We discuss why The Rocketeer deserved better than it got from audiences and critics.
Its a shame thatThe Rocketeernever quite connected, and maybe time just wasnt on its side.
But Stevens always had cinematic ambitions for the character.
I never really looked at it as just words and pictures on paper.
I saw it and I heard it in my head.
So for me, it was always a film.
But studios wanted something bigger and more marketable.
This was 1986, long beforeBatmanorDick Tracyor anything similar.
In those days, no studio was interested at all in an expensive comic book movie.
We got there about three years too early for our own good!
Disney saw the merchandising opportunities, though, and signed up for aRocketeertrilogy.
Eventually, William Dear left the project, and Joe Johnston joined up as director.
Johnston was perhaps uniquely suited to this movie.
read more: The Underrated Movies of 1991
In addition to Ms. Connelly,The Rocketeerboasts quite a cast.
Despite all this, its easy to see whyThe Rocketeerdidnt deliver at the box office.
But really,The Rocketeerwas never really built to play the franchise game.
Whats more, the merchandising potential, a crucial component ofthe summers ofBatmanandDick Tracy, was significantly lacking.
In fact, a significant part ofThe Rocketeers charm is just how far removed from its contemporaries it feels.
They also publish a number of new Rocketeer adventures, some of which (like Mark Waid and J.
Bones Rocketeer/Spirit team-up) are worth a look, too.
