Greetings Friends of CBM, this was originally planned to be a Page-to-screen editorial, but since I never read the comics, I will do this as a review instead. I'm gonna be reviewing the film that made me love movies to this day, Joe Johnston's The Rocketeer. This came out in 1991, which was when I was 4. This film now has the Nostalgia factor going for it now and to me it still holds up, I watch this movie every time it's on cable(usually on those encore channels).
Oh yeah the review, this review will not have spoilers. The film is about a pilot named Cliff Secord, played by Billy Campbell, who discovers a rocket pack designed by Howard Hughes. At first he and his friend Peevey, played by Alan Arkin, see this a way to make it big and after a rescue during an air show, he his called the Rocketeer. The other side of the film deals with Cliff's girlfriend Jenny Blake, played by Jennifer Connelly, who has Hollywood aspirations and a leading man who has a revealing twist that comes quickly.
The film also brings in Mobsters, the Feds, and even Nazi's. I just love how all these stories cross and meet together at one of the best action based endings in a film. The effects of how they show the Rocketeer fly indoors(amazing) and the open world of the airfield he works at. The score and music for this film are great, the score feels like its from the 30's and all the tunes played are in that era as well.
The film has amazing action, a good love story, a great sense of the era. This film is a throwback to the old movie series of yesteryear. The movie has definitely aged and you can see how all the effects work now, but for its time it, 1991, they were really amazing, I really thought they made the jet pack real. The action scenes are well paced, you get time to breathe between each one, my favorite part is when they shoot a house to the point of it collapsing. The acting is really good, Alan Arkin, Paul Sorvino, and Timothy Dalton all give great performances, and the younger actors that are in it like Billy Campbell and Jennifer Connelley make a great onscreen couple. The only thing I could really complain about is that the film really set up for a sequel but we never got one :(. I consider this a great superhero movie, for awhile I never knew it had a comic. If Hollywood really decided to remake this I will disappointed at the lack of originality. If they do I won't go see it, I will buy the old one, hopefully it comes on Blu-ray soon.
The film really shows how well Johnston can do period pieces and since Captain America is set in that same time, it will be a cake walk for him. Oh and for those who think Disney will screw up Marvel movies..look at Rocketeer, it was Disney and it was really good. I give this comic book film a 9/10, if you are looking for a fun thrill action ride, then the Rocekteer will soar into your hearts.
BlackAirs out