Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Science Fiction Flick
Review: The Rocketeer is an excellent science fiction film. It begins when a pilot played by the underrated actor Bill Campbell finds a rocket suit. Turns out that the suit was created by scientists working for Howard Hughes who is working with J. Edgar Hoover on a project to combat the Nazi threat. Timothy Dalton shines as the evil Nazi spy and Paul Sorvino plays a most convincing Mafia boss. The action is fast and furious and is never dull. The music and acting are great too. My rating: 5 out of 5
Rating: 
Summary: Top Notch Movie... So-So DVD
Review: I ordered "The Rocketeer" over a year ago and finally had chance to watch it this past weekend. I haven't seen it in several years, and I must say, it's even better than I remembered it! Billy Campbell is terrific and Jennifer Connely glows. Alan Arkin is a reliable sidekick... and Timothy Dalton positively shines as the villain of the piece! The movie has a Saturday matinee feel to it, but with top-notch production values. It also has a great sense of humor. It's one of the best movies that no one saw. Too bad. I was disappointed with the picture quality of my dvd. Is this common for this particular release, or did I get a lemon? Also would have like to have seen some additional extra features. I know I saw a featurette on creating the rocket-pack scenes somewhere many years ago. Regardless... This is one movie I'm really glad to have. I'll be watching and re-watching it for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: "The Rock-a-who?"
Review: "The Rocketeer" is a wonderfully nostalgic gem of a movie that giddily embodies the spirit of Old-Hollywood adventure. Unfortunately, its charms were completely lost on this jaded generation. It wasn't a big box office success and thus squashed the producer's hopes of turning "The Rocketeer" into an ongoing series, something that I will forever be upset by.
Set in 1934 Los Angeles, director Joe Johnston ("Jumanji", "Jurassic Park III", "Hidalgo") has created a truly flawless, old-fashioned adventure. Our hero is Cliff Secord (Bill Campbell), a flying ace who comes into possession of a stolen rocket pack designed by Howard Hughes (Terry O'Quinn). They don't know where it came from, but they soon find out that both the feds and the mob are looking for it and are willing to kill for it. While they decide what they are going to do with it, Cliff is forced to use it to rescue a pilot in trouble during an airshow. He straps on the jetpack and a helmet designed by his friend Peevy (Alan Arkin) which not only protects him, but serves as a handy superhero-identity-concealer.
Cliff barely manages to rescue the pilot, while hundreds of awe-struck spectators cheer him on. He quickly makes headlines, and tinsel town is aquiver with rumors of "The Rocketeer". Everyone knows about him, except for his girlfriend Jenny (Jennifer Connelly). When he tells her "I have a secret. I'm the Rocketeer!" she confusedly responds "The Rock-a-who?"
The main villain who wants to get his hands on the rocket is handsome, charismatic film star Neville Sinclair (Timothy Dalton), an obvious parody of Errol Flynn. This parody of Flynn and the film's ability to tie together many aspects of 1930's-40's pop-culture is its greatest strength. Drawing heavily on Hollywood icons, then-contemporary world events, and on aviation history, you'll find yourself completely immersed in this 1930's world and wishing you could've lived then.
Rating:
Summary: Thirties adventure serials revisited
Review: This movie is modeled on the adventure serials so popular in movie theaters decades ago. The setting is the mid-thirties, with Nazi bad guys, G-men who talk just right, romance, gangsters, espionage, and heroism. A top secret government project is stolen from the research labs of Howard Hughes and the thieves hide it in the hanger of a young pilot named Cliff Secord. While they are fleeing from the feds, the thieves shoot up Secord's plane and he crash lands.
The project is a personal rocket pack and Secord finds it. With his ace mechanic friend PV, they test it and learn how to use it. During an emergency when the pilot of an old plane loses control, Secord dons the rocket pack, flies up and rescues him. This creates a sensation and causes the Nazi spies and gangsters to
take an interest in him. The main German spy is an actor and Secord's girlfriend is an aspiring actress with a bit part in a movie the spy is starring in. Once the spy realizes the connection, he woos the girlfriend and kidnaps her.
There is a climactic battle at the end where the gangsters, G-men and Secord join forces to battle a group of German troops over control of the rocket pack. Of course the good guys win, with a daring rescue performed by Howard Hughes flying an experimental plane that is essentially a helicopter. Hughes shows his appreciation by giving Secord a plane to use in the national competition.
What makes this movie work is the casting and the ways in which the characters stay within their roles based on the timeframe of the movie. All stay within the thirties and Jennifer Connelly is sultry, but within the bounds allowed at that time. My favorite character was Alan Arkin as the ace mechanic PV. He is able to solve some of the problems with the rocket so that it can be used. Timothy Dalton, classic bad guy mustache included, plays the charismatic, yet ruthless German spy to perfection.
Some movies are just fun to watch, and this is one of them. With the people on both sides of the good guy/bad guy divide drawn from the cliches of the thirties, there are no surprises in their actions. Nevertheless, the movie rises above that and delivers entertainment beyond the cliches.
Rating:
Summary: Quality Adventure Movie
Review: Great adventure movie with ample comedic flourishes has title character squaring off against Nazi scumbags in the World War II era. With a high-caliber performance with great subtle comedic timing by Bill Campbell, a shining performance by Jennifer Connelly as the Rocketeer's actress-girlfriend, and a great showing by Timothy Dalton as the lead villain, at turns charismatic and sinister, and thrilling aerial sequences. Kudos to the effects and cinematography teams. Title character is a tad on the cocky side for my liking but within acceptable limits; a good thing since I've long tired of action movies where the brash jerk of a 'hero' ends up with mega-babe with the heart of gold, a role Connelly certainly plays well here. Still, what Jennifer fanboy can help but feel just a twinge of jealousy when her character ends up with any of the lead male characters in her movies? Ah, the price of being constantly enamored with on-screen lovelies. Honestly though, this is a great film, recommended both to fans of action-comedies like "Back To The Future", "True Lies", and "The Fifth Element" as well as fans of more serious adventure-exhilirators like "Spider-Man, "Lethal Weapon", "Indiana Jones" and "Speed". Suitable for the wee ones, a great viewing for all ages together.
Rating:
Summary: Top Notch Movie... So-So DVD
Review: I ordered "The Rocketeer" over a year ago and finally had chance to watch it this past weekend. I haven't seen it in several years, and I must say, it's even better than I remembered it! Billy Campbell is terrific and Jennifer Connely glows. Alan Arkin is a reliable sidekick... and Timothy Dalton positively shines as the villain of the piece! The movie has a Saturday matinee feel to it, but with top-notch production values. It also has a great sense of humor. It's one of the best movies that no one saw. Too bad. I was disappointed with the picture quality of my dvd. Is this common for this particular release, or did I get a lemon? Also would have like to have seen some additional extra features. I know I saw a featurette on creating the rocket-pack scenes somewhere many years ago. Regardless... This is one movie I'm really glad to have. I'll be watching and re-watching it for years to come.
|
