"I may not make an honest buck, but Im 100% American, and I dont work for no two bit Nazi" One of my favorite lines. Paul Sorvino was such an underrated actor
This film deserved better box office than it got. So did a film I see as its spiritual cousin, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. I started to say that maybe Americans aren't big on nostalgic, retro fantasies, but recalling Raiders of the Lost Ark made me stop and reconsider that.
I remember seeing this in the theater. It was a good movie. It felt like it was in the same world as Raiders of the lost Ark. It’s too bad it didn’t do well. It was a solid effort. I don’t mind that the special effects look dated the story still holds up that’s what counts. James Horner was on fire in this movie!!
As an Australian, I recognised the immensely libellous take on Errol Flynn but enjoyed this film immensely. It is a truly great and very fun take on 1930s adventures. Love it.
Absolutely adore this film. For future classics here are a couple I have fond memories of from childhood: This Island Earth Robinson Crusoe on Mars And as someone else mentioned here, how about Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (another guilty pleasure). And one more film that I loved that nobody else seems to: Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.
I love this movie! The main issue I have is the fuel for the rocket pack. Alcohol just doesn't have enough energy to lift a person more than a few feet and definitely not for the length of time for the flights shown. And there are a lot of components in the pack besides the rocket engines - there is a starting battery and a fuel pump, etc. It's more of a jet pack as they never mention oxygen. Still, when I saw the Zeppelin on the screen in Costco and a man flying with a pack on his back I knew I had to have this movie. The female character in the comics was based on Betty Page, a popular 50s pinup model. Dave Stevens was obsessed with her and at the time was married to Brinke Stevens, a popular scream queen who resembles Betty Page if dressed and made up appropriately.
This is a great pic for a weekend afternoon with popcorn, especially as a double feature with THE SHADOW. It's a shame that it didn't do better, but tye Big movie that summer was Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, so what can you do? Loved the stinger clip with the bad actress line delivery on the Robin Hood-esque film shoot; reminds me of several Old Hollywood shining armor movies that preceded Renaissance Festivals, such as King Richard and the Crusaders, Ivanhoe, or The Black Shield of Falworth. As a longtime Rennie, those movies are my heart. "... a sci-fi classic that goes much, much further back in time than the 1930s ..." *LOL* I will take a stab and guess that it's a caveman movie, maybe One Million B.C., since you have already done one of the THE LOST WORLDs.
I loved The Rocketeer (comic and movie). Great review. A movie mentioned in other comments, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, could be a good subject for a future review video. One of my classic SF favorites is Village of the Damned (1960) based on the novel The Midwich Cuckoos. I hope it's on your list to do with mention of Children of the Damned (1964), the 1995 Village remake and the 2022 TV mini-series The Midwich Cuckoos.
The look and tone of this movie are great. As a classic film enthusiast, the laundry list of homages is appreciated. The main issue I've always had is with the lead. William Campbell had the charisma of a door stop. Luckily, Dalton had enough bombast to carry them both. I always took the big henchmen as more of a general refernce to comic villains of the time moreso than Rondo Hattan. Poor Rondo... Although I suspect he did save producers a small fortune in makeup over the years...
Thanks for the retrospective - always liked this movie but part of the problem as I didn’t see it in theatres. Anyway, you had me at Jennifer Connelley 😜 So I would like to see some love for ‘The Wizard of speed and time’. Maybe not exactly sci-fi, but it is a glorious example of stop motion photography that needs more exposure 😄
Well, you sold this one to me. I'll watch it when I get the chance. Favourite pre-MCU superhero film? I'll say, "The Return of Captain Invincible", starring Alan Arkin.
A friend of mine bought the comic when it first came out and I read his copy, thinking what a neat adventure film it would make, much in the vain of Indiana Jones. I later enjoyed the movie version and acquired a number of merchandising trinkets which I still have (They're stored with my Alf plush and talking Alf). After my friend passed away I inherited his comic and added it to the collection. Yes, it is a highly romanticized adventure and not true to history, but so is Indiana Jones. If I had wanted reality I would have turned on the evening news. There are times when one prefers pure escapism and The Rocketeer provides this in spades.
