Superhero & universe: Rocketeer and Phantom
Is it based on a comic? The Phantom first appeared in newspaper comic strips in 1936 (predating Superman by almost 2 years) and was reprinted as comic books as early as the 1940's. Since then The Phantom has had a continuous home in newspapers, and has been translated into comic stories by nearly every major comic label at least once, and is currently being published by Dynamite Entertainment.
The Rocketeer first appeared as a back-up feature in comics published by Pacific Comics in 1982, later receiving its own title. The story was told over several years due to a very bad publication record, with gaps as long as ten years between installments. The Rocketeer is currently enjoying new adventures monthly courtesy of IDW comics.
Haven't they already made that? The Phantom had already been adapted into a film serial in 1943, and the character later starred in two animated series, Phantom 2040, and Defenders of the Earth, which both predated the 1996 movie. The Phantom was also recently reinvented for a Syfy miniseries.
The Rocketeer officially appeared for the first time on screen in the 1991 movie we reviewed. However, the comic was heavily influenced by a series of movie serials that ran between 1949 to 1955:
The Rocketeer officially appeared for the first time on screen in the 1991 movie we reviewed. However, the comic was heavily influenced by a series of movie serials that ran between 1949 to 1955:
- King of the Rocket Men (1949)
- Radar Men from the Moon (1952)
- Zombies of the Stratosphere (1952)
- Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe (serial 1953, TV series 1955)
What the heck does this have to do with Avengers? The Phantom was one of the earliest adventurers who fought crime and injustice while wearing a costume to protect his identity and mortality. The Phantom is one of the earliest examples of a normal man who takes on an symbolic identity to achieve a greater good, much like Batman and Captain America (Cap's abilities differ from enhanced strength to merely peak physical fitness depending on the writer).
The Rocketeer is a love letter to the early sci-fi of the 1940's and 50's, which inspired much of the Marvel boom of the 1960's. As a result, The Rocketeer reinvents what may have served as the inspiration for technological heroes such as Iron Man.
Both of these films were part of the small comic movie boom of the 90's, started by Tim Burton's Batman and Batman Returns, and effectively ended by Batman and Robin. The Rocketeer is one of the most celebrated movies of the period, while The Phantom was a strong example of the things that didn't work. The resulting lessons were that strong characters, story, and believable character design all help create a better quality movie.
Kate says these movies could be subtitled, "Boys with gadgets who save the pre-WWII world."
Despite both being set in 1938, they have very different feels. The Phantom is a tribute to the older 19th century adventure stories: jungle drama! intrepid reporters! adventurous tom-boys! good natives & bad natives! There's also a steam-punk feel to some of the scenes.
Rocketeer is much more modern. While the Phantom uses ingenuity and guns to save the world from evil skulls, the Rocketeer uses rockets to fight Nazis. And the Rocketeer's costume looks far less dorky.
In fact, The Rocketeer wins on superhero points, mostly since we get more of the non-caped hero. These particular superheroes aren't Batman, who is interesting in his own right. Both the Rocketeer and Phantom's "everyday" alter-egos are more interesting than their superhero, um, outfits. As superheroes, they almost don't have personalities. Though I do rather like Billy Zane's dryness--despite the dorky costume.
In terms of plot, both movies meet my basic criteria for action in that both are simple, straight-forward, uncomplicated dramas. Having said that, I didn't find either movie (both of which I first saw many years ago) all that enthralling. I did remember The Rocketeer better; it is more visually memorable than The Phantom.
The one thing The Rocketeer also has in its favor, other than a cooler costume, is an unbelievably stellar cast. Watching Paul Sorvino, Alan Arkin, Terry O'Quinn! Eddie Jones, and Timothy Dalton do their stuff is a treat! I also have to give points to the heroines of both movies--despite Catherine Zeta-Jones being massively underused--for looking the 1930's heroine part with panache!
Mike says the current trend of comic movies is something I could only dream about as a kid. Sure, there was stuff like Batman and Superman, but for most of my childhood there was nothing. When The Rocketeer finally came along, I was was blown away! What a great movie! But dang, why couldn't they have just made Iron Man? Throughout the 90's I had to make due with such movies like The Phantom, The Shadow, Mystery Men, and several other ill-conceived and borderline campy comic adaptions.
Hollywood finally seemed to get the message after Batman and Robin, though not in time to prevent such disasters as Spawn and Steel. The early boom of comic movies did eventually lead to the Big Boom of the 2000's, kicked off by X-men and carried home by Spider-man.
But that was all in my future. At the time, stuff like the Rocketeer and The Phantom was all I had. For better or worse, I hung onto them like a pop culture life raft in a sea of media made for the average viewer.
Rewatching them now, I realized that my appreciation for both films wasn't based on the merit of the films themselves, but for what they were at the time. Now, after having all I could ever want of comic-based movies (7 weeks to Avengers! Woo!), I only now see them for what they are--which is a pity, since one of the films actually deserved my love!
The Rocketeer is a wonderful family film that brings the old sci-fi of the 1940's back to life in a fun and believable way. The story is well constructed, and the characters are well acted. Even the effects stand up pretty well for a movie made before CGI-everything.
The look of the film is wonderful, retro and timeless. The film quality itself looks like it could have been made anytime in the last few years (excluding effects, of course). The soundtrack is beautiful and not at all what you might expect, yet it fits the film perfectly.
What truly saves the film from falling into the many pitfalls of the era is its simplicity in look and design, and its ability to poke fun at the plot and concept without becoming campy.
The Phantom is a wonderful concept that gets lost in a combination of bad writing, over-the-top acting, and production design that got a little carried away (even though the skull cave IS awesome).
