Red Tails Opens Friday (1 Viewer)

[wadepat]

Gentle Friends,

I saw the movie last weekend. The day afterwards, I ran into an acquaintance of mine. His name is Dudley and, believe it or not, he is generally referenced simply as "Dud." Dud is 88 years old and he was a skilled pilot in the Army Air Corps during WWII. I mentioned to Dud that I had seen the movie and it was about the Tuskegee Airmen. I thought his immediate response was noteworthy. This is what Dud said to me:

"Those guys were better pilots than any of the rest of us. They have my undying respect."

Somehow, Dud's words made me look upon the movie with a different perspective. And, instead of me passing judgement on the quality of the movie, I was just glad someone made it.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[Terp152]

Saw this today. Was it filled with movie cliches? You bet. Were some scenes not realistic? You bet. Did I enjoy the movie anyway? You bet.

 

[Scott]

Aw right! Thanks for the review!

 

[sammy719]

My wife and I took my boy and his friend to it on Thursday, enjoyed it very much, as well as my 13 yr. boy and his friend learned some very interesting lessons about WWII history, both want to now know more about this unit and it's rich history...2 thumbs up:smile2:...Sammy

 

[Mitch]

Looking forward to seeing this. It just goes to show that critics are just that and, often imbue a review with their own dyed-in-the-wool beliefs. A review in a paper would not make me not want to see a film.

I looked at some of the reviews for the older movie and, many were similar and, scathing of that one!!!! I agree, as I did when I raised the thread about the other movie that they are welcome. lets hope some manufacturers release a TA aircraft and some pilots.
Mitch

 

[jazzeum]

My wife and I took my boy and his friend to it on Thursday, enjoyed it very much, as well as my 13 yr. boy and his friend learned some very interesting lessons about WWII history, both want to now know more about this unit and it's rich history...2 thumbs up:smile2:...Sammy

Then the movie has served its purpose.

I was talking to my friend yesterday who does the repairs and he received a request to have a K & C P-51 re-painted in the colors of the Tuskegee airman. He said he could do it but would probably turn it down because it would be too time consuming.

Brad

 

[uksubs]

Then the movie has served its purpose.

I was talking to my friend yesterday who does the repairs and he received a request to have a K & C P-51 re-painted in the colors of the Tuskegee airman. He said he could do it but would probably turn it down because it would be too time consuming.

Brad

Well my kc 51 is in a middle of a,repaint and it been a,nightmare and would not recommend repainting silver as it show up a lot of mould problems

 

[Mitch]

Just curious as to how this repaint would be too time consuming?? Although the aircraft looked nice there was not a huge colour to them mostly the siver colour and red tails and nose cones. Sounds a straight forward job to me. I am not up on the variants of P51 they used but, does the K&C release cover these aircraft at this time???
Mitch

Then the movie has served its purpose.

I was talking to my friend yesterday who does the repairs and he received a request to have a K & C P-51 re-painted in the colors of the Tuskegee airman. He said he could do it but would probably turn it down because it would be too time consuming.

Brad

 

[jazzeum]

Mitch,

I think he was concerned that re-painting polystone might be difficult (not quite sure; I can always ask him). I seem to recall that you did that with the TG plane, or do I have that wrong?

Brad

 

[Mitch]

Brad...

Never had a problem repainting polystone on aircraft or AFV. It is in fact a nice medium to apply paint to. The TG was a dream to work with the only fault was repainting such a superb aircraft. If you could ask I am interested
Mitch

Mitch,

I think he was concerned that re-painting polystone might be difficult (not quite sure; I can always ask him). I seem to recall that you did that with the TG plane, or do I have that wrong?

Brad

 

[lancer]

In the Washington Post newspaper this morning is to be found an editorial by Courtland Milloy, titled "Red Tails: A disservice to the airmen". This is a scathing opinion on the movie. Milloy says that "it is little more than a black comedy about guys who clown and connive their way through World War 2, supposedly as combat pilots." Milloy doesn't like a single thing about this movie from the depiction of the pilots as "Disheveled, undisciplined, crude and uncouth...the exact opposite of the real men who served...", to the wooden and badly written dialog. Milloy further states that "This is not just a bad film; it is ridiculous. It caricatures the black airmen with the very stereotypes they fought so hard to dispell in real life." Lucas "turns the story of the famed Tuskegee Airmen into the first-ever happy-go-lucky hip-hop war movie." Milloy is very clear that he sees the movie as an insult to the integrity, bravery, discipline, and honor of the airmen. He wishs that the movie had been more in the spirit of SPR or the HBO shows, BoB's and The Pacific. Milloy even finds the air combat badly done from a historical aspect that "weren't just fiction, but science fiction." He seems to feel that Lucas just couldn't leave Star Wars behind. His final word on the subject of the movie, "Unbelievable." -- Al

 

[uksubs]

Just curious as to how this repaint would be too time consuming?? Although the aircraft looked nice there was not a huge colour to them mostly the siver colour and red tails and nose cones. Sounds a straight forward job to me. I am not up on the variants of P51 they used but, does the K&C release cover these aircraft at this time???
Mitch

Hi Mitch I think they used P-51 B and D

 

[Mitch]

Neil...

