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More Screenings Of SKY CAPTAIN Means More Reviews For You!!
Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
I’m on the record about how much I enjoyed this film, but more and more readers are getting their chance to sneak an early peek, and the reactions keep coming in. Here’s a few more of them.
Harry,
Checked out a Sneak of SkyCaptains and totally blown away. The entire film has the feel of structure like a serial. Rise and fall of action, it seems as though it can be broken into pieces and shown. Odd pieces somehow fitting together... Super Real 'world' is not to be believed.
Noir-ish lighting in the City sequences disappears from rest of film (entirely overdone in City sequence - in some cases you cannot see the actors faces!! are they joking around or paying homage?) . Opening city battle is a little brisk and lacking explanation, but build of the story soon usurps the action. Just when the action plateaus really hard after departing Shangri-La (how can the action improve after leaving Shangri-La?!? Try explaining better why the villain is doing what he is doing..)Half way through, Angelina Jolie busts in the film for 15 minutes or so and really kicks it up a notch. The Brit SkyCarrier Amphibious Squadrons are friggin' cool. Beyond building robots and kidnapping Crusty Krauts Scientists, still don't get what the point of the villain is ...
Though use of quaint dialogue seems a bit too much of 'the '40's hokey': obvious exchanges and annoying statements by Polly(Paltrow) are more than a tad grating: she gets punished rightly later on- and then gets him back... Characters never flesh out much but action overcomes that.
Taking from the stylized 30's and 40's, artdeco looks and sleek lines draws you in to make you admire the hokey-ness. Pieces of every B flick of the era are throughout the film 'Lost Horizon', 'Island of DrMurrow' any number of 'Rocket' films. But these segments and the ending feel 'bolted on'. When in doubt steal the goodness or pay homage to the imagination age of 40's film? The film is really so much fun, it seemed as though the filmaker didn't really want it to end!
Portions of the 2nd half of film I saw are still in the cutting room as evident of title boxes dated 6/15/2004. These frames are primarily 'bridges' in the action (grainy, obvious in-progress flying shots of the P40, the leads walking through less-than Matte-painted Shangri-La, struggling through the digital Island jungle and fighting the loader robots) Exceptions for these bits: this flick is total eye candy 6G-ride! Anyone who is heavy on Video Games will fall into this with ease. I will definitely hit the trail to see it another time.
keep up the good work and good luck to you!
Sean GallagherIt’s interesting that even people who dislike the script (which I didn’t) seem enchanted by the look and feel. That’s a real testament to the amazing work being done by the entire WORLD OF TOMORROW team. Check this out:
Hey fellow Aint-it-cool readers, this is Drago. The last time I wrote in a test screening review was last year for Bulletproof Monk. This time I bring a more anticipated film that was supposed to come out this month, SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW !
(I love writing that in capital letters:)
I won't go into the plot of this film in case to not ruin the experience for people who are still dying to see it but my overall feelings for it are simple, its a fun movie. For the 9 year that loved Van Helsing and its monsters, there's a 9 year old that will love Sky Captain and it's giant robots, cool air plane battles, and good old fashion action and adventure. Don't be pretentious when you see this film. If you don't think that 1930s style robots and quasi-future retro technology is cool, then avoid this film. If you do love old school serial adventures like Rocketman, Max Fleicher Superman cartoons and rayguns, then this film is a blast.
Is the story great? Not particularly, but I'm going to forgive the predictability of the story simply because the tale was easy to get into. Is the acting good? It's fine, Jude Law is good as the title character (but he lacks any real charm to make him memorable), but Paltrow is a little to sedated in this film for my taste. Most of the actors in this filme just feel wooden here except for Michael Gambon (aka the new Dumbledoor for the Harry Potter movies) who was quite good in his small but good role.
As for the films highly praised (or highly criticized) CGI look, I personally had no problem with it. This film is a cartoon, a comic book come to life so for me, the CGI was like looking at a moving pulp magazine cover, and it worked for me.
