In an age where comic book movies rule the big screen, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow presents a world that matches the visual quality of some of the high end comic books that inspired it.

Sky Captain is the first feature length film to use computer graphics for the background throughout the entire movie. The effect is amazing. The CG quality is at always its most beautiful and each frame emits an ethereal radiance that underscores its mythic undertones. In every moment the characters glow from a film noir lighting that captures the tone of a black and white film while keeping its color. You can’t take your eyes off Sky Captain for a second.

On the other hand, it’s somewhat difficult to fully appreciate the correlation with 30’s sci-fi films if you’re not familiar with the genre. Much like Far From Heaven, the homage refines and enhances the visual elements, while imitating the script format as much as possible. Campy dialogue and plot holes abound, but it’s all part of the program. Though it’s fun to see what a 30’s sci-fi film would have looked like had they had the technology we have today, the overall effect doesn’t amount to a whole lot more than watching a refurbished old movie.

The details of the plot are kind of complicated, but the underlying concept is quite simple. The world is under attack by a legion of giant robots, and it’s up to Sky Captain Joe Sullivan (Jude Law) and news reporter Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow) to find the source of the chaos and bring it down.

As it turns out, the evil scientist Dr. Totenkopf is creating a sort of Noah’s Ark on a spacecraft. In an effort to restart civilization on a new planet, he’s collected two animals of every species and plans to blow up the earth as he leaves the atmosphere with his gathering. Polly and Sky Captain fly around the world to find the hideout and stop Dr. Totenkopf before it’s too late. The duo eventually obtain the help of Captain Franky Cook (Angelina Jolie) as they sour through the sky, plunge into the waters depths, and explore unknown worlds in their quest to save their own.

The frequent action is sprinkled with hammy humor and the romantic tension is refreshingly light-hearted. Combined with the beautifully fluorescent cinematography, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow creates the experience of an authentic comic book movie.

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