Then we all saw the trailers, and we all cringed, reared back a bit and made that "oooh, I dunno" face.  Well let me tell you, those initial reactions weren't warranted.

Red Tails is definitely not anywhere near as bad as I expected it to be.  Not the epic oscar-nominee as I had hoped, but its definitely a good movie.  All those scenes we cringed at in the trailers, they needed context.  Out of context they looked, well, dumb. (out of the blue physically impossible stall/dive)  Put back in the context of the whole film they make more sense ("we fight!")...

The story is, of course, about the Tuskegee Airmen.  A group of black fighter pilots created during the war as an "experiment" and "curiosity" but who proved everyone wrong by being one of the best squadrons out there.  This movie is an excellent tribute to these guys.  Is it "Saving Private Ryan?" No. But I don't think it aims to be, either.  If it were, it wouldn't be nearly as "approachable".  You could (and probably should) show this film in the classroom.

But we are talking about Lucasfilm, so you can't escape the inevitable review of the effects.  All in all, I was suitably impressed.  From a pure-realism point of view, there are numerous issues with the physics of flight involved in this film.  Most obviously that "hit the brakes and they'll fly right by" move in the trailer.  There are a lot of "Pearl Harbor" style moments as well.  Problem is *real* flight isn't nearly as exciting or fun to watch as all this near-video-game style eye-candy.  So there it is.  And it *is* a lot of fun to watch.

There are some aspects of the movie that I don't think should have been included, or either explored more and refined.  As they stand, they don't do a whole lot for the film.  One is the romance between "Lightning" (David Oyelowo) and the Italian Sophia (NCIS LA's Daniela Ruah)...  It started out as a nice diversion, and an all-too familiar story for most war movies, but I'm not entirely sure of the relevance of it here.  Except to make a point about inter-racial romance.  Nothing wrong with that, but it started to feel forced.

The other was "Ray Gun/Junior" (Tristan Wilds) getting shot down and captured, only to wind up in "The Great Escape"...  comically in a shot-for-shot rehash of the "into-the-woods" scene from that film.   It makes sense I guess at the end, so that the picture doesn't end on a down note (whoops did I spoil it?) but again, felt forced.

Other bits and pieces fall together nicely.  The cocky pilot putting himself and others in danger, the alcoholic, although this time getting blamed erroneously for things that weren't the bottle's fault....   It's not just about aircraft.

The message of the film is also unavoidable.  That this sort of segregation was just plain wrong.  It's always good to have those 20/20 hindsight goggles, but yeah, these guys were just as good, if not better than anyone else in the cockpit.  And I only wish I had watched "The Tuskegee Airmen" not so long ago.  It's been far too long for me to even remember any of it, so I can't make a good comparison to that.  There should be one.

I would like to compare this to another war movie which dealt with the segregation issue, "Miracle at St. Anna."  I've caught a lot of flack for that review, and maybe its warranted, maybe not.  But in Red Tails, the issue is dealt with *without* that feeling of being preached at and whined to, and having it rammed down your throat.  *This* is how it should be shown to everyone, that yes it happened, yeah it was wrong, but you know what?  It doesn't really matter *now*, does it?  These guys were damn good pilots and soldiers, not to mention fine men, and here's our tribute to them.

What you've got here in a nutshell is a pretty good air combat action picture first and foremost, with an important historical context and worthy message on the side.  So I'm going with a 7/10.  Not quite as surprisingly good as "War Horse", but a whole lot better than I was expecting.  Sure the dialog is a bit, uh, corny at times. Sure the effects are the same way at times.  But roll with it, have fun, don't take things quite so seriously, and think about the underlying message while you're at it!

Here's a longer clip I found which might help illustrate what I'm talking about.

Enjoy!

Related posts:

1. “Act of Valor” set for 2012

WMB is going to be giving away two copies of this modern classic.  All you need to do is A) live in the US (or have a US shipping address) and B) leave a (non-spammy) comment to this entry!  Yeah, that's it.   Oh, and do it before the clock turns zero-hundred on 1/27 CST.

I'll pick two entries from the list at random and that'll be that.  Don't post your address in the comments, if you win I'll contact you.  SO BE SURE to use a valid e-mail address!!

