Stylistic Sci- Fi

[cinemabon]

Not many people liked "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow," and probably their reasons were vague. The look of the picture is pure 'noir' but the feel of the piece is more 'comic-book' heroic than dramatic. The score doesn't help; a rousing march theme that sounded more like Indiana Jones than a dark moody post World War II setting prevalent throughout the film.

Yet, moody is what the piece is as a visual, a stunning world first envisioned by graphic artist turned filmmaker, Kerry Conran. For his first effort in the director's chair, I would applaud his effort. Looking back at first timers like Ford, Scorsese, or even Speilberg by comparison, Conran made a brilliant first effort.

I was very disappointed in the Academy's choice of Special Effects nominees this year, leaving "Sky Captain" off the list. With over 2000 special effects shots, it was the most intensive effects film of any project in 2004.

Shot on soundstages that were virtually empty except for the color blue, this film derives its look from artists who captured the style of the piece first presented in an eight minute film Conran put together right out of college. It was this little movie that sold everyone on the idea. It's a shame that more people didn't enjoy it. While rather pedestrian and child-like at times, the film is still beautiful to look at, rather like a painting that changes perspective for an hour and a half.

Sky Captain is not for everyone. But anyone who likes art should at least give the artist his due and let the gallery come home for one night.

[arsaib4]

If you were to ask the people who saw the film or even who didn't see it about its cost, most of them would say that Paramount spent anywhere between $100M to $150M on it. Well, they would be off by a lot!

Sky Captain started as an independent feature which was picked up by a major studio well into production. Jude Law was one of the producers of the film so that helped. Film was shot on HD video and there weren't any "real" sets/locations. Actors worked for less than a month. There was also pressure on Paramount to keep the overall cost down.

So, what was the budget? There isn't an exact figure out there but it is said to be between $50M to $60M; not bad at all for a futuristic sci-fi adventure starring the likes of Law, Paltrow and Jolie. What did it make worldwide? about $55M; yes it was a disaster, although, DVD sales will help.

Kerry Conran is under contract with Paramount to make another film for them, it was to be a sequel to this but that isn't certain anymore.

[tabuno]

The comic-like character come to life was a fun, fantastic visionary treat. I enjoyed the movie. While this cinematic technqiue is not for most films, it truly captured the nature and substance of this basic themes and its source material.