MovieMonday.com - The Rocketeer with Bill Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Timothy Dalton, Alan Arkin, Paul Sorvino

Techno Films

The Rocketeer (B-)

STARS...
Bill Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Timothy Dalton, Alan Arkin, and Paul Sorvino.

PLOT SUMMARY...
A pilot, in the 1930's, finds a secret government flying pack.

QUICK SCAN...
This film could be compared to "Superman". Bill Campbell and Jennifer Connelly are a bit flat as the Rocketeer and his girlfriend. Based on a great comic book series, the film never truly excites the viewer. The FX in the flying sequences are thrilling. The flying scenes provide the film with its highlights. Dalton scores as an Errol Flynn-type star.

DIRECTOR: Joe Johnston
YEAR & RATING: 1991 (PG)

BEST BETS:

Flash Gordon

Dreamscape
SYNOPSIS...
In the 1930's, a young pilot crashes his prize plane. Shortly after that, he finds a one man rocket pack.

The pilot experiments with the rocket pack. Meanwhile, the U.S. government and the mob attempt to recover it.

An actor, in league with the Nazis, steals the rocket pack, blowing it and himself up in the process. Howard Hughes, the designer of the rocket pack, gives the young pilot a new plane.

Review:

Director Joe Johnston's THE ROCKETEER trys to be another "Superman", but never truly takes flight.

Johnston gets off on the wrong foot. He makes too big a thing, and takes up too much time, with a single engine plane being rolled out of a hanger, and pilot Bill Campbell taking off and flying around in it. While this may have been hot stuff in 1938, it tries the patience of modern viewers and takes up valuable screen time.

In a key scene, Campbell ("Tales of the City") and Alan Arkin ("Indian Summer") test the rocket pack by attaching it to a statue of a man and setting it off by remote control. Considering how much heavier a statue is than a man, you'd think they would have tested it on something lighter.

The key prop of the dual engine rocket pack is silvery metal and credibly designed, looking like something that could have been designed during the 30's. Unfortunately, the helmet, apparently made out of plastic, and looks silly.

Bill Campbell and Jennifer Connelly ("Labyrinth") as Cliff and Jenny, are simply not very interesting characters. And although Campbell and Connelly are supposedly romantically involved in real life (or were at the time of the film's release), their scenes together, especially the romantic ones, don't have much spark.

The Special Effects, particularly of Bill/Cliff flying around are quite good. Industrial Light & Magic, Special Effects Supervisor Jon G. Belyeu and Visual Effects Supervisor Ken Ralston are the responsible parties. Unfortunately the pivotal question of why the dual jet rocket pack's flames don't set Cliff's pants on fire is never addressed. Perhaps his pants are made of asbestos.

Timothy Dalton, late of the James Bond movies, brings a lot of charm and style to the role of Neville Sinclair, an Errol Flynn type movie actor who's in league with the Nazis. He brings great spin to lines like, "It wasn't lies, Jenny, it was acting!"

The Screenplay by Danny Bilson & Paul De Meo (Story by Danny Bilson & Paul De Meo & William Dear) is based on the Graphic Novel "The Rocketeer" by Dave Stevens. Unfortunately, the Graphic Novel (A.K.A. a comic book) is more fun.

The screen images, by Director of Photography Hiro Narita, are frequently effective. Particularly good is a shot of Campbell in full Rocketeer gear, standing on the roof of the Griffith Observatory, the American flag waving in the breeze beside him, and then blasting off. This is my favorite scene in the film.

The Music, by James Horner, is quite beautiful. Unfortunately, its frequently slow rhythm doesn't do much to stir up excitement about the on screen action.

THE ROCKETEER may be somewhat watchable for children and fans of Republic Picture's old "Rocketman" and "Commander Cody" serials. If you really want to see a man soar, rent "Superman".

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The Rocketeer (B-)
	STARS... Bill Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Timothy Dalton, Alan Arkin, and Paul Sorvino. PLOT SUMMARY... A pilot, in the 1930's, finds a secret government flying pack. QUICK SCAN... This film could be compared to "Superman". Bill Campbell and Jennifer Connelly are a bit flat as the Rocketeer and his girlfriend. Based on a great comic book series, the film never truly excites the viewer. The FX in the flying sequences are thrilling. The flying scenes provide the film with its highlights. Dalton scores as an Errol Flynn-type star.
DIRECTOR: Joe Johnston YEAR & RATING: 1991 (PG) BEST BETS: Flash Gordon Dreamscape	SYNOPSIS... In the 1930's, a young pilot crashes his prize plane. Shortly after that, he finds a one man rocket pack. The pilot experiments with the rocket pack. Meanwhile, the U.S. government and the mob attempt to recover it. An actor, in league with the Nazis, steals the rocket pack, blowing it and himself up in the process. Howard Hughes, the designer of the rocket pack, gives the young pilot a new plane.
Review: Director Joe Johnston's THE ROCKETEER trys to be another "Superman", but never truly takes flight. Johnston gets off on the wrong foot. He makes too big a thing, and takes up too much time, with a single engine plane being rolled out of a hanger, and pilot Bill Campbell taking off and flying around in it. While this may have been hot stuff in 1938, it tries the patience of modern viewers and takes up valuable screen time. In a key scene, Campbell ("Tales of the City") and Alan Arkin ("Indian Summer") test the rocket pack by attaching it to a statue of a man and setting it off by remote control. Considering how much heavier a statue is than a man, you'd think they would have tested it on something lighter. The key prop of the dual engine rocket pack is silvery metal and credibly designed, looking like something that could have been designed during the 30's. Unfortunately, the helmet, apparently made out of plastic, and looks silly. Bill Campbell and Jennifer Connelly ("Labyrinth") as Cliff and Jenny, are simply not very interesting characters. And although Campbell and Connelly are supposedly romantically involved in real life (or were at the time of the film's release), their scenes together, especially the romantic ones, don't have much spark. The Special Effects, particularly of Bill/Cliff flying around are quite good. Industrial Light & Magic, Special Effects Supervisor Jon G. Belyeu and Visual Effects Supervisor Ken Ralston are the responsible parties. Unfortunately the pivotal question of why the dual jet rocket pack's flames don't set Cliff's pants on fire is never addressed. Perhaps his pants are made of asbestos. Timothy Dalton, late of the James Bond movies, brings a lot of charm and style to the role of Neville Sinclair, an Errol Flynn type movie actor who's in league with the Nazis. He brings great spin to lines like, "It wasn't lies, Jenny, it was acting!" The Screenplay by Danny Bilson & Paul De Meo (Story by Danny Bilson & Paul De Meo & William Dear) is based on the Graphic Novel "The Rocketeer" by Dave Stevens. Unfortunately, the Graphic Novel (A.K.A. a comic book) is more fun. The screen images, by Director of Photography Hiro Narita, are frequently effective. Particularly good is a shot of Campbell in full Rocketeer gear, standing on the roof of the Griffith Observatory, the American flag waving in the breeze beside him, and then blasting off. This is my favorite scene in the film. The Music, by James Horner, is quite beautiful. Unfortunately, its frequently slow rhythm doesn't do much to stir up excitement about the on screen action. THE ROCKETEER may be somewhat watchable for children and fans of Republic Picture's old "Rocketman" and "Commander Cody" serials. If you really want to see a man soar, rent "Superman".