Here are some details on the release!

For the first time in stunning Blu-ray High Definition, Academy Award winner Robin Williams (Best Supporting Actor, Good Will Hunting, 1997) delivers a tour-de-force performance in the 25th Anniversary Edition of the hit comedy Good Morning, Vietnam!

 

Enjoy the unsurpassed digital sound quality of Blu-ray High Definition as Army deejay Adrian Cronauer (Williams) spins a red-hot soundtrack of ‘60s hits. His sidesplitting comedy and rapid fire wit make him a hero to the troops, but quickly get him in hot water with his by-the-book superiors. Featuring a behind-the-scenes look at Williams’ hilarious radio monologues, Good Morning, Vietnam remains the quintessential Robin Williams comedy.

 

Bonus Features:

 

• Production Diary (5 features) - How The Movie Came To Be, Actor Improv; Music Of The Movie, Origin Of The Good Morning, Vietnam Sign-On, Shooting In Thailand & Overview Of The Film A Year Later
• Raw Monologues
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• Original Theatrical Teaser Trailer

"Raw Monologues"... Ooooh brother, wonder if that means all the stuff that Williams did they *didn't* put in the film...  I can only imagine the out-takes from this one.  And its in DTS-HD Master 5.1....

I know I haven't seen this film in years, and look forward to seeing it on BD.  I also can't believe I haven't reviewed this film for the site yet!

(and not to worry folks, I have a bunch of reviews coming up...)

Good Morning, Vietnam (25th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] List Price: $20.00 Sale Price: $9.98 You save: $10.02 (50%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Description

In stunning Blu-ray high definition, Academy Award winner Robin Williams (best supporting actor, Good Will Hunting, 1997) delivers a tour-de-force performance in the 25th anniversary edition of the hit comedy Good Morning, Vietnam! Enjoy the unsurpassed digital sound quality of Blu-ray high definition as Army deejay Adrian Cronauer (Williams) spins a red-hot soundtrack of '60s hits. His sidesplitting comedy and rapid fire wit make him a hero to the troops, but quickly get him in hot water with his by-the-book superiors. Featuring a behind-the-scenes look at Williams' hilarious radio monologues, Good Morning, Vietnam remains the quintessential Robin Williams comedy.

DVD Information

Binding: Blu-ray
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Brand:
Manufacturer: Touchstone / Disney
Original Release Date:
Actors:

• Robin Williams

Reviews

---

Related posts:

1. Morning Departure (1950)
2. Penn to Star in Stone’s Next Vietnam Film?

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official website: http://actofvalor.com/

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Release date is October 18th.  Review will hopefully come about that time.

PR Material follows:

This classic documentary series, The Road to WWII, follows the events that inevitably sparked World War II, capturing the drama, the excitement and the juxtapositions of these crucial years between the end of World War I and Pearl Harbor.

Former CBS News correspondent and commentator, Eric Sevareid, one of the world's most respected  figures in journalism, presents this extraordinary series which features  stunning original newsreels, soundtracks, and rare archival footage.

It was the era of Lucky Lindy, bootleg, Babe Ruth, Valentino and assembly-line Fords. It was also the time of market collapse, Klan meetings, demagogues abroad, red scares at home and bread lines. The best of times, the worst of times, and the times in which the United States reluctantly moved center stage.

The Road to WWII is an innovative 16-part series that examines this crucial time as it progressed from the Armistice in 1918 to the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. You will see the people who made history, hear their voices, and revisit the sites of events where consequence occurred. From the election of Roosevelt, to the rise of Hitler in Germany, it's all here.

