Usually I like this sort of thing.  Raiders of the Lost Ark (AND The Last Crusade!) were pretty damned, well, awesome, and I've played the crap out of Return to Castle Wolfenstein....

...but this.  No.  Just didn't feel it.  Maybe its because I'm just not a big anime fan. This was a joint Russian and Japanese production, so it had that stereotypical anime look and feel to it.  Nothing wrong with that, but it just doesn't do it for me.

Not to mention the story was just plain flat and silly, and was over way too quick.  It was like "um, that's the ending? really? ran out of money did we?"

I don't know what else to say about it.  I watched it with the original Russian dialog, subtitled, thinking it might be a better experience (usually this is true) but it still felt like I was watching a half-ass dubbed barely-animated cartoon with a paper thin plot.

So, no, I didn't much like it.  Unless you are a die hard anime fan or are morbidly curious, just steer clear of First Squad.

First Squad: The Moment of Truth [Blu-ray] List Price: $29.99 Sale Price: $15.00 You save: $14.99 (50%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Description

Set during the opening days of World War II on the Eastern Front. Its main cast is a group of Soviet teenagers with extraordinary abilities; the teenagers have been drafted to form a special unit to fight the invading German army. They are opposed by a Schutzstaffel (SS) officer who is attempting to raise from the dead a supernatural army of crusaders from the 12th-century Order of the Sacred Cross and enlist them in the Nazi cause.

DVD Information

Binding: Blu-ray
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Brand:
Manufacturer: ANCHOR BAY
Original Release Date:
Actors:

• Elena Chebaturkina
• Cassandra Lee Morris

Reviews

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Related posts:

1. First Squad
2. City of Life and Death (2009)
3. WWII in HD (2009)
4. Inglorious Basterds (2009)
5. The Men Who Stare At Goats (2009)

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

Billed as a movie about a "top secret operation to infiltrate the Nazi's secret rocket base!" turns out to be not much more than a rather dull attempt at intrigue or something.  Probably more an excuse to get Sophia Loren on screen, in a sequence that takes far far too much screen time.

Part of the reason I watched this movie, was I had just finished watching the recent NOVA episode on the British recon photo experts and how they managed to deduce the locations and meaning of the V-1 and V-2 rocket sites.  This seemed relevant.  Well, I think I enjoyed the NOVA episode more.

Long story short, American Curtis (George Peppard) and Brit Lindemann (Trevor Howard) infiltrate the base disguised as scientists.  They (of course) manage to expose the position of the base exactly as British bombers make their run.  Of course this is at the cost of their own lives.  Making it all more dramatic I suppose.

Turns out "Crossbow" was actually the name of the over-arching operation against the German long-range weapons program, you can read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Crossbow

As a movie, well, this movie anyway.  I was pretty disappointed.  It felt more like an episode of some 2nd rate 1960's TV series to me.  Your milage may vary of course....  Giving a 4/10...  I just wasn't feeling the love on this one.

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A fearsome rumor reaches Britain's World War II command. The Nazis are developing rocket technology that could rain death on London and, then, New York. Quickly, England develops a plan to send saboteurs into the sites manufacturing the rockets. Just moments after the carefully chosen commandos parachute into the drop zone, their pilot receives an urgent message. The mission may be compromised. Abort. Operation Crossbow is the partly fact-based tale of how that team succeeded against daunting odds. Michael Anderson (The Dam Busters, Logan's Run) directs, guiding a huge cast in a film that builds to a spectacular finale, yet never neglects war's unsparing personal costs. As a record of a wartime espionage incursion and as an intrigue-filled thriller, Operation Crossbow is on both counts Operation Accomplished. DVD Features:Featurette:Vintage Featurette A Look Back at CrossbowTheatrical Trailer

