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A Couple More SKY CAPTAIN Reviews!!
Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
I feel bad. I didn’t read the reviews I ran yesterday closely, and that intensely negative one that started off the column may well have been fake. There were no chapter titles in the film that I saw, and this guy specifically mentioned how much he didn’t like that device. They cut the chapter titles almost seven months ago from the film, so whatever he saw, it wasn’t what screened at Paramount yesterday.
We do have a couple of new reviews from people who were there, though, so let’s kick it off:
Hi Harry... haven't had anything to post in a while... but I'm sure you'll appreciate this! This is fairly spoiler free.
OK... so last night at the historic Paramount Studio Theater, I sat with the first audience ANYWHERE as we watched the new film Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. I was really looking forward to this, being an animation junkie and recognizing all of the Fliescher-esqe designs in the trailer. What I got was so much more. First off let's talk about the design. While indeed it does give the sense of a 1939 vision of Metropolis with its art deco buildings, moody pastel palate, and straight skirts, we also get an all-encompassing sense of cinematic grandeur, not seen in motion pictures now a days. I was really swept away by how enormous this movie felt. There is a lot of old school Hollywood style visuals. And as much as this is a love letter to the pulp-era Sci Fi/ Adventure comics, this is a serenade of Hollywood films of the late thirties. And while everything feels so retro-rific!... there's no denying that the weapons and robots are so cool, that every kid will want one and they will sell millions of toys. They just ROCK!
Next, the cast. Jude Law really revives the serial hero here. Playing him very straight and very sincere. Here is a man dedicated, but has a few flaws. He's not perfect, and he doesn't apologize for his imperfections. It doesn't hurt that he's so damn pretty to look at either, even all bloody and beaten. Next up is Gwyneth. Probably the weakest link. The character isn't bad... in fact, the character is pretty awesome. She takes the intrepid reporter to some near despicable levels, while still keeping her likeable. I just feel Gwyneth was miscast. I would have liked someone with a bit of an edge, a Jennifer Jason Leigh, a Drew Barrymore, even an unknown, I just felt she kind of had the whole Natalie Portman "how the hell am I supposed to act against a blue wall?" syndrome. Giovanni Ribisi comes in for the quirky comic relief, and does a fine job. But the real scene chewer is our beloved Angelina Jolie. DAMN she is fierce. For the 15 minutes she's on screen, she eats it alive. She devours her expositional lines, and spits up such subtext, I almost felt there was a play by play of her sex life with Joe (Sky Captain).
The Story, not since Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (I was too young to see Raiders in theaters), have I been whisked away on such an adventure. I felt like a 9 year old sitting in the theater, going along for every big challenge. The chase scene through New York was like riding the rollercoaster around the New York New York Hotel in Vegas. Each turn led to a new thrill and new obstacle. And I wanted more. The villains motivations are intriguing and less of the maniacal world dominating Dr. Evil type you would expect in this movie. And the world wide chase to stop him from completing his mission seemed to fit within the parameters of the world the filmmakers have established. Nothing seemed too extreme, no matter how fantastic it was. Some of the effects weren't finished, and there were scenes in black and white (probably needed to create the pale Technicolor look of the film), but for the most part everything was as it should be. I wouldn't change a thing.
Overall this movie is going to be the one people are talking about. Geeks across the world are going to think this movie is made just for them, as there are a plethora of numerical, visual and literal nods to many masters of their fields, a full on hardon for Sci-Fi's champions of the page and screen. I only hope Paramount backs this movie with a full campaign. As kids will love it, if they just get to the theater, Adults will love it as it makes them feel young again. I can't wait till you see it so you can tell me your thoughts.
Enjoy!
Call Me,
The Horseless HeadmanHere’s another take on the film:
Hello Ain't It Cool--
Last night I attended the world's first screening of SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW, and just wanted to share my thoughts. I'm a long time reader, and I thought this would be a great opportunity to post my first review. Let me preface by saying the gorgeous digital print we saw wasn't finished yet--certain scenes were still in bare-bones animatic, and this wierd little "Work in Progress" logo kept popping up on the lower right hand corner of the screen, but for the most part, the effects were in finished form.
And what effects! This is the most visually imaginative film I've seen since BATMAN gave us Anton Furst's incredible design for Gotham City. The New York of SKY CAPTAIN looks the way the you dream it would look. The art direction takes a cue from the modernist designs of the 1930s, offering a breathtaking view of a city simultaneously suggesting the past and distant future. This movie deserves an Oscar for it's incredible art and costume designs.
