CriticSociety- film reviews

Review

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

Director

Kerry Conran

Year

2004

Rating

Reviewed by

José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris

Review date

Tuesday, November 30, 2004

It is just impressive the way digital filmmaking has advanced in the last few years. I think this decade will actually be known for that. But it has its advantages and disadvantages. Replacing real actors or real settings for digital ones isn’t necessarily a good thing. Then again, when done right, the result can be masterful. And that’s the case with Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, a movie I didn’t feel attracted to at first, but that ultimately blew me away.

When giant robots attack the city of Manhattan, Joe “Sky Captain” Sullivan (Jude Law) comes to the rescue in his private plane, as usual. But it turns out the invasion has something to do with the disappearance of six prominent scientists, a story that Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow), from The Chronicle, is investigating. Together they try to get to the bottom of the situation, something that will take them all over the world. A rather interesting situation considering they’re former flames…

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is a movie like no other. And I do mean that. I had never seen anything quite like it. And I’m not just talking about the visuals, but the whole package. The movie borrows from old Saturday afternoon serials and ancient science fiction stories. It also borrows from comic books. In a way the movie feels like a comic book brought to life…. but a rather old one at that.

As I watched the movie I felt like a kid watching some cartoon where he or she just can’t take his eyes from the screen and is seconds away from drooling. I just stared in awe. I had a blast from beginning to end. And when it was over I just wanted to stay there and watch it all over again.

It’s hard to point out just one thing that makes the movie so special, but there’s so much imagination going on at every turn that it is ultimately what holds your attention and stays with you. The visuals, oh my God, are simply breathtaking. The movie takes place in a stylized version of the 30’s, and the computer-generated images help enhance the vintage mood. I just can’t imagine what the actors must’ve felt when they saw the completed movie for the first time. After all, they shot the entire picture in front of a blue screen!

Shocking!

The story and the witty dialogue are other great factors in the ultimate success of the movie. There’re no complicated plot points. The movie is shot and written as a simple story of a hero and a reporter who live all these adventures together while going through all this sexual tension and trying to save the world. The interaction between Paltrow and Law is winning. And it’s impossible to resist as well.

I was always afraid the movie would be come too silly or just plain campy. But none of that happened. It does everything right, whether tackling action, adventure, suspense, comedy, romance or science fiction. And it all builds to a climax that actually pays off!!! Mysteries in movies almost always disappoint at the end once all the truth has been revealed, but there’s so much creativity going on here that you just don’t expect what the movie has to offer. The ending totally kills!

Working out fantastically well with this modern technology are the actors. Jude Law delivers star power and charisma to spare. Gwyneth Paltrow is his match and looks absolutely radiant as well. Angelina Jolie has a small yet memorable part as the Captain of a British airship. Giovanni Ribisi plays the genius behind all the fun gadgets. And last but not least… Sir Laurence Olivier in a fascinating appearance. Oh yes!

A truly great cinematic achievement. One of the best movies of the year!

“Could we just for once die without all the bickering?”

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