Red Tails Movie

[mikewint]

That Lucas may retire is possible but sequels are like warts and don't have to be by the originators. Again money talks. I can easily see a prequel and a postquel to this movie. Lucas had planned three more star wars movies which would have dealt with the decline of the new republic and would have used a totally new cast but the money just was not there after III Revenge of the Sith did not do well.

 

[TomM]

A total waste of money!!!! If you want to feel "stupeder" after 2 hours of your time - be my guest.

Only the CGI was good, and it was historically incorrect.

Save your money, and wait for it on cable or Redbox. That will be in a month or two.

 

[kettbo]

I took my 20 year old son to see the movie tonight
Sure it had inaccuracies, occasional corny dialog, a mandatory love story thrown in....but when you have some pretty nice wide screen air battles, PRICELESS
The movie showed fwd base living, some other good stuff
Rating? Better than most war movies as P-51s, B-17s, 262s etc are my favorite

 

[Crimea_River]

I went in with low expectations so was not disappointed. I actually liked some of the CGI, despite the obvious errors already noted.

 

[kettbo]

Ten minutes of chit chat and romance cut out and ten more minutes of any kind of action would have made a better movie for sure...
The guys wounded in the cockpits sure shows air battles were not sanitary affairs and what exactly getting a 'kill' means

 

[javlin]

I heard it was good actors looking bad so the writers and directors must of sucked.Lucas has not really made anything worthy of note since ???????

 

[paletteone]

Saw it a couple of days ago and my expectations were met. It's definitely a loosely based interpretation, not a historically sound drama. It was a bit one-dimensional in that the Germans appeared a little too inept in the aerial sequences, which was undoubtedly not the case. The stereotype German "Vader-like" grouchy menace and the flamboyant American "players" fit in well with a shallow script. I don't think that the little romantic sideline was needed, it was a bit like "Pearl Harbor" the movie in that regard. For me it could be a movie geared more to the casual WWII airplane enthusiast in the 13-18 years of age bracket. It's not going to get any critical acclaim but, saying that, I found it entertaining anyway purely from an "enthusiast's" point of view, admiring those beautiful machines and the computer graphics, although it still seemed that the sky was "jammed" with aircraft. Maybe it would have been better told had it been made as a biopic on Benjamin O. Davis. Jr.

 

[GregP]

One thing to note: People didn't TALK the way they do in the movie commercials in WWII, and black aviators didn't think or talk the way they do in the previews. They were GLAD to BE there, not ready to talk trash like someone from the 1960's or later. In reality, they did a great job, but DID lose bombers they escorted. They were great pilots who did a credible job, but not what is purported by the popular myth that they didn't lose ANY bombers to enemy aircraft while being escorted by them. Right is right; give them the credit they deserve, which is a lot, but don't lie to make it seem better.

The people who spread the lie weren't IN the Red Tails, they are later people who want to get credit for their race that is not true. The REAL Red Tails did a VERY good job, but not perfect. In battle, NOBODY was perfect ... white, black, red, yellow, or neopolitan. But the Red Tails were VERY good and did a job commensurate with a good organization with good pilots and good results. They deserve the credit for a job well done. I applaud them for success in the face of discrimination and outright sabotage from people interested in their failure.

Other movies have exaggerated accomplishments by other organizations (think of the Dirty Dozen, not a real organization and not a real mission, but entertaining), so why not THIS one? When I see Red Tails, it might be very entertaining ... loks like it will be. If so, then Hollywood had done its job. It is released as movie, not as a historical documentary. It could very well be a great movie ... we'll see. I will NOT dislike it becasue the pilots are black; I would never do that. I am reacting to the previews that show people acting as we do today (especially in films), NOT as they did in WWII.

U-571 was a good movie, but not related to historic fact. The engima machine was captured by the British, not the U.S.A. ... but it was entertaining even if not historicall truthful. In fact, it was a total fabrication. I loved the Fiat G-59!

Great fabrications include "Run Silent, Run Deep", "Fate is the Hunter", "Jet Pilot" ... and lot of OTHER movies including one of my favorites, "Chain Lightning" with Humphrey Bogart. It was about a fictitous jet called the JA-3 and JA-4, but is a decent 1950's movie even if historically inaccurate. So was Dr. Strangelove.

really looking forward to seeing "Red Tails" it soon to see for myself how entertaining it is.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I agree with you Greg.

I am not as enthusiastic about The Red Tails movie as you are, but I will certainly watch it and take it for what it is.

 

[Njaco]

Don't forget "Inglorious Bastards"...Now if only that were real!!!

The true strength of the Tuskegee Airmen is that they finally and forever laid to rest the myth that black /African-American people were not equal to Caucasian/white people. They did this against barriers that would have crumbled lesser men. THat is what I see their main contribution being and they should be hailed for that.

