sesht Went in expecting nothing but another Disney movie. Came out a huge fan of Jennifer Connelly, an appreciator of the underrated (until his Oscar-winning turn in 'Little Miss Sunshine' - and he was also fantastic in another favorite movie of mine, 'Gattaca') Alan Arkin. Came out comparing this one favorably to the Indian Jones series of movie, and not just because of the Nazi setting, but because of the genre of the movie being rooted firmly in the category of the yesteryear Errol Flynn swashbucklers.Surprised that Bill Campbell did not go on to greater fare. To be fair, he is lightweight.Came out a huge fan of Timothy Dalton (for my money, one of the most disappointing James Bonds ever to grace the screen, and though I am in a majority on that point, watching him in this, made me wonder if I was not a little too harsh on his acting skills). An aside - He's also fantastic as one of the key character in the absolutely riveting recent TV series, 'Penny Dreadful'.Well, this one has loads of adventure, quite a bit of fantasy rooted in yesteryear science, a jetpack used to much better effect that in the corny Bond movie, 'Thunderball' (later remade with an aged Connery as 'Never say never again' - how's that for another 'James Bond' reference in a convo about this movie?).However, to be fair, I did not think it came close to how much better every Indian Jones movie was, even at the time, so much that I wish they'd cast Ford (its not just to do with the casting, I'm sure), or cast Connelly and Arkin in the Indie series.The 1st Captain America movie came close to the tone of this one (and the Indie Jones series). It also had the missing element in common with this, as in, there was something missing, overall, and that made all the difference between an also-ran and a bonafide blockbuster. No surprise there, since it was the same helmer, Joe Johnston working both these movies (he has quite an illustrious career, not just with these, but also 'Jumanji' and 'Honey, I shrunk the kids' - and guess what? He's also helmed TV's 'Young Indian Jones' episodes).All in all, something worth getting nostalgic about, but something that could've been more special that what it ultimately turned out to be. The end product is lesser than the sum of its parts.

LeonLouisRicci This is one of those that Everybody Missed. Critics and Audiences were Lukewarm about this Fantastic, Fun, Family Film. What it lacks in Edge it makes up for in Warm, Vibrant, Stylish, Retro Art Deco Appeal.Nostalgia plays an important part in the Enjoyment of the Movie. Dave Stevens Comics were all about Nostalgia. The Thirties Serials, Hollywood Stars, and of course Betty Page. Jennifer Connelly Plays "Bettie Page" the Rocketeer's Girlfriend (although the name was changed) and Curvacious Pin-Up Queen.The rest of the Cast is Highlighted by some Good Actors like Timothy Dalton as an Errol Flynn Type, Paul Sorvino as a Patriotic Gangster, and Alan Arkin as the Titular Character's Mentor and Friend. Kudos must also be Awarded to Terry O' Quinn as Howard Hughes.Billy Campbell makes for a Stiff Lead, but it is the Production Design and Innocent Appeal that is the Charm of the Underrated Film. It Looks Great and captures the Time precisely. Even the Mood is Right. Maybe not the Mood of the Real World of the Late Thirties but certainly the Mood of Hollywood Films at the Time.There are Nazis, Hydrogen Blimps, spitting Machine Guns, Cool and Sleek Little Airplanes Zipping about, and of course the Rocket Pack that was on the Minds of Inventors and Pulp Sci-Fi Fanatics of the Era. There are other Details thrown in for Fun, like a Rondo Hatton (The Creeper) Lookalike, the Hollywoodland, OOOPS, Hollywood Sign, and More for the discovering Movie Goer. This Film along with "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" (2004) are Noble Box-Office Failures that are sure to, and have, found additional Fans as the Years Tick By. They are Entertaining Films with a Quality and wide Appeal that are Not as Common as They should be.

donahue-1 Typical Disney Fluff. If you are a Disney Fan - go for it. I - however - would much rather watch King of the Rocket Men (1949) - because despite all of these years I still find it enjoyable. Special Effects - Nazi Zeppelins and Exploding Rocket Packs - don't always make for a superior movie. The plot was not too technical - because - I suspect that if one were to use one's head as a rudder - (rudder built into helmet) - while zooming along at 100 miles an hour - one would snap one's head off. But - it is what it is and probably would be a nice film for kids. The acting was understandably restrained with the actors holding back - probably due to its PG-13 rating. A nice family film - but - give King of the Rocket Men a try some rainy Saturday Afternoon.

mmallon4 As a fan of classic Hollywood cinema, how can I not love The Rocketeer? I delight in all those old Hollywood references, from lines such as "You stood behind Myrna Loy with a bowl of grapes", to a movie set very similar to the castle interior from The Adventures of Robin Hood. I even find myself thinking this film's protagonist has pretty sweet life going for him; he gets to fly planes all day, has a hot aspiring actress girlfriend and lives in 1930's Hollywood. The cast of The Rocketeer have that cartoony look which stars of the 1930's possessed; even one of the film's villains is modelled after Rondo Hatton, a not well known b-movie player with a uniquely disfigured face. The film also provides a nostalgic look at the golden age of aviation; ah for the days when aviation was a gentleman's pursuit, back before every Joe Sweatsock could wedge himself behind a lunch try and jet off to Raleigh-Durham.Why do these pulp serial adventures keep failing at the box office (The Shadow, The Phantom, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow). Of course The Rocketeer's lack of box office success cancelled plans for an intended trilogy. Are audiences just not interested in these kinds of films, or do they just keep getting poorly marketed. Either way, this is why we can't have nice things.Timothy Dalton is the one of who steals the show as the Errol Flynn- esque Neville Sinclair. Dalton really is one of the last of his kind, as a Shakespearean trained actor who can play these types debonair, hammy villains, both here and his role in Hot Fuzz. Interestingly Errol Flynn himself has had (hopefully untrue) posthumous accusations of being Nazi sympathiser. What's scarier than Nazis? The Rocketeer has the answer: Rocket propelled Nazis who can travel across the Atlantic on their jet packs.My only complaint with The Rocketeer and the only aspect which prevents me from awarding the movie with the mighty 10, is the lead protagonist Cliff Secord played by Billy Campbell, whom I find not to be terribly interesting. While it could be argued he's supposed to be dull in keeping with the tradition of B-movie serials having bland leading men. Still I would rather have a more charismatic screen presence but when a movie still manages to be this much fun despite this nor do I ever care in the slightest as why the rocket blasts to not burn of the back of Cliff's legs, it's defiantly doing something right.