. Be on the lookout for many Star Wars references too, as the director is a big fan of Lucas. I can't wait to see it again. AJG  |  IP: Logged Mike Olpin Chop Chop! Posts: 1852 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Jan 2002 posted 09-16-2004 11:46 PM                     I got the soundtrack. Does anyone else think it sounds like what you'd get if you stuck the soundtracks for Superman, Star Wars, & Indiana Jones in a blender? I have been dying to see this since the first teaser. I will be waking up way early tommorow morning to come in and screen it. (Breakwater doesn't deliver to us until about 3am on friday morning.)  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 09-17-2004 01:44 AM                     This movie SCREAMS George Lucas! It's jam packed with CGI, the music sounds exactly like all of his scores mixed together, the sound mix is very much Lucasfilmish and it's got the same kind of dumb cutesy jokes and not-terribly-humorous dialogue that you would expect from the Ewoks and Jar Jar. The janitorial crew at the Stag will indeed have to work overtime cleaning after George sees this movie. Unfortunately I cannot give it much praise. In fact, this movie just plain sucks. There is no real point to it. Let's take a cool looking 1930s setting, make it look like it was animated, then kill any chance of what could have been a great movie by throwing in a bunch of futuristic robots and nonsense into the script just to make sure it resembles cat vomit. What an incredible waste of time. I was genuinely BORED!  |  IP: Logged Don Anderson Master Film Handler Posts: 312 From: West Bend, WI, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 09-17-2004 02:51 AM                     Brad, I take it that you didn't take your meds today???? I thought that the film was a visual masterpiece. Screw the comparison to I ROBOT. More like the old Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers serials. Sure, there were some corny one liners, but all and all it was action packed and entertaining. I got a kick out of the Wizard of Oz playing on the screen in the theatre. I liked the film, the rest of my staff enjoyed it too. So, it entertained a graphics,photography,film history,mechanical engineer, and art students/and or grads.  |  IP: Logged Mark Lensenmayer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1605 From: Upper Arlington, OH Registered: Sep 1999 posted 09-17-2004 08:27 PM                     Zeppelins, Empire State Building and Radio City Music Hall. Three of my favorite things, and all in the first 10 minutes. That made me happy. This film takes off running and rarely slows down. It is a visual feast. I enjoyed it very much. I wish Polly was played by someone a bit more alluring than Gwyneth...I just don't find her attractive. Zeta-Jones would have been a better choice in my opinion. Angelina is just fine...very VERY fine. Lots of OZ references here. And that beautiful version of OVER THE RAINBOW over the end credits stopped the people exiting in their tracks. That was some nice singing!! This film also passes the "wife" test. She enjoyed it very much, also. It would be great if Paramount would put one of the Superman cartoons in front of this film. Much of the first part of the film is reminiscent of this short. They were produced under the Paramount label, but current ownership could be different. Shame on you Columbus OH Arena Grand, for showing a Scope THX trailer flat (that popped in and out of digital) and having a mis-framed trailer. Also, the brief breakdown during the trailers was not appreciated. [ 09-18-2004, 11:32 AM: Message edited by: Mark Lensenmayer ]  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-17-2004 09:00 PM                        Loved it. The story isn't especially original (lots of references to Oz, Metropolis, Star Wars, Raiders, and tons of other films), but the visuals really make this film. I never thought I'd say this, but the HD cinematography actually "works" for this show by giving a slightly soft edge to the image, which is appropriate for the subject matter and setting. This is one of the most creative and original films that I have seen in a long time. Hopefully it will do well at the boxoffice. Edit (err...addendum): Saw it again tonight and it holds up well to a second viewing. Those in the Boston area might want to know that cinema #2 at the Loews Boston Common theatre has what appears to be an EK print (or whatever the equivalent is for a non-film-originated movie; it has handmade cues and looks marginally better than the print playing in cinema #13 at the AMC Fenway theatre). Of course, Loews also had the Idiot Cell Phone Lady who decided to sit next to me and actually answered her ringing phone in the middle of the feature. I almost killed her. [ 09-18-2004, 09:39 PM: Message edited by: Scott Norwood ]  |  IP: Logged Greg Davis Film Handler Posts: 96 From: Vista, Ca, USA Registered: Sep 2004 posted 09-17-2004 09:17 PM                     Everything "Rockateer" wasn't.  |  IP: Logged Matthew Bailey Master Film Handler Posts: 461 From: Port Arthur,TX Registered: Sep 2000 posted 09-17-2004 10:03 PM                     I believe that some of the preview has a bit of similarity to Last Exile.  |  IP: Logged Ron Yost Master Film Handler Posts: 344 From: Paso Robles, CA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 09-17-2004 11:22 PM                     I absolutely agree with Scott! This film is magnificent! Simply wonderful!! The gorgeous art-deco 'moderne' design is just stunning. I'm not exagerating. It's a living comic book, as I've read in one review. There has been nothing like this before. It took me a few scenes to 'get into' the whole approach the film was going to take, as it's so different from anything I've seen before. Once one gets 'adjusted' to it, tho, it moves right along at a nice pace, tho it's not an 'all action, all the time' film at all. The script is just perfect, too. I didn't find it 'cutesy' , it's appropriately emotional when it needs to be and there are a some great comic rejoinders between the two leads. Marvelous!! The script is good right down to the last words .. which are really good and close-off the experience perfectly, but I won't spoil anyone's fun. All the actors did a very nice job, too .. and Jude Law is really good. Never going 'over the top', as would have been easy to do with this material. Gwenyth Paltrow isn't one of my fave actors, but she did a good job .. tho her thin whining voice got on my nerves a few times. Angelina Jolie is perfect! Tho she doesn't appear as often as I would have liked. All the other actors are fine, also. Here's a bit of a review of this film I found online .. kinda' sums up my feelings, though it's far better written than I'm capable of: "George Lucas talks of creating whole movies with computer images, while turning out emotionless and mechanical films. Conran has actually done what Lucas aspires to, and what he's created is a living, breathing work of art." I'm going to see it again tomorrow. Hopefully with a larger audience .. there were only 5 other people in the auditorium today at the first matinee. Ron Yost [ 09-18-2004, 12:50 AM: Message edited by: Ron Yost ]  |  IP: Logged Dave Williams Wet nipple scene Posts: 1836 From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA Registered: Jan 2000 posted 09-19-2004 07:34 PM                        This movie has only one chance to really clean up at the box office, and that is through word of mouth. It will take people telling others how great it was and they should go see it. I myself was thrown back a bit from the beginning, even knowing so much about it before I went in to see it. The movie is so 1930's sci fi that I just loved it. Mind you, i spent the better part of my childhood years watching these kinds of movies from that time period and beyond, so it was very youthful to me. It brought back so many memories. Did anyone catch the lucas reference where one of the scientists offices was suite 1138? Taken of course from the great THX-1138 and the many other references that lucas himself has used in his other movies... nice touch. I loved every bit of it, from the giant robots that look like they were crafted from a 1930's special effects shop to the floating aircraft carriers with the giant british flags blazing thier fronts. The giant rocket that has the campish flame coming out the tail and so on.. it was a treat. Brad, sorry you hated it. You need to start ducking when you walk through doorways, you keep hitting your head on the frame and screwing with your brain. I plan on seeing this again. I hope it gets that word o mouth. Ciao dave  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 09-19-2004 08:03 PM                        I don't like the visuals at all. Everybody seems to be glowing. Also it seems as if they are all standing on a set in front of a painted cardboard backdrop, or maybe even a photographic cardboard backdrop. That would be good for a dream sequence or something, but an entire movie? No way.  |  IP: Logged Paul Mayer Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under! Posts: 3836 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Feb 2000 posted 09-19-2004 10:29 PM                        Well, the whole thing was shot in front of a blue screen. Only the actors and their props were "real." Everything else was CG. Introvision done to the max!  |  IP: Logged

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