Has Anyone Seen "Red Tails"?

[GO DAWG GO]

The Movie "Red Tails" was released yesterday. Has anyone seen it? Looks like an action packed film...My concern was it looks like it's all CGR?

Its great that Lucas made the film about the 332 fighter group. The older film "Tuskegee Airman" was pretty good. Had Cuba Gooding Jr. also..

If you have seen it, post your opinions of it..

Thanks

Bob

[fred cook]

Saw it yesterday. Great film with just enough real warbirds to make it interesting. The computer graphic bits are well done and don't stand out as such. Most of the way thru the film the only way I could tell the CG parts was knowing that there just are not that many flying warbirds left from WWII. Good action, some humor, some reality, etc. I would go see it again, something I almost never do. Good flick!

[mikester]

I'm looking forward too it - maybe next weekend.

[krystar]

my WWII buff saw it. rated it horrible. planes that are whisper quiet. soldiers that don't curse. 50cal machine guns that sound like sewing machines. lines that writting for 8 yr olds.

[rattlsnak]

Way to much cgi .

[IROC]

The guy who wrote the script (or whatever it's called) was on NPR the other day and made numerous technically incorrect statements (like the P-40s they flew were "WWI vintage") and that they were using them to go up against German "jet fighters". :roll eyes:

That pretty much said it all right there...

[cashflyer]

I have not seen it.
On the trailer I could already tell that the CGI planes were doing some unrealistic maneuvers.

I'll wait for $1 DVD in RedBox.

[944Larry]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

I have not seen it.
On the trailer I could already tell that the CGI planes were doing some unrealistic maneuvers.

I'll wait for $1 DVD in RedBox.

I noticed that too. Think I'll wait.

[dan88911]

I saw it at a prior final editing. It's "Good Flick".Lucas said his desire was to honor the pilots of the 332nd. As well as present a film that young people would enjoy. So perhaps that explains the lack of cursing.

[911pcars]

At any rate, the story of the Tuskegee Airmen is compelling:

Tuskegee Airmen | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed
"The Tuskegee Airmen were the only Army Air Force group not to lose an escorted Allied bomber to an enemy aircraft attack."

And historians might recall the status of blacks in US society in the 30's and 40's. All the more amazing, and hardly universally honored for their efforts then and through all these years.
Tuskegee Airmen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I doubt the movie will cover this adequately opting more for an action movie with a superficial hook.

Sherwood

[fred cook]

Originally Posted by IROC

The guy who wrote the script (or whatever it's called) was on NPR the other day and made numerous technically incorrect statements (like the P-40s they flew were "WWI vintage") and that they were using them to go up against German "jet fighters". :roll eyes:

That pretty much said it all right there...

Actually, the German Air Force had jet fighters at the end of the war. They were the Messerschmit ME262s. Twin engine form with a top speed around 550 mph or 100 mph faster than a P51. Their combat time was very limited due to fuel consumption but they were armed with either 4 or 6 20mm canons and were deadly against the bombers. One thing that they forgot to mention at the end of the movie was that the Tuskeegee airmen never lost a bomber they were flying cover for. As to the language, there were a few expletives but all in all it was a movie that you could take the family to see. I did not think that the engine noises or the machine gun sounds were out of place. Being a student of WWII history, I think the producers did a good job overall and finally gave credit to bunch of Army Air Corps fliers that sorely desered the acknowledgement.

[rouxroux]

Originally Posted by fred cook

Actually, the German Air Force had jet fighters at the end of the war. They were the Messerschmit ME262s..

Don't forget about the HE162 and the rocket-powered ME163. There also was a piloted version of the V1 if I recall correctly that was just a suicide "piloted bomb".

[tevake]

There is an excellent show on the subject on I think the history channel called Black Wings. Very well done and very informative about the early black aviation pioneers.
I'm looking forward to seeing the movie, thanks for the reviews.

Cheers Richard

[john70t]

Originally Posted by fred cook

One thing that they forgot to mention at the end of the movie was that the Tuskeegee airmen never lost a bomber they were flying cover for.

That is a very important fact.
Before the P-51s, which had the range to cover the B-17s to the target(and back), the bombers suffered incredible loss during the switch to daylight raids. Many flights returned with only one or two left(hundreds of airmen lost on a single mission), and the entire strategy of the war was being re-examined.

Staying true to the mission was important as well.
If the entire fighter protection is lured off by a few enemy 109/190/Me262s, that left the bombers vulnerable to a second unseen wave.

[john70t]

The U.S. had the P-80 jet at the end of the war, but it never saw action.
The Soviets also had a hybrid prop/turbine(fuel guzzler lol) that saw very limited flight hours.

[intakexhaust]

You can tear apart any movie, break down the technicals, etc. but as this story is well known to aviation and WW2 history buffs, the majority of ignorant Americans don't have a clue of what happened, to who or even why we were at war. You know what I'm talking about. Its important to teach history to the majority and even if by Hollywood standards, this movie accomplishes it very well plus you can take the family to see it.

Actually there are quite a few documentary films of the Tuskegee airman but never anything done on a Hollywood glorified / promotional level powered by someone like George Lucas.

Also, I don't want to jump too far off the topic but I recently watched another WW2 era movie called City of Life and Death - a foreign film made in '09. Skip the US version of Nanking but do see this important film. Impact, stunning, gory, perverse, incredible moving and superbly done.
City of Life and Death (2009) - IMDb

[Tobra]

I am pretty sure one of those guys was the first to down one of those ME 262's. Was flying a P-51 if memory serves.

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by intakexhaust

...............Also, I don't want to jump too far off the topic but I recently watched another WW2 era movie called City of Life and Death - a foreign film made in '09. Skip the US version of Nanking but do see this important film. Impact, stunning, gory, perverse, incredible moving and superbly done.
City of Life and Death (2009) - IMDb

+1 on "City of Life and Death". Another is "John Rabe" (2009), "Nanking" (2007) and the documentary, "Rape of Nanking" (2007) seen through the eyes of Iris Chang, the young author of the book by the same name who committed suicide at 36. Will see "Flowers of War" as well. Yeah, I'm a glutton for punishment. Not an easy subject matter.

FWIW, The events of the "rape of Nanking" approaches that of the holocaust as to its denial by certain groups (Japan and elsewhere) and indifference by the US govt.
Every photo of NANKING MASSACRE seems to be fake.(1/2) - YouTube

Have a nice day,
S

[911pcars]

As opposed to my previous post, an uplifting film is El Postino (1994), nominated for best picture in '96. A postman uses the friendship and tutoring of poet, Pablo Neruda, to win the heart of the local town beauty.

S

[tevake]

The show that I mentioned earlier Black Wings, is on now on HSMIT the Smithsonian channel. This show outlines the contributions of stand out black aviators such an Bessy Coleman, William Powell, and others leading to the Tuskegee pilots.
take a look if you get the chance.

Cheers Richard