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Creating a new world in ‘Sky Captain’(WARNING:It STINKS)
Associated Press ^ | Associated Press

Posted on 09/18/2004 6:02:46 PM PDT by BenLurkin

“Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” is full of visions of the dark, soaring New York cityscape, dogfights in the sky and the majestic Himalayan mountains. But what was the movie set like for the actors? A whole lotta blue. That’s because “Sky Captain,” despite its grandiose appearance, was filmed entirely against a blue screen with digital effects filled in. Though real actors star in it, almost everything else is fake. Think “Roger Rabbit” in reverse. While computer generated imagery has for years been a large presence in movies, “Sky Captain” is the first major motion picture made entirely digitally with living, breathing actors. Only what they touch is tangible. The movie, opening nationwide Friday, is set in a late 1930s New York beset by hundred-foot tall robots. Soon reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) along with ex-beau Sky Captain (Jude Law) set off on a journey to stop a mad scientist’s plot to destroy the world.

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Music/Entertainment; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: alternatehistory; angelinajolie; artdeco; autogyros; captaincody; cgi; commandocody; flashgordon; judelaw; movies; p40; p51; paltrow; robots; serials; skycaptain; specialeffects; steampunk; submarines; superman; zeppelins
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To: Phsstpok

ERB actually wrote the Warlord of Mars books in the first two decades of the 20th century; they were "old hat" by the 20s. I read all 12 in high school, and I thought he ended the series far too abruptly.


41 posted on 09/20/2004 5:49:35 PM PDT by Junior (FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC)
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To: BenLurkin

Oh come on! It was a comic book tale. Visually stunning, with faded chroma, seamless effects, and a few continuity glitches.
Paltrow was more than fairly hot. The gagetry was phenomenal.
As far as the P-40 goes, most of them did not fly well under water, so I assert that while the plane sported a toothy grin, it was not a P-40. It was a fun movie. Don't try to be serious about this kind of movie.


42 posted on 09/20/2004 6:03:04 PM PDT by bk1000 ("We will take things away from you for the common good.": -HRC)
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To: monkey

"Why do they use a blue screen (as opposed to some other color)?"

Sometimes it's green, but in either case, it is a shade rarely found in nature, so it is easy to isolate the actors. It is a technique called 'chroma key' and is sometimes referred to as a 'mat shot'. Same thing the weatherman uses.


43 posted on 09/20/2004 6:10:39 PM PDT by bk1000 ("We will take things away from you for the common good.": -HRC)
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To: bk1000
Toothy grin bump!

As for Gynneth however . . . maybe its a regional thing but her voice made me want to slash my wrists.

44 posted on 09/20/2004 9:04:09 PM PDT by BenLurkin (We have low inflation and and low unemployment.)
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To: BenLurkin
I truly enjoyed this film, but it is defintely something that will not appeal to everyone. I did hear a number of people talking afterwards about being confused; 'Robots in the 1930s? Big spaceships?" They apparently had a misconception about the subject and tone of the film.

There are a lot of really cool inside jokes scattered through the film for fans of 1930s stuff. Several of the scenes during the attack on NYC, especially the line of police with Thompsons, were lifted directly from an old Max Fleischer Superman cartoon from 1938 (I think), titled The Mechancial Monsters.

At various times in the film, in little background elements, you will see a Tokyo newspaper with a photo of Godzilla, the SS Venture at the bottom of the sea, complete with bent cage (the ship that found King Kong), some interesting arifacts in Totenkopf's lair (Excalibur, for example), and some familiar sound effects from the War of the Worlds movie are used for the robot laser beams.

The story is pure 1930s serial. If you hate that sort of melodrama, you will not like this story. No real depth or irony; jsut fun and action.

As to the actors - Jude Law is not a favorite of mine, and was miscast in this movie. I normally do not like Gywnneth Paltrow, but I thought she did a pretty decent job in this film. Angelina Jolie does fine (horrid accent) for the three minutes she is in the film. The guy who played Dex was OK; just the right level of 1930s Gee-Whiz comic releif in that part. The other actors (all no-names) did acceptable work, but there was not really much available for the non-lead actors.

45 posted on 09/21/2004 4:26:30 PM PDT by AzSteven
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To: Tijeras_Slim
I want to see this... when I was a kid I read all the DOc Savage books available (1-about 84) and love that retro-sci-fi stuff.

Then you should LOVE the new 2005 Chrysler 300.

Now there is a car that should have Doc Savage at the wheel!

46 posted on 09/22/2004 8:01:57 PM PDT by Swordmaker (This tagline shut down for renovations and repairs. Re-open June of 2001.)
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To: muawiyah

Voice actors only! Maybe Hollywood will develop another Mel Blanc.


47 posted on 09/22/2004 8:05:00 PM PDT by AmishDude (FR: Hundreds of voices are shouting, spitting, and clamoring for attention at any given moment.)
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To: Swordmaker

No running boards! How would he stay on?


48 posted on 09/23/2004 5:23:58 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim (Pay no attention to the Nattering Newbies of Negativism)
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To: BenLurkin

There are also LOTS people who hate Anime. Cowboy Bebop, Vampire D, Last Exile..etc. That doesnt mean its bad. If its not your thing..move along. Don't spoil it for those of us who LIKE it.


49 posted on 09/23/2004 9:06:28 PM PDT by Windsong (FighterPilot)
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To: Windsong

Please see post #31


50 posted on 09/23/2004 9:54:31 PM PDT by BenLurkin (We have low inflation and and low unemployment.)
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To: Tijeras_Slim
No running boards! How would he stay on?

Strong grip?

51 posted on 09/23/2004 10:41:39 PM PDT by Swordmaker (This tagline shut down for renovations and repairs. Re-open June of 2001.)
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