I caught this one last night at a sneak. The audience, probably 80% male, seemed transfixed most of the time. As well they should be.
After the film the guys I spoke with (acquaintances as well as friends) all said the same thing, they loved it. And just as consistently the women I spoke with only sort of enjoyed it. The lone exception was a lady in her late 60's. And I think she enjoyed it more because she loved the era the film was set in.
As to why I think the women didn't like it I believe it is the post-feminist female lead. Polly Parker (Gwyneth Paltrow) is one of those uses her feminine wiles to get what she wants, and will do anything (including lying and hiding vital information from her "partner") to get her story. She isn't someone I'd like to know, and I cannot think most women born into the feminist era are going to find her to be someone they want to be.
Jude Law's Sky Captain, on the other hand, is a near saint in comparison. He seems to still have a thing for Polly, though it is difficult to see why.
He also seems to carry a torch for Frankie (Angelina Jolie). But it is his obvious devotion to Dex Dearborn - his second in command played with barely contained energy by Giovanni Ribisi that shows his nobility. He will obviously do anything for his friend.
I am sorry to say I doubt this film will do very well with women. Us guys might see it a couple - three times but we'll be hard-pressed to get the women in our lives to see it more than once.
Too bad, cause it's a rush.
After the film the guys I spoke with (acquaintances as well as friends) all said the same thing, they loved it. And just as consistently the women I spoke with only sort of enjoyed it. The lone exception was a lady in her late 60's. And I think she enjoyed it more because she loved the era the film was set in.
As to why I think the women didn't like it I believe it is the post-feminist female lead. Polly Parker (Gwyneth Paltrow) is one of those uses her feminine wiles to get what she wants, and will do anything (including lying and hiding vital information from her "partner") to get her story. She isn't someone I'd like to know, and I cannot think most women born into the feminist era are going to find her to be someone they want to be.
Jude Law's Sky Captain, on the other hand, is a near saint in comparison. He seems to still have a thing for Polly, though it is difficult to see why.
He also seems to carry a torch for Frankie (Angelina Jolie). But it is his obvious devotion to Dex Dearborn - his second in command played with barely contained energy by Giovanni Ribisi that shows his nobility. He will obviously do anything for his friend.
I am sorry to say I doubt this film will do very well with women. Us guys might see it a couple - three times but we'll be hard-pressed to get the women in our lives to see it more than once.
Too bad, cause it's a rush.