Operation Crossbow was one among many '60s films aiming, in the wake of The Guns of Navarone, to cash in on nostalgia for "the Good War" of 20 years earlier, plus snag a share of the spy-movie market stoked by James Bond. A decent-enough stiff-upper-lip thriller in its day, it's yet more enjoyable now. The nostalgia has deepened to include affectionate enjoyment of a fine, big cast now mostly departed, dependably hitting their marks in a jolly good yarn. The tale begins around the midpoint of the war, with Hitler aspiring to hurl a second Blitz against London using "flying bombs" and rockets. The British War Office starts recruiting officers fluent in the necessary technical fields, as well as German, Dutch, and/or French--the languages of the Nazi-occupied countries from which the Germans are recruiting technical personnel. The screenplay follows two tracks: the Germans' progress with their new aerial weaponry, and the progress of the Allied infiltrators--chiefly Yank George Peppard, chirpy Englishman Jeremy Kemp, and Dutchman Tom Courtenay--sent to penetrate the V2 project. Despite the resemblance between the Navarone caves and the underground V2 launch center, Crossbow is something of an anti-Navarone. Its heroes are resolutely small-scale, and the mission is fraught with more opportunities for horrible miscues and moral-ethical murkiness than commando derring-do. The most memorable, indeed disturbing, part of the film involves Sophia Loren as the apolitical wife of a collaborator she doesn't know has been killed (and his identity assumed by Peppard). John Mills and Trevor Howard are deliciously deadpan trading war-council flapdoodle at the highest echelon, and Anthony Quayle (the spiritual leader of the Navarone mission) does yeoman service in a tricky role. Time--or rather, the transfer to video--has also been kind to the film's thin, overlit Metrocolor and last-reel special effects, which looked feebler on theater screens. The writers include Michael Powell's longtime partner Emeric Pressburger (under the pseudonym Richard Imrie). --Richard T. Jameson

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Brand: Warner Brothers
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Original Release Date:
Actors:

• Sophia Loren
• George Peppard
• Trevor Howard

Features

• A fearsome rumor reaches Britain's World War II command. The Nazis are developing rocket technology that could rain death on London and, then, New York. Quickly, England develops a plan to send saboteurs into the sites manufacturing the rockets. Just moments after the carefully chosen commandos parachute into the drop zone, their pilot receives an urgent message. The mission may be compromised. Ab

Reviews

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Related posts:

1. Operation Bikini (1963)
2. In Harm’s Way (1965)
3. 36 Hours (1965)
4. Battle of the Bulge (1965)
5. None But The Brave (1965)

The short version: City of Life and Death is a condensation of the 1937 "Rape of Nanking" in which Japanese troops occupied the city and engaged in an orgy of violence that really has no comparison.  The story then follows German diplomat John Rabe's secretary Tang and his family as they try to survive, and escape the desperate situation.

From the beginning, you know you're in for a different experience.  The initial combat sequence is one of the best in recent memory.  From the tangible fear and tension, to the under-produced yet blisteringly real sound and gritty no-nonsense direction....  There's no lead-in apart from some brief narrative on postcards, it just happens.  It is what it is, and that's part of what makes this such an incredible picture.  Events unfold without warning, seemingly without purpose, leaving us (and them) to wonder "what is next?!"

The black and white presentation of the entire movie only adds to the overall feel.  Not only that, but, for me at least, it tempers the graphic violence and inhumanity throughout, and really solidifies the message behind it.  What message?  "China will live on."  This movie is about emotion, not about "how graphic can we make it."

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

After the initial battle scene, the Japanese execute hundreds (more?) of prisoners outright.  Among them is a young boy, Xiaodouji.  He winds up in the "safe zone" for foreigners and embassy workers, along with Mr. Tang and his family, and another survivor (the name eludes me, bloody language barrier)....  From this point we watch as Tang and Rabe attempt to keep these people safe, while Tang also tries to make arrangements to keep his family safe, and eventually leave.  Then the Japanese make headway into the zone, and infamously "recruit" (read enslave) women for their "comfort stations"....

Then there is the tale of Japanese soldier Kadokawa.  He is (as is often the case) a young, impressionable, inexperienced man thrown into the war on the other side, and caught up wholeheartedly in the Japanese nationalist doctrine.  He's forced to contend with trying to survive and deal with what he's seen, and done, and his story is almost as compelling as the Tang family's.  I wouldn't call it sympathetic by any means, but it serves as a valuable counterpoint.

