Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow: Looks Solid!

Scott Weinberg · 12-20-2003, 07:36 AM

Have a look at the official site , watch the trailer and tell me this one doesn't look really intriguing.

It's written and directed by first-timer (!) Kerry Conran. IMDb trivia informs me that:

Wrote a CGI program that allows him to shoot an entire movie against blue screens, and fill in the backgrounds with images. Having an already-existing 3-D storyboard of every scene in his computer, all he needs to do is replace the computer-generated figures with live actors, and he has finished his film.

According to Greg's Previews at Yahoo! :

The Los Angeles Times has revealed that Kerry Cornan is a CalArts graduate, and his software is a CGI program that allows him to shoot his entire movie against blue screens, and fill in the backgrounds later with images he's been working on for years, which are mostly already done. What this allows Conran to do, which is what is so revolutionary, is to have an already existing 3-D storyboard of every scene, with stick figures in place where the actors are supposed to be. Now, all he has to do is stick in his cast, and he's basically done, it sounds like.

The flick used to be called "The World of Tomorrow" but Paramount opted to alter it so as to avoid any confusion with Emmerich's upcoming The Day After Tomorrow. To me this one looks like Dark City meets The Rocketeer meets The Iron Giant...and all that German expressionism stuff that's so cool to look at.

I'm a bit skeptical only of the genesis of the movie. It's not often you come up with the effects design FIRST and worry about the actors and stuff later. But it's got Jude Law as "Sky Captain Joseph Sullivan", Gwyneth Paltrow as "Polly Perkins" and Angelina Jolie as "Captain Franky Cook", the visuals DO look stunning, the sight of old B-52s battling against alien spacecraft has piqued my interest...and the trailer uses that old Stargate music to wonderful effect.

So what do we think? Is this one to get excited for? Keep in mind...not too long ago I was DYING to see The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Remember that?

Werner_R · 12-20-2003, 08:07 AM

Just watched the trailer, it looks...uhm weird ! It's like a mix of the 1920's and 30's with some comic book stuff thrown in ! I really don't know what to think of it...

David Rogers · 12-20-2003, 09:08 AM

Trailer got giggles (not fond ones) at ROTK Friday. Cast does look good ... but the movie looks, at the least, to be a VERY fanciful film. Not sure if that's good or bad. Kinda want a better trailer before I make up my mind.

Kevin Grey · 12-20-2003, 09:21 AM

I think it looks great but I think it will be a huge bomb. This is a marketing nightmare-very hard to get the concept across without looking cheesy.

Plus I hate that they added "Sky Captain" to the title. I much preferred the original (though can see why they changed.

JustinCleveland · 12-20-2003, 09:53 AM

It's got a wonderful Modern feel to it... like a classic serial.

The comment of Iron Giant and Rocketeer got it exactly right! I'm interested.

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Chris · 12-20-2003, 11:00 AM

I have a feeling this thing will bomb.. badly. This isn't to say it's good or bad, it's just in the audience reaction w/ROTK, I heard more laughter then "hmm" and a lot of people openly whispered that "they had already seen Rocketeer" while at blockbuster last night, several hands were joking about how terrible the trailer was.. I tended to agree; the cast looks solid (Jude Law, Paltrow, etc.) but the concept looks, on it's face, bad in face of what it will run up against next summer.

One film next summer is going to do poorly; if I were to bet, this would be it.

Kevin M · 12-20-2003, 11:06 AM

Yes, I agree that it will most likely take a bath but I am intrigued by it's 1930's art deco look/feel.

Paul Case · 12-20-2003, 11:35 AM

This looks truly terrible. It's interesting that they were able to get such well known actors for the cast.

Steve_Tk · 12-20-2003, 11:40 AM

This will tank big time at the BO.

Randall Dorr · 12-20-2003, 03:32 PM

Quote:

This looks truly terrible. It's interesting that they were able to get such well known actors for the cast.

Nice to see everyone being so optimistic.

I admit the trailer is crap, but haven't we come to expect that? The vast majority of trailers are cut by outside companies that had nothing to do with the production, and they are usually not an accurate representation of the film. And if any of you are like me, you automatically get pissed off when you hear Mr. Voice Over.

Has anyone read the script? That would certainly give a better indication of the film's quality than two minutes footage.

And Jude Law's track record is nothing to sneeze at. He seems to know what he's doing when picking projects.

Steve_Tk · 12-20-2003, 03:44 PM

The planes have wings that flap, that's metal wings, nothing that captures and pushes air like feathers. Enough said.