The jet pack is a science fiction trope. It's one of those advancements of the future that many people imagine, along with shiny clothes, flying cars, and teleportation devices. Think about it, though – could it ever really work? Jet packs, I mean. Not with our current level of knowledge of propulsion and fuel economy. You would have to design something lightweight, so not too large, but also able to hold enough fuel to get enough thrust to cause flight and maintain it for a significant amount of time. It also couldn't belch out fire because you don't want to burn your legs when using this thing. We're a long way off.
But we can ignore all this unimaginative mumbo-jumbo for the moment. Let's talk about a classic: Joe Johnston's 1991 film The Rocketeer, starring Billy Campbell as the Rocketeer. The year is 1938, and Howard Hughes has designed a prototype jet back, which is stolen by the Valentine gang. A pilot, Cliff (Campbell), finds it and learns to use it – but it's a hot item, sought after by Hughes (played by Terry O'Quinn, who was John Locke in Lost, and here sports the same creepy mustache he will later wear in the X-Files spin-off Millennium), the FBI, and, of course, the Nazis – all while trying to make his relationship with an aspiring actress (Jennifer Connelly) work.
Baxter Avenue Theater presents a midnight screening of The Rocketeer tomorrow, Saturday. Baxter Avenue Theater is located at 1250 Bardstown Road. Further theater information and advance ticket sales can be found at the theater website.
Image: Internet Movie Database
