It seems that every week, the major studios pump out big-screen special-effects film after big-screen special-effects film, each technologically more advanced than the last, in the hopes of snagging the remnants of dwindling audiences who would rather download movies to watch on their own computers. Among the absolute best of this new Hollywood breed is Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, a film by first-time director Kerry Conran starring Jude Law (Cold Mountain), Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love), Angelina Jolie (Girl, Interrupted) and even-via digital manipulation of archival footage-the late Sir Laurence Olivier (Spartacus).

The story of how Conran, a novice director with a six-minute demo, got to make a special effects blockbuster with veteran producer Jon Avnet (The Mighty Ducks) and an incredibly strong, big-name cast is as riveting as the film itself. It is detailed in a two-part documentary included with the recently released Sky Captain DVD.

The film begins in New York City-not the New York City we know, but rather the New York City of the past's future, of the science fiction of the 1930s. A giant airship, the Hindenburg III, glides into Manhattan, docking gracefully into the Empire State Building's tower-top port. One passenger looks out over the city as the ship lands, obviously nervous. He is Dr. Vargas, and he will soon be dead. The reporter who later covers his murder is the nosy Polly Perkins (Paltrow), a sharp-witted femme fatale armed with a camera and an attraction to trouble who soon finds herself in the midst of one of the film's most spectacular moments-an invasion of Manhattan by a score of giant robots.

We soon meet Perkins' old flame Joe "Sky Captain" Sullivan, an ace aviator called in to battle the robots. Mysteriously, the robots leave as suddenly as they came, and Joe, Polly and an assortment of other fun characters are left to figure out what happened and who is behind it all.

The film's breathtaking imagery received a great deal of press when it was first released-it is almost entirely computer-generated. Because it is meant for the big screen, however, Sky Captain is not as spectacular when seen in home theaters. Luckily-unlike so many big-budget films-Sky Captain does not rely solely on its innovative effects, as its light-hearted, old-fashioned script crafts an enthralling story. There is something about the narrative, visual style and dialogue that makes it feel like a film your grandparents might remember. It is an experiment in nostalgia that harkens to a very different cinematic era.

Most remarkably, Sky Captain captures the fun inventiveness of older science fiction without actually seeming old. In the '30s, a world of massive robots and distress calls sent via telegraph and radio might have been a viable vision of the future (think of how we react to Minority Report now, for comparison.) It is not the world of tomorrow that we see, but rather yesterday's version of tomorrow.

The DVD is designed with an awareness of the film's big-screen strengths and comes with interesting bonus features that enhance the viewer's appreciation of the main feature. Aside from a behind-the-scenes documentary that chronicles the path of the film from concept to premiere, there are two audio commentaries: one by Avnet and one by Conran and his visual effects crew.

Conran's six-minute short film, which he spent two years making on his home computer, is also included in the DVD. When he made it, Conran was just another guy who wanted to make movies. It is due to this six-minute short alone that he was afforded the opportunity to direct Sky Captain. It was just that well-made.