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.

Enemy At The Gates - 2001

Paramount Pictures, Mandalay Pictures, KC Medien

Directed by Jean-Jacque Annaud

Cast:

• Vassili Zaitsev – Jude Law
• Major König – Ed Harris
• Tania Chernova – Rachel Weisz
• Commisar Danilov – Joseph Fiennes
• Nikita Khrushchev – Bob Hoskins
• Koulikov – Ron Perlman

Story: Based on true events, the year is 1942, and Stalingrad is under siege by the Nazi forces. Joseph Stalin has ordered the city held to the last man, and is sending his troops into battle with no hope of retreat. Conditions are close to medieval, and the latest commander has been relieved by Nikita Khrushchev, a man who will eventually lead his nation. Commisar Danilov is present at a meeting where Khrushchev has just asked his political officers what can be done to change the course of the battle. “Give them Hope” says Danilov, and relates to Khrushchev he has just witnessed a young soldier who they could use to promote a campaign of enthusiasm. Vassili Zaitsev is a simple sheppard, but his marksmanship is superior. Danilov holds him up as a hero of the Soviet Union and publicizes his deeds to inspire his countrymen to fight of their own free will. While a love story is added that may or may not have happened, the story of the young sniper and his German counterpart make an interesting and entertaining film.

Review: Since the film is based on true events, the reality of the film is not in question, I consider the first 20 minutes of the film to be the equivalent of the opening scenes of “Saving Private Ryan” or the battle scenes in “We Were Soldiers”. They are hard and gritty and grisly and not for the faint of heart. The pace of the film is quick and steady, and the action builds perfectly, like a well crafted symphony. Fiennes and Law are the perfect halves of the whole, the sniper with the deadly aim and the propagandist with the leader's ear. Hoskins portrayal of Khrushchev gives us an insight to the man he would become, the man who stood in the United Nations pounding his shoe on the podium screaming “We Will Bury You”. Rachel is a fine actress and performs well in this film, for a part that is totally unnecessary. But without a love story, we would never get the women into a war film. Anyway, violence alone will keep the kids away, or should, and there is a small and very discretely performed sex scene, but it doesn't last long and doesn't show much. Collectible if you enjoy great war films, as this one certainly is.