On a sad note though, I don't think the general audience will get into it. Since the test audience consisted of mostly of young adults, there was a lot of laughing at certain moments that weren't meant to be funny (example: when any of the robots showed up) and the audience just wasn't feeling it. I have this prediction the movie will fail at the box office because of that ,which is sad.
This movie is a real fun time. I personally will check it out again when it comes out in the theater this September. The film does have two months to make it perfect so I hope it turns out even better. It's a nice breath of fresh air in the fanasty-action genre. It's not a perfect diamond, but it is quite a jewel.
Until next time I remain fire breathing,
DRAGOWell, let’s hope this film’s success isn’t entirely based on whether or not a few 14 year olds don’t get it. I think adults are going to be drawn into this world, and it may well play older. No harm in that.
Harry,
I write this with a very heavy heart. America is not going to get Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. I just came from a preview screening here in Orange County, CA, and the almost unanimous sentiment was that the movie sucked.
Which, I am very glad to say, it didn't. This was easily one of the most well conceived and original movies to come out in the last several years.
I won't go into depth on the plot, and I won't include any spoilers. I hate spoilers.
First, the style. The film attempts to replicate the Saturday morning serial feel of adventure movies from the 1930's and 40's. And it succeeds. Every single shot, whether it was a sweeping special effects orgy, or a tight shot of two actors in an office, was tremendous and stylish. There is a haze to the picture, and a washed out look that really pulls you into the movie. I was mesmerized from beginning to end.
The special effects, in 95% of the film, were without equal. The actors were fairly seamlessly interated with the computer generated environments, and easily outshone similar efforts in the recent Star Wars films. The robots, the planes, the huge flying fortresses, everything was a feast for the eyes. I cannot tell you how much I loved this movie. I was literally on the edge of my seat the whole time.
The story was interesting and entertaining. Yes, it was simple and not unpredictable, but it was also really engaging and satisfying. I was never bored.
The acting, for the most part, was top notch. Kudos to Jude Law and Angelina Jolie on their performances. They were humorous and entertaining. Gwyneth Paltrow, on the other hand, bordered on annoying for most of the movie. It may have been her character, but I felt that she was a little too pushy through most of the movie.
Now about the audience's reaction: My friend that I went to see it with hated it, saying that it was predictable, that the dialogue was cliched, and that he didn't "get" it. He wanted to know all the back stories for every character, and felt confused by the whole mythos. I fear that his reaction will not be unique, or the minority. I am really scared that America is going to be a nation of idiots with regards to this movie.
I loved it, and I want to see more movies like it. Hopefully I'm not alone. If you use this, sign me Nathanael.
A fellow film buff,
Nathanael MayIt’ll be fun to see how fandom takes sides on this one in September, and I hope Paramount has a major presence with it at ComiCon later this month.
"Moriarty" out.
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. . . how fey. <- kill this phrase!!
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Jun 30, 2004 11:19:22 PM CDT
You know what? Not everybody thinks that giant robots are intere
by mister pink
I think those 30's style serials are fucking stupid. I GET them, I just think they suck ass, I have no nostalgia for them and I have no interest in a homage to them. Don't blame the audience because this movie doesn't work. It was a fucking retarded concept and it failed. If this shit makes your dick hard then whatever, but I resent the implications that those of us who simply don't care about the concept just don't understand it.
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Yeah, I'd like to part them with my C*CK
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I'm pretty excited about this movie. I like the retro stuff that's going on in the trailer, and I think everyone DOES like giant killer robots.
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I saw it last night with "Spidey 2", (which REALLY kicked ass!) and the trailer got applause after it screened! (I can't remember when that's happened before...oh wait, it was after the trailer for Episode 1, before we found out the movie sucked!) Anyway, Sky Captain looks cool...
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Jul 01, 2004 12:56:16 AM CDT
Finally, the film that will convince George Lucas to stop make f
by robofag
Giant robots!!! Full of giant robots for my leisure behind closed doors!
