sky captain and the world of tomorrow – 4 stars

the problem with a movie like this is that i know full well the reasons i absolutely loved it could be the same reasons other people find it absolutely pointless and boring. the good thing, however, is that those are the sort of people that i shouldn’t really be too concerned about.

sure, they can tell me how the plot was a little thin and comic-booky, what with the “oh if we only knew where the bad guys were…” followed immediately by the vital clue that led them straight there. to that, i would slap them in the face and point out that OF COURSE it’s comic-booky, can you not tell that this is the most fully realized pulp-comic-inspired film to come out since the invention of the computer?

they could go on to talk about how the whole movie looked all weird and fake, to which i’d probably kick them in the shin and ask them what part about imaginative masterpiece they don’t understand. and if they wanted me to stop inflicting them with minor damages, they would have to shut up and admit that this was a gorgeously executed and delightful adventure film that goes where movies like dick tracy and the rocketeer — also personal favorites — tried to go too. sky captain just happens to do it more whole-heartedly, more vividly, and more successfully. if that sounds as exciting to you as it was to me, then not only would you like this movie, but i bet we’d get along pretty well. want to hang out?