Set in 1939, the story is a throwback to the Rebulic serials of Flash Gordon, and the Superman cartoons produced by Max Fleisher which populated the cinema of the same era. Ace fighter pilot Sky Captain, played by Jude Law with the perfect note of "gee whiz" charisma, comes to the aid of reporter Polly Prince (Gwenyth Paltrow) when giant robots invade New York, stealing the city's power generators. The plot thickens as Polly learns that several scientists involved with the design of the robots have been disappearing, and the appearance of a Mysterious Woman (Bai Ling) hints that something far more sinister is afoot.
The plot takes our heroes all over the globe in search of the lost scientists, from Shambala to Atlantis to the Lost World, all the while bringing one great action sequence after another, all set against some of the most beautiful settings to ever grace the screen. The film is one big homage to Fritz Lang, Victor Fleming, and most of all George Lucas, right down to the TK421 and 1138 references. My hat is off to the filmmakers, who obviously chose this story to showcase a very specific kind of technology, much in the same way Lucas developed STAR WARS, or more notably, the way Lisburger developed TRON.
If the film is a visual masterpiece, it also makes for pleanty of popcorn munching fun. Law brings to mind the matinee idols of Jon Hall and Buster Crabbe, all the while having a ball with his role. Having just as much fun, Giavonni Rabbissi, Michael Gambon, and especially Angelina Jolie (in a scene-stealing performance as a royal airforce captain) also bring marvelous energy to the film, as does Bai Ling, providing a memorable screen villan in the same vein as Darth Maul and Lady Deathstrike. Paltrow, while bringing to mind the glamour-puss starlets of the 30's, is decidedly miscast in her role. Polly Prince certainly requires a look of 30s glamour, but her spitfire personality and comic relief is lost in Paltrow's blank performance. The role begs for a leggy actress with energy and wit--Charlize Therorn and Naomi Watts come to mind, and though her recent credits wouldn't suggest it, the perfect choice for this role is Drew Barrymore. P olly Prince needs as much energy and charisma as Sky Captain, and Paltrow falls flat.
The movie has a few other blotches, though nowhere near as glaring as Paltrow. The movie could use a bit more exposition to explain the origins of Sky Captain and his island base, as well as explaining the motives of the villians, who I dare not mention here. There's also one glaring continutity error throughout the movie, as characters refer to World War I by name before World War II would have ever started.
But nevermind. This is the kind of movie that you enjoy the more movies you've seen, if not for it's freshness and ambition than for it's geeky references. It's also the kind of movie to build a franchise on. After last night, I'm ready to see SKY CAPTAIN VS THE MARTIANS or SKY CAPTAIN AT THE CENTER OF THE EARTH. Hopefully, the Paramount marketing department will put some effort into promoting this, since the film is far more deserving than say their STAR TREK or MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchises. Moreover, the movie realizes what Roger Ebert once observed in his review of THE ROCKETEER--that great pulp movies, like say RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, use their origins as inspiration, rather than model. Compare RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK to TOMB RAIDER, or THE ROCKETEER to STAR WARS, and you'll get the point. SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW is of the latter variety--a movie that knows its goofy origins just enough to give them edge.& nbsp;Without a doubt, this is one of the best movies of the summer, and one of the most interesting movies of the year.
3 1/2 Stars out of Four.
And incidentally, call me Froggie Dude =).If I can get all these updates finished in time, and get writing, I’ll have my review up in a few hours. It’s interesting to see the reactions as they roll in so far.
"Moriarty" out.
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I had heard rumours that the cast were so disapointed with this film that they have refused to talk about it. Hope they were wrong.
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I can't believe she was considered for the female lead in Titanic. If Gwyneth Paltrow *had* starred in Titanic, Titanic would not have been as big a hit. No way. What do people see in Gwyenth Paltrow, anyhow? She gives off such a low-wattage vibe. She has no vitality at all. Just a strange, artificial attempt at understatement. Look, if you don't have anything to begin with, then you shouldn't be self-trying so hard to understate! Just so no one thinks I'm just a natural hater, I can off the top of my head say that Charlize Theron and Winona Ryder and Rachel Weisz and various other actresses ooze a type of natural dignity and carriage that Gwyneth Paltrow only wishes she has. And Catherine Zeta Jones, even though she can't act convincingly, exudes a type of "class" that Gwyneth Paltrow does not. Gwyneth Paltrow seems like a boring mall-girl grown up. Merely a dime-a-dozen type of woman.
