Reviews
Wuchak

Wuchak

November 29, 2019
7.0
***Americans volunteers become fighter pilots in France during WW1*** Before the USA enters WW1, a young Texas cowboy (James Franco) joins the Lafayette Escadrille in France, a squadron of American fighter pilots. The volunteers are trained and soon experience the glory, anxieties and horrors that go with air combat. “Flyboys" (2006) was inspired by real events and comes in the tradition of similar WW1 aviation flicks “The Blue Max” (1966) and “Aces High" (1976). Whilst not great like the exceptional “Blue Max,” the blockbuster-ish “Flyboys” is more compelling than the mundane “Aces High,” albeit a little marred by comic book storytelling (think “Legends of the Fall”). It’s also significantly superior to the curiously unabsorbing “The Red Baron” (2008). The movie’s ambitious and nigh epic, but there are some contrived, unconvincing moments. For instance, the “German spy” part could’ve been cut with no harm done, not to mention make for a more streamlined viewing experience. Yet I’m glad that the film’s not as one-dimensional as the realistic “Aces High” (which, don’t get me wrong, is a quality WW1 fighter pilot flick). For instance, “Flyboys” throws in a good trench sequence involving ‘No Man’s Land’ that LOOKS convincing; too bad it’s not believable at all (the way so-and-so easily saves so-and-so). Eugene Skinner, the black pilot, was based on the real-life Eugene Jacques Bullard (the filmmakers just changed the surname). In real life Eugene hoped to join the Lafayette Escadrille, but they stopped receiving applicants by the summer of 1916 after accepting 38 American pilots. So, a few months later, Eugene joined the Lafayette Flying Corps on November 15, 1916. As far as strafing downed aviators goes, it was considered dishonorable, but the movie suggests that a minority of ignoble pilots did so, which is reasonable. In the film an ignoble German pilot strafes & kills an American, which is what later spurs an honorable German pilot to make amends in a pretty powerful scene. The film runs 2 hours, 20 minutes, and was shot in England (Buckinghamshire, Essex, Bedfordshire & Somerset House, Strand, London, with studio work done in Hertfordshire). PS: The lion, Whisky, was a real mascot for the squad, along with another named Soda. GRADE: B/B+

Recommendation Movies

7.1
War
View
7.1
Twelve O'Clock High
Twelve O'Clock High1949
7.4
Drama
View
7.4
Aferim!
Aferim!2015
4.9
Comedy
View
4.9
A Clever Crook
A Clever Crook2019
6.2
Action
View
6.2
Memorial Day
Memorial Day2011
6.1
Drama
View
6.1
Machine Gun McCain
Machine Gun McCain1969
5.3
Drama
View
5.3
The Final Season
The Final Season2007
5.2
Drama
View
5.2
Sunlight Jr.
Sunlight Jr.2013
5.6
War
View
5.6
Wolves of War
Wolves of War2023
5.1
Drama
View
5.1
Touching Wild Horses
Touching Wild Horses2011
5.8
Comedy
View
5.8
Bad Hair Day
Bad Hair Day2024
7.2
Romance
View
7.2
Evergreen Love
Evergreen Love2016
6.7
Drama
View
6.7
Tristan & Isolde
Tristan & Isolde2006
6.8
War
View
6.8
9th Company
9th Company2005
5.7
Drama
View
5.7
Life on the Line
Life on the Line2016
6.2
Comedy
View
6.2
For Love or Money
For Love or Money1993
5.2
Comedy
View
5.2
Fonzy
Fonzy2013
6.7
Drama
View
6.7
Memphis Belle
Memphis Belle1990
6.8
Crime
View
6.8
Mean Creek
Mean Creek2004
6.7
Drama
View
6.7
Lowriders
Lowriders2017
6.9
Drama
View
6.9
Say 'I Love You'
Say 'I Love You'2014
© 2024 MoovieTime. All rights reserved.Made with Nuxt