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Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Set in a mythic version of the late 1930s, this movie is a stunning tribute to classic sci-fi serials, comics and pulp magazines of that era. Starting with a reporter investigating the disappearances of top scientists, the story quickly becomes a nearly constant barrage of giant robots, aeroships, submarine planes, ray guns and retro technology on a grand scale. The plot, which hurtles across maps of the world Indiana Jones style, definitely take a back seat to the effects. The character interactions are all predictable. But all of that is consistent with the genre, and for me it didn't get in the way of enjoying the hell out of this movie.
What sets this film apart from others is that every scene was shot against a blue screen. Except for some hand props and the actors themselves, the whole thing was computer generated. We've certainly seen plenty of CG, going all the way back to "The Last Starfighter" in the 80s, but I've never seen anything done so stylishly or so well. Perhaps the hazy, murky look is perfectly suited to both the 1930s atmosphere and the current state of the art of CG. It works.
The packed screening was followed by a Q&A with director Conran, who turned out to be an impressively low-key, likable guy. He started working on the film about 10 years ago with a blue screen in his living room, wondering whether he could create an entire movie in his Mac. The first 6 minutes took him 2 years. Initially he made an animated version, which actors later used as a guide as they mimed their way through the live version. When Paramount got involved they insisted on big-name actors, so the theatrical release is actually version 3. Hopefully all three will make it onto the eventual DVD. Conran mentioned that for his next project he wants to tackle Edgar Rice Burroughs' epic John Carter series.
The presenter, a filmmaking friend of Conran's, closed the screening with a joke about Pete Townshend meeting Eric Clapton in a London bar and commiserating about some new kid named Hendrix, "who's gonna kick our asses." He imagined that Spielberg and Lucas might soon be having a similar conversation somewhere in California. I have to agree that it seems like a distinct possibility.
Thanks to serutan for this review!
Alright, so how do you figure this is good again? It sounds like another crappy big-budget *cough*Matrix Reloaded*cough* sci-fi *cough Episodes I & II*cough* that won't be even slightly entertaining beyond the initial awe of the special effects.
Sigs are for the weak.
The plot, which hurtles across maps of the world Indiana Jones style, definitely take a back seat to the effects. The character interactions are all predictable.
Awesome! First "I, Robot" and now this! What ground-breaking, revolutionary film-making! Where do I sign up!?
Tell me, does Nerd Captain and World of Nerdnerd have random product placement too?
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori
This thing is going to flop big time and probably become a cult classic when it's released on DVD.
The commercials feature her fat lips so prominently it looks like another wretched Tomb Raider promo.
Of course, you know the supreme irony is that Jolie herself no longer has or never had quite as perfect a body as required for the Tomb Raider 2 marketing collateral or body shots. Yes, even the best surgery and personal trainers have limits. So for the adverts and the pseudo-nudie shots, what you see is her head pasted (expertly and imperceptibly) onto a body double's torso. This is true - I have it on good authrity from my wife's sister's roomate's friend, who worked on the digital compositing.
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