Let me get back to my original statement.  Yes, I feel that this movie is everything that Schindler's List should have been.  Quite frankly it makes Schindler's List look like a bad TV movie.  I've never been a big fan of "List,"  I thought it was forced and pretentious.  I make this comparison for two reasons.  One, the black and white presentation absolutely screams for it.  And two, both films exist to expose and decry the atrocities committed by the other side.   In both these arenas, "City" far surpasses "List", without becoming overly "preachy" or attempting to shove the message down your throat.

Honestly, I can't recall the last time I was affected by a movie like I was in this case.  It was absolutely painful, tear and squirm-inducing, and difficult to watch overall, but at the same time, it was a beautiful, beautiful film, with some sincere moments of joy to be found.

Just so there are no surprises, the film is shot (quite stunningly) in black and white, and is entirely in Mandarin and Japanese, with a few bits of English and German as it pertains to the embassy staff.

I don't turn out many 9/10 ratings.  I'm even going so far as to give City of Life and Death a 9.5.  Yeah, it is that good of a movie, despite being incredibly painful and difficult to watch.  It even made a hardened war-movie-veteran like me choke up on several occasions, and that doesn't happen too often.  If this review seems a bit wandering, jumbled, and disconnected, its because I found it difficult to put down in words the experience.

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City of Life and Death: 2 Disc Special Edition [Blu-ray] List Price: $39.95 Sale Price: $20.01 You save: $19.94 (50%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Description

On December 9, 1937, the Imperial Japanese Army laid siege to the Chinese capital of Nanking, beginning a reign of terror that killed as many as 300,000 civilians - an infamous tragedy now referred to as the Rape of Nanking. The first big-budget fiction film by the Chinese to deal with this seminal event in their modern history, City Of Life And Death is a visceral, heartbreaking portrait of life during wartime, and an unforgettable masterpiece of contemporary world cinema. 2-DISC Special edition includes feature-length documentary about the making of this groundbreaking motion picture.

DVD Information

Binding: Blu-ray
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Brand:
Manufacturer: KINO INTERNATIONAL
Original Release Date:
Actors:

• Hideo Nakaizumi
• Ye Liu
• Yuanyuan Gao

Reviews

Related posts:

1. The Fog of War – Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (2003)
2. WWII in HD (2009)
3. Inglorious Basterds (2009)
4. Lebanon (2009)
5. The Men Who Stare At Goats (2009)

...and it does a fine job.  An excellent job, even.  This is quite the examination of history during that time period.  A lot of things I never knew about, or realized, or put the pieces together with.  From the Versailles treaty all the way to Pearl Harbor, you'll be surprised just how many events transpired which, now that we look at it, brought about the inevitability of the second war.

I think a great part of this is the credibility involved here.  Made in the 70's (a short 30 years after WWII), you've got commentary from people who either were *directly* involved in these events, such as host and journalist Eric Sevareid, to a myriad of professors and other figures.

Additionally, you'll get some Hearst Newsreels on each disc, which give a short summary and different perspective of either events that were talked about, or weren't....  Either way, the inclusion of these in this set works to its benefit (versus the earlier WWII in the Pacific set, where the European-theater-centric newsreels didn't make sense.)  I'm not sure of the source of these newsreels, the production and voice-over seem to indicate a much later production date, rather than contemporary pieces.  (Which I'd still like to see a good "movietone news" or similar DVD set from the war!)

The series is presented from a US-centric viewpoint.  Meaning that the events described take place starting from the US' short but pivotal role in WWI, up until Pearl Harbor.  But, it does examine all the other happenings between those two events, including the war in Europe, and Japan's expansion in Asia.  This is key, as a lot of these sort of documentaries merely jump in with both feet at Pearl Harbor, as if nothing at all had happened until then.

If you're a military history buff, then this is a must-have.  The films themselves appear to have been rescued, but not restored.  I only mention this because they do appear rather rough at times, and I wouldn't want anyone thinking you're getting anything different.  I don't have a problem with this at all.  This is about preservation mostly, and I'm glad that Readers' Digest and Questar have put this series to disc for the archives, instead of letting the film or tape turn to dust in some closet somewhere.

The Road to World War II officially releases October 18, with a sticker price of $49.99, although Amazon (and likely others) has it for less.

