The World of Tomorrow

This is the original 6 minute short film which the film "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" is based on. It is shot in black and white, and it is constructed to simulate the first chapter in a 12 part serial like the ones from the 30s and 40s. Much of the visual style of the film is based on the old serials; in this respect the 6 minute short is much closer to the "source material" than the feature film. I found myself wishing they had simply made the remaining chapters in the same style as the short, though I also enjoy "Sky Captain". Considering that this film was made on home PCs by dedicated artists who expected no pay, this film looks pretty darn good, the quality is comparable to the old 1940s features which were quite expensive at their time. Those who think this is easy to accomplish should try making a film on their own and see if they can convince their local cable access station to broadcast it, much less Paramount to finance a film version.

I particularly like the montage sequence with the people raising their hands in the air, a sequence I believe was "inspired" by several other films. Regardless of the source, the effect is both thrilling and nostalgic. I also particularly enjoy the scene with the radio waves introducing "Sky Captain". This scene was shortened considerably for the feature version; perhaps audiences would have found it odd but I think the way Conran did it here is quite interesting and unusual.

Although IMDb lists this film as released in 2005, I guess this is the first time it was on a DVD because in reality this short film preceded the film Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow by some 7 years. The plot of the short is essentially the starting point for the feature film, with a journalist looking into the disappearance of a scientist when suddenly New York City is attacked by flying metal robots. Indeed it is very like the full film but with one very key difference – this short is all of 6 or 7 minutes long, and this makes a great deal of difference to how well it works.

I did love the feature for its effects, style and generally very well done blend of 1930's but futuristic at the same time – it was very pleasing to watch but just a shame that the plot and performances were not up to the same level, ultimately seeing the film underperform and not progress. With the short film the stakes are lower, the need for full plot is less and by presenting it as a chapter in a 1930's serial, it doesn't matter that it doesn't complete the full story because the short is all about the style of these serials but mixed with the sci-fi content. It is very cleverly done with very good effects and very good eye for the style and camera angles of the time – perhaps it is more familiar of films aping that period, but either way it does it very well.

Of course it is lucky to be free of the need of exposition and plot and characters and just get by on style, and unfortunately the full film indicates that it couldn't make that leap, but for a short film it works very well, with cool design, effects and delivery.

I thought that the original 6 minute short film was the story we saw in the feature film told in six minutes, so I was surprised when we were still aboard the Hindenburg III almost halfway through the film. Interestingly, almost every shot in the short film is in the feature film, almost identically, and this short film draws on both anime and classic pulp comic book animation. The result is lovely, and it is great to see something that is so clearly put together independently and not intended for wide release (although still incredibly well made), especially when you consider what the film eventually became.

It's interesting to me because I remember going to Cal Arts in Valencia, where director Kerry Conran went to film school, to tour their campus after I was accepted into film school there, and the short films that they showed us were of a very obscure, artsy variety, many of them literally abrasive and unpleasant to watch, and it's odd to consider that this film may have been shown to prospective students at some point as well. Maybe if this had been one of the ones shown when I toured the campus I would have accepted the invitation to attend!

While it seems that the film ends right about when it seems to be beginning, it is a clearly competent film with an interesting story, almost like it's a pitch for a feature film. Well, in my experience in script analysis working for film production companies, I can tell you that I wish we had more things like this to choose from, because the vast majority of the scripts that I read are unbelievably bad. And when talent like this comes along, it's nice to see that someone is doing something about it.

When I bought Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow on DVD, I was awaiting a poor short, nothing really to write home about. But when i selected it in the special features, I fell in love with it. I actually think they should have made the full-length movie a special feature, and the short the movie lol! We open on a very recognizable picture (for movie buffs really) is the crackly graded picture of old movies of the silver screen, such as Frankenstein, or The 39 Steps. It's in wonderful black and white, an unusual feat these days. But then again, the whole process was shot in front of blue screen, so there's nothing to be surprised at. It's quite similar to the full length version, but I actually think the actors in this piece, though unknown, and hardly speak a line each, are better choices for the roles of Polly Perkins and Joe Sullivan. Don't get me wrong, I liked Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow in the movie, but Gwyneth was slightly wooden in the movie, as this actor wasn't. Sorry Gwyneth, she was better. Even though this was only about an eighth or tenth of the actual movie, I liked it better because, as Kerry Conran wanted, it would have been in chapters, making you believe it more.

4/5 or 8/10