Straight from the pages of a pulp comic from a past era, the Rocketeer recreates 1930's Hollywood, complete with gangsters, Nazi spies, and the growth of the Age of Aviation. Young pilot Cliff Secord stumbles on a top secret rocket-pack and with the help of his mechanic/mentor, Peevy, he attempts to save his girl and stop the Nazis as The Rocketeer. In the years leading up to World War II, stunt pilot Cliff Secord takes a trial run in a Gee Bee racing aircraft to prepare for an upcoming air show. But he accidentally comes into possession of a rocket-propelled backpack much coveted by the Nazis. With the aid of his mechanic pal, he gets it up and running, then uses it to foil a plot by a gang of vicious Nazi spies led by Timothy Dalton. Jennifer Connelly is on hand as the love interest, but the real fun here is when the Rocketeer takes off. There's also a nifty battle atop an airborne blimp to defeat his foes who are anxious to use the device in an evil plan to rule the world! The dangerous mission transforms the ordinary young man into an extraordinary hero. Based on the Dave Steven's 1980s comic book series of the same name, the Rocketeer is one of the first comic book to film cross overs whose director (Joe Johnston of Jumanji) made a serious effort to stick as closely to the source material as possible. Despite a few alterations to the over all story, such as the Risqué Bettie Page character from the comics being replaced with the much more repectable "girl next door" Jenny Blake, the film very rarely strayed for the main ideas presented in the comic book.<br/><br/>The film was pitched to audiences as Indianna Jones meets Top Gun, but in fact the Rocketeer was actually an update and homage to the popular 1950's pulp movie serial Commando Cody.<br/><br/>The film was released in June, 1991, and grossed just under $50,000.00 in the US despite some very positive critical buzz. The film was one of Disney's major financial flops and quickly slipped into obscurity.<br/><br/>However as with many films of this genre the movie has built up a cult following both stateside and in Japan, were even to this day a major toy manufacturer (Medicom) continues to produce 12" action figures and replica helmets based on the film.<br/><br/>The films cult status is well deserved, and is one of the most under-rated action films of the 1990's. The script, the actors and even the action were all top notch and exuded a sense of charm that has been somewhat lacking in the last decades barrage of summer popcorn flicks. There was a true sense of that old "Gee Whiz" feeling that was so key to the serial films of the 30's 40's and 50's. Billy Campbell, who like the film has slide into a level obscurity, fully embodied the all American fly boy image that America was trying to establish at the time. Billy was able to walk that same fine line between awkward geek and hero that Christopher Reeves did in Superman. Alan Arkin made the fatherly role of mechanic Peevey his own. Jennifer Connoly struck the perfect chord as the girlfriend who feels distanced and shut out from her boyfrieds life and is always on the defensive regarding her career choice to be an actress.<br/><br/>This is also one of the most memorable roles for Timothy Dalton whose much maligned jaunt as James Bond never allowed him to show the kind of acting range he displays here. As a villain Dalton was spot on.<br/><br/>Yes there are clichés, Nazi's once again are the villains. Yes there are mechanics in the film that are questionable, the Rocket pack shoots out flames that should set Cliff Secords pants on fire. But it's all very tongue in cheek and if you can see past the few flaws then the film is one hell of a ride.<br/><br/>This is also one of the last big budget films to use practical effects. The film was released in the same month and year as Terminator 2 which used heavy CGI to accomplish many of its action scenes and is considered by many to have begun the CG revolution. There are directors such as Jon Favreau that have argued for a return to practical effects due to the over saturation of computer Graphics in modern sci fi and action films, and looking at the Rocketeer it's easy to understand why some directors are beginning to rebel against the use of CG. The effects in the Rocketeer have a certain charm and magic that would have been lost with the cold and sterile feel that computer renders tend to exhibit in these kind of films. Talented actors who care more about performance than their own star power, charming characters, an insidiously evil bad guy with an unnerving henchman, and a plot that screams excitement, this is a stunning and somewhat forgotten example of how to make a great blockbuster. Why it wasn't as big as 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' is a mystery and a tragedy… The movie lacks the wit and self-mocking irony of the Indiana Jones movies, and instead seems like a throwback to the simple-minded, clean-cut sensibility of a less complicated time. That doesn’t mean The Rocketeer is not entertaining. But adjustments are necessary to enjoy it.
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