Disc 1: 1. Versailles: The Lost Peace 2. Return to Isolationism 3. The First Salt Talks

Disc 2: 1. Radio, Racism and Foreign Policy 2. The Great Depression and Foreign Affairs

Disc 3: 1. FDR and Hitler: The Rise to Power 2. FDR and Hitler: The Dynamics of Power

Disc 4: 1. America in the Pacific 2. The Recognition of Russia 3. Latin America

Disc 5: 1. The Italian-Ethiopian War 2. The Spanish Civil War 3. The Phony War

Disc 6: 1. FDR and Churchill 2. Japan Invades China 3. War Comes to Pearl Harbor

Bonus Features: Exclusive Heart Newsreels showcase the era leading up to WW II

• Details
• Description
• Reviews

Road to World War II List Price: $49.99 Sale Price: $27.98 You save: $22.01 (44%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

Description

This classic documentary series, The Road to WWII, follows the events that inevitably sparked World War II, capturing the drama, the excitement and the juxtapositions of these crucial years between the end of World War I and Pearl Harbor. Former CBS News correspondent and commentator, Eric Sevareid, one of the world's most respected figures in journalism, presents this extraordinary series which features stunning original newsreels, soundtracks, and rare archival footage. It was the era of Lucky Lindy, bootleg, Babe Ruth, Valentino and assembly-line Fords. It was also the time of market collapse, Klan meetings, demagogues abroad, red scares at home and bread lines. The best of times, the worst of times, and the times in which the United States reluctantly moved center stage. The Road to WWII is an innovative 16-part series that examines this crucial time as it progressed from the Armistice in 1918 to the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. You will see the people who made history, hear their voices, and revisit the sites of events where consequence occurred. From the election of Roosevelt, to the rise of Hitler in Germany, it's all here.

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Brand:
Manufacturer: Questar
Original Release Date:
Actors:

• Eric Sevareid

Reviews

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1. First Look at the ‘Valkyrie’ Trailer

Of course those of us who religiously watched news websites from '97-'99 when the Star Wars prequel trilogy first started materializing recognize the name.  First thought to be a 'code name' for the first of those, but then, no, it might actually be a real movie... blah blah....  and here it is.

I will say I am looking forward to this, if nothing else for some amazing aerial combat scenes.  Even if a few look a bit far fetched (that stall maneuver being one of them!)...  If you look carefully, though, you'll see that they've recreated, quite faithfully some of the most iconic bits of stock footage of B-17 bomber raids, and casualties.  Most obvious is the "folding wing" bit of reel that never fails to make me cringe.....

Anyway, check out the trailer, and the link to the official movie site.  Oh wait, there doesn't seem to be one.  Shame on you Lucasfilm!!

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In this high-budget all-action movie, a soviet aircraft crashes on Nazi-occupied territory. But the pilot and his beloved radio operator miraculously survive, along with the flight navigator, who ejected from the plane. It is now up to each of them to put their military training into action to escape the enemy forces. In the fight to get back to their own troops, they uncover an act of sabotage by a commanding officer, and are branded as traitors.

And some more, from the site listed below.  This description is markedly different from the above, and the trailer wouldn't seem to indicate that this is primarily a romance epic... so, we will see?

October 30th 2010 PRONTO FILM together with Film UA (Ukraine) and “Shpil” Studio (Russia) completed the production of 8 series TV movie “Ballad about the Bomber”.

 

The movie is dedicated to the memory of the Second World War and will be broadcasted on the First National Channel (Russia) on the 9th of May 2011. The synopsis is based on the true story. The scriptwriter Arkadiy Tigray opens to the viewer an unexpected side of the German soldiers, the succession of coincidences and the tangle of human fortunes. The main hero is Andrei, the captain of bomber. Right before his 100th battle flight he meets his love – Katya, the telegraphist who’s mission is to resume the connection with the partisan underground resistance in the enemy’s home front. The two loving hearts have lost each other at the beginning of the Second World War and now reunite to face some fateful events called to make their love stronger. The role of Andrei Grivtsov is played by Nikita Efremov (“Lady Passanger”, “Sateless”, “The most Beautiful”). The role of Katya is played by Ekaterina Astahova (“Russian Chocolate”, “Institute For Noble Maidens”, “Kings Of The Game”). Also starring Nina Usatova, Vladimir Iliin, Victoria Tolstoganova, Egor Barinov, Boris Kamorzin and others.

 

During the prep period the actors took several courses of military science and flying practise. Specially for this project PRONTO FILM made a construction of TU2 warplane in its original size.

 

The producers are Victor Mirskii, Maxim Uhanov, executive producer – Maxim Asadchyy, line producer – Sergei Lysyanyi).