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So who's the plant ? Tee-hee !
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I can't stand paltrow either, hopefully she won't ruin this one for me
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I am not a Gwyneth Paltrow fan. I find her highly affected. Even her deadpan in Royal Tenenbaums seemed affected to me. If even your deadpan is overly self-conscious and mannered, you have issues. But could you have picked a worse set of examples to compare her to? Winona Ryder has better carriage? CHARLIZE? Dignity is the he one thing Gwyneth does PROPERLY. Winona has about as much dignity as your average arrest subject on COPS. And you seriously think CZJ exudes CLASS? Maybe if the old New York 500 had been composed entirely of expensive Brazilian whores. CZJ is not exactly Vivian Leigh or Grace Kelly. She's more like Mae West - an overproduced tart. She is SEXY, but has about as much class as the Bellagio. Actually, that's the best metaphor for her: if the Bellagio tore itself up from its foundations, grew tits, and started walking down the street, it would be Catherine Zeta Jones. Gwyneth would be the most boring old brownstone you could imagine but at least she wouldn't be a casino.
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Jun 18, 2004 10:49:53 AM CDT
uhhm let me take a wild guess here...the 1st reviewer is gay?
by soupreme
Not being homophobic or anything (frankly I don't care either way) but am I reading a review or "The Horseless Headman" coming out of the closet. Jude Law is "so damn pretty to look at", Angelina Jolie..."she is fierce".
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well the unfinished work on the movie explains why this was delayed...but I kind of smell PLANT (two references to Drew Barrymore)...but I hope the good reviews are right, this summer is a real stinker so far and it is about time for something far out and original.
"2" 6/30/04 -
I've said it once and I'll say it again... They need to edit Kevin Spacey into the film and have him stuff her head into a box "Se7en" style. I can't stand the little bit I've seen of her in the trailer...she's a bitch.
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CZJ could easily star in a Pulp-era movie. She's already been in "The Phantom" and was in "Chicago," which isn't Pulp, but she looks convincing in the outfits and hairstyles.
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Hmmmm, me smell plant... and man-flesh. Sarumaaaaaaaaan...
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...that's not far from the truth.
Here's a list of vendors:
Ring of Fire
Pacific Title Digital
The Orphanage
Luna
Cafe
EFilm
Engine Room
Gray Matter
Hybride(Spy Kids main provider)
R!OT
Rising Sun(worked on some Mt. Doom comps for ROTK)
Stan Winston Digital
and
ILM(doing composites) -
...that's not far from the truth.
Here's a list of vendors:
Ring of Fire
Pacific Title Digital
The Orphanage
Luna
Cafe
EFilm
Engine Room
Gray Matter
Hybride(Spy Kids main provider)
R!OT
Rising Sun(worked on some Mt. Doom comps for ROTK)
Stan Winston Digital
and
ILM(doing composites) -
Now that
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Jun 18, 2004 7:32:51 PM CDT
Sounds like the classic storytelling lives up to the classic-sty
by jdanielp
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This movie looks campy. Looks confusing too. I wonder if Angela Jolie will have an Gia scenes.
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This movie is trying much too hard to be stylish, campy, and "magical." Frankly, it looks bloated, corny, and boring.
