A stunning, visionary debut that evokes the glory years of the serials

"Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" was Kerry Conran's one-man homage (the original six-minute short, included as an extra, was made on a Mac in his apartment, no less) to the sci-fi film serials of the 1930s and 40s, replete with snappy, sultry reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) in search of the ultimate scoop, cocky fighter pilot Joe Sullivan (Jude Law), the over-eager, clean-cut techno-whiz kid sidekick Dex (Giovanni Ribisi), and feisty, no-nonsense ex-flame Frankie (Angelina Jolie), commander of an airborne British squadron. I thought the actors did a wonderful job, especially when you consider that there were no sets, props, etc. to set the stage, so to speak.

The film was completely created via CGI, and takes viewers from the Art Deco lines of New York to the gardens of Shangri-la on a quest to discover why giant robots are attacking cities around the globe. This is a film of unprecedented beauty, filled to the brim with every child's thrills: dinosaurs, robots, ray guns, dirigibles, rockets, airborne battles, and more, with a dash of romance and intrigue for the grownups. It's even more amazing watching the two-part documentary Brave New World, in which we see the soundstages and blue screens, completely devoid of props, etc. except for the actors and their marks. The costumes, music, and filmmaking lovingly recall the 1930s and 1940s, from the film titles to the sweeping orchestral themes. An experience not to be missed for fans of vintage sci-fi the gloriously cheesy sci-fi serials of decades past.

Sequel, please!

The nay-sayers just don't get it. Many of them are simply anti-retro. But SKY CAPTAIN isn't so much retro as it is timeless! Like RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, THE ROCKETEER, and the approaching Peter Jackson's KING KONG, the things that make SKY CAPTAIN so enjoyable have been handed down through the decades in all great adventure films. Yes, I said "adventure" films. And there-in lies the key to the love-it or hate-it attitude toward SKY CAPTAIN. Many of us, like movie-lovers of times past AND present, love to willingly suspend our disbelief and surrender ourselves to the filmakers manipulations. Sometimes we win and enjoy the experience of seeing a well-made motion picture. Alas, sometimes we lose and suffer the disappointment of an unimaginative movie whose makers lacked any creative impulse. But we know it's worth the risk! Because when it pays off, it's oh so sweet. Then there's a second type of movie viewer. One who steels himself in advance against the "fakeness" of it all. One whose warped pride would never allow himself to be "manipulated" by a mere flick, even when that emotional surrender could end up spelling FUN! SKY CAPTAIN knows what fun is all about. SKY CAPTAIN's middle name is grand high adventure, played out in a retro, and yet timeless, fashion. CGI? Did RKO skimp on special effects when they made the masterpiece that is KING KONG in 1933? No, they pulled out all, and I do mean ALL, the stops and gave the world a special effects bonanza such as had never been dreamt of by movie audiences. Cardboard characters? Well, so, I'm kind of a cardboard personality myself. Wanna make something of it? If you ever liked RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK or THE ROCKETEER, then you owe it to yourself to see the coolness that is SKY CAPTAIN. If you're looking forward to the new KING KONG, or liked the original '33 version for that matter, then you'll enjoy SKY CAPTAIN. If you never missed the WILD, WILD WEST TV show, then get ready for the WILD, WILD 1930'S because your new adventure is waiting...

Lots of yesterday, too much today and no tomorrow.

Okay I wont bore you with the plot (you've seen it all before anyway) or go into how new this films looks instead I warn anyone over 16 to stay away. Rent the first Indian Jones movie if you are in the mood for a good circa 1939 adventure. There is absolutely nothing new to discover in this flick. The pacing is dreary as well as the fuzzy CGI look to this thing. It's like watching a movie in your bathroom mirror after taking a hot shower. Instead of having fun with cliché's this movie depends on them to tell us about the characters past relationships and motivations. the dialogue is never witty or clever and rings false from the flat Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law is two dimensional as well and lacks on butchness. Really this is a movie for kids only and will put adults to sleep. The only moment worth watching here is the scene inside of Radio City Music Hall. Two characters are having a secret meeting with the Wizard of Oz in playing in front of them. The Wizard of Oz, now that's how to make a movie.