GORGEOUS TO LOOK AT
There’s a heroism movie out right now that, while leaving something to be desired in substance, is at least gorgeous to look at. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow is a hard-to-figure out sci-fi fantasy set in the late thirties — sort of a combination of Indiana Jones and Star Wars. Sky Captain stars Jude Law as Joe Sullivan, the Sky Captain; and Gwyneth Paltrow as Polly Perkins, a Lois-Lane-type of newspaper reporter. The plot, insofar as I was able to discern one, is about a mad scientist named Dr. Totenkopf (“Deadhead”) who is looking for some secret vials which are somehow connected to the fact that famous world scientists are dying right and left. Newspaper reporter Perkins is determined to find out what’s happening, and in her travels she soon runs into her old flame Joe Sullivan.
Plusses: This is a beautiful movie. The sets are all computer-generated but look real enough. The color, such as it is, is muted, so the result is in effect a color movie in black and white -- so watching Sky Captain is a little like going to an art museum. Another plus is its heroism values. Star Jude Law, who strongly wanted to play the Sky Captain role, said, “I just thought it was about time someone took us back to a science-fiction genre that’s without cynicism, that’s more innocent and optimistic.” Sullivan and his sidekick Dex think of others before themselves and are willing to make sacrifices. A third plus is some interesting commentary about how we have become poor stewards of God’s world.
Minuses: Is this movie really about anything other than heroism? The Indiana Jones movies were about the pursuit of the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail, but Sky Captain doesn't seem powered by anything very significant. Also, Joe and Polly are not exactly what could be considered good role models in their relationship. The movie has some potentially worthy themes that aren’t well enough developed.
Overall: This is one of the most beautiful movies in a long time, so it’s worth seeing on that score.
Film Rating: (PG)
My Rating: 2 ½ stars
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