Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (Two Disc Edition) [DVD]

This is the anti-Star Wars (no faux-emotional undertones or god-awful 70s mysticism). It's what adventure films used to be like. If I want serious stuff, I'll watch Das Boot or Brazil. If I want to see Jude Law blow things up whilst Angelina struts about in an RAF fetish outfit and eye-patch, I think this is where I'll be.

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OK, where do I start? First of all, this is not a big-budget Hollywood extravaganza. Instead, this is an independent film that is the product of the creators' imagination and computer-enhanced elbow grease. The inspiration for this film is obviously the comics and adventure yarns of the 1930s and 40s, and any fan of those will recognize a lot of themes and standards - mad scientists, giant robots, art deco architecture, pilot heroes, and much more. Indeed, the movie seems to me to be the dream of one of those old illustrators from then.

Now, the fact that the main character is British (Jude Law), while another major character affects a British accent (Franky - Angelina Jolie) breaks off the feeling of 1930s-40s America, and gives the movie more of an international flavor, which in this day and age is probably for the best. But, if you are a fan of the old adventure yarns (as I am), this movie will seem like coming home! (Polly Perkins is so much like early Lois Lane - tough and letting nothing stand between her and her story.)

So, if you are a fan of the old adventure stories of the 1930s and 40s, then this is a movie that you simply MUST see. If you are a fan of computer generated action, then this movie will show you just where the future may lie. Oh, and by the way, except for one somewhat horrifying death scene, this is a great movie for the whole family.

My family and I loved this movie, and highly recommend it to you!

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Stylistically the film can't be faulted- its image is spot on throughout, from the faint blurring to the use of heavy shadow, noir-style lighting. Even the framing of shots and shortcuts (mini-crowds for example) are produced in the conventions of the thirties and forties. The whole of the graphics lends itself to posters of the time and similar material. It is impossible to tell what is real and what is not- the computer-graphics are remarkable (most of what is seen isn't physcially real). The technical achievements are great.

The story follows the typical style of a serial- according to the commentaries the original script was to have seven chapters, it would have been interesting to see this implemented with a cliff-hanger on each one! there is a great deal of action, and some exposition. The plot is straightforward, but inventive, and continually pushes forwards to the very end. The global threat starts small and builds gradually from a bit of detective work to dramatic dog-fights and a multitude of secret bases!

The acting is very good from all in the movie. There have been criticisms of the acting being wooden, but this isn't really the case. The acting matches the style of the times the movie is set in, and paying tribute too. It also feels genuine, and is often very funny (intentionally)- the classic being the much-quoted Angelina Jolie line "Alert the Amphibious Squadron!".

It is hard to see what audience is being targeted by the film, if any- the movie is what it is and it does it very well. Essentially this is an action-adventure, but its styling is so strong that many may not understand or appreciate it- "why watch a black and white action film with stilted dialogue when I can watch a colour movie full of expletives?!". Anyone who avidly watched TV reruns of Republic serials will love it (King of the Rocket Men, Undersea Kingdom, Flash Gordon etc). Anyone who likes something a bit different will love it too.

Overall I think this film is great and well worth watching for its overt, yet unobtrusive, use of CGI (Laurence Olivier appears in a supporting role, despite being dead...)- its styling is a remarkable achievement and it is a genuinely fun adventure story firmly in the pulp tradition. Good for kids of all ages!

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