 

[DVH]

Anyone heard if this will be released outside the USA? Lucas put up the cost of the movie plus distribution himself, 93 million dollars! So I doubt hell finance a world release nor DVD. I would rather like to see it.

 

[hitoshi]

Indeed. I hope we get to see it down here in Oz

 

[drgondog]

I have had more than a few calls from veteran WWII ETO fighter pilots who were livid at the implication that the 'white fighter pilots' were too interested in glory hunting after LW to the detriment of protecting the bombers.

They are extremely angry - as well as disappointed at the lack of technical correctness depicting fighter operations. The latter was no big deal and chalked up to Hollywood - but the former insult regarding the integrity of American fighter pilots leaving other American air crews to die in the air for glory was unforgivable.

They do NOT blame the 332nd FG vets - but do blame Hollywood PC in general and Lucas in particular for spreading a load of manure beyond even normal Hollywood standards.

 

[pbfoot]

To turn it around the Black Guys got no recognition for 50years I guess its their time in the spotlight . Please understand it s not a point I agree with but it is understandable

 

[drgondog]

To turn it around the Black Guys got no recognition for 50years I guess its their time in the spotlight . Please understand it s not a point I agree with but it is understandable

Neil - it is not understandable for a writer and a director and a producer to'give' the spotlight in a manner that denigrates the memory and reputation of all the 'white' pilots that died defending bombers during WWII by implying that a.) they only cared about shooting down German aircraft, and, b.) did not care about the bomber crews they were escorting.

I think the 332nd deserves all the recognition it should rightfully have with respect to the insults and discrimination they suffered (as a race) just to get into combat and fight for their country rather than be relegated to stewards and quartermaster corps laborers. I get it.

My issue is the outrage of building up the 332nd by tearing down the reputation of all the pilots that flew escort to 15th AF (and by connection - all fighter escort pilots) in order to raise the 332nd's legacy.

That is simply obscene and really demands a public apology from Lucas to the fighter pilots that he slandered in the movie..

 

[pbfoot]

Please try and recall all the movies out of Hollywood that have totally missed the real story or in some way changed history to the point that some accept the movie version over reality . I would think that the crap movies by far outweigh the the ones based on reality

 

[ccheese]

I've seen what Hollywood can do to a good war movie. Most of the submarine movies, especially "Torpedo Alley" were take off's of real events. "Torpedo Alley" was suppose to have been the story of the sinking of Japan's super aircraft carrier "Shinano" by the USS Archerfish. Archerfish just happened to be in the right place at the right time to take advantage of an "Ultra" informing the submarine fleet of her departure. The sub put four fish into her and she went down. In the movie the sub that sank her was sunk, but most of her crew rescued by another sub. Of course, all the names were changed.

I just wonder what Hollywood would do to the story of the sinking of the Japanese Hospital Ship Awa Maru ?

Charles

 

[tyrodtom]

Just think how mad some of the survivors of the Thailand-Burma railway forced labor must have been when the " The Bridge over the River Kwai" come out.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Neil - it is not understandable for a writer and a director and a producer to'give' the spotlight in a manner that denigrates the memory and reputation of all the 'white' pilots that died defending bombers during WWII by implying that a.) they only cared about shooting down German aircraft, and, b.) did not care about the bomber crews they were escorting.

I think the 332nd deserves all the recognition it should rightfully have with respect to the insults and discrimination they suffered (as a race) just to get into combat and fight for their country rather than be relegated to stewards and quartermaster corps laborers. I get it.

My issue is the outrage of building up the 332nd by tearing down the reputation of all the pilots that flew escort to 15th AF (and by connection - all fighter escort pilots) in order to raise the 332nd's legacy.

That is simply obscene and really demands a public apology from Lucas to the fighter pilots that he slandered in the movie..

Careful Bill, you might be labeled a Racist by someone...

Just because you want the truth told.

 

[drgondog]

Ahhh Chris - I'm too old to care whether other people deem me 'politically-incorrect' or even 'racist' for the above remarks.

You might not believe the rage in the 30+ emails I have gotten from surviving aces and 'plain ol fighter pilots' who died inside every time they saw a Fort blow up or a B-24 spinning out of control with no chutes. Lucas fits right up there with Josef Goebbels at the moment.

Personally I think General Benjamin O Davis, Jr would roll over in his grave if he saw that movie. He would be proud of the recognition but pissed at the Hollywood treatment.

I know personally some of the 'characters' like Momyer that tried to stick it to the 99th when Davis was squadron CO before being integrated into the 332nd. I know a LOT of USAF fighter pilots (white) that didn't think much of Momyer or his style. I haven't seen the movie - just the trailers but if they portrayed Monk Hunter or Momyer as racists in 1944 they could be right.