History Film / SkyCaptainAndTheWorldOfTomorrow

* {{Homage}}s: The attack by giant bipedal robots is copied from the 1941 Superman cartoon "The Mechanical Monsters". Their laser sound-effects are the same as the Martian DisintegratorRay in the 1953 ''Film/{{The War of the Worlds|1953}}'' film; similarly Polly's phoned-in report on the attack uses lines lifted from the famous OrsonWelles radio broadcast. On seeing one of the robots, Dex mutters "{{Shazam}}!" The silhouette of Franchise/{{Godzilla}} can be seen in a newspaper from Japan. During an underwater sequence we see both the wreck of the {{Titanic}} and the ship from ''Film/KingKong'', complete with ape-holding cage. King Kong himself can be seen at the top of the Empire State Building during one shot with the robots in the streets. The flying robots on Totenkopf's island have the same chest controls as Commando Cody's JetPack. Film/TheWizardOfOz is seen playing in the cinema where Polly meets iwth one of the scientists, and the entire Totenkopf hologram head sequence is a massive homage to the Film/TheWizardOfOz's giant head scene. ( Captain Sky even mentions the film when the Hologram appears and starts speaking.) Et cetera.

* DisintegratorRay: GadgeteerGenius Dex is shown testing a BuckRogers raygun that can burn a hole through solid metal with luminous rings of energy.

* ChekhovsGun: The two metal tubes that Polly Perkins received from Dr. Jennings.

* DieselPunk: With a healthy helping of [[NikolaTesla Tesla Punk]] to boot.

* ActorAllusion: JudeLaw and GwynethPaltrow of ''TheTalentedMrRipley''.

* DisintegratorRay: GadgeteerGenius Dex is shown testing a BuckRogers raygun that can burn a hole through solid metal with luminous [[strike:Lifesavers]] rings of energy.
** To a lesser extent, the [[spoiler:superelectric field outside of Totenkopf's room that disintegrates anyone who steps on it]].

* {{Infodump}}: Dex and the [[ReluctantMadScientist scientists]] explain Totenkopf's entire plan (as well as mentioning an [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome offscreen escape where several of them got killed]]) in a single moment of exposition. Although not unusual in the ComicBooks on which the movie is based, the scene appears clumsy on screen.

''Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow'' is a 2004 movie [[GenreThrowback homage]] to the TwoFistedTales of the 1930's. The film follows the adventures of AcePilot 'Joe' Sullivan, known as [[TheRedBaron Sky Captain]] (Jude Law) and newspaper reporter [[PluckyGirl Polly Perkins]] (Gwyneth Paltrow).

* ApologeticAttacker - PlayedWith: The note [[spoiler:Totenkopf leaves at his death chair]] reads "Forgive me", and there's indications he tried to shut down his [[spoiler:robot servant that was hunting scientists]].

* ViewersAreMorons: Dr. Jennings uses the jarringly modern phrase "the first world war"...in a film set in 1939. The filmmakers were worried that using a more period-appropriate name like "the Great War" might confuse people, even though numerous other films have already gotten away with it.

* ViewersAreMorons: Dr. Jennings uses the jarringly modern phrase "the first world war"...in a film set in 1939. The filmmakers were worried that using a more period-appropriate name like "the Great War" might confuse people, even though [[DidNotDoTheResearch numerous other films have already gotten away with it]].

* ViewersAreMorons: Dr. Jennings uses the jarringly modern phrase "the first world war"...in a film set in 1939. The filmmakers were worried that a more period-appropriate name like "the Great War" might confuse people, even though [[DidNotDoTheResearch numerous other films have already done that]].

%% ValuesDissonance: Already on YMMV

** "[[WarOfTheWorlds They've reached Sixth Avenue. They've reached Fifth Avenue. They're a hundred yards away. Oh, my God.]]"

* {{Homage}}s: The attack by giant bipedal robots is copied from the 1941 Superman cartoon "The Mechanical Monsters". Their laser sound-effects are the same as the Martian DisintegratorRay in the 1953 ''TheWarOfTheWorlds'' film; similarly Polly's phoned-in report on the attack uses lines lifted from the famous OrsonWelles radio broadcast. On seeing one of the robots, Dex mutters "{{Shazam}}!" The silhouette of Franchise/{{Godzilla}} can be seen in a newspaper from Japan. During an underwater sequence we see both the wreck of the {{Titanic}} and the ship from ''Film/KingKong'', complete with ape-holding cage. King Kong himself can be seen at the top of the Empire State Building during one shot with the robots in the streets. The flying robots on Totenkopf's island have the same chest controls as Commando Cody's JetPack. Film/TheWizardOfOz is seen playing in the cinema where Polly meets iwth one of the scientists, and the entire Totenkopf hologram head sequence is a massive homage to the Film/TheWizardOfOz's giant head scene. ( Captain Sky even mentions the film when the Hologram appears and starts speaking.) Et cetera.

* ShoulderCannon: The missile launcher of the GiantRobot guarding the underwater entrance to Dr. Totenkopf's island.

