Red Tails

Batutta

Batutta

Major Contributor
This movie was pretty much exactly what all the critics are saying it is, thinly written, old-fashioned corn sandwiched in between some amazing aerial sequences, and yet it's not quite as terrible as the word on the street is. The major actors are all pretty good in their roles and for the most part acquit themselves well. When they don't, it's more that the material lets them down. Any actor would be hard pressed to elevate some of the moments here. Where the acting is often truly terrible it's in the periphery, especially the white bomber pilots. Some of their dialogue is so flat it sounds like the editor recorded some temp scratch VO for the rough cut and they never bothered to replace it. I also didn't care for Terrence Blanchard's score. It seemed too small where it should be big and too big where is should be small. If ever a film called for a full throttle, rousing, unsubtle John Williams score this would be it. The film looked amazing though. Saw it projected digitally and it was beautiful to look at. And the dogfights are amazing indeed...Strangely though, leaving the theater I thought that I didn't really need to see this movie. As history, it's been covered before and better by the HBO film. As a statement about racism, it's not really relevant to today's issues. The kind of racism that exists in America today is much more subtle and complex than what's discussed here. Most people don't need a movie to tell them black men are just as capable at flying planes and being heroes as white men. This story would have had a lot more social impact 30+ years ago. Without that impact, all we're left with is a bunch of war movie cliches, and some beautifully rendered aerial battles. But I still think, due to George Lucas backlash, some are being too hard on it. This might be damning with faint praise but I think it's at least as good as Memphis Belle...It sure ain't no GLORY though, that's for damn sure.
 
I agree its like... lets put air masks on the pilots so we can save money and do all the dialogue in post voice overs... and it seemed like it never matched the action or movements of the actors also...
 
I have not seen the movie yet, but we are planing to go this week to see it. I am of the opinion though that because the primary discussion of a film like this is centered on its racial nature and its impact, or lack there of, on racial relations means that we have a very long way to go on racial relations in the United States.
 
David G. Smith said:
I have not seen the movie yet, but we are planing to go this week to see it. I am of the opinion though that because the primary discussion of a film like this is centered on its racial nature and its impact, or lack there of, on racial relations means that we have a very long way to go on racial relations in the United States.
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I went there first so I guess it's my fault, but we probably shouldn't continue this line of discussion as it may derail and lock this thread.
 
I'm curious to see this film. I know what to expect from the reviews, and I think that good old fashioned corn as long as it is entertaining works, for me. Of course I want to see how the 5D stuff worked as well (how much of the film was shot on it?) but still, a movie I plan to watch.
 
I thought it was a good movie. People thought the CG was bad from the commercials and trailers, but I thought it worked really well in the movie. The dogfights were well done I think. The acting especially from the leads was well done. I thought the dialog was purposefully 40's style/old school. Really enjoyable film.
 
mentatDUKE said:
People thought the CG was bad from the commercials and trailers, but I thought it worked really well in the movie.
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I thought the FX work was top notch as well. The only scene I thought was bad was the ceremony at the end where it was pretty obvious everyone was standing in front of a green screen, with the backgrounds comped in.
 
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