Here's a trailer.  Almost looks to have a "Band of Brothers" aesthetic about it, but it certainly looks like it has a lot of promise!  Will update if I'm able to find a way to watch this!

More info and some more production stills can be found here:

http://www.pronto.kiev.ua/featured/tv_design/10

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The backstory:  98-pound weakling Steve Rogers gets tapped for a government experiment to create a new breed of "super soldiers" to fight the Nazis in Europe.  Only it turns out there is a more sinister menace to deal with.  That of course is the still more ambitious world-domination-bent group HYDRA, helmed by the more-evil-than-Hitler "Red Skull" aka Johann Schmit.  After his initial transformation, he's sent out to be a spokesperson in a "Captain America" themed war bond tour, finally ending up in Europe and having to rescue his best friend, Bucky Barnes.  He's re-re-purposed (back to his original, uh, purpose) and he and his team hunt down Hydra's bases and ultimately (as always, without spoiling the fun) the good guys win.

I'm not about to debate the merits of this movie from a realistic or historic point of view.  Because it really hasn't any.  But that's not the point.  Actually, I fear a lot of the subtler points of the movie will be lost on today's generation, who a) don't understand a lot of WWII history, and b) don't get things like war bond drives and 4F jokes.

Of course, the real purpose of this film is to set up an "Avengers" movie somewhere down the road, along with the other recent Marvel onscreen characters Thor, Iron Man, and probably another Hulk movie.  (I can't remember if the last one was part of this effort or not!)  So yeah, SHIELD will make an obvious appearance here.  There's also a subtle tie-in to the Thor movie at the beginning, but its done in a way that if you didn't see Thor, you're not left scratching your head.

All-in all, there's lots of war-movie-like action to be had.  Even if it does involve human-vaporizing laser weapons, various Nazi-might-have-beens and other obvious anachronisms.  Actually I felt in a lot of places certain elements may have been "borrowed" from Raiders of the Lost Ark.  Such as the giant and imagined flying wing aircraft, and Schmit's scientist sidekick looking suspiciously like Major Toht at times.  Don't miss the visit by Himmler and Goebbels to Hydra's compound either, another moment probably lost on a lot of people as I don't think it was explained who they were.  At least it looked like it was supposed to be them. *shrug*

But what I thought really made this movie was its "respect" if you will for the entire character and mythos of Captain America, and the time he was conceived in.  Just another kid from Brooklyn turned super hero during the war.  The whole war bond tour and 4F routine, while probably foreign to a lot of viewers, are a big tip-of-the-hat to past war movies.  And, I've heard a lot of complaining about the in-your-face patriotism and "propaganda" present in this film, BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE POINT, isn't it?!  If anything it only makes everything better.

Chris Evans has the looks and chemistry to pull off this character big time, I can't say anything bad there.  They definitely found their "All American Boy."   Of course you've got to have a female character/love interest, and Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter manages to be a strong, yet somehow stereotypical 40's female character at the same time.  Hugo Weaving is (as always) menacing as the evil Red Skull, even if the character's makeup kept reminding me of British heavy metal band Iron Maiden's mascot, Eddie.   And Tommy Lee Jones steals the show all around as Col. Philips, managing to be both the archetypal hard-ass superior and the source of a lot of straight-man comic relief.  Then there's the Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) character.  I've heard a lot of griping from the comic-purist community about how this was handled, and not knowing anything about the character's previous incarnations, I still thought it sucked.

The rest of the good Captain's team just seems to be along for the ride, though, which is understandable, not everyone can be front and center.  And (as I said) there is a cameo near the end by Samuel L. Jackson reprising his role from Iron Man 2 as part of the SHIELD organization.

What can go wrong?  Turns out, that much like Thor, there is a great deal of time spent on explaining the "origin" bit, which leaves precious little time for action.  From Roger's initial transformation and "discovery" we're left with quite a lull in the action.  Get past it, though, and it doesn't stop.

So, if you're willing to shut off your brain for a couple of hours, sit back and enjoy the ride, Captain America: The First Avenger just might take you back to the glory days of superheroes and war movies at the same time.  Maybe.  It did me, anyway.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458339/

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