The Pop Pirate

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

So, I watched Sky Captain this week. OK flick. Its very much in the vain of Indiana Jones- old time serial brought to the big screen. Many of the archetypes are represented: The handsome and fearless hero; his sometime romantic intrest, intrepid reporter; his buddy, the brainy sidekick and of course, the mad scientist evil overlord.

While these characters were faithfully rendered in regard to these archetypes, they lacked any personality of thier own. Jude Law's Sky Captain had neither the dry wit nor the quirky phobia that made his cinematic predecessor, Dr. Jones, so beloved.

The attraction here is really the look. It is a beautifully photographed-- okay generated film. The technique of filming the actors on bluescreen, and digitally adding in everything else was a risky proposition, but they pulled it off. The real blends with the artifice beautifully, and to great effect.

So it's not a wonderful story, but it is wonderfully told. The scope of what can be done on screen believably is currently being explored by filmmakers, and I for one, am on board for that adventure.

posted by Jeff @ 9:57 PM