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Jul 01, 2004 1:13:58 AM CDT
It would take an outsider to make a movie that looks this fuckin
by asseyes
Sky Captain makes me drool. I wish I was Kerry Conran.
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please be good please be good please be good please be good please be good please be good
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Cats: You are on the way to destruction.
Captain: What you say !!
Cats: You have no chance to survive make your time.
Cats: Ha Ha Ha Ha ....
Operator: Captain !!*
Captain: Take off every 'Zig'!! -
Jul 01, 2004 3:45:55 AM CDT
It amazes me that everyone is all hard for the look of this film
by theginger twit
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SPIDERMAN 2 IS FUCKING AWESOME. cheerio
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Sky Captain looks nice, with all the robots and ships. Should be good fun.
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More the the point, the Superman cartoon entitled "Mechanical Monsters" http://imdb.com/title/tt0033888/
Thant's what inspired Laputa: Castle in the Sky, Iron Giant, and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.
I've read the novelization of Sky Captain, and let me tell you, it's a lot more than just some robots, flapping-winged planes, and flying fortresses. It's got a great STORY! All 260+ pages of it. -
Backstories for the characters? Heavens no. He dared to ask for that? It's all well and good prostrating yourself before a film that pushes the boundaries of CGI and cinema, but goddamn it, it doesn't allow you to ignore clear faults. And it certainly doesn't allow you to geek out all over people who have misgivings with the film.
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That's all. :)
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I have heard that the action figures are sold seperatly, and then you download a screensaver to play with them in front of. It doesn't have that coolness that the Millenium Falcon did....that thing was a big rusty space RV....And thus, I pray Angie Jolie's figurine is anatomically correct! - - - George, The 7th Chicken!!!!
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"Insert what Fluffy would ordinarily say here. Leave out the part where he tells Pink to fuck off; Pink isn't always stupid. Only sometimes."
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Search google for the terms 'Miyazaki' and 'Superman'. Obvious inspiration for some of Miyazaki's work.
More to the point, Sky Captain was inspired by Felischer's "Mechanical Monsters" and a host of other older fiction. No doubt some of the stuff you cite. Yeah, I've seen LAPUTA. I don't know if Conran was inspired by LAPUTA, but it's possible.
Sorry I'm not one of the reviewers, but since I've read the novelization I can comment on the story, which is the same story as in the movie, and it's a good story. I don't care to talk about the book as it was a fun read but not great literature--it reads like a description of a film. A very cool film, and I can't wait to see it.
But maybe you missed this review from
http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=17817
"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." -
Search google for the terms 'Miyazaki' and 'Superman'. Obvious inspiration for some of Miyazaki's work.
More to the point, Sky Captain was inspired by Felischer's "Mechanical Monsters" and a host of other older fiction. No doubt some of the stuff you cite. Yeah, I've seen LAPUTA. I don't know if Conran was inspired by LAPUTA, but it's possible.
Sorry I'm not one of the reviewers, but since I've read the novelization I can comment on the story, which is the same story as in the movie, and it's a good story. I don't care to talk about the book as it was a fun read but not great literature--it reads like a description of a film. A very cool film, and I can't wait to see it.
But maybe you missed this review from
http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=17817
"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." -
Search google for the terms 'Miyazaki' and 'Superman'. Obvious inspiration for some of Miyazaki's work.
More to the point, Sky Captain was inspired by Felischer's "Mechanical Monsters" and a host of other older fiction. No doubt some of the stuff you cite. Yeah, I've seen LAPUTA. I don't know if Conran was inspired by LAPUTA, but it's possible.
Sorry I'm not one of the reviewers, but since I've read the novelization I can comment on the story, which is the same story as in the movie, and it's a good story. I don't care to talk about the book as it was a fun read but not great literature--it reads like a description of a film. A very cool film, and I can't wait to see it.
But maybe you missed this review from
http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=17817
"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." -
Jul 01, 2004 2:56:20 PM CDT
Great, another film composed entirely of green-scenes and Angeli
by beamish13
this movie looks like crap, people
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And, where are all the usual caps in your post, CHICKENGEORGEVII
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Jeez, and I always thought it was "The Island of Dr. Moreau."
