Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow - 2004

 Paramount Pictures, Brooklyn Films II, Riff Raff Film Productions 

Directed by Kerry Conran

Cast:

Polly Perkins – Gwyneth Paltrow

Sky Captain – Jude Law

Dex – Giovanni Ribisi

Editor Paley – Michael Gambon

Mysterious Woman – Bai Ling

Kaji – Omid Djalili

Franky – Angelina Jolie

Story: In 1939, a top secret force commanded by Sky Captain is activated when Polly Perkins, a reporter, uncovers the systematic murders of top scientists from World War One. As she is tracking down leads, trying to find the killers, she is almost killed along with another scientist when a group of advanced robots descends on the city to locate two missing components in an evil plot that will destroy the world. Only Sky Captain and his elite forces, along with the aide of an elite British force led by Franky, can save the world from certain and complete destruction. But can they do it?

Review: Unfortunately, this film did not do well in the theaters. Which is a shame, because being an excellent film with superb graphics, it is also the forerunner of everything that has followed in Compter Generated Images (CGI).

Sky Captain was filmed entirely in blue screen. None of the sets existed except it the mind of the people doing the graphics. Which meant the actors had no frame of reference when they were performing. Oh, of course there were tape marks on the floor, but nothing to react to, nothing to walk around, nothing but a blank room with platforms where necessary to go up and down. Which means the actors had to envision the room as it might be and then respond without the aid of visual cues. Now, I don't know about you, but I would call that acting above and beyond the normal requirements. And the best part is, they all do it extremely well.

As to plot, considering the setting of the film, the plot is exactly as it should be. If this had been made in the 1950's, this film would have been a “Cliffhanger”, like Commando Cody or Flash Gordon used to be, a tool to get parents to drop their kids off at the local theater for Saturday morning matinees while they did their grocery shopping or other chores. I remember doing that while my mom was off grocery shopping, and my brother and I would sit for two or three hours watching cartoons and a couple of those films.

Still, there isn't a lot of action by comparison to what we expect from films these days, and the technology in the film is 'old school', so perhaps the current generation of film goers just didn't get it. I recommend the film as a great way to spend ninety six minutes when the kiddies are looking to see what the old world used to be like. Rated PG, collectible for us Sci Fi types. Enjoy.

The Good Shepherd - 2006

Universal Pictures, Morgan Creek Productions, Tribeca Productions

Directed by Robert De Niro

Cast:

• Edward Wilson – Matt Damon
• Margaret “Clover” Wilson – Angelina Jolie
• Sam Murach – Alec Baldwin
• Laura – Tammy Blanchard
• Arch Cummings – Billy Crudup
• Bill Sullivan – Robert De Niro
• Dr. Fredericks – Michael Gambon
• Philip Allen – William Hurt
• Thomas Wilson – Timothy Hutton
• Joseph Palmi – Joe Pesci
• Ray Brocco – John Turturro

Story: Based loosely on true events, so much so that this film was reviewed and studied by a committee at the CIA. We open with a man in Washington, DC boarding a bus for work. On the bus, a mother sends her boy to ask him for change for a dollar. When he arrives at work, the serial number of the dollar is compared to a list and is verified as a coded message. We now cut to Yale University in 1939, where a young man is asked to join a secret society known and the Skull and Bones. This is a society of powerful men whose influence has elected a president, senators, congressmen, and has connections to every part of American life. They are the people who are sought out when there are needs in the government, and Edward Wilson is their choice for a very special task. His reputation for silence and confidentiality is well-known, and his ability to observe and understand is considerable. Over a span of 30 years, we observe the growth of the OSS into the CIA and watch the effects on Edward Wilson's life. In the end, we are left with the most haunting of questions: To survive in the intelligence community, can you ever trust anyone?

Review: Robert De Niro reveals his depth in this extensive character study of the counterintelligence branch of the Central Intelligence Agency. From the first moments of the film, we are intrigued by our look into one of the secret societies of Ivy League universities, and their influences on American society. Matt Damon's character is strangely static throughout the film...or is it? This is a film of subtlety and innuendo, a film you will have to see at least twice to understand entirely. Angelina Jolie gives us a surprising look into her abilities as an actress. Gone is the determined, focused, independent woman we have seen in so many of her films. Alec Baldwin provides an element of stability in a film where nothing remains the same. With a breadth of talent seldom seen in a single film, De Niro provides a story of how the intelligence community has shaped the American perspective since the 1940's, and the depth of their intrigue. Rated R for sex, language, violence and content, this is a film for the grownups. The links above will provide additional information about the background and plot of the film.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith - 2005

Mr. And Mrs. Smith - 2005

Regency Entertainment, Monarchy Entertainment, 20th Century Fox

Directed by Doug Liman

Cast:

• John Smith – Brad Pitt
• Jane Smith – Angelina Jolie
• Eddie – Vince Vaughn
• Benjamin Danz – Adam Brody
• Jasmine – Kerry Washington
• Father – Keith David
• Martin Coleman – Chris Weitz
• Suzy Coleman – Rachael Huntley
• Gwen – Michelle Monaghan
• Julie – Stephanie March
• Jade – Jennifer Morrison

Story:Two attractive, young, middle class adults are talking to a marriage counselor after five (or six) years of marriage. They sound pretty normal, until you hear how they met in Bogota, Columbia, providing each other with an alibi for their actions. Unbeknownst to one another, they are both professional assassins working for competing agencies. As fate would have it, they are assigned to the same hit and interfere with one another, and each assassin is given an assignment....kill the competing assassin within 48 hours or face termination. This film gives an entire new meaning to Couples Therapy.

Review: Now I am sure there has to be at least a thousand people living middle class suburbia lives who are really high tech assassins. And with all of them out there, it stands to reason two of them might actually meet, fall in love, and continue to do what they do without ever telling the other. Not buying it? Me either, but who says a movie has to have a plot to be entertaining? Jurrasic Park pulled it off three times. I think the appeal here lies in pretty people (Bradjolina) and marriage counseling taken to the extreme. Vince Vaughn, a tremendous talent, provides the perfect foil for Brad, and adds tremendously to the film. Angelina's staff of beauties looks like something out of early Bond or In Like Flint, but they add to the artistic merit of the film (okay, they are great looking women worth looking at), and the special effects and photography is wonderful. PG-13 is about right, language is pretty restrained, so its the violence you have to watch out for. Not particularly collectible, but highly entertaining, especially if you and your spouse have been married for about five (or six) years.