Here's a summary of the episode titles, which should give you an idea of the series comprehensive look....

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

The entire series is also available to "rent" on YouTube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fh11LMYSrk&list=SL&feature=sh_e_se

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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

Related posts:

1. World War I Films of the Silent Era (1917/1975/2002)
2. Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
3. Force 10 From Navarone (1978)
4. Inglorious Bastards (Quel Maledetto Treno Blindato, 1978)
5. War Horse (2011)

Short version:  Russian Bomber pilot Andrei Grivstov (Nikia Efremoy) is shot down over German territory, along with his love and radio operator Katia (Ekaterina Astakhova), and his Navigator, who was able to parachute before they crash.  They are separated, as he goes to prison, escapes to fight with guerillas and eventually work his way back to "the world", while Katia is able to infiltrate the German command.  The both of them at times are unknowingly close to each other, but never meet again, until the end (whoops! spoiler! But you knew it was coming....)  His navigator, well, I'll have to let you watch it for that.

I say short version, because a) This movie is three hours long, and b) It is really fairly complex as far as the plot goes.  Forget about a nice, simple, romance set in WWII Europe.  The romance is pretty ancillary to the rest of the movie, as is the entire "bomber" premise.  Really the aviation aspect only plays out in the first section of the movie, as Grivstov and his crew are nearly shot down once, then actually shot down shortly thereafter.

What you do get, though, is a complex web of a tale of loyalty, intrigue, combat, and betrayal.  I'm not even going to begin to try to explain the finer details of the plot.  It manages to take several different twists and turns, and does so without that "meandering" feel that can sometimes happen.  From their initial crash landing, separation, their separate stories which nearly brings them together a couple of times, the tension between pilot and navigator, the German-induced subversion....  like I said, it can get complicated.  But it all pans out in the end.  Keep in mind this was initially a TV miniseries, so with that in mind, it makes even more sense.

A big theme of the film (as I saw it with my western eyes) was the ruthlessness of the Russian command.  From the beginning where Grivstov is nearly labelled a conspirator for no good reason, to later on when he actually is labelled such (again for no good reason, with no evidence but a photo).... and contrasted with the German command....   Its a fair portrayal of the lesser of two evils.  The Stalin regime basically not being much better than what they were fighting, but having to defend their homeland out of necessity....

Production wise I was suitably impressed with The Bomber.  Any preconceived notions about the Russians making substandard movies should be chucked right out the window.  The only failing to my untrained eye was the CG airborne effects at the beginning.  They're still quite excellent, though.  Historically accurate? I can't say, but I "bought it", if you take my meaning.

The acting was really the high point of the film, though.  The two (three?) principals here really held their own throughout.  I can't give enough credit here.

But the action, especially during the final "train" combat sequence, was really, really excellent.  Coupled with the aforementioned attention to production (think blowing up trains and bridges) and I was never let down.

If there was a major flaw, I'd have to say it was the subtitles' translations.  I don't know Russian to save my own life, but some of the translations given either didn't make sense, used incorrect words/phrases for the context, or were themselves a mash of "foreign english."  Leaving out words/grammar that we would consider normal.....  A minor nitpick, I know, but a times could leave you having to translate the translation.

And, like I said, don't worry about the "love story" getting in the way.  It doesn't.  It is what drives the film to its final conclusion, but really at no point does the film really make any concessions to it.  That's just my opinion.

The Bomber is definitely worth the foray if you can get a copy (its not out in the states to my knowledge) and can sit down for a few hours, and actually get involved in a decently thought through story.  You won't be disappointed.

(Amazon link/info below is to the UK site... FYI)

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The Bomber [DVD] List Price: £12.99 Sale Price: £2.19 You save: £10.80 (83%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days

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United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: Russian ( Dolby Digital Stereo ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: During World War II, a soviet aircraft crashes on Nazi-occupied territory. But the pilot Grivtsov and his beloved radio operator Katya miraculously survive. Another survivor is flight navigator Linko, who ejected from the plane. Each of them has to find his way and perform military tasks, return to his own forces and simply to stay alive. The situation becomes more complicated because of an act of sabotage, which has been committed before their take-off at the aerodrome. Honest Grivtsov gets on the bad side of the colonel of SMERSH by defending his friends. Instead of being granted a medal 'Star' for his 100th flight, he is pronounced a traitor and is to be executed. ...The Bomber (2011) ( Ballada o Bombere ) ( Ballad about the Bomber )

