Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW, as seen through the eyes of a six-year-old boy:

First ten minutes – character and setting introductions: “This movie is boring.”

Second ten minutes – giant robots attack: “Wow! Giant robots! Cool!”

Shortly thereafter – during montage of global newspapers detailing giant robot attack: “Hey, the Japanese newspaper has Godzilla fighting the robots! Rewind it, Dad! Rewind it!”

Somewhere around the halfway mark – Sky Captain lands aboard a flying aircraft carrier: “This movie keeps getting better and better!”

Ten minutes after that – “Look, Dad! Dinosaurs! This movie has everything!”

End credits – “Wow, that was one of the best movies ever!”

YMMV, depending one the audience with whom you see it, but what’s not to like about SKY CAPTAIN? It features a bold and exciting vision of an alternate reality; it’s chock full of cool gadgets, neat characters, and fun situations; and it’s a flat-out great time at the movies.

Dracula (1979)

The 1979 DRACULA has a few strikes against it. Its Jonathan Harker is a charisma sump, its Mina is utterly unremarkable, and its effects border on the ridiculous. Nevertheless, the production has one thing going for it, and that one thing is enough to carry all the dead weight: Frank Langella.

Langella’s Dracula is neither hideous lich nor creepy eurotrash. He's supercool; a real lady killer who has charmed his way through the centuries and isn't about to be stopped by doddering old Van Helsing or his bumbling pal Harker. Don't get me wrong: Olivier is fine in his pay-the-bills portrayal of Van Helsing, and he does have a terrific moment when he almost succumbs to Dracula's will, but Langella just plain shines here.

What a pleasant surprise.