SKY CAPTAIN: A 20-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE!

I did a retrospective for the 10-year and 15-year anniversaries, so I'm back again for the 20-year anniversary! Yep, it's been 20 years since this awesome movie was released on September 17, 2004. It's true that interest in this magnificent film has somewhat quieted down over the years, and yet it has not been completely forgotten either.

No, there's still no discussion about a sequel/prequel, but after 20 years, I've almost come to believe that this is not entirely regrettable. In a world where it seems like almost EVERYTHING is getting a sequel/re-imagining/TV series, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow remains a perfect example of an all-inclusive, stand-alone adventure. Sure, it would have been fabulous to see "further adventures" of the characters we were introduced to, but at least we have never had to suffer through sub-standard attempts to keep a franchise going (i.e., making money for the IP owners/investors).

Which brings up perhaps the biggest mystery of all regarding this movie: 20 years have passed, and writer/director/creator Kerry Conran has still never returned (despite numerous rumors) to making movies. It's been almost 5 years since I've seen a new interview with him, and even that one is no longer accessible. My best guess would be that he finally decided that doing business with Hollywood and "the system" just never really agreed with him. Which is a shame, especially after such an auspicious debut feature. Had Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow been successful, would he have stuck with it, or would he have opted out, and sold the rights (Lucas-style) to someone else? We'll never know.

Online "lost classic" articles about this movie continue to appear from time-to-time, but the biggest recent Sky Captain media splash was the release of art director Kevin Conran's book, "The Art of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" in 2022. This book must have set some sort of record for "most delays before actual publication". Yet the very long wait was well worth it, and my treasured copy today sits proudly on my bookshelf. It's naturally very highly recommended of you enjoyed the ultra-stylized universe of this movie. There really was a brief hubbub surrounding the book, where the words "cult classic" were actually being liberally batted around. There must have been some significant interest, because it is still in print today.

As we once again celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime masterpiece by rewatching the DVD, we can look back with thanks that not only has Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow not been entirely forgotten, but also that it hasn't been degraded with updates/reboots/cash-grabs (like a lot of other movies/franchises I could name). Happy 20th anniversary Sky Captain: you're still the greatest movie of all-time!

"And all I ask is a tall ship, and a star to steer her by..."