The Rocketeer
Directed by Joe Johnston
- adventure
- science fiction
The story
A stunt pilot comes across a prototype jetpack that gives him the ability to fly. However, evil forces of the world also want this jetpack at any cost.
What it’s like
Bright, sunny Art Deco adventure in 1930s Los Angeles: gleaming hangars, golden afternoon light on biplanes, a Zeppelin drifting over the Griffith Observatory, and warm, saturated Technicolor-leaning colors in the sets and costumes. The camera moves with an easy, classic-Hollywood confidence, favoring wide flying sequences and sweeping aerial views over jittery intensity, and the mood is buoyant nostalgia with a pulpy, comic-book sheen. Ray Stahl's lush, brassy orchestral score swells through the flights, and the ambience is full of engine roar, big-band music from nightclubs, and the rush of wind. The vibe is breezy, playful, and faintly romantic, a Saturday-matinee serial brought to life with genuine affection. Pacing is brisk and episodic, with a clear-cut hero who is earnest and likable and a central romance that stays sweet rather than steamy. Violence is present but cartoonish: gunfights, fistfights, and a few fiery crashes, with little gore. It suits a comfort rewatch, a lazy weekend afternoon, or anyone who loves old-fashioned heroics and retro-futuristic style.
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