Cheers
Mitch

Hi Mitch I think they used P-51 B and D

 

[Terp152]

In the Washington Post newspaper this morning is to be found an editorial by Courtland Milloy, titled "Red Tails: A disservice to the airmen". This is a scathing opinion on the movie. Milloy says that "it is little more than a black comedy about guys who clown and connive their way through World War 2, supposedly as combat pilots." Milloy doesn't like a single thing about this movie from the depiction of the pilots as "Disheveled, undisciplined, crude and uncouth...the exact opposite of the real men who served...", to the wooden and badly written dialog. His final word on the subject of the movie, "Unbelievable." -- Al

Having seen the movie yesterday, I have to disagree with the review. As stated in an earlier post, the movie has a lot of cliches but enjoyable nonetheless. Most war movies will depict the heros as undisiplined rebels. As far as comparing Red Tails to SPR, they must have missed the part where the Sgt almost shoots the BAR gunner for insubordination and refusal to follow orders in SPR. Red Tails does depict airmen overcoming odds and barriers, both on the ground and in the air. It shows a bonding among the principal characters. I didn't see the depictions as crude and uncouth, certainly not more than any other war movie. Anyway, just my take. Chris

 

[lancer]

Having seen the movie yesterday, I have to disagree with the review. As stated in an earlier post, the movie has a lot of cliches but enjoyable nonetheless. Most war movies will depict the heros as undisiplined rebels. As far as comparing Red Tails to SPR, they must have missed the part where the Sgt almost shoots the BAR gunner for insubordination and refusal to follow orders in SPR. Red Tails does depict airmen overcoming odds and barriers, both on the ground and in the air. It shows a bonding among the principal characters. I didn't see the depictions as crude and uncouth, certainly not more than any other war movie. Anyway, just my take. Chris

Hi Chris. Milloy is one of the Post staff that likes to pontificate and complain about everything that doesn't fit his (or the Post's) view of the way our world should be. His dislike for the film is hardly out of line with his past editorials on anything from social history to the memorials on the national mall. I don't usually read him, it's just that his title caught my eye, today. Even as he was critisizing the film, he mentions his interviews with some of the TA vets and quotes them as saying that THEY are just happy the story is being told. But that's not good enough for ole Courtland.:rolleyes2: -- Al

 

[Scott]

Coming in late. I just watched the DVD. Pretty good though I read the IMDB entry on the inaccuracies.

What do you want a documentary or a WWII era style film that didn't get made in 1945?

 

[uksubs]

Watched it on blue ray the other night and worth watching just for the action ,story light weight and bit comic book

 

[TomB]

Look forward to this and, hope its a good one!! I liked the version with Lawrence wishbourne or bone can't remember and, did push for a release from K&C, of their aircraft last year to no avail.
Mitch

Seen the movie...action bits are well done (computer generated)...reminded me of a John Wayne movie....sinking a Destroyer with .50 machine gun fire..???....the flying bits were good....wont comment on the rest of the movie....TomB

 

[bromhead]

Seen the movie...action bits are well done (computer generated)...reminded me of a John Wayne movie....sinking a Destroyer with .50 machine gun fire..???....the flying bits were good....wont comment on the rest of the movie....TomB

The HBO film is now being shown at times lately,,,agreed w the reviews given here,,critics in general could care less about military ,historical films..only the effete or show business type . It would be nice to see the other fighter groups of the 15th AF receive some long overdue recognition,,absurd radio dicipline is unfortunatly a historical part of aviaition film history,,irked my father,,48 missions,,2nd bmb group,,squadron,group lead radio- gunner

 

[Scott]

........critics in general could care less about military ,historical films..only the effete or show business type .

Ha. That's like hoping for meat eatin' gun tottin' truck drivin' "Mericans" as judges on Project Runway. Entertainment gets reviewed by people in the business and it is a meritocracy of who who and what is successful $$$$wise.

Tim Gunn doesn't come down here to judge castings, paint jobs and authenticity and what we are willing to buy.