io9
One of the films at Sundance that flew under the radar this year was jetpack fantasy Pretty Bird, based on the book The Rocketbelt Caper. The film is billed as a comedy, but the real story is both weird and disturbing — more of a comedy of errors. It explores the story of an engineer who built a rocket belt that can fly you around like the Rocketeer, and who was subsequently kidnapped and tortured by his angel investor. But the really crazy part? The belt prop actually worked.
Paul Giamatti starred in and produced the film, but was scared shitless by the rocket belt, which can send your ass up in the air for 30 seconds before it cuts out. "It's a real thing. But they only fly for 30 seconds, and they're incredibly dangerous, but they exist." While the belt in the film runs on compressed air and crossed finger, the belt in The Rocketbelt Caper hasn't been seen since the benefactor kidnapped the inventor and held him captive in a box after he refused to cough up the ten million bucks a judge awarded him in a court case. Lesson learned? Angel investors are stranger than science fiction.
Real-life rocket man stuns Giamatti [USA Today]
Comments
Paul Giamatti + Rocketeering = so much win...
I loved Paul in Shootem Up! This guy is really showin some true versatility in his roles. I'd definately see this, if its PG-13 I'll take the kids :)
I must have that. Now. I won't go flying with it, but I will jump over crowds. All it needs is a reliable pressure gauge/watch attachment.
I have three seconds to reach a safe place! Hmm, that flag-pole looks sturdy...
@Darkweave: I think Shootem Up would have done better if they hadn't done such a piss poor job of naming it. I get the joke, it is basically every cliche from action flicks, but seriously, that is almost as dumb as calling it "Action Movie." I did really like the flick though, and Giamatti did a great job.
As far as movies about rocket packs go, "The Rocketeer" is a guilty pleasure of mine, so I hope this one can tap into the 8-year-old-kid-fantasy-of-flying that almost all of have probably had.
Rented Shoot-em Up yesterday, looking forward to watching it tonight.
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