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.
It wasn't gung ho, It was about some fellows that volunteered for a mission and tried their best to live up to it. It expressed the horror war but it didn't wallow in it.
Saw it tonight. Excellent. 4 out of 5 stars.
Only technical goof I saw, (I think) Arc welding in 1916, in a tent in France?
Saw it. Loved it. Highly recommend it.
Americans volunteering for service.
Nothing new in that, but with the first in aerial combat.
It has to be good. The MSM reviewers gave the movie only a 19% approval rating, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/flyboys/
By comparison, the eruditic, deep character study known as "Jackass II" received 60% approval by many of the same reviewers.
Why are they dangerous? Is there a risk the computer graphics might crash their system? Seriously, these things aren't shot with real planes, are they? They don't shoot dinosaur fights with real dinosaurs.
My grandfather was the Lafayette Escadrille's medical officer.
Believe I'll go see this one.
Oops. I'll close my eyes at that part. No problem. I always close my eyes around arc welding anyway.
It was fairly well done, the special effects made it appear more modern than the era it was set in. It did get a bit hollywoodish in the rather transparent plot lines.
Still all in all a good movie.
:~)
Very good.
Remember, arc welding bare chested is NOT smart!
OMGoodness, a pleasure to meet you okie01.
The film has inspired me to read more on the squadron.
Actually, that era's biplanes are more manuverable than their later descendants - so that part is pretty factual. If you read up, they actually shot most of the footage using athe actual biplanes for the manuevers.
As an example, a Sopwith Camel can actually fly around in a 50' circle and still stay in the air.
I just got back from seeing it, and I liked it.
I thought it was very good, I'll also be buying the DVD when it comes out.
LOL
I don't know about you guys, but my Dad took me to see the "Blue Max" back in the '60s. Another trip to the Rhienbeck NY aerodrome to see authentic WWI planes, and I can't wait to see this movie! So GO Flyboys!
Remember folks, it's not a "World War" until France surrenders.
I didn't think that was arc welding, but a kind of black-smithy technique. Some one here can probably tell us.
Arc welding was well known in the late 1800s and the first practical arc welder was patented in 1890.
Not only was arc welding in the field a possibility in 1916 France, it was a reality on all fronts by that late.
Welding history: http://www.solarnavigator.net/welding.htm
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