Before Titanic, James Horner was not above composing scores for cartoonish family films, and many of those that brought him on their production board owe him greatly. The Rocketeer directed by Joe Johnston (Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Jumanji, October Sky) entails the story of a young pilot during World War II who happens upon a rocket pack that allows him to fly. The film is based on the tradition of old film serials that left theater-goers hanging with "To be continued," and aside from modern production, it is old fashioned and innocent fun. Horner's score begins and ends with the brilliant "Main Title," which is so moving it was used in previews for later films that did not yet have finished scores. Most of the Rocketeer soundtrack elicits the adventure and lifting spirit of the film and reveals how Horner incorporates rich instrumentals in the tiniest crevices. Even when the film involves danger, as in "Jenny's Rescue," the composer takes care when it is hardly even required. Instead of some "duh-duh-duhs," he brings on a full, stunning orchestra and when he overdoes it, it is in a jolly way -- he never exhausts his medium. That is what separates him from inferior composers, and what makes a nice film like The Rocketeer extra nice. It is a soundtrack worth listening to, and Melora Hardin's covers of E.A. Swan's "When Your Lover Has Gone" and Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine" add just the right touch of '40s authenticity. ~ Peter Fawthrop, All Music Guide
Billy May (Orchestration), James Horner (Conductor), James Horner (Producer), Elliot Kaplan (Orchestration), Sue McLean (Assistant Engineer), Shawn Murphy (Mixing), John Neufeld (Orchestration), Sharon Rice (Assistant Engineer), Bill Talbott (Technical Engineer), Dave Collins (Mastering), Jamile G. Mafi (Design), Maria DeGrassi-Colosimo (Art Direction), JoAnn Kane (Music Preparation), JoAnn Kane (Preparation), Jim Henrikson (Editing), Conrad Pope (Orchestration), Ron Batzdorff (Photography), Melora Hardin (Performer)
Based on the Walt Disney Pictures movie of the same name, The Rocketeer puts you in control of Cliff Secord and his rocket pack. Your mission is to save your girlfriend, Jenny, from Neville Sinclair, the Nazi spy who also happens to be one of 1938 Hollywood's most beloved actors.
There are six "chapters" to the game, a cut scene shown in between each to help move along the action. You've got several weapons at your disposal, including your fist, three types of guns, a hand grenade, and a bazooka. You will face such enemies as brawlers, grenade throwers, and even enemy rocketmen. A boss must be defeated in four of the six chapters. Your final battle is with Neville Sinclair himself. You can beat him, though. You're The Rocketeer.
~ Christopher Michael Baker, All Game Guide
Roots & Influences
This game was created to aid marketing efforts for Disney's movie, The Rocketeer.
~ Christopher Michael Baker, All Game Guide
Review: Overall
If you were to play The Rocketeer on the SNES before the NES version that would be a mistake. It could easily skew your perception of how this game is because the SNES version of The Rocketeer is clumsy and boring. As a fan of Walt Disney's The Rocketeer, the lame Super Nintendo game is a major disappointment. Fortunately, the two games are almost nothing alike. Both titles look and sound good, but the similarities end there.
The Rocketeer has a nifty assortment of weapons at his disposal: None of them are too weak or too powerful. The controls work very well, especially when used in conjunction with the weapons. While ducking under enemy fire, you can turn around and switch weapons without standing up. This comes in really handy when you are outnumbered.
The Rocketeer's most distinguishing characteristic (other than his mask) is his jet pack. When you get some fuel, you can take off, reaching areas that are otherwise inaccessible. The best thing about this feature is that you can do more than just fly to the top of the screen. When you do reach the top, the field of play scrolls upward and you can fly amongst a starry backdrop (or other backgrounds depending on which level you are on). This feature gives the game a sense of freedom and adventure missing in many games of its type.
If Dave Stevens (creator of the Rocketeer comic book series) ever played this game he would most likely be proud. Obviously, the NES can't match Dave's breathtaking drawings, but the levels in this game look very good, especially the building designs. Also, The Rocketeer himself is looking pretty sharp. The detailed clothing and mask are very impressive, especially for such a small character.
There are a couple of flaws with this game that should be pointed out. The basic enemies are rather redundant, and the ends of each level are disappointingly anticlimactic. Even so, The Rocketeer is one of the better film-based games available for the NES.
~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide
Review: Enjoyment
While not quite as good as Batman for the NES, this game will please the same crowd. The levels are nicely designed, and there is plenty of action.
~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide
Review: Graphics
The buildings and platforms have depth. The bad guys aren't all that interesting, but The Rocketeer looks great.
~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide
Review: Sound
The music is fast, fun, and adventurous. However, the sound effects are merely average.
~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide
Review: Replay Value
{*The Rocketeer} will easily keep you interested long enough for you to beat it. Also, it's not too easy and not too hard.
The Rocketeer is a superhero created by writer/illustrator Dave Stevens. The character first appeared in 1982 and is a homage to the pulp heroes of the 1930s and 1940s.
The Rocketeer is Cliff Secord, a stunt pilot who discovers a mysterious jet pack that allows him to fly. His adventures are set in 1938 Los Angeles, and Stevens gave them a retro, nostalgic feel influenced by Commando Cody movie serials and pinup diva Bettie Page.[1]
In 1938 Los Angeles, Cliff Secord, a local racing pilot and barnstormer, discovers a mysterious package after police chase down two gangsters who try to hide something in his old plane. Leading, of course, to adventure.
References to other works in The Rocketeer
The Rocketeer makes a great number of references to pop culture from the 1930s to the 1950s. The first storyline, "The Rocketeer" features characters from the Doc Savage pulp series, though Stevens takes care to not refer to any of the characters — including Doc Savage himself — by name so as not to have to pay fees for using the characters. "Cliff's New York Adventure" similarly features unnamed characters from The Shadow pulp series including Lamont Cranston himself.[citation needed] The character Betty is drawn with the likeness of 1950s model Bettie Page.[1]
Publication history
The Rocketeer’s first adventure appeared as a backup feature in #2 and 3 of Mike Grell's Starslayer series from Pacific Comics in 1982. Two more installments appeared in Pacific Presents,[citation needed] The fourth chapter ended in a cliffhanger that was later concluded in a special Rocketeer comic released by Eclipse Comics.[2] The first story was collected together by Eclipse Comics in a single volume simply titled The Rocketeer (ISBN 1-56060-088-8).
The story picked up again in the Rocketeer Adventure Magazine. Two issues were published by Comico Comics in 1988 and 1989, but the third did not appear until years later, published by Dark Horse Comics in 1995. All three issues were collected by Dark Horse as The Rocketeer: Cliff's New York Adventure (ISBN 1-56971-092-9).
There was talk of further stories, perhaps with other artists, but nothing came of it.[citation needed]
On February 28, 2009 IDW Publishing announced a hardcover collecting the entire series for the first time ever due in October 2009. [1]
Computer game
The Rocketeer was also adapted for a computer game for PC machines. Using digitized sound and 256-color VGA graphics, it consists of a sequence of several levels, each of them in different action style, and the story is carried between levels with comic book-style strips and spoken dialogue. A version of this title later appeared on the Super Nintendo.[citation needed]
There is another Rocketeer game, one for the NES. This game was a side-scrolling platform jumping game closely based on the movie adaptation.
The Rocket Man
A “Rocket Man” character first appeared in a number of movie serials including:
