Unicornucopia.org

I wanted to catch this in the theater, but managed to miss it. I'd heard lots of good things about it, so when it came out on DVD I picked it up sight-unseen. Generally I have very good luck with this sort of thing, so I wasn't too worried.

I should've been.

As a whole, the movie isn't terribly bad. The digital effects are mostly incredible, though there were a few weak points (such as when Joe and Polly surface on the island, and the water bubbles over the aircraft wing).

Unfortunately, though, effects do not make a story. In this case, the story is very good. A classic 30's pulp-serial science-fiction story featuring mad-man with a grand scheme. Well thought out, and in the end, the villain is defeated.

The script and the timing, however, need work. Part of the fun of witty-banter is that it takes place 'on the run' - not standing still staring into the eyes of the angsty love-interest as time runs out around you. Sky Captain has several moments where every second counts, yet the pace of the movie grinds to a halt as Sky Captain and Polly the Reporter rehash old personal issues. This wouldn't be so bad, except that they're not moving when this happens, and the countdown to the end of the world continues.

The pacing was just not there. And it is sad, because the whole movie suffers for it.

The lead characters are weak. The two strongest roles in the film are 'supporting' roles: Dex and Frankie. While we're not given a reason to care about any of them, the supporting characters at least had me interested. That's more than I could say for the leads.

I suppose part of this stems from the fact the entire movie was shot on blue-screen. I know that it's called 'Acting' - but it's still difficult to react properly to director-cues without physical substance.

I give it a rating of three Battlestars (Out of a total of five possible).