One to see alongside Dick Tracy which had a similar aesthetic and intent and deserves re-evaluation. This will probably hold up better than all the CGI and multiverse nonsense of today.
reminds me of Bioshock Infinite-how you have an ostensibly straightforward technology that conceals a disconcerting promulgation of a less understood phenom. Then that might defeat the cheerful zeitgeist of the original. Then again, why make a sequel if there isn't more to say?
Pre MCU, I'm fond of Flash Gordon. Campy but fun, besides the animation was Kings Features and music by Queen. Have you reviewed "The First Men in the Moon"?
"I may not make an honest buck, but Im 100% American, and I dont work for no two bit Nazi"
One of my favorite lines.
Paul Sorvino was such an underrated actor
This film deserved better box office than it got. So did a film I see as its spiritual cousin, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. I started to say that maybe Americans aren't big on nostalgic, retro fantasies, but recalling Raiders of the Lost Ark made me stop and reconsider that.
This is a feel-good film about good and bad guys.
And I absolutely adored this film because of it. No gray areas.
A fun, good vs evil romp.
I remember seeing this in the theater. It was a good movie. It felt like it was in the same world as Raiders of the lost Ark. It’s too bad it didn’t do well. It was a solid effort. I don’t mind that the special effects look dated the story still holds up that’s what counts. James Horner was on fire in this movie!!
Featuring an amazing soundtrack by James Horner as well!
I saw this when it was originally released and although it was not my favorite movie I did enjoy your review.
As an Australian, I recognised the immensely libellous take on Errol Flynn but enjoyed this film immensely. It is a truly great and very fun take on 1930s adventures. Love it.
We need more fun movies.
Come with me, back to a time when directors didn't claim that audience bigotry was responsible for box office failures.
Absolutely adore this film.
For future classics here are a couple I have fond memories of from childhood:
This Island Earth
Robinson Crusoe on Mars
And as someone else mentioned here, how about Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (another guilty pleasure).
And one more film that I loved that nobody else seems to: Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.
I love this movie! The main issue I have is the fuel for the rocket pack. Alcohol just doesn't have enough energy to lift a person more than a few feet and definitely not for the length of time for the flights shown. And there are a lot of components in the pack besides the rocket engines - there is a starting battery and a fuel pump, etc. It's more of a jet pack as they never mention oxygen. Still, when I saw the Zeppelin on the screen in Costco and a man flying with a pack on his back I knew I had to have this movie. The female character in the comics was based on Betty Page, a popular 50s pinup model. Dave Stevens was obsessed with her and at the time was married to Brinke Stevens, a popular scream queen who resembles Betty Page if dressed and made up appropriately.
This is a great pic for a weekend afternoon with popcorn, especially as a double feature with THE SHADOW. It's a shame that it didn't do better, but tye Big movie that summer was Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, so what can you do?
Loved the stinger clip with the bad actress line delivery on the Robin Hood-esque film shoot; reminds me of several Old Hollywood shining armor movies that preceded Renaissance Festivals, such as King Richard and the Crusaders, Ivanhoe, or The Black Shield of Falworth. As a longtime Rennie, those movies are my heart.
"... a sci-fi classic that goes much, much further back in time than the 1930s ..." *LOL* I will take a stab and guess that it's a caveman movie, maybe One Million B.C., since you have already done one of the THE LOST WORLDs.
I loved The Rocketeer (comic and movie). Great review. A movie mentioned in other comments, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, could be a good subject for a future review video. One of my classic SF favorites is Village of the Damned (1960) based on the novel The Midwich Cuckoos. I hope it's on your list to do with mention of Children of the Damned (1964), the 1995 Village remake and the 2022 TV mini-series The Midwich Cuckoos.
I recently got a copy of The Midwich Cuckoos specifically so I can read it before I tackle Village of the Damned!
RIP Alan Arkin!
I remember seeing that movie with my brother and sister. It was amazing for the younger me and a good time.
The look and tone of this movie are great. As a classic film enthusiast, the laundry list of homages is appreciated.
The main issue I've always had is with the lead. William Campbell had the charisma of a door stop. Luckily, Dalton had enough bombast to carry them both.
