Review of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) by Jenna G — 26 Feb 2011

So much potential. But it didn't live up to it.

The visuals are impressive, though I am not such how well they will age, as I can already see that what was so impressive in 2004 is not so much in 2011, and that they are the focus and the only thing that really make this film stand out. However, it is clear that the director spent more time on them than with the story, the characters, or in getting better performances out of his actors. But it is to be expected, from a rookie who from the outset was concerned most with the visual aspect of the film. Probably would have been better off bringing in a veteran director, or at least a scriptwriter that could do something more with the story. Some plot elements did ring false, with some elements feeling contrived, questionable and/or confusing, and unnecessarily so. Much of the ending, and climactic reveals left me with a shrug, and feeling like they could have done something much more engaging and interesting.

The chemistry with Paltrow and Law felt like and opportunity wasted; they just didn't have enough to work with, either with the script, and I imagine the director as well. Would have loved to see better interplay and snappy dialogue akin to that you might find in classics, such as Bogie and Bacall in To Have and Have Not. I think this is what was intended and/or hoped for, but it fell short. And for instance, much more fun could have been made with the whole bit with how many shots were left in the camera. Could have been written and played better for witty laughed; in the end, it too fell a bit flat. Jolie certainly made the most of her part, though.

It does deserve kudos for it's originality with trying to grab a visual style from a classic film era.