* SittingDuck: The Flying Legion is caught on the ground by an air raid launched by what can only be described as pulp sci-fi UCAVs.

* StylisticSuck: a couple of effects were CGI'ed to resemble early stop-motion effects from serials. Note: This does not apply to the film's overall [[{{Zeerust}} sepia-tone]] look, which is [[DoingItForTheArt quite elaborate]].
* SurpriseVehicle - Dex, in one of Totenkopf's hoversleds.

* BringIt: Dr. Totenkopf's female TheDragon makes a gesture to Sky Captain before fighting him outside the rocket ship.

** There's also [[TheNameless The Mysterious Woman]], a [[HeWhoMustNotBeHeard silent]] but deadly woman who controls Totenkopf's machines and turns out to be a [[spoiler:RobotGirl]].

* {{Homage}}s: The attack by giant bipedal robots is copied from the 1941 Superman cartoon "The Mechanical Monsters". Their laser sound-effects are the same as the Martian DisintegratorRay in the 1953 ''TheWarOfTheWorlds'' film; similarly Polly's phoned-in report on the attack uses lines lifted from the famous OrsonWelles radio broadcast. On seeing one of the robots, Dex mutters "{{Shazam}}!" The silhouette of Franchise/{{Godzilla}} can be seen in a newspaper from Japan. During an underwater sequence we see both the wreck of the {{Titanic}} and the ship from ''Film/KingKong'', complete with ape-holding cage. King Kong himself can be seen at the top of the Empire State Building during one shot with the robots in the streets. The flying robots on Totenkopf's island have the same chest controls as Commando Cody's JetPack. "Film/TheWizardOfOz" is seen playing in the cinema where Polly meets iwth one of the scientists, and the entire Totenkopf hologram head sequence is a massive homage to the "Film/TheWizardOfOz"'s giant head scene. Et cetera.

* {{Homage}}s: The attack by giant bipedal robots is copied from the 1941 Superman cartoon "The Mechanical Monsters". Their laser sound-effects are the same as the Martian DisintegratorRay in the 1953 ''TheWarOfTheWorlds'' film; similarly Polly's phoned-in report on the attack uses lines lifted from the famous OrsonWelles radio broadcast. On seeing one of the robots, Dex mutters "{{Shazam}}!" The silhouette of Franchise/{{Godzilla}} can be seen in a newspaper from Japan. During an underwater sequence we see both the wreck of the {{Titanic}} and the ship from ''Film/KingKong'', complete with ape-holding cage. King Kong himself can be seen at the top of the Empire State Building during one shot with the robots in the streets. The flying robots on Totenkopf's island have the same chest controls as Commando Cody's JetPack. Et cetera.

* ShoutOut: '''By the dozen'''. Everything from ''The Land That Time Forgot'', ''Film/TheNeverendingStory'', Apple's ''1984'' commercial, ''StarWars Episode I'' and the anime film ''CastleInTheSky''.

%% DamselScrappy: Already on YMMV

* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt / UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: The [[spoiler:planet-colonizing rocketship]] seems benign, until it's revealed that its afterburners will [[spoiler:ignite the Earth's atmosphere.]]

* FakeBrit[=/=]FakeAmerican: Englishman Jude Law plays the American hero, while American AngelinaJolie plays "Franky". Jolie's accent was mocked by some critics, though she's merely riffing on the [[strike:luscious lower lip]] stiff-upper-lip jargon of British war propaganda.

* TheFantasticTropeOfWonderousTitles
%% FridgeBrilliance: Already on YMMV

''Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow'' is a 2004 movie [[GenreThrowback homage]] to the TwoFistedTales of the 1930's. The film follows the adventures of AcePilot 'Joe' Sullivan, known as [[TheRedBaron Sky Captain]] (Jude Law) and newspaper reporter [[LoisLane Polly Perkins]] (Gwyneth Paltrow).

They begin investigating the affairs of the [[MadScientist mysterious German scientist]], Dr Totenkopf, after his machines attack NewYorkCity. Further implicating Totenkopf is a string of kidnapped scientists all leading back to his involvement.

* {{Homage}}s: The attack by giant bipedal robots is copied from the 1941 Superman cartoon "The Mechanical Monsters". Their laser sound-effects are the same as the Martian DisintegratorRay in the 1953 ''TheWarOfTheWorlds'' film; similarly Polly's phoned-in report on the attack uses lines lifted from the famous OrsonWelles radio broadcast. On seeing one of the robots, Dex mutters "{{Shazam}}!" The silhouette of {{Godzilla}} can be seen in a newspaper from Japan. During an underwater sequence we see both the wreck of the {{Titanic}} and the ship from ''Film/KingKong'', complete with ape-holding cage. King Kong himself can be seen at the top of the Empire State Building during one shot with the robots in the streets. The flying robots on Totenkopf's island have the same chest controls as Commando Cody's JetPack. Et cetera.

They begin investigating the affairs of the [[MadScientist mysterious German scientist]], Dr Totenkopf, after his machines attack NewYorkCity. Further implicating Totenkopf is a string of kidnapped scientists all leading back to his involvment.