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Jun 19, 2004 3:42:00 AM CDT
I am SO there opening day -- though Paltrow is the weak link, sh
by commando cody
The entire look and feel of this movie is a total geek fest for those of us who love old 30s/40s serials and art deco and most of all, that whole pulp-style mentality of "This is what the World of Tomorrow will look like" (as seen through more innocent eyes in a more innocent age.) I am SO there opening day for this. In fact, this was the number one movie I wanted to see this summer and I was bummed when it got pushed back. A while back, a friend with connections had showed me some design drawings from this and my jaw dropped. It really was the first movie since the original STAR WARS where I felt just the "look" of the movie had created an entire world unto itself. And if it's a hit, I'm sure my book shelves will be flooded with SKY CAPTAIN toys because some of the drawings I saw were just too cool not to make into toys. So I'm sorry it wasn't here for the summer, but hopefully that extra post time will pay off with better opticals and tighter editing. As for Paltrow I agree with others, she's the weak link in this unfortunately. Personally, I've NEVER understood why people do like her. I've never found her really all that attractive OR captivating as an actress -- if anything, she always struck me as weepy and bland and stilted. And ever since her dragged on cryfest at the Oscars followed by her current attitude that she continually expresses in interviews that she moved to England because the USA just isn't "good enough or safe enough" for her to raise her kid, she now just comes off as a prima donna snob to me too. Hell, just from the trailer you could SEE in seconds what these reviewers are saying -- namely that Angelina clearly had some fun with this and that giddy spirit shines on the screen, while Paltrow is just weepy and whiny all over again. In THE PHANTOM, when Catherine Zeta Jones pulled off her aviator's cap to flex her hair loose and you saw her for the first time, your jaw dropped just because she was SO friggin' beautiful and sultry looking and because she just seemed to perfectly fit into a pulp style film. I agree with others that someone like her would've been FAR better cast as the intrepid reporter in this. So I hope the movie's great -- but most of all, I hope Paltrow giving a sleep inducing performance isn't SUCH a weak link that it ruins the fun or even the movie...
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I would love to see a retro movie like this be a hit and actually be a good movie as well.
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Reading the novelization right now (you'd think Paramount would have had sense to hit the pause button on releasing the book when the movie got pushed back). BORING. I mean, it's got *no* twists and turns. I've seen demo reels with more plot. Prediction: 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, soft weekend opening, DVD by January.
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"It's the plot, stoopid." Yeah, and the plot is wonderful. The story is an instant classic!
"Reading the novelization right now," well, get back to us when you finish it.
"BORING. I mean, it's got *no* twists and turns." What, are you on page 2? The book was a fun read with lots of twists and cliffhangers.
Yeah, maybe they should have pushed the book back as well, but I'm glad they didn't because now I know this film is gonna rock! -
Paltrow sucks. Catherine Zeta Jones is a natural vamp and would have been a better choice for the role. I don't think Zeta Jones is a great actress, but she has lots of charisma on screen. I'm looking forward to the movie despite the Paltrow factor.
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Jun 20, 2004 5:07:58 AM CDT
Is it just me or this site going out of it's way to make this fi
by theginger twit
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I hate it when I hit enter accidently before posting. I agree with the guy above. Two plugs for Drew Barrymore sounds like a consipiracy among 12 year olds. There are a million better actresses then Barrymore--I don't hate her, just wouldn't pick her for the role. How about Naomi Watts? Even Reese Witherspoon would be a better choice... Out here.
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If you don't discredit that bad review, no more free movie toys and DVDs for you! Here, put up these two reviews about Drew Barrymore. She's so fabulous!
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They are saying they don't like the lead actress. That's not what plants do. THINK, people!
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Is code named BOOZY and is commanded by special operative Mini (aka Luscious Ta-ta's!)
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Jun 21, 2004 8:23:21 AM CDT
fluffy, I can see your point about Zeta Jones being "tarty", but
by eraser_x
I still stand by what I said. Everything I was saying was *relative* to Paltrow. Any of the other actresses I happened to mention *do* show more bearing and class than Paltrow. Paltrow's supposed "class" seems completely fake. That's what puzzles me--so many people call her "classy". True classiness requires a true sense of *natural* confidence and feeling of entitlement. By being so artificial, Paltrow seems to me to be a mall-girl acting as she thinks a classy girl should act. Paltrow is to classy as Madonna is to Marilyn Monroe.
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This expands on the Gwyneth Paltrow discussion. So many modern actors try to act "cool" or "classy" or "tough" in the same cookie-cutter way--by affecting a bored, "world-weary", "understated" facade. See, e.g., Gwyneth Paltrow, Vin Diesel, etc. These actors all fail because they do not seem to be being themselves. At any rate, there is nothing unique about them, or they seem to have had no meaningful life experiences--they seem just like mall-kids grown up. Put another way, the bored tend to be boring. In contrast, previous generations' actors allowed themselves to show a lot of individuality and quirkiness and HUMOR and VITALITY while still being "cool" (Marlon Brando or Humphrey Bogart) or "classy" (Audrey Hepburn) or "tough" (Clint Eastwood).
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Jun 22, 2004 6:32:30 PM CDT
You're assuming the movie will suck/flop based on the NOVELIZATI
by minderbinder
jackass.
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