Watching Captain America: The First Avenger this past summer, I couldn't help but be reminded of The Rocketeer. One of my favorite movies when I was a kid, the project was director Joe Johnston's first experience with the superhero world, and while the story and style is a bit contrived in hindsight - it's basically Indiana Jones starring steampunk Boba Fett - the movie is still a ton of fun. Sadly the only home video release of the film currently on the market is a barebones 1999 DVD with terrible picture quality. Fortunately, that wrong is going to be righted this December.
THR has learned that The Rocketeer will be heading to Blu-ray on December 13th. Other than being announced as a 20th Anniversary Edition there are very few details about the extras that will be included, but the trade reports that it will only have one disc - meaning no DVD/Digital copy. The film is currently available for pre-order on Amazon for $18.99 and the movie will retail for $26.50. For those unfamiliar with the movie, the film stars Bill Campbell as Cliff Secord, a young test pilot who discovers a jet pack and becomes a superhero battling against gangsters, Nazis and 1930s Hollywood. The film co-stars Alan Arkin, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Sorvino and Timothy Dalton.
It's almost a shame that Captain America: The First Avenger is coming out in October, as folks will have to wait two whole months before they can host their own private double features. A couple months ago there was a screening of the film in Los Angeles, and while I didn't get to attend, I've heard that the print they have is impeccable. We should be in for a real treat.