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio:
Audience Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Brand: REVOLVER ENTERTAINMENT
Manufacturer: Revolver Entertainment
Original Release Date:
Actors:

• Nikita Efremov
• Ekaterina Astakhova
• Aleksandr Davydov
• Vladislav Abashin
• Egor Barinov

Reviews

Related posts:

1. Dive Bomber (1941)
2. The Road to World War II (1978, 2011)
3. Ironclad (2011)
4. War Horse (2011)
5. Vietnam in HD (2011, Blu Ray)

Adolf Grünbaum (Ulrich Mühe) is that actor.  He's pulled from the camps at the behest of Goebbels himself, much to the dismay of many in the Reich.  He proceeds to school Hitler in all manner of acting and presentation skills and exercises, while finding lots of ways to "get at" der Furher.  Most notably rendering him unconscious through a punch to the face when asked why he (and his people) don't fight back.  Grunbaum does hatch a plan to do just that, and nearly succeeds.... but I don't want to spoil the whole thing!

From the beginning, you can tell that its going to be funny, with a Python-esque routine of multiple "Heils!" as he's escorted into the main office, and then given a ham sandwich.  And there are plenty of humorous moments, especially at the end during the speech.  A lot of it is pretty tongue-in-cheek, dry wit, kind of stuff, but funny nonetheless.

But.

There is always a very serious undertone throughout the film.  So much so at times that any humor that gets laid over the top doesn't seem quite so funny anymore.  Either that or the humor is immediately met with some atrocity (like the ending), classically tragic, or equally dark, pensive moment that you quickly forget what it was you were laughing at.

That's not to say its just a roller coaster ride, either.  The conversations between Grunbaum and Hitler become quite intense and provocative, and should make you think about quite a bit.

Then there's Schneider's Hitler.  While he's an excellent actor, I never really "bought" his portrayal here.  Maybe because he looked more like Richard Nixon than Hitler throughout, I don't know.  The role here is of a classic tragic/comic figure who is predictably inept at just about everything.  But then again he's meant to be a clown here, so there's always that.  I was expecting more of a "straight man" approach to Hitler, but that seems to be more Grunbaum's character.

I am finding it hard to say if I liked this film, or not.  Like I said, it has its moments, both funny and not, but that whole shadow of darkness that is always waiting to stick its head out and go "hey, remember me?" ruins the comedy.  A lot.  Whether this was the intent of the filmmakers I'm not sure.

I can't seem to find a trailer with english subs, so here's one without any.  Hopefully you can see what I mean from this.  The trailer really doesn't do the movie justice, though.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780568/

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My Fuhrer List Price: $24.95 Sale Price: $12.86 You save: $12.09 (48%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

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The bastard love child of Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator and Mel Brooks' The Producers, My Fuhrer is a wildly provocative and laugh-out-loud satire about Adolph Hitler and the Third Reich. December 1944: Berlin lies in ruins and the war is as good as lost. Goebbels is convinced all the country needs is a re-energizing speech from the Fhrer. Adolf, however, is only a shadow of his former self; demoralized and depressed, he hides in his office. The only man who can help is Germany's finest acting teacher, Adolf Grnbaum - a Jew.

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Brand:
Manufacturer: FIRST RUN FEATURES
Original Release Date:
Actors:

• Helge Schneider
• Ulrich Muhe
• Sylvester Groth

Reviews

Related posts:

1. Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973)
2. Military Intelligence and You (2007)
3. Delta Farce (2007)
4. The War (2007)
5. Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)

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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1. Woody Harrelson Signs on For ‘Pinkville’
2. Apocalypse Meow!

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

Related posts:

1. The Bomber (2011)
2. Dive Bomber (1941)

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/

Related posts:

1. Battle: Los Angeles (2011)
2. The Road to World War II (1978, 2011)
3. Ironclad (2011)
4. The Bomber (2011)
5. Gettysburg (1993/2011, Director’s Cut, Blu Ray)