Review of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) by Trevor R — 14 Apr 2013

This was a dream project of director Kerry Conran for years, and I respect the passion that he poured into every frame. "Sky Captain" just isn't as much fun as it could or should be. If you look at "Indiana Jones" or "Star Wars"-- certainly the most well known examples of adventure serial pastiche pictures-- Harrison Ford plays a similar rogue-hero in each film, but each role is distinct and memorable.

Han and Indy are cut from the same cloth, but they transcend the archetype through sharp dialogue and specificity in the performance. There's just something missing here, as if Conran lacks the golden touch to draw together these various elements into a cohesive whole.

Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Giovanni Ribisi are three of the most charming and likeable actors you can find, and while they don't give bad performances, they aren't that well-utilized either.

"Sky Captain" is still an enjoyable flick with some truly unique and creative visuals, but it lacks the distinction of similar genre fare. But: Olivier!