On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 16:06:06 GMT, "Dave" wrote:


"Ron Wanttaja" wrote in message
...


I think the movie handled the personal horrors of war in the air pretty
well. Some of the photography was great, too. I did enjoy the ground scenes at
the airfield.

Sounds like a pretty bad review Ron. I'm making the wife go and see it this
evening. I'm sure I'll enjoy it a lot more than some of the sappy bits of
treacle she's dragged me to over the years. I've never had any problem
suspending my "reality" filter for movies, I expect that reality makes for
pretty poor cinema.

I'll forgive the nits if a film avoids obvious cliches, but this one swerved to
bump through each one, just like a student driver on a potholed road.

Some of the obvious nits could have been avoided if they'd just had pilot
involved. In the "old days" when they had to use real airplanes to film movies
like this, there were people around who could tell the director that an airplane
just couldn't *do* the stunt he wanted. But when it's CGI..."Heck, let's have
him knock off the German's top wing by backing into it with his landing gear.
Make sure the gear isn't damaged, so he can land safely afterwards."

Sheesh.

I fully agree that some compromises usually have to be made for making a movie
for mass consumption. I'm not complaining (much :-) that the movie showed more
Fokker Triplanes that were ever *made* (oh, an exaggeration, but the type never
was common). I'm not complaining that the Triplanes didn't reach the front
until a YEAR after the film was set. The Fokker Triplane is a very identifiable
aircraft; using them for the German airplanes let the non-pilot moviegoer
instantly recognize which were the good guys and the bad guys.

However, I *will* complain about having all the Fokker Triplanes painted red.
That was an artistic decision completely divorced from historical reality. One
Triplane was painted all red. One very famous one. Not every single one of
them.

Historical accuracy in popular movies isn't a paradox. Take "Master and
Commander: The Far Side of the World." The film was very accurate...and a
cracking good yarn, too. If it hadn't been for those damn Hobbits, it would
have taken the best picture Oscar....

Well, we'll just have to see if the Germans get WWI aviation right....

http://www.redbaronmovie.com/

....though I admit some aspects of the synopsis are pre-engaging my
gag reflex. :-)

Ron Wanttaja