SKY PIRATES
Australia, 986, 88 minutes, Colour.
John Hargreaves, Meredith Phillips, Max Phipps, Simon Chilvers, Bill Hunter.
Directed by Colin Eggleston.
Sky Pirates is Australia's contribution to the derivative adventures from Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom as well as Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile. Measured by the American films, it is a poor relation. It has plenty of special effects and atmosphere, some good stunt work and an interesting cast. However, a smaller budget and smaller running-time story has to be good to match the originals.
This film relies on sky adventure. On the other hand, it is a piece of harmless and nonsensical entertainment. On the other, there is time-worn material, chases and final confrontations.
The film excels in the aerial photography, the use of Easter Island locations (as well as a range of Australian city and Outback locations). Musical score is by Brian May. Direction is by Colin Eggleston (The Long Weekend). The production is by John Lamond (who made his name in the film world with a series of Australian sex films including Australia After Dark, Felicity, Pacific Banana).
1. An enjoyable derivative of Indiana Jones and swashbuckling adventures? Comparisons - fair or not?
2. Panavision photography, the atmosphere of the 1940s, period, air force and planes? Aerial sequences? The sea locations - especially for the sea of ghost ships? The use of Easter island locations? Brian May's atmospheric score?
3. Gung-ho adventure with derring-do heroics?
4. The prologue and Easter Island in the 19th century, the broken pieces of the moal? Setting the mood for the adventures to follow?
5. World Two and the air aces? John Hargreaves' cheerful Harris, comparing him to Biggles)? His mission, the encounter with Savage, the Reverend Kenneth Mitchell going on board - and glances at his daughter? General Hackett and Logan? The flight, the puzzle about the mission? Logan interfering with the package? Difficulties, storm? time warp? Harris' coping with the plane, Savage's panic, the crash landing? The sea of ghost ships (with echoes of The Philadelphia Experiment)? Harris as hero, survival capacity?
6. The plausibility of the Easter Island stone tablets, the Moa, its curses? The broken pieces? Mitchell and his interpretations? The mission to Easter island and the finale with the parts reunited? An exercise in supra-natural power?
7. Harris and the return from the mission, the court martial, Savage turning against him? The courts, the sentence to imprisonment? His escape, help? Taking the plane, the outpost and the types there, gambling, Russian roulette? An exotic outpost (courtesy of Mad Max ... )?
3. Savage as villain, his official status, Nazi blond type, his panic during the crisis, the crash landing, the court martial and his lying? His going to Easter Island, Valentine his assistant? Getting his comeuppance?
9. The Reverend Mitchell, the background of science and religion, interpretation of the Moa? His reserved manner, his uncomfortable flight - and its consequences?
10. Melanie as his attractive daughter, Harris's glances at her, her helping him escape, sharing in the heroics?
11. the aerial action - including Harris on the wings? Exciting sequences? Matinee style?
12. Easter Island and its atmosphere, the cave, the explosions, chases? Confrontation between Savage and Harris? The heroics? Everything in right order and the close-ups of the stone statues?
13. 85 minutes of enjoyable derivative action?
