Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (no spoilers)

[Fast Learner]

Caught a screening of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow this evening. It does a really amazing job of bringing the pulp comics and radio serials of the 30s to life, but adding to them quite a bit of modern sensibility. The effects -- especially the overall tone, color palette, and feel -- were simply amazing. The characters were pretty good, though I was disappointed in how stupid Polly (Gwyneth Paltrow's character) acted in several scenes. In a sense it held too true to the serials of the 30s, with a sort-of sexist take on the characters.

Still, some really cool stuff makes for a very good film Not great, but certainly enjoyable. I can easily imagine a very enjoyable roleplaying campaign set in its world.

 

[Greatwyrm]

I read the novel based on the movie and I'd like to see it. In fact, I hope it does really well. I'd like to see more pulp era movies, but there just aren't many getting made anymore. The most recent stuff I can think of is The Shadow, The Phantom, and the two Brandon Fraser Mummy movies.

 

[MaxKaladin]

I read the novel based on the movie and I'd like to see it. In fact, I hope it does really well. I'd like to see more pulp era movies, but there just aren't many getting made anymore. The most recent stuff I can think of is The Shadow, The Phantom, and the two Brandon Fraser Mummy movies.

Success isn't a guarantee of more pulp films. After all, where have all the fantasy films been in the wake of the success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy?

 

[Greatwyrm]

Success isn't a guarantee of more pulp films.

No, but if it tanks, it'll be twice as hard for whoever wants to make the next one. The Jinx spin-off from the James Bond franchise was shelved because "girl action movies" (e.g. Charlie's Angels) haven't done well.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Success isn't a guarantee of more pulp films. After all, where have all the fantasy films been in the wake of the success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy?

Troy, Arthur, Hannibal, Attila... LotR has plenty of coattail hangers.

 

[Viking Bastard]

Yeah, but wasn't the first talk of, for example, Troy and the Alexander the Great
movies following Gladiator rather than LotR. LotR may have set it in stone, but those
seem to to go more with the post-Gladiator historical epic trend than Fantasy.

I mean, they de-fantasized Arthur and Troy! What's up with that?!?

I want frickin' fantasy gawddamnit!

 

[The Goblin King]

Everything I have seen for Sky Captain has made me go OMG!!!!!1!11one! I love pulp and I am looking forward to it.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Yeah, but wasn't the first talk of, for example, Troy and the Alexander the Great
movies following Gladiator rather than LotR. LotR may have set it in stone, but those
seem to to go more with the post-Gladiator historical epic trend than Fantasy.

Personally, I think that Troy and Arthur were very much created to cash in on the LoTR hype. I agree with you that--in truth--the treatment of both films brings them closer in feel to Gladiator, but their timing and source material speak towards an attempt to grab onto the teats of the cash cow that is LoTR. Also, the magic in LoTR has never been...pronounced. The movies in particular place a great deal of emphasis on huge medieval-style battles rather than wizards and magic spells. The train of recent and forthcoming movies are trying to give moviegoers more of that.

It's sort of the way Pearl Harbor was filmed to cash in on Titanic. The stories aren't exactly the same, nor are the genres, exactly, but if you look at the formula, there's a distinct similarity.

Unavoidable Historical Disaster + Doomed Romance = Hit (or so they thought).

With the new films we have:

Huge Medieval Battles + Ruggedly Handsome Leading Man = Hit (or so they think.)

I mean, they de-fantasized Arthur and Troy! What's up with that?!?

I want frickin' fantasy gawddamnit!

Yeah, I still haven't seen either of them. Had a friend tell me about Arthur and was thoroughly disappointed. They cut out every interesting part of the legend and just tried to cash in on the name while using an unrelated story. Ugh.

And I was looking forward to seeing Athena whup Ares' behind on the field of Troy, but after learning none of that takes place either...

Ah, well. I'm sure I'll catch them on video eventually.

 

[Gomez]

From what I have seen of the recent comercials for the movie. They seem to want to stay away from discribing the movie as a "pulp" type movie. I really loved the first trailer with the obvious pulp tones. I guess they think that it would not sell that way. Has anyone noticed this?

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

I read the novel based on the movie and I'd like to see it. In fact, I hope it does really well. I'd like to see more pulp era movies, but there just aren't many getting made anymore. The most recent stuff I can think of is The Shadow, The Phantom, and the two Brandon Fraser Mummy movies.

Rumor has it the guy (whose name I'm too lazy to look up) behind Sky Captain has already set his sights on Edgar Rice Burroughs' "Princess of Mars" with hopes to do the entire John Carter of Mars series.