The Rocketeer (1991)

Having discovered a top secret jetpack (like that used by James Bond in 'Thunderball'), it is up to a pilot to keep the device away from the clutches of Nazi spies in this action comedy set in Hollywood during the late 1930s. The jetpack is ultimately little more than a Hitchcockian McGuffin with rocketeering aerial theatrics surprisingly minimal, however, the film works magnificently thanks to its accurate portrait of the era in question. The movie provides a fascinating backstage insight into the filming of an Errol Flynn type swashbuckler and Timothy Dalton is excellent playing a Hollywood star based on Flynn himself. There are also fun brief turns by Terry O'Quinn as Howard Hughes, Bob Leeman as W.C. Fields and Gene Daily as Clark Gable in a blink-and-miss-it performance. The film is genuinely funny at times too; "you steer, I'll push" shouts lead actor Bill Campbell before making a stalling truck speed away, while Dalton's adamant claim "I do my own stunts" is a fun reference to his recently completed stint as Bond. It is no surprise though to learn that the film is quite divisive. With thugs who are more goofy than menacing and an awfully sweet central romance, the film well earns its 'family entertainment' rating, however, the historical nature of the story with plugs to old Hollywood actually makes the film more suitable to adults. Whatever the case, it is likely that all sorts of viewers will at least take something out of 'The Rocketeer'. The flag-waving patriotism is admittedly hard to swallow at times, but beyond this an amusing film awaits.

Despite being produced by Walt Disney Pictures, this is not really a movie for kids. It is actually quite violent for a Disney movie and primarily aimed at a male audience. Presumably, the Disney tag was one of the reasons why the movie failed to become a box office success back in 1991 as people mistook it for a kids' movie.'The Rocketeer' is far from that! In fact, it is a very entertaining and fun adventure movie reminiscent of the Indiana Jones trilogy with its Nazi themes, the television spin off 'The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones'—in which this movie's director, Joe Johnston, was involved, too—and also of the old James Bond movies from the 1960s and 1970s with their exaggeratedly quirky villains. Coincidentally or maybe intentionally, the movie's main villain is portrayed by Timothy Dalton, who took on the role of James Bond two times and is excellent here as the charming but fanatical antagonist.While the screenplay could have been better, the great actors and especially the fantastic, action-packed and visually striking finale make up for what the plot is lacking in direction. Joe Johnston is a capable director with a distinct style that is present in virtually all of the movies he has directed, including 'Captain America: The First Avenger' (2011), which is similar to this movie in a number of aspects.The cast of 'The Rocketeer' is simply superb and includes a number of very fine character actors and some big names, too. I mean, look at that excellent cast list: Alan Arkin, Paul Sorvino, Terry O'Quinn, Jon Polito, Ed Lauter, William Sanderson, Margo Martindale... These actors have been in like every movie ever made! Billy Campbell is decent in the lead role, even though he is not the greatest actor around, but he carries this movie quite well. It makes you wonder why his film career never really took off afterward. He is familiar of course, mostly from television, but he is not a big name. The beautiful and classy Jennifer Connelly is the icing on the cake of the cast. She is a very good actress and an absolute delight to watch. What a mighty fine lady!

Went in expecting nothing but another Disney movie. Came out a huge fan of Jennifer Connelly, an appreciator of the underrated (until his Oscar-winning turn in 'Little Miss Sunshine' - and he was also fantastic in another favorite movie of mine, 'Gattaca') Alan Arkin. Came out comparing this one favorably to the Indian Jones series of movie, and not just because of the Nazi setting, but because of the genre of the movie being rooted firmly in the category of the yesteryear Errol Flynn swashbucklers.Surprised that Bill Campbell did not go on to greater fare. To be fair, he is lightweight.Came out a huge fan of Timothy Dalton (for my money, one of the most disappointing James Bonds ever to grace the screen, and though I am in a majority on that point, watching him in this, made me wonder if I was not a little too harsh on his acting skills). An aside - He's also fantastic as one of the key character in the absolutely riveting recent TV series, 'Penny Dreadful'.Well, this one has loads of adventure, quite a bit of fantasy rooted in yesteryear science, a jetpack used to much better effect that in the corny Bond movie, 'Thunderball' (later remade with an aged Connery as 'Never say never again' - how's that for another 'James Bond' reference in a convo about this movie?).However, to be fair, I did not think it came close to how much better every Indian Jones movie was, even at the time, so much that I wish they'd cast Ford (its not just to do with the casting, I'm sure), or cast Connelly and Arkin in the Indie series.The 1st Captain America movie came close to the tone of this one (and the Indie Jones series). It also had the missing element in common with this, as in, there was something missing, overall, and that made all the difference between an also-ran and a bonafide blockbuster. No surprise there, since it was the same helmer, Joe Johnston working both these movies (he has quite an illustrious career, not just with these, but also 'Jumanji' and 'Honey, I shrunk the kids' - and guess what? He's also helmed TV's 'Young Indian Jones' episodes).All in all, something worth getting nostalgic about, but something that could've been more special that what it ultimately turned out to be. The end product is lesser than the sum of its parts.

The Rocketeer is an amazing action packed superhero adventure and as amazing as Indiana Jones. It's about a man named Cliff who started out as a racing pilot and then becomes a superhero when he finds a rocket which was stolen from a factory by a gang of crooks led by Nazi agent named Neville Sinclair. It also has a really good love story in it and like in all superhero movies the good guy always gets the girl. In the end of this film Cliff aka the Rockteer saves the world from the Nazi's and gets the woman of his dreams Jenny Blake. This film was worth watching and this came out the year I was born just like Terminator 2 and Beauty and the Beast. The Rocketeer also reminds me of Iron Man cause the Rocketeer and Iron Man both wear iron helmets and use rockets to fly. Amazing and thrilling here. 10 out of 10.