The Red Baron (2008)
WMB Rating:
(3 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5) 
Loading ...
Ever put a movie on, not expecting a whole lot, but then come away pleasantly surprised that you actually enjoyed it? Yeah, that's what happened with The Red Baron.
OK, so its definitely *not* historically accurate, nor is it entirely technically accurate. Bottom line is that it really doesn't matter, just grab a bowl of popcorn and enjoy it.
The Red Baron is, of course, about the infamous Baron Manfred von Richtofen, German WWI flying ace. His exploits in the skies over Europe made him a legend, and this film bascially plays on the legend, not the fact.
The Baron (Matthias Schweighofer) in this film is the epitome of the aristocratic element. The commensurate "sportsman" if you will. For him, flying and shooting down the enemy is the ultimate game. In fact he chastises his men for going "for the kill" rather than simply downing a plane. He comes to shoot down a Canadian pilot, Roy Brown (Joseph Fiennes), and assists in pulling him from the plane, where he meets this film's love interest, Nurse Kate (Lena Headey). Later he runs into him again, and the two have a gentlemanly conversation as both of them are forced to land.
Of course the legend starts to consume him, and he and his entire squad decorate their birds in all manner of garish paint, leading to the "Flying Circus" moniker. Eventually he's wounded, and winds up back in the care, and eventually the arms of Nurse Kate.
War being what it is, and history, the film ends with his final flight. Sealing the legend forever.
The film is not without its flaws. Headey and Fiennes are their usual balsa-ish selves, not really making me feel much of anything towards them. There is of course the historical inaccuracy of, well, most of it.
But the two aspects of the picture that most riveted me, were the message and the dogfights. The message? Yes, of course, that war is bad (mmK?) but that he eventually is faced with the reality that his celebrity and status is all for naught, as he witnesses the guys in the trenches being slaughtered from the safety of the Kaiser's observation point. That what he's doing really isn't that glamorous at all. That it is decidedly *not* for sport, or anything even resembling it.
And the dogfights. These CG scenes are really quite polished, and a lot of fun to watch. While not hyper-realistic, they really put you in the seat with the pilots, and their fear and anticipation as they take care of business. The night raid scene in particular is a sight in itself, as is the battle over the trenches with the barrage balloons.
Much like Flyboys (similar subject matter not withstanding), The Red Baron takes you back to a day when war movies weren't all "Saving Private Ryan." Where the truth and even reality was merely a suggestion, and the goal was a couple of hours of old-fashioned entertainment.
In that respect The Red Baron passes with flying colors. Viewed via Netflix and my handy Roku player, again with flying colors.
And it took me nearly to the end of the film to figure out who Matthias Schweighofer reminds me of here. Not sure what made it click but he sure looks like a young Anthony Michael Hall, like from the Sixteen Candles era. Good for a bit of a laugh.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365675/
Amazon: The Red Baron [Blu-ray]
![The Red Baron [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EfQSIHMIL._SL160_.jpg) |
The Red Baron [Blu-ray] List Price: Sale Price: $20.64 You save: $14.31 (41%)  Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days  |
Description
Europe, 1916. A living legend (aged 24) performing amazing dogfights and aerial stunts, flies in on painted wings to become famous the world over. For millions of his countrymen, he becomes an idol, a symbol of hope and pride.Baron Manfred von Richthofen (MATTHIAS SCHWEIGHOFER) is the crack pilot of the German aerial combat forces a legend in his own time, a hero at home and a man both feared and respected by the enemy, including Allied Forces Canadian pilot, Captain Roy Brown (JOSEPH FIENNES). He and his fellow officers, Lieutenants Voss (TIL SCHWEIGER), Sternberg (MAXIM MEHMET) and Lehmann (HANNO KOFFLER) see their duels in the sky as tactical, almost sportsmanlike, clever challenges that, at least at first, obscure their view of the horrors of the battlefields below. And the provocative red paint job of his Fokker aircraft earns him the nickname The Red Baron.Unwittingly, he allows the German high command to manipulate his chivalrous code of honor and misuse him for propaganda purposes until the young pilot falls in love with Kate (LENA HEADEY), a beautiful and resolute nurse who opens his eyes to the tragic fact that there is more to war than dogfights won and adversaries downed. Baron von Richthofen finally becomes aware of his role in the propaganda machine of a senseless and barbarous war.With a torn heart, despite the heavy losses in his squadron and his disgust for the war and his responsibility to his fighter wing, von Richthofen cannot help but fly. But even for this living legend, each new combat mission could be his last...
World War I fighter ace the Red Baron (Valkyrie's Matthias Schweighöfer) comes to life in this pretty, if perfunctory docudrama. The opening credits establish Baron Manfred von Richthofen's childhood interest in flight. Flash forward to 1916, and the German lieutenant belongs to a combat squad that includes his friend Voss (Til Schweiger, Inglourious Basterds). After von Richthofen shoots down Canadian pilot Roy Brown (Joseph Fiennes), he meets French field nurse Käte (Lena Headey, The Sarah Connor Chronicles), who helps to save Captain Brown. Between missions, Manfred tries to win Käte over, but she's a tough sell (and the boyish Schweighöfer looks too young for Headey). Believing that it's better to scare the enemy than to sneak up on them, von Richthofen paints his craft crimson, leading to a legendary nickname (and making a significant impression on Peanuts creator Charles Schultz). At this point, the coincidences--and the casualties--start to accumulate. When the Baron runs into Brown the next year, the latter encourages him to pursue Käte. Von Richthofen gets his chance after suffering a head injury (surely other nurses served in northern France), and a love affair ensues as he continues to lose colleagues. Through Käte, the Baron comes to realize that his superiors see him more as a propaganda tool than as a human being, but he's in too deep to turn back. "You," he tells Käte toward the end, "are my greatest victory." Like that line, Nikolai Müllerschön's English-language debut registers more as romantic fantasy than as a believable portrayal of a real person. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
DVD Information
Binding: Blu-rayAspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Brand: Monterey Home Video
Manufacturer: MONTEREY VIDEO
Original Release Date:
Actors:
- Matthias Schweighofer
- Til Schweiger
- Lena Headey
- Joseph Fiennes
Features
- Europe, 1916. Baron Manfred von Richthofen (MATTHIAS SCHWEIGH FER) is, at the age of just 24, the crack pilot of the German aerial combat forces - a legend in his own time, a hero at home and a man both feared and respected by the enemy, including Allied Forces' Canadian pilot, Captain Roy Brown (JOSEPH FIENNES).Von Richthofen and his fellow officers, Lieutenants Voss (TIL SCHWEIGER), Sternberg (M
Reviews
 The Red Baron Sale Price: $3.99 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
 Red Baron Koopa Sale Price: $1.99 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
 The Red Baron List Price: Sale Price: $11.80 You save: $15.15 (56%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
Related posts:
want to buy this movies
I enjoyed this movie a lot. I found it simply entertaining. A guilty pleasure. I realised later that the German original and the English version are quite different. This whole hunter mentality thing is subdued in the German version. Probably a reason why the Germans hate this movie.
I really liked this movie a lot. I recommend it to others as an undiscovered gem. I thought the acting was great. I enjoyed the dogfights and the “chivalry” mentality of Richtofen. Don’t know if that is accurate but it sure made for a compelling film.