ADHD-DVD, Episode #17: The Rocketeer
This week, the Dial of Destiny is pointing Indiana Jones back into conflict with the Nazis, and Disney hopes toward a box office hit as well. If it comes and goes without much fanfare this weekend, it wouldn't be the first time the House of Mouse has struck out trying to recreate the thrills of matinee serial adventures from the 1930s, as this week we wind the clock all the way back to 1991 and watch The Rocketeer, directed by Joe Johnston, and starring Billy Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Timothy Dalton, Alan Arkin, Paul Sorvino and Terry O'Quinn. The movie was a modest monetary success, but not the hit the studio had hoped, as its largely been forgotten over years. Far ahead of its time, the film practically set the blueprint for both Iron Man and Captain America: The First Avenger, the latter of which was even directed by Johnston himself.
It was an early favourite film of a young movieobsessed JMo, and to close out June, Justin treats Hayley to a blast from the past on Wild Card Friday: the last of the month, when all bets are off! Please welcome The Rocketeer into the ADHD-DVD film canon.
If you'd like to watch the movie for yourself before listening to our discussion, and we do recommend you do, it is of course streaming on Disney+.
We'll be back next week to kick off July with another trip back to Affleckville, as we're joined by FED Talks podcaster EJ Feddes to discuss a film from his collection: Ben's powerhouse crime drama The Town.