While the costume doesn't bother me as much as it probably should, it is pretty ridiculous. However, The Phantom's costume would not be an easy redesign. Set design got a little carried away on several accounts as well. The film just tried too hard to rival Dick Tracy.
The plot itself is fairly silly. The Phantom is one of those few heroes that could conceivably exist in reality with few alterations; to then ruin that on a mystical plot that doesn't really stand up to scrutiny really seems like a waste.
The movie also falls victim to the classic error for comic adaptations: It was just too campy. It took itself so seriously that the movie almost became a farce. Throw in the bad acting of Billy Zane and the over acting of Treat Williams, and the film demands to be laughed at; the problem is that it's never really funny enough to laugh.
It was a lot of fun to watch these again, and it's good to see that The Rocketeer has stood up so well over time. As for The Phantom, well, there are some super-hero flicks best forgotten.
The Rocketeer is a love letter to the early sci-fi of the 1940's and 50's, which inspired much of the Marvel boom of the 1960's. As a result, The Rocketeer reinvents what may have served as the inspiration for technological heroes such as Iron Man.
Both of these films were part of the small comic movie boom of the 90's, started by Tim Burton's Batman and Batman Returns, and effectively ended by Batman and Robin. The Rocketeer is one of the most celebrated movies of the period, while The Phantom was a strong example of the things that didn't work. The resulting lessons were that strong characters, story, and believable character design all help create a better quality movie.
Kate says these movies could be subtitled, "Boys with gadgets who save the pre-WWII world."
Despite both being set in 1938, they have very different feels. The Phantom is a tribute to the older 19th century adventure stories: jungle drama! intrepid reporters! adventurous tom-boys! good natives & bad natives! There's also a steam-punk feel to some of the scenes.
Rocketeer is much more modern. While the Phantom uses ingenuity and guns to save the world from evil skulls, the Rocketeer uses rockets to fight Nazis. And the Rocketeer's costume looks far less dorky.
In fact, The Rocketeer wins on superhero points, mostly since we get more of the non-caped hero. These particular superheroes aren't Batman, who is interesting in his own right. Both the Rocketeer and Phantom's "everyday" alter-egos are more interesting than their superhero, um, outfits. As superheroes, they almost don't have personalities. Though I do rather like Billy Zane's dryness--despite the dorky costume.
In terms of plot, both movies meet my basic criteria for action in that both are simple, straight-forward, uncomplicated dramas. Having said that, I didn't find either movie (both of which I first saw many years ago) all that enthralling. I did remember The Rocketeer better; it is more visually memorable than The Phantom.
The one thing The Rocketeer also has in its favor, other than a cooler costume, is an unbelievably stellar cast. Watching Paul Sorvino, Alan Arkin, Terry O'Quinn! Eddie Jones, and Timothy Dalton do their stuff is a treat! I also have to give points to the heroines of both movies--despite Catherine Zeta-Jones being massively underused--for looking the 1930's heroine part with panache!
Mike says the current trend of comic movies is something I could only dream about as a kid. Sure, there was stuff like Batman and Superman, but for most of my childhood there was nothing. When The Rocketeer finally came along, I was was blown away! What a great movie! But dang, why couldn't they have just made Iron Man? Throughout the 90's I had to make due with such movies like The Phantom, The Shadow, Mystery Men, and several other ill-conceived and borderline campy comic adaptions.
Hollywood finally seemed to get the message after Batman and Robin, though not in time to prevent such disasters as Spawn and Steel. The early boom of comic movies did eventually lead to the Big Boom of the 2000's, kicked off by X-men and carried home by Spider-man.
But that was all in my future. At the time, stuff like the Rocketeer and The Phantom was all I had. For better or worse, I hung onto them like a pop culture life raft in a sea of media made for the average viewer.
Rewatching them now, I realized that my appreciation for both films wasn't based on the merit of the films themselves, but for what they were at the time. Now, after having all I could ever want of comic-based movies (7 weeks to Avengers! Woo!), I only now see them for what they are--which is a pity, since one of the films actually deserved my love!
The Rocketeer is a wonderful family film that brings the old sci-fi of the 1940's back to life in a fun and believable way. The story is well constructed, and the characters are well acted. Even the effects stand up pretty well for a movie made before CGI-everything.
The look of the film is wonderful, retro and timeless. The film quality itself looks like it could have been made anytime in the last few years (excluding effects, of course). The soundtrack is beautiful and not at all what you might expect, yet it fits the film perfectly.
What truly saves the film from falling into the many pitfalls of the era is its simplicity in look and design, and its ability to poke fun at the plot and concept without becoming campy.
The Phantom is a wonderful concept that gets lost in a combination of bad writing, over-the-top acting, and production design that got a little carried away (even though the skull cave IS awesome).
While the costume doesn't bother me as much as it probably should, it is pretty ridiculous. However, The Phantom's costume would not be an easy redesign. Set design got a little carried away on several accounts as well. The film just tried too hard to rival Dick Tracy.
The plot itself is fairly silly. The Phantom is one of those few heroes that could conceivably exist in reality with few alterations; to then ruin that on a mystical plot that doesn't really stand up to scrutiny really seems like a waste.
The movie also falls victim to the classic error for comic adaptations: It was just too campy. It took itself so seriously that the movie almost became a farce. Throw in the bad acting of Billy Zane and the over acting of Treat Williams, and the film demands to be laughed at; the problem is that it's never really funny enough to laugh.
It was a lot of fun to watch these again, and it's good to see that The Rocketeer has stood up so well over time. As for The Phantom, well, there are some super-hero flicks best forgotten.
1 comment:
Sorry about the lateness of this post folks! I'm been incredibly busy, and my procrastinating nature definitely caught up with me this week!
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