I always took the big henchmen as more of a general refernce to comic villains of the time moreso than Rondo Hattan. Poor Rondo... Although I suspect he did save producers a small fortune in makeup over the years...
Thanks for the retrospective - always liked this movie but part of the problem as I didn’t see it in theatres.
Anyway, you had me at Jennifer Connelley 😜
So I would like to see some love for ‘The Wizard of speed and time’. Maybe not exactly sci-fi, but it is a glorious example of stop motion photography that needs more exposure 😄
This movie had such potential, so many epic aspects and ingredients. A SHAME that Disney softened it to the point that it simply did not work.
Well, you sold this one to me. I'll watch it when I get the chance. Favourite pre-MCU superhero film? I'll say, "The Return of Captain Invincible", starring Alan Arkin.
A friend of mine bought the comic when it first came out and I read his copy, thinking what a neat adventure film it would make, much in the vain of Indiana Jones. I later enjoyed the movie version and acquired a number of merchandising trinkets which I still have (They're stored with my Alf plush and talking Alf). After my friend passed away I inherited his comic and added it to the collection. Yes, it is a highly romanticized adventure and not true to history, but so is Indiana Jones. If I had wanted reality I would have turned on the evening news. There are times when one prefers pure escapism and The Rocketeer provides this in spades.
Great site. Quality reviews. Terrific fun energy and trivia insights. You have a fan here in London. Keep it up!
My first memorable exposure to Jennifer Connelly.
Mine was Labyrinth
I remember very well seeing this in theater and liking it a lot. Thx
Color me weird but I love Howard Shore’s score for this film.
I was hoping it would be mention but anyway. Great review.
This is LITERALLY my all time favorite Disney movie
I think it would great if you did a video on the George Méliès classic, A Trip to the Moon.
The Rocketeer has a fantastic soundtrack by James Horner.
One to see alongside Dick Tracy which had a similar aesthetic and intent and deserves re-evaluation. This will probably hold up better than all the CGI and multiverse nonsense of today.
reminds me of Bioshock Infinite-how you have an ostensibly straightforward technology that conceals a disconcerting promulgation of a less understood phenom. Then that might defeat the cheerful zeitgeist of the original. Then again, why make a sequel if there isn't more to say?
How about LOGAN'S RUN? also, THE ROCKETEER was a Great film for me. Fun flick! Very entertaining! ❤🎉 Thanks.
damn, I was 14 when this came out
Pre MCU, I'm fond of Flash Gordon. Campy but fun, besides the animation was Kings Features and music by Queen. Have you reviewed "The First Men in the Moon"?
Not yet, but it’s on my list!
I would like if you could tell me more about Dragonslayer (1981 film)
Such a perfect movie
I like this one. Good film.
Good movie😊
Mystery Men (1999)
Can you review Michael Mann's "The Keep" from 1983?!
I'll add it to my list of horror movies! It is a good one.
Looking for another movie? How about the Colossus of New York. A late 1950s movie that has a strangely tragic tone and a giant "robot".
How about a review on “Somewhere in Time “!
Ask and ye shall receive:
Sci-Fi Classic Review: SOMEWHERE IN TIME (1980)
th-cam.com/video/gYai1loqAa4/w-d-xo.html
The comic book's better, but I love this classic movie.
A great movie. Disney making it “family friendly” and now Marvel movies under Disney even include “F” words.
How about the Day After ? Great movie although I’m not sure it falls into the SCI-FI Category.
It's on my list!
@@TheUnapologeticGeekWOW. I can’t wait for it!
Did you find any information about the actual aircraft they flew in this movie? The shots you showed look real?
Many of them were real, and the others were exact replicas, all authentic to the time.
They were real aircraft from to late 30s known as Bee Gees and they were racing planes.
Great looking film ,and scene stealing perforce by Timothy Dalton .
Please explain how rocketeer does NOT get his ass roasted by the exhaust of his own jetpack???
Any Ray Harryhausen movie
I’ve got one coming very soon…
@@TheUnapologeticGeek You should consider making a video "about" Ray Harryhausen snd his wonderful creations.
Dirty old man moment... Jenifer Connelley was HOT!
Agreed. She still is, too!