Director:
Kerry Conran

Cast:
Jude Law
Gyneth Paltrow
Angelina Joie
Giovanni Ribisi

Official URL:

http://www.skycaptain.com

Country: USA
Rating: PG
Studio Name: Paramount Pictures
Running Time: 2 hr 20 mins
Release Date: September 17, 2004

Critics's Rating:
(3 1/2 Reels) 

September 17, 2004

By Veronica Mixon

This extraordinary film debut by writer/director Kerry Conran is a visual delight! Like most sci-fi comic stories, it’s a mix of dashing hero, feisty heroine, quirky characters and solid adventure in a quest to save the world. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is an action-packed fantasy with eye-popping, imaginative special effects.

Set in 1939, feisty, smart ‘Chronicle’ reporter, Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) investigates the mysterious disappearance of several noted scientists. Suddenly an army of gigantic robots attack New York City. Her old-flame Capt. Sullivan – aka Sky Captain (Jude Law) – an ace aviator utilizes his daredevil skills to fight off of the robots but he and his squadron can’t stop the gargantuan monsters. When they finally reach his secret air base, his best buddy tech genius Dex (Giovanni Ribisi The Gift) is captured. Polly and Sky Captain discover that the allusive Dr. Tokenkopf (guess who?) is behind the attacks and they travel around the world determined to stop the evil mastermind. Along the way, Sky Captain secures the help of old buy Franky Cook (Angelina Jolie) and her all-female amphibious squadron.

This wonderful cast performed almost entirely in front a blue screen while first-time director Kerry Conran created a retro world in faded gray hues and classic period costumes from film noir and swashbuckling adventure movies. Oscar winner, Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love and Sliding Door) is the gorgeous blonde with the big fedora, trench coat and unquenchable curiosity. She has a nose for news and despite her hard shell, she yearns for love. Naturally the snappy dialog exchanged with her publisher boss (Michael Gambon Open Range) masks her soft feminine heart. Jude Law, who has finally come into his own with stellar performances in The Talented Mr. Ripley with Paltrow, “Cold Mountain” and The Road to Perdition, has the Cary Grant role as the daring fighter pilot reluctant to commit to romance. He and Paltrow’s bicker between spectacular battle scenes. Their chemistry breathe life into the technically marvelous movie. Paltrow and Law possess the old-style matinee idol good looks and star power. When the tomboyish Franky (Angelina Jolie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider) appears, Polly’s jealousy is in full tilt. Jolie speaking with a British accent is sexy in a tight military suit and eye-patch. But it’s Dr. Tokenkopf’s loyal henchwoman played by Chinese stage and screen star, Bai Ling, who is the most intriguing. A skillful fighter, she possesses that mysterious Asian quality that classic films use to dangle in front of American audiences. Ling has recently made her way into American films and can also be seen in Spike Lee’s She Hates Me and My Baby’s Daddy with Eddie Griffin and Anthony Anderson.

Clearly filmmaker Kerry Conran is a fan of 1930’s films like Roslind Russell in My Girl Friday and Judy Garland’s The Wizard of Oz which makes a brief appearance as well as sci-fi action films based on comic book visions. Indiana Jones would be proud, too! The film opens with a gargantuan blimp parking at the tip of the Empire State building and passengers disembarking. There are enemy airplanes with flapping wings; spider robots that search for information; a floating airplane carrier and slick planes that dive into the ocean and glide like a submarine. While Conran makes the skyline of New York City a target, Polly and Sky travel to Nepal and to Shangri-La in search of the scientists. Exotic locales, evil plans to destroy the world and dashing heroes – male and female – make this one of the most exciting movies to open this fall. Conran’s digital designs are breathtaking and one should overlook the thin plot and character development. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is a terrific popcorn movie so sit back and enjoy it!

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