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Jul 01, 2004 5:09:06 PM CDT
it's true that sometimes young people fail to appreciate classic
by eraser_x
but then again, sometimes young people are really good at noticing that the old emperor has no clothes. For example, some old emperors appreciate stuff not because the stuff is good, but merely because the stuff has nostalgic appeal. I'm glad young people have their own ideas and sensibilities. It is a natural course for old people to end up, in ever diminishing numbers, going to their own old-people concerts and watching and supporting their own old-people movies. (Some obscure 1950's "crooners" are still giving small concerts all over America.) That's fine. But for an old person to *demand* that young people like some admittedly-flawed old-people nostalgia-fest is just plain arrogant and inconsequential. Such a demand is simply saying "I know this is crap, but it's *my* generation's crap, and *my* generation's crap don't stink."
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Ironic that effects company Giant Killer Robots did not work on this film...
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I saw another trailer for this 'video game', before Spidey, and half the audience went "yeah right, whatever". heck, The Anaconda 2 trailer got the most positive reaction. In the first trailer it seemed like a scene out of Stacraft, now they made it look more like Microsoft Combat Simulator. A small part of me wants to believe that this movie is not gonna suck, but I'm afraid right now is not the time to release sci-fi. Maybe in a few years, after all the comic book invasion dies down (around spidey 3 / X3 )
And to all those people that get it/ don't get. First of all, I was born in 1978, we had very little access to western TV, how the fuck am i going to relate to some sci-fi story from 40's ? This would have worked a hell of a lot better in anime format. -
I appreciate the enthusiasm of your reviewers but I have to admit that the appalling spelling of many of them irritates the shit out of me. Considering they're supposed to love movies so much, is it too much to ask that they spell 'Murrow', 'Fleicher', and 'Dumbledoor' correctly? It wouldn't hurt to use the apostrophe in 'it's' and 'its' correctly either.
These are just the most recent examples I've read and are far from unusual. Yes, I am pedantic and I'm also English, a librarian and a writer (well, a teenage novel published by Simon & Schuster a few years back), which may explain something. -
...is for sequels. ESB anyone?
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Why is it that Talkbackers attack the personal preferences of one another? If you like Giant Robots, great, if you don't, great. Has anyone here actually seen the movie? Why kick dirt on another person to defend something of which you are factually unaware? And ianw700... I agree, the spelling in most of these forums is atrooshus.
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Jul 03, 2004 2:31:52 AM CDT
I CAN HARDLY WAIT for this movie ..... though I'm STILL feeling
by jdanielp
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...and the icon that is the main focus of the piece is a dead ringer of a reward token from the XBOX game "Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge." Just thought I'd throw that in. Coincidence?
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Drago is right. That's all. Nothing else to say. j/k No, seriously, I actually went with Drago to see the advance screening of SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW! (He's right, by the way, it really does rock to spell it in capitals). Anyways, the entire audience was 80% 18-25 year-olds, the main demographic that all movies want to hook, (Drago and myself being in that very demographic. We're not 14-year-olds Moriarty). Anyways, at least 75% of the audience did not get the movie. These are people who were mostly Matrices (That's what I call people that didn't just love the Matrix movies, but have an unhealthy and damaging addiction to that Trilogy). They had no respect for this completely different approach to a movie.
On a personal note, I'm not a huge fan to CGI addicted movies, and there was just a little too much CGI for my tastes in Sky Captain. Okay, I'm shutting up now. -
Personally, I'm into the whole "quasi-futuristic retro technology" thing, so I'll definitely see it the first week or so. However, I agree with the people who are saying the film will bomb. Other similar 1930's homages have generally performed poor in the box office, such as The Rocketeer, The Shadow, and The Phantom (but to be fair, The Shadow and The Phantom both sucked). Only time will tell though, Indiana Jones spawned two sequels and possibly a fourth.
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