MovieChat Forums > Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) Discussion > My ideal 'pulp' triple feature!

My ideal 'pulp' triple feature!

posted 14 years ago by The-Kurgan
18 replies | jump to latest

Hey gang,

Films of this nature (well, good films) are few and far between these days, short of buying-up public domain DVDs filled with the actual old stuff. Pulp-era stories and characters don't always translate well to big-budget, modern films, as evidenced by such disasters as Alec Baldwin's The Shadow, or Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy.* But once in awhile someone does it "right," and the film just works. Might not always be 100% on the mark, but I think the key is really whether you had fun with it. So, here are my three faves that I think go together very well and would be great to show back-to-back on some lazy weekend day with friends...

The Rocketeer (1991)
The Phantom (1996)
Sky Captain & The World of Tomorrow (2004)

This, of course, would be followed the following week by a Chuck McClure marathon. ;)

Can you think of any others? I suppose the Indiana Jones movies would make a nice set like this (heh, I actually enjoyed Crystal Skull). I know some people weren't thrilled with The Phantom (probably my all-time favorite Pulp Hero), but I really think Zane did a good job with the role, and the movie was a blast (Treat Williams's over-the-top villain was just priceless, and very fitting for the period).

But yeah, I'm finding it difficult to think of any others that were as fun and well-done as the stuff above. Most of what I come up with is too low-budget, or simply bad. I'd love to hear comments regarding other ''good&quot'' stuff in this genre (specifically modern-made retro-pieces, say 1980s & up, not the real deal, which there's plenty of).

*: Comment retracted. No idea why I disliked The Shadow back then, but saw it again recently and really liked it. Gonna revisit Dick Tracy later.

[–] hbenthow 14 years ago

Pulp-era stories and characters don't always translate well to big-budget, modern films, as evidenced by such disasters as Alec Baldwin's The Shadow, or Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy.

"Dick Tracy" turned out quite well. It is a good movie, and made a profit. It isn't quite as good as "The Rocketeer", but it is still very good.

Can you think of any others?

The Indiana Jones films, the 1999 "The Mummy", and to tell the truth, I can't think of any more that you haven't mentioned. It's a shame, but it seems like filmakers are unwilling to make 1930s-style movies. But, as you said, there are always the originals. Have you ever watched the 1936 "Flash Gordon"? It is perhaps the best pulp science fiction serial ever made. The second serial, "Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars" is also good, but the third, "Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe" is boring. In 2011, there are three 1930s-style adventure movies set to be be relesed. "Captain America", directed by Joe Johnston, the director of "The Rocketeer", "War Eagles", a movie that Willis Obrian, animator for the origianl "King Kong: wanted to amke in the 1930s, but never got to. Ray Harryhausen is supposed to direct it. And last of all, "Iron Sky", a movie about Nazis hiding on the moon since World War II, and coming back in modern times to take over the Earth with UFOS and retrofuturistic gadgets.

[–] EmilyRoad 14 years ago

the Phantom, yes.
the Rocketeer, boring(even as a kid I thought so).
Sky Captain, pleasantly surprising.

I'd throw in Myazaki's Castle in the Sky for more adventure and to keep in line with the whole steampunk thing. And mayyyybe Dark City.

Nozz-a-la! the Drink of finer bumhugs everywhere!

[–] hbenthow 14 years ago

"The Rocketeer" boring? You've got to be kidding.

[–] The-Kurgan 14 years ago

I suppose I could see how some would find The Rocketeer a little boring. Since it was an origin story, there wasn't a lot of time spent with him up in the air, as The Rocketeer. I'd bet a sequel, had they made one, would have been much more to the liking of some viewers.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] residentevil6901 10 years ago

Jennifer Connelly as hot and as sexy as she is / looked in the Rocketeer made that movie very enjoyable to me lol

[–] rkricketts 14 years ago

Well, as long as we're discussing deco-stylistic films and perhaps a steampunk ethos, how about "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"?

[–] elmsyrup 14 years ago

More than anything else this film reminded me of a GREAT film from 2007, La Antena. Set in a similar alternative history time period and with impressive deco looks, it even shares the Nazi allegories with Sky Captain. You should definitely seek it out. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454065/

[–] hbenthow 14 years ago

I looked up "La Antana", and although it looks interesting, there is no way to buy it here in America.

[–] robharm 13 years ago

Captain America: The First Avenger

[–] bulletthejoshuatree 13 years ago

What about "The Shadow"? Saw it again not long ago, better than I remembered, on par with The Phantom at least.

"Give me a stage where this bull here can rage."- Jake Lamotta

[–] jesatsu 11 years ago

Er. Alphaville?

[–] mobocracy 9 years ago

What about the last King Kong remake? The period production values were great.

[–] The-Kurgan 9 years ago

Agreed! Jackson's remake was a blast!

[–] andrewsk8s 9 years ago

Not bad.

Except I would switch The Phantom for The Shadow.

[–] The-Kurgan 9 years ago

The Phantom is one of my all-time favorites. I am, however, obligated to revise my original post regarding The Shadow.

I'd seen it many years ago and remember greatly disliking it. However, after all the hubbub last year regarding the new special edition blu-ray release, I ended up watching it again, and was startled (pleasantly so) to realize it was actually quite fun, and well done. No idea why I didn't like it twenty years ago.

Guess I'll have to play fair and revisit Dick Tracey now, as well, just to be sure. :)

[–] I_Guard_Tanelorn 8 years ago

My triple feature is Rocketeer, Shadow and Phantom. This movie having coming out so much later and being digital, it just never made the party.

"I said no camels, that's five camels, can't you count?"

[–] michaelward15 8 years ago

My triple feature is Rocketeer, Shadow and Phantom.

Mine too.

I think Phantom is the weakest. It could be replaced with Captain Ameircan: The First Avenger which I like better, but Rocketeer, The Shadow, and The Phantom just seem to fit together all being from the 90's.