Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

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By Todd Karella
September 17, 2004

Original Story Synopsis:

Movie-Pix Best Guess:

Rated PG

While there are big names attached to this film, the previews look to be the cheesiest movie ever made.

The look of the movie gives the illusion that it has potential, but with the planes with the flapping wings and Angelina with the patch over one eye making her look like an S&M pirate, it's obvious that this will be a bad movie.

Set in a futuristic setting where everything looks like it's from the 1920's scientists are mysteriously dissapearing all over the world.

Reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) and flying ace Sky Captain (Jude Law) decide to solve the mystery.

Teaming up with the commander of an all-female amphibious squadron (Angelina Jolie) and a techie (Giovanni Ribisi) they set off to stop the evil Dr. Totenkopf.

Best Guess Results:

The movie was not nearly as bad as the previews suggested, but it was not that good either.

With the exception of the cinematography, the film was rather boring as it stole ideas from many previous films.

Those who long for the movies made 50-60 years ago may enjoy this as it brings back memories of classic movie types.

~A forgettable adventure~

There's a reason more science fiction films aren't made in the classic style of movies from the 30s and 40s. The stories never made a lot of sense, the dialogue was cheesy, the acting was below average and the special effects were poor.
   In this homage to the sci-fi flicks of the past, Sky Captain copies them too precisely.
   While many are praising the film because of its special effects, that is the only reason that they are giving it any praise.
   With the exception of the actors and a few handheld

Dex Dearborn-Giovanni Ribisi

props, everything on the screen is created using blue screens and CGI.
   Hailed as a new revolutionary method of filmmaking as the costs are decreased dramatically, it still fails to bring forth a quality picture.
   CGI has made amazing leaps and bounds, but it still sticks out as cartoonish. Since a comic book feel was intended, it does not detract from the film.
   What does negatively effect the film is the interaction between the actors and the blue screen. Since they have no real concept of what is going on

Always bring a friend when on a mission of destruction

around them, it's quite common to see them looking at odd angles to the action and giving wooden performances.
   The story is a mix of many different movies that have come before.
   There is the comedic heavyset Arab friend, a mine, and a staff that is the key to finding the location and an obvious rip off of the Indiana Jones films.
   Even the main villain looks like a female Darth Maul from Star Wars.
The basic premise is that someone is kidnapping the world's scientists, and plucky reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) is trying to solve the mystery.

Franky-Angelina Jolie

   Before being kidnapped himself, Dr. Walter Jennings (Trevor Baxter) warns Polly that the psychotic Dr. Totenkopf (Laurence Olivier) is behind it.
   Shortly afterwards, a group of giant robots attack New York attempting to steal their power generators.     It takes the actions of the flying ace Joe 'Sky Captain' Sullivan (Jude Law) to fell one of the metal giants causing the other dozen to flee for some unknown reason.
Not only do they return later, but they destroy Sky Captain's base and kidnap his sidekick Dex (Giovanni Ribisi).
   It's one thing to try and destroy the world, another to kidnap scientists, but when you kidnap a sidekick

When good robots go bad

then it's time for action.
Following leads from New York to Tibet, Polly and Joe search for Dex.
Their adventure takes them to an abandoned mine and even a flying landing strip where they team up with Franky (Angelina Jolie) to make a final attempt against Totenkopf's hideout where one final surprise is awaiting them.
While the film is far from terrible, the dialogue, plot, acting and the overall look of an old black and white film recently colorized form an incredibly bland story.

Movie-Pix Hit or Miss

Sky Captain-Jude Law & Polly Perkins-Gwyneth Paltrow