FLYBOYS..

[Marc gto]

Anyone see the movie flyboys??is it good or a (pearl harbor)

[morvwilson]

I was goin to rent, hate buying movies I haven't seen.

[Marc gto]

THE EFFECTS LOOK GOOD IN THE TRAILER

[Dirtdog20]

Pearl Harbor does France

If you want something historical then you will be disapointed.  If you want a chick flick that you can watch for the flying scenes, to CGI heavy, then its a movie for you.

[Marc gto]

THANKS DIRT I KINDA THOUGHT THAT..JUST LIKE PEARL...DAMN...

[rhondabrwn]

Try renting the original Howard Hughes' "Hells Angels" if you want realistic air fights. Flyboys looks like a video game when the fighting starts. I did enjoy the shots of the planes sitting or taxing on the ground though, as those were quite realistic looking. I assume they were reconstructions and flyable, but maybe all they could do was taxi.

Remember that Hughes actually had a fleet of vintage aircraft at his disposal and routinely put 50 to 90 planes into the air and filmed them from a WW I era bomber while in flight.

The more recent movie, "The Aviator" is good to watch before viewing "Hell's Angels" to get a perspective on Hugh's accomplishment in producing his epic.

[Ironclad]

I must admit to liking the Blue Max, even the cheesy bits. It has some great aerial shots and dogfights and who can forget the aerodynamic qualities of that towel.

[TriumphRider]

Hey wasn't Hannibal (A-Team) in the Blue Max?! I remember that movie..man it was pretty cheesy...

[anarchyintheuk]

ORIGINAL: rhondabrwn

Try renting the original Howard Hughes' "Hells Angels" if you want realistic air fights. Flyboys looks like a video game when the fighting starts.

Surprising but true. Who would have thought that 1920s movie effects would be better than 2000s cgi? Scripts haven't exactly advanced either. Every time I see a movie like Flyboys I think there another masters in english shot to hell.

[SMK-at-work]

It wasn't "effects" in the 20's - it was actual a/c flying actual "dogfights" lacking only ammo in the guns!

[morvwilson]

Rented flyboys the other day, glad I did not pay to see this in the theater. But I think you are wrong about it being Pearl Harbor in France. I do not think it was quite that good.
 
Best WW I flicks I have seen, All Quiet on The Western Front, Blue Max, Galipoli.

[SMK-at-work]

I can recommend "The Light Horsemen" if you havent' seen it already.  An Aussie movie about mounted infantry in Palestine culminating the their charge at Beethsheba.
 
I've seen both versions of "All Quiet.." - the original and the one staring the chap who played John-boy Walton - I thought they were both superb.

[anarchyintheuk]

Was talking about the speeded up film, smoke streamers from planes, close-up of pilot supposedly flying but is obviously in the studio, etc. all somehow being more effective than modern cgi.

Ditto on both versions of All Quiet on the Western Front.

[Dirtdog20]

The Light Horsemen is an awsome movie.  I will have to put it in my movie que.  Thanks for reminding me!!

[spence]

The Lighthorsemen is only available as a Region 4 DVD and is in PAL Format so you have to spring for an All Region or No Region DVD Player (forget exactly what it is called) which can change PAL format to NTSC format (to feed Yankee TVs something they can see). Can be done for around $300 or so I think (forgot that too I'm afraid). But once you've done that you can get the ANZACS DVD too which will make it all worthwhile for any Yank with an interest in WWI.

BTW any Aussie/Kiwis wandering through this thread should chime in with info on any other outstanding home grown (for you guys) stuff of the same caliber as Lighthorsemen and ANZACS (In case I've missed something).

[SMK-at-work]

there's not a lot of Kiwi war movies - but some are available at  http://www.nzvideos.org/
 
"Utu" is not a bad depiction of the Maori Land Wars here in the mid 1800's.
 "Rewi's Last Stand" which is a bit more "romantic" about a similar subject,
"River Queen" is another set in the Land Wars,
"Chunaik Bair" is about the high point (literally) of the Gallipioli campaign
 
and that seems to be about it.

[spence]

"Chunaik Bair" AKA Chunuk Bair
 
Dang, can't seem to find anybody who's got it for sale.

[spence]

It appears that the OZies are beginning production of another flick concerning the First World War entitled "The 34th Battalion". Got to see a short video clip when I "googled (video)" ANZACS. Looks pretty intense and interesting. Doesn't look like the targetted audience includes lots of teenage girls.

[sol_invictus]

I rented Flyboys last week with low expectations and can safely say I was underwhelmed, as expected. I should have just watched my copy of The Blue Max and saved a few bucks.