He just doens't do it as an American hero, doesn't even bother to change his accent, and has absolutely no charm or charisma to him in this film. The guy is boring as hell and they should have found someone better to play Sky Captain. Johnny Depp would have brought the right amount of whimsy to this role, Jude Law instead seems to take the material dead serious and he's a bore to watch.
shareHe just doens't do it as an American hero, doesn't even bother to change his accent,He wasn't supposed to. Kerry Conran originally wanted Sky Captain to be a square-jawed America hero, but when Jude Law was casted, some changes were made. In the final movie, Sky Captain is a mercenary in charge of the Flying Legion, an army for hire. He is either British or British-American.
and has absolutely no charm or charisma to him in this film.I disagree. He's quite charming in a roguish, Errol Flynn way, but with a bit of a dark edge. Joe's backstory has some rather dark elements (being betrayed by Polly, tortured in a Manchurian slave camp, etc), and he even has a stomach ulcer from the stress he's gone through, so I thought Jude Law's sarcastic, slightly bitter portrayal worked very well. I like how he played the part straight, with little humor. It helps establish that the movie is not tongue-in-cheek or a spoof. There is quite a bit of humor, though. it comes mostly from Polly, and from Joe's annoyance with her.
Johnny Depp would have brought the right amount of whimsy to this roleJohnny Depp would have brought too much humor. Joe is Abbot, Polly is Costello. Plus, Johnny Depp would have looked too young, and been too lighthearted. I can't really imagine a 2004-era Johnny Depp as a mercenary with a painful past and a stomach ulcer.
Jude Law was great in the film and a perfect hero, I thought. I can't picture Johnny Depp in the role at all. The role doesn't need to be more whimsical. You need the central character to be serious amid all of the outrageous surroundings, much like the old 60s Batman series relied heavily on the main cast taking their roles seriously since they were surrounded by camp. Once season 3 rolled around and the main cast was in on the joke, it became a parody and much less entertaining.
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Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?
I don't think Sky Captain has to sound American (btw was Angelina Jolie supposed to sound English?), and I've no particular thoughts about who instead of Jude Law could have played him, but I do agree with the OP that Jude Law in the role lacks charm or charisma, and I do think the film would be better if Sky Captain did show some. Perhaps inevitably, I'm thinking for example of Harrison Ford in 'Raiders' and Billy Campbell in 'The Rocketeer'.
"I beseech ye in the bowels of Christ, think that ye may be mistaken."
It should have been Brendan Fraser !!!
Gwyneth Paltrow brought Jude Law onboard (because they had made The Talented Mr.Ripley together)and encouraged him to invest his money in the film (in exchange for the starring role) because he wanted to be a producer.
In 2004 Brendan Fraser could have done the same thing and the film might have been a success, gaining the Mummy franchise's fan base. Sadly, Gwyneth does not know Brendan Fraser.
Rescue the damsel in distress, kill the bad guy, save the world.