The giant bells atop iFanboy HQ rang mightily two weeks ago when we found out that Disney was finally bringing The Rocketeer to Blu-ray.
(We had giant church bells installed. Paul rings them when he’s excited. It make sense when you think about it.)
Paul, Ron, and I are all big fans of the 1991 film adaptation of Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer. It stars Billy Campbell as Cliff/The Rocketeer, Jennifer Connelly as Jenny (Betty in the comics), and the awesomely mustached Timothy Dalton as the bad guy Neville Sinclair. (It also featured Lost‘s Terry O’Quinn as Howard Hughes!) The film is directed by Joe Johnston, who directed this summer’s Captain America: The First Avenger.
There was a time when there was so much hope represented in The Rocketeer. As the first big time superhero film adaptation in the wake of Tim Burton’s wildly successful Batman, that hit screens just two years earlier, it should have been an indicator of good things to come. Sadly, it didn’t blow the doors off the box office and good things didn’t come… for nine years.
Never seen The Rocketeer? Here’s a plot synopsis:
The discovery of a top-secret jetpack hurls test pilot Cliff Secord into a daring adventure of mystery, suspense, and intrigue! Cliff encounters an assortment of ruthless villains, led by a Hollywood screen star who is a secret Nazi spy. With the help of his actress girlfriend, the young pilot battles enormous odds to defeat his foes who are anxious to use the device in an evil plan to rule the world. The dangerous mission transforms the ordinary young man into an extraordinary hero.
If you’ve never seen the film but have enjoyed the recent IDW series Rocketeer Adventures, you owe it to yourself to check it out. It’s tons of fun. The Rocketeer hit stores December 13, 2011! Just in time for Christmas!
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe to our RSS Feed
Some rights reserved.
The bells! The bells!
Sanctuary! SANCTUARY!!
!!!!!! thats great news! Seriously this is one of my all time favorite movies. So underrated.
I loved this movie as a kid. I think I’ll have to watch it again when it comes out.
DVR’ed it when it was on TV the other day, still need to watch it, Billy campbell was on an episode of Star Trek:TNG that I always liked.
Has anyone seen any listing of special features? i did a quick search and can not find anything listed. One would hope that they load it to the gills for a 20th anniversary edition.
Bean
According to thedigitalbits.com there will be no extras. Hard to believe and I hope it’s not true. Atleast a commentary and footage from the recent 20th anniversary screening in LA need to be included. It’s still a must buy for me but hoping for more than just the movie.
i was just watching this on t.v. i bet this is going to look great on blu-ray
I am incredibly psyched about this. I really loved this movie growing up and after watching it recently am really glad that a younger me wasn’t a complete idiot. If any of you are looking for a Christmas present to get me, look no further.
I assume this is what you’re getting me for Christmas, right Conor?
Possibly.
Great, great movie. Absolutely an underrated classic. Is there anything more stunning than Jennifer Connelly? Talk about your stocking stuffers!!
December 13th. I WANT IT NOW!!!!!
Finally!!!
I just broke out the DVD a few weeks ago and was truly disappointed it was in letterbox and not anamorphic. The Blu-ray is now on my must buy list.
I do love this movie. The only flaw that annoys me is a certain actor’s accent shift at the end… Their English was fine until the reveal, then suddenly they have an accent?!?!
And don’t forget Alan Arkin.
Blu-Ray better be availble for us in the UK, or at least available as a region-free import…