LITR 4632: Literature of the Future

Mark Anthony Chapa

June 21, 2005

DVD – Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

The World Will Tremble

A group of scientists working together on a secret project prior to World War I have managed to steer clear of further involvement.  There is however, one professor who is still attempting to advance production of the secret project.  All other scientists have been kidnapped/murdered except for one, the holder of the secret vials. 

            The suspected villain is the evil Professor Totenkompf and eventually the last known live professor is abducted.  In pursuit of Totenkompf, Sky Captain finds that there is an additional survivor who can help him find the menacing professor. 

            What we find out is that the evil professor decided that humans have destroyed the world and he has built an ark to evacuate all animals two by two.  The other revelation is that the vials Totenkompf is after contains the DNA of Adam and Eve.  He hopes to create a perfect Utopian society. 

            What Professor Totenkompf doesn’t plan on is his loss of control.  His robotic sidekick, who is responsible for the abductions continues to carry out the dastardly plan.    Massive attacks by robot armies begin to invade the earth.  When Totenkompf is found, we find that he is dead with a note in hand asking for forgiveness.  What he began was out of his control and continues on after his death. 

            Aside from the storyline, setting is a key factor.  Though it is not set in what we would deem as the future, its effects are of a futuristic nature.  There are laser guns and various weapons.  The militaristic equipment used is far beyond today’s standards and though the film is intended to have an antiquing effect with dark shaded camera work, the technology of their time definitely produces futuristic appeal. 

Questions

1.       How does the technique of our past history adjoining with a future beyond our reach affect the story line?

2.       What is the possible tie between the apocalyptic natures of the film with (re)creation? 

3.       What does the film suggest about a future being written or decided by an individual?