The Rocketeer

Rating:
Summary: PRETTY DARN GOOD
Review: Being a fan of the Rocketeer comic book, I was looking forward to the movie and was not disapppointed. Being a fan of the 1930's, I thought the film did a great job of capturing the look and feel of 30's Hollywood and nightlife.

The movie also does a good job of capturing the feel of old movie serials and pulp magazines, both of which I am a fan. Jennifer Connolly is stunning in what I consider her first "adult" role.

The supporting cast is great. Alan Arkin plays a bumbling scientist type, right out of old movies. Timothy Dalton is fun as the smug, slimy Hollywood star, Paul Sorvino is perfect as a 30's gangster, and Terry O'Quinn, one of the great character actors of modern day, is wonderful as Howard Hughes.

A bit slow getting going, the action picks up and has a great climax fight atop a zepplin. Unfortunately, little was done with the DVD package so I am in no hurry to run out and buy it.

Rating:
Summary: Fun Fantasy Tied With History
Review: The Rocketeer had a very special memory for me. It was the opening movie to first be shown at the newly refurbished El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood; CA. Disney bought the old theatre and spent about 10 million dollars refurbishing it. It is a beautiful theatre and contains the original fixtures and décor - newly repainted - and the most sophisticated digital and THX movie theatre systems around.

Now, that aside, the film was a fantasy filled adventure set in the not so distant past (30's - 40's) about a secret device invented by Mr. Howard Hughes himself which was stolen by some gangster with the intentions of steeling it Hitler himself. The special effects are great and the Rocket is very cool. Even the costumes were very unique.

The device is a jet pack that when worn with a special helmet made by the character played by Alan Arkin, will allow the person to fly through the air (and water) at great speeds. With the villainous Timothy Dalton playing a Nazi spy and world famous actor chasing him. Paul Servino plays a great Mafioso.

The film stars relatively new comers at the time Bill Campbell and Jennifer Connolly as the boyfriend-girlfriend who end up having the mafia, Nazi's and the FBI chasing them! It got a lot of heart and a lot of humor and it is a great family film. I really enjoyed this. No real extras on this DVD but maybe later. I think you'll enjoy this too.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie but big mystery...
Review: I loved this movie and the soundtrack as well when it was released in 1991. The plot, acting, script in this movie was very well done, kept the action, romance, time period, etc. going all at the same time. Why this movie didn't do great at the box office, I'll never know but since, I've cringe at poor movies who do make sequels (i.e., Batman 4 after a so-so Batman 3). Great action/super hero movie. Unique and a classic!

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Ride!
Review: The Rocketeer is one of the most enjoyable action-adventure movies ever made. Everything about this film is wonderful. Director Joe Johnson perfectly captures the look and feel of Hollywood (or what Hollywood should look and feel like) during the 1930s. Great casting with Bill Campbell right on target at Cliff Secord, Jennifer Connelly as his best girl, Jenny Blake, Alan Arkin as Cliff's mentor and mechanic/inventor friend, and Timothy Dalton as the evil Nazi spy-movie star Neville Sinclair. Like Raiders of the Lost Ark, it is a homage to the film serials of the period, but with a lot more spit and polish. The special effects are great, the set decoration, costumes, makeup, all evoke the time and place perfectly. A wonderful script adapted from the graphic novel of the same name sets this movie apart from others in this genre. The dialogue is funny, fast and at sometimes furious. Campbell plays the All-American boy with a real gee whiz, almost Jimmy Stewart kind of charm. The plot about a secret plan by the Nazis to build rocket packs for an army of "Rocketeers" to take over the world is added and abetted by Dalton as the Errol Flynn-like movie star. When a prototype rocket pack accidentally ends up in the hands of Campbell and Arkin, the action, and their troubles, really start. This film is filled with dozens of wonderful characterizations. Some of the best are Paul Sorvino as gangster Eddie Valentine, Terry O'Quinn as Howard Hughes, and Tiny Ron as Lothar. The musical score by James Horner is outstanding. It's heroic, quiet and inspiring. Why this film didn't turn out to be the big blockbuster it should have been is beyond me. I love Raiders of the Lost Ark, but this film matches it in almost every category. One of my favorite modern films, I never tire of watching it. Perfect entertainment and perfect for all ages. The Rocketeer is a real winner.

Rating:
Summary: timothy dalton steals all but the kitchen sink
Review: an underrated little gem in the pantheon of comic book flicks, and the major suprise here is timothy dalton, who literally steals the whole show, even from connelly, not an easy feat.
he obviousely relished his role as the errol flynn nazi type and invests an enthusiasm he should have had when he played bond.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie, terrible transfer
Review: This movie is clearly a five star film. It's exciting, fun, adventurous and great for kids, but also for adults! The photography is great, sets and costumes are authentic, and the acting is first rate. HOWEVER, this has got to be the worst DVD transfer I have ever seen. It looks to me like they took a widescreen 72 mm print and projected it on a screen, then rephotographed it on 35 mm... no kidding. Nearly every letterbox film I have goes from one side of my flat panel monitor to the other. This one is well within all 4 sides of my monitor... and the color is milky and faded and there is a grainy character to the picture. The sound is clearly stereophonic and wonderful... so why Disney can put out an amateur transfer like this is beyond me. Having said that, the film is not expensive and I still recommend it.... but Disney needs to re-release a clear transfer of this wonderful film. I will be worried about the quality of future Disney and Miramax films on DVD if this is how they are going to be released.

Rating:
Summary: Good Movie, Disappointing DVD Transfer
Review: "The Rocketeer" is a delightful adventure film. It is enjoyable for so many reasons - the terrific flying sequences, the period music by Artie Shaw, a crisply told (if implausible) story featuring historical personages like Howard Hughes and a thinly-disguised Errol Flynn, its terrific action sequences. I can warmly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good action film or a loving tribute to the films and the styles of the 1930s.

That being said, I was disappointed by the transfer to DVD. The images lacked crispness and depth, and the colors were washed out. It's not the worst DVD transfer I've seen, but it's by no means the best - and it's far below what Disney has done with their classic animated features. C'mon guys! You can do better than that!

Rating:
Summary: I Like It!
Review: The Rocketeer is real blast! It's a fun, truly action-packed adventure that should have been much more successful in the theaters. It's funny how some real stinkers make it big, and some great movies just go nowhere. The Rocketeer is definitely in the latter group. Bill Campbell is perfect as Cliff Secord, and I loved Alan Arkin as his pal/mentor 'Peevy.' It's a little jarring to see James Bond playing the bad guy, but Timothy Dalton works wonderfully as the movie star/villain. A thrill ride from curtain to curtain. A great family film, but be forewarned, there are a couple of scenes with some disturbing off-screen violence from Tiny Ron as Lothar. Younger children might find those a little too scary. But overall, everybody in my family liked The Rocketeer.

Rating:
Summary: Greate and Awesome movie
Review: I loved how it formed a time around the 30's and how it related to actresses and actors that acutly perferomed in real movies. I love all the actors and actresses in this movie. Keep it up yall!!!!

Rating:
Summary: A Great Movie
Review: This is an awsome movie. The DVD is not much, ut the movie itself makes it worth buying.