Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is an extravagant escapade into the imagination of first time director/screenwriter Kerry Conran has he takes hold of a film that could easily be the first in his very own Indiana Jones-esque franchise.
With tastes of Star Wars, Indiana Jones and even Jurassic Park, Conran’s imagination goes wild, in-and-out of movies we have come to know intimately, weaving them into a tale of retro sci-fi action taking us back in time to a world never-before brought to the screen making the past the emanate future.
In a story focused on the recent disappearances of notable scientists from around the world journalist Polly Perkins (Paltrow) begins her investigation and ultimately finds herself running for her life from giant robots to being rescued by her one time beau Sky Captain (Law).
As the reason for the disappearances becomes known, the name Totenkopf becomes the focus of everyone’s attention and his plan, which, if carried out, may bring a world of tomorrow before anyone wants it to come.
The story is very appealing and the action sequences along with the amazing digital work create a spectacle for all to see, unfortunately all those positives fall prey to one negative… bad acting.
I have never been a huge fan of Jude Law and I have had a hard time figuring out a movie that he was in that I actually liked as he has been miscast in just about every role I have seen him in, Sky Captain is no exception. There is a quality about Law and the desire to make him a star has him in six movies this fall/winter. Every time he is on screen it is a new role, but he just can’t seem to find the shoe that fits.
Don’t get me wrong, Law is not alone in hurting this movie, as Gwyneth Paltrow is just as bad, if not worse.
Paltrow has not had a hit since her Oscar winning performance in Shakespeare in Love and it is obviously due, not only to the projects she has chosen, but to her declining ability to give the audience a memorable role.
If you’re wondering why I haven’t mentioned Angelina Jolie’s name, it is because her role, while integral, only takes up about 15 minutes of screen time, and there aren’t any complaints concerning her performance.
Sky Captain is a good film to start off the fall sked, but Paramount made a great decision moving this from its original summer release and placing it in mid-September where it should build a good box-office, Spider-Man 2 would have eaten this thing alive.
Totally suitable for children this PG rated flick, while slow and a bit un-original in story, definitely provides some good action and amazing effects work making it a good family night out at the movies.
