Posted on 09/24/2006 7:15:44 PM PDT by oyez
(I havn't posted a topic in years so please bear with me.)
We finally get a story of good American volunteer-ism, comradeship and adventure without the pacifist claptrap. This is the kind of war movie the public has been asking for for sometime. I'm not a movie expert but it is in the spirit of Howard Hughes's "Hell's Angels", but not as classic. It is done in an acceptable context that schools could use as video material. There is no bad language just the pain and horror of war.
I have not read any reviews of the movie, but I can predict the critics will call it another shallow, unrealistic piece of "America saves the world" genera.
Lafayette Escadrille did not save France or anyone else, it gave the French the assurance the Americans were kindred in spirit of the price of freedom.
I sometimes regret America ever got the ball rolling by joining in WWI. Had we not, the war would have ended in 1920. The armistice would have been written with the same mistakes and with seeds for the next war. America would have been spared of the casualties, the expense, the depression of the '30's, and the devastation of the Spanish flu.
Then again we wouldn't have had the dress rehearsal for WWII.
I fear that yet within a few years the clarion call will go out for "America to save us all" once again.
I invite comments form FR. Most are more eloquent than I.
Ed Blank of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review (owned by Richard Mellon Scaife) gave it a very good review.
I agree that the war was one we should have avoided if possible (although I'm not so sure we could have). At any rate, I'm pretty sure we would have been hit with the flu regardless. It managed to find its way to every other corner of the earth, most of which wasn't inovled in the Great War.
The Wall Street Journal gave it an excellent front page last Friday. I am going to see it.
Thank you,oyez!
Bump
And most of us are less modest than you : )
Medved loved this movie.
The assertion that the depression was caused by our involvement in WWI as a combatant is dubious and it's far from certain that the 1918 Influenza (had nothing in particular to do with Spain) was caused by it either.
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=705
Here is the review by the Trib's film reviewer, Ed Blank: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_471620.html "It isn't a movie likely to be sought out by general audiences, which is a pity. It's a proud American military drama that serves us better than anything else in the marketplace." Reading his review made me interested in seeing it. There was also a WSJ piece on how few WWI movies are made anymore, esp about dogfights- they are exceedingly dangerous.
Decent flick. I am sure the leftist movie critics will pan it because it depicts American military heroism.
http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=245
Contra Costa Times gave it a poor rating saying it was a gung ho American adventure flick that does not properly express the horrors of war.
How will this country ever survive if we can't have pride in our own valiant service.
And I meant say that special effects were spectacular. I can't always comment well on content, but I know good action when I see it.
Link for the movie trailor...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6444528753478386821
it gave the French the assurance the Americans were kindred in spirit of the price of freedom.
Very true... I wonder if Americans should expect the same from the French..
From the previews I've seen the aircraft perform maneuvers that would shame todays F-15's. That and EVERY german aircraft is a red triplane (Apparently Hollywood thinks audiences are too stupid to keep track of whats going on otherwise).
Hollywood just refuses to accurately model aircraft performance these days...
I'll keep my $10.00 a ticket thanks!
I found the movie HIGHLY entertaining. The furball dogfights were awesome to watch after years of jet dogfights in movies. Having worked with pilots for 26 years, I did get some private giggles when no one else was laughing!!!
I am currently reading Jeff Shaara's Last Man Standing which is about this same unit of pioneer fighter pilots and is a fascinating read.
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