Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

Paramount

Various Editions

Reviewer: Michelle Taylor

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is an amazing film and a genuine revolution in special effects. The marriage of CGI and live action is seamless and its saturated colours and striking production design make it one of the most visually stunning films I have ever seen. From start to explosive finish I was riveted to the TV screen and alas, it made me wish I had only gone to see it at my local cinema. Sky Captain is fast paced and exiting with a great cast of A-Grade actors and actresses and a superb script. It has a vibrant and decidedly retro aesthetic that perfectly captures the look, feel and spirit of pulp sci-fi from the 1930s and 40s. With its fearless heroes (and heroines!) giant robots, ray guns and rocket ships inspired by the likes of Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon, it is a true escapist's delight. And to think it is brought to life almost entirely with cutting edge 21st century technology in a truly breathtaking, elegant and stylish way. It is hard to believe that the cast had only a minimal amount of props to work with... amazing.

The Art Deco and "Streamlined Moderne" look of the film was for me a major part of its appeal with its references to important industrial designers and architects from that bygone inter-war era. We follow our heroes, Joe Sullivan (Jude Law) and Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) on a globetrotting adventure that takes them from a mythical and idealized modern metropolis (New York) that is under siege by an army of giant robots to an exotic Shangri-La (Tibet) high, high up in the Himalayas. We then travel to the bottom of the ocean to confront the evil genius Dr Totenkopf in his island lair, the apparent source of the mechanical mayhem. He is plotting to destroy the world which he believes has become decadent and corrupt and must be stopped by our daring heroes at all costs.

While the plot is silly and predictable and the acting a bit stiff and wooden, remember Sky Captain is not an "art film" but an entertaining and over the top flight of fancy. The movie is also admittedly a bit derivative, especially in terms of the Indiana Jones franchise and the computer game Crimson Skies but this really doesn't detract from the film which is exceptionally well made for a first time director and extremely enjoyable. Something I find hard to fathom is that Sky Captain failed at the box office, while not the best film I have ever seen, the extraordinary graphic quality and innovative presentation alone should have given it a high measure of success.

So if you enjoy good old fashioned action-adventure movies in the vein of King Kong, The Mummy or Indiana Jones, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is for you. It might not have much depth, but it does have heart. So don't be put off by the bad reviews, for in my mind it is one of the best films of its genre made in some years and I look forward to the special edition DVD.