LEWM: "THE ROCKETEER" ESL LESSON

ARCENAL STUDIOS presents LEARNING ENGLISH WITH MOVIES: "THE ROCKETEER" (1991) - a video lesson for ESL students who would like to improve their English skills by using MOVIES as the main topic.

 THE ROCKETEER

THE ROCKETEER is a 1991 action adventure produced by Walt Disney Pictures and directed by Joe Johnston.

 

It stars Bill Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin, and Timothy Dalton.

 

The film is based on a series of independent comic books by artist and writer Dave Stevens.

 

Director Joe Johnston, a former production designer at Lucas Film and Industrial Light and Magic, had worked on blockbusters such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

 

A BLOCKBUSTER is a thing of great power or size, in particular a movie, book, or other product that is a great commercial success.

 

Johnston made his directorial debut in 1989 with Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and would later direct hits such as JUMANJI, JURASSIC PARK III, and CAPTAIN AMERICA : THE FIRST AVENGER.

 

Because of his success with Disney’s HONEY I SHRUNK THE KIDS and his experience working on the INDIANA JONES FILMS Johnston was the perfect choice to direct THE ROCKETEER.

 

In fact, the film was pitched as an AIRBORNE INDIANA JONES and Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light and Magic worked on the special effects.

 

AIRBORNE means carried through the air (as by an aircraft).

 

Despite being well received by critics and audiences, future sequel plans were cancelled after having a disappointing box office performance.

 

It would later earn a cult status on Home Video and Disney has recently announced plans for a reboot.

 

TO REBOOT means to produce a new version of (something), like a movie.

 

The film and comic book were inspired by the same 1930’s serial adventures that would also inspire the Indiana Jones films.

 

However, the biggest inspiration came from serials such as KING OF THE ROCKETMEN and COMMANDO CODY as well as Dave Stevens’ own interests, including Pulp magazines, airplanes and Pin-Up legend Bettie Page.

 

The film is set in Los Angeles in 1938 and centers on the life of a down-on-his-luck stunt Pilot Cliff Secord, his aspiring actress girlfriend Jenny and his airplane mechanic and mentor Peevy.

 

DOWN-ON-HIS-LUCK means that he is experiencing a period of bad luck.

 

After a police car chase destroys Cliff’s racing GEE BEE airplane, their ambitions of winning an airline race goes up in flames along with their plane.

 

Unbeknownst to them, the criminal caught by the police had managed to hide a rocket powered jet pack in one of their planes.

 

UNBEKNOWNST means without the knowledge of (someone).

 

Cliff and Peevy discover the jet pack, and debate what to do with such a precious find.  After considering the alternatives, Cliff reluctantly agrees to return it to the authorities.

 

Before doing so, Peevy not only redesigns and tinkers with the Jetpack, but also makes a helmet for it.

 

TO TINKER means an attempt to repair or improve something.

 

When Cliff arrives late to an air show, one of their fellow stunt pilots decides to fly in place of him.

 

However, the old stunt pilot is caught in the middle of an air race endangering him and the other pilots.

 

Cliff is left no choice but to wear the rocket pack and save the day, inadvertently becoming a celebrity.

 

INADNERTENTLY means without intention; accidentally.

 

As a result of his new fame, the gangsters looking for the missing rocket pack go after Cliff and his friends.

 

In fact, the gangsters even send a huge and intimidating HITMAN to get the Jet Pack and kill anyone who would try to stop them.

 

Meanwhile Hollywood star and Nazi spy Nevil Sinclair kidnaps Jenny as bait to get the rocket pack on his own.

 

BAIT is something used to lure fish or other animals into danger so they can be trapped or killed.

 

The FBI finally find Cliff and Peevy and meet the inventor of the Jet Pack himself, Howard Hughes.

 

It is then that Hughes reveals the real reason why the Nazis are so interested in his invention.

 

They want to conquer the world with an army of flying rocket men.

 

Howard Hughes was a real life eccentric inventor known for his ambitious and visionary plans and designs.

 

Martin Scorsese would later explore his incredible life in the film THE AVIATOR, where Leonardo Di Caprio played the iconic inventor.

 

ICONIC means very famous or popular, especially being considered to represent particular opinions or a particular time.

 

Cliff’s concern for Jenny’s life forces him to escape the authorities and try to make a trade with Sinclair and the Nazis.

 

Just before the trade could take place, the gangsters and the FBI arrive at the scene and a shootout ensues.

 

TO ENSUE means to happen after something else, or as a result of it.

 

After an action packed climax on a hydrogen filled Zeppelin, Peevy manages to save Cliff and Jenny while Sinclair dies in an explosion while wearing the jet pack.