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Rating:  -
Based on Dave Stevens' graphic novel (which was inspired by "King of the Rocketmen" a movie serial from the 40's), this retro fantasy is a blast (pardon the pun). Unfortunately, the DVD transfer is not so hot. Director Joe Johnston ("October Sky", "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" and "Jurassic Park III")does a nice job with this feature film recreating the look of Hollywood in 1938.
Cliff Secord (Bill Campbell) and "Peevy" (Alan Arkin) have put together a cutting edge stunt plane. During a test flight the plane is destroyed in an accident involving the FBI and the Mob. It seems the Mob has stolen a revolutionary rocket packet designed by Howard Hughes (the great Terry O'Quinn)which the U.S. wants to use for military purposes. Unfortunately, so do the Nazi's who hired Mob kingpin Eddie Valentine (Paul Sorvino) to steal it. Secord accidently comes into possession of the rocket pack and suddenly everyone from Hollywood actor/Nazi agent Neville Sinclair (Timothy Dalton) to the FBI want to catch him and retrieve it.
This is a fun witty film of the graphic novel. The DVD transfer looks so-so. The image is frequently too dark and there's lots of digital artifacts (aliasing, etc.) that mar the picture. Presented in widescreen, it's not enhanced for 16x9 sets and doesn't appear to be an anamorphic transfer either. Why does all that matter? Because on a widescreen TV it would have enhanced and improved the picture quality making it look sharp, vivid and alive. The original theatrical trailer is the only extra. I don't know if Disney has any immediate plans to reissue this but if you do purchase it, be aware that it doesn't look all that great on DVD because of the transfer by Disney.
I'm hoping that Disney will be reissuing this terrific movie because it certainly deserved it. Unfortunately, the film with its loopy charm and srong performances didn't get the audience it deserved and died at the box office. Disney, get off your duff and reissue this as a two DVD Special Edition as it deserves!
Rating:  -
My husband's an airplane buff and I'm a retro fan, so there was much to please in this fun and exciting Disney entry about a 1930s racing pilot and his older mentor who find a stolen rocket pack hidden in their old airplane. Turns out our hero Cliff Secord is just the guy to fly the rocket pack (invented by airplane mogul Howard Hughes)--but when the thieves return to claim it, Cliff's beautiful girlfriend, aspiring actress Jenny Blake, is endangered. The 1930s look is captured perfectly, from the interior of a fancy nightclub to the homely hominess of the local pilots' hangout, a bulldog-shaped diner. Timothy Dalton, as the swashbuckling (and sinister) Neville Sinclair is a super villain. My personal favorite of all the characters is Peevy, Cliff's mentor, played with appropriate irascibility by Alan Arkin. Wish the DVD was better in quality, though, with some "making of" extras, like the half-hour Disney channel special.
Rating:  -
I hate to be the scrooge here, but this is not a movie for kids. From the scene of the pretty girl sensually sliding her pantyhose on to the numerous shots of her cleavage, this is not healthy for young boys who really do need heroes. Not to mention the fact that the hero here is goofy and irresponsible; he just knows how to fly stuff really well.
Rating: -
Walt Disney's "The Rocketeer," based on the graphic novel by Dave Stevens, is a very well-made action-packed thriller. Featuring then-little-known Jennifer Connelly (who made her film debut as a cute little girl in Sergio "The Man With No Name Trilogy" Leone's "Once Upon A Time In America") and two-time James Bond Timothy Dalton ("The Living Daylights" and "Licence To Kill;" see my review on them), the film centers on out-of-work pilot Cliff Secord (Bill Campbell) trying to handle his woes and his actress girlfriend (Jennifer Connelly) when all of a sudden, his life takes a startling turn. That's all the plot detail you'll get from me. The performances in this film are excellent, from Campbell as the titular character, the always beautiful and reliable Jennifer Connelly and Timothy Dalton. Great score too.
Walt Disney Pictures knows how to make a good action movie for kids and adults, as the violence is enough to keep adults interested and at the same time, non-graphic for the kids. However, I HAVE to say something, with profound apologies to Walt Disney Pictures if I offend them in any way, as I completely enjoy their movies. One part of a scene had me thinking "This is starting to look a bit like a porn movie," though I knew that Disney wouldn't even attempt something so outrageous, which would tarnish their family-friendly image, so firmly established by Walt Disney himself almost 100 years ago. I can handle it, but just thought I'd point this out, in case young kids are interested in seeing this action-adventure film. Rated PG for some violence and mild language.
Rating: -
"The Rocketeer", Disney's 1991 adventure film based on the successful comic book by Dave Stevens, is tons of fun. In spirit and execution, it resembles the 1999 Universal film "The Mummy". Both movies have a 1930s sensibility (perhaps because both are set in that era) with regard to pacing, action scenes, and cinemetography.
There are no shades of grey here. The villains (Nazis) are pure evil, and the heroes are purely good. Jennifer Connelly and Bill Campbell shine as the "good guys", and Timothy Dalton turns in a devilish performance as the turncoat actor Neville Sinclair.
The only downside to this family-suitable adventure is the paucity of scenes featuring Campbell in the "Rocketeer" costume and backpack. With its huge budget, you'd think Disney could have squeezed in some extra eye-popping footage of the titular character in action. But be assured, when he does appear, and the action begins to heat up, you will be on the edge of your seat, reaching for the popcorn.
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Action & Adventure