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Plot:
"Flyboys" tells the story of young Americans who, before the U.S. entered WWI, volunteered for the French military and became the country's first fighter pilots. Fighting a war that wasn't theirs, the...( read more 
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Recent Reviews
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MCT:August 17, 2008
''None of us knows how much time we have left, and we can't waste any of it grieving over things we can't change.''
The adventures of the Lafayette Escadrille, young Americans who volunteered for the French military before the U.S. entered World War I, and became the country's first fighter pilots.
James Franco: Blaine Rawlings
Flyboys was a pleasant surprise and a rather compelling WWI Period piece which tells the story of young Americans who joined the French Air Force, becoming the some of the first pilots.
Director Tony Bill utilizes the feel and grace of the times, showing us a glorified vision of these brave young men fighting and dying for a cause bigger than themselves and for freedom and good. The aerial battles featured are something that would make anyone's elder relatives proud showing the frantic warrior styled fighting of the skies.
The clever thing is, as Flyboys progresses you gradually begin to care for the characters, to feel for them, to care, when one is snatched away by death's cold grip.
I must admit Flyboys is stereotypical in places, glorifying it's radiant young American charismatic Pilots while demonising the Germans who come across as typical evil bad guys. The French soldiers and English are bystanders, the shining stars remain the so called Flyboys. Still a rather poignant recurring theme that I still find interesting is that the good old American Allies of ours back in time always surprisingly were more often than not last to enter into any specific War, yet they are quick to boast on any involvement and particularly over-indulge.
Going on to the performances beginning with James Franco as Blaine Rawlings, who does a wonderful job in the lead role. Breaking away from the overshadowing Spider-man franchise was never going to be easy but with Flyboys its a good start for Franco who manages to retain his charismatic charm in his film choices. His romance and humour really brings the character Rawlings to life.
Another character I was pleased to see was Jean Reno as Thenault, the French Captain.
Abdul Salis as Eugene Skinner who I recognized from Love Actually was a fine addition to the cast as the young African American Pilot Eugene. I liked the prejudice of the times at first from his fellows, and him standing up to it, even a fiery encounter with a guy who rubs his head. But his boxing skills come in useful as does his French linguistics which made him a very interesting character, plus Abdul pulls of the part really well.
I have to admit alot of suspense is conveyed in the whole of Flyboys. Even when a pivotal character meets his demise, you really start to hate and seethe at the German antagonist in his Black Devilish Plane, who's smug, enjoyment of the killing knows no bounds. Predictably there's a final stand off which does not disappoint, with the added prelude of a giant blimp, accompanied with a fiery skirmish, a frantic dog fight of fighter planes.
The bond with his fellow Co-pilots and even romance for a French girl, played by Jennifer Decker is one of the multiple draws of Flyboys aside from the battle sequences and suspenseful on foot action.
There are some instances however on a critical level though where I did question the film's originality. Yes I know Flyboys is derived more or less from a true story but that doesn't stop the whole ''been there done that'' shadow looming forth. Having said that on the whole I liked Flyboys and the energy generated from the young cast especially James Franco who is really coming to terms with his acting talents, and improving. Granted he's got more acting skills to enhance but he's on his way.
Flyboys doesn't just fly in the end, it soars into the distance, a good effort. -
MCT:August 9, 2008I thought this movie was excellent, and a great job by james franko I wasnt sure he would be able to pull it off.
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MCT:July 29, 2008
Good story about a different side to WW1. James Franco was pretty good, way better than the whingy rich boy role he had in Spiderman 1 and 2. The flying fight scenes were also very well done.
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MCT:July 24, 2008I like James Franco, he's like Ryan Phillips n Hayden Christiansen or maybe who play a role in Spiderman (Toby's friend)... isn't it?
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MCT:July 22, 2008
Interesting war movie that focuses on the softer side of human relations than the hardcore battles and gory scenes.
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MCT:June 23, 2008
Pretty good movie. Plenty of action scenes and actually well done for a movie that's based on a true story.
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MCT:June 19, 2008
I quite liked it. Great actors. Brilliant movie! the plane shots are great. First time I'eve ever liked James Franco in a movie. He did a great job, he took and looked the part!
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MCT:June 18, 2008
Dogfights in bi-planes ,action, a little romance,mostly dogfights.
1917 France the beginning of aeronautical warfare. -
MCT:June 12, 2008I loved this movie. I love history, action movies, and james franco. Obviously it would rank pretty stinkin high.
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MCT:June 11, 2008
Greatly enjoyed this film. Gets a high rating on sharing a great story.
So many details that merit a sense of honour. Watched the film the first time on an overseas flight and bought the DVD afterwards.
Love story included!
Super! -
MCT:June 8, 2008
A lot of people panned this movie, I really don't know why. Sure it may be a little cliched, and there may be a few historical inaccuracies here and there, namely the German planes being all triplanes. But it's a very fun action adventure film with great high flying action sequences with some drama mixed in and a little love story to complete it. It is an explosively entertaining film, if you don't take it so seriously.
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MCT:May 21, 2008
enjoyed it great special effects great flight combat i really enjoyed it James Franco was good jean Reno was amazing as always very underrated actor. I never knew about this part of American history. good to see a WWI movie its been a while.
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MCT:May 19, 2008
Pretty much like any sappy war movie. Similar to Pearl Harbor, except not so sappy, and based a bit more on real people.
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MCT:May 9, 2008
Okay. not always 100% accurate, but it's not a documentary. I enjoyed it even if it is predictable sometimes.
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MCT:May 7, 2008
A very great war movie, illustrates how hard the pilots of world war 1 & 2 hard it. The action felt realistic unlike in pearlharbor (though way better)
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MCT:May 2, 2008
Amazing scenes of propeller warplanes fighting in the air. Nowdays, airplanes are complex heavy machines. But these WWI planes seem to be just a frame, some cloth cover and an engine, and the pilots seem to in the battle with their bare hands and just a machine gun. Great battle scenes!
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MCT:April 30, 2008
Intriguing WWI movie. There hasn't been a WWI movie made with today's special effects, so I dare say this was needed.
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MCT:April 27, 2008
this is a very good movie every one really gets what they want action adventure and romance truely a great movie
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MCT:April 19, 2008It was OK. I didn't get the pet lion in the movie, but I liked that cast. Slow movie to start and sad. It is based on a true story and I generally enjoy movies that are true based. But, this just gets 2 stars.
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MCT:April 16, 2008
This movie is truly five-star material.
Great actors, great flying scenes, and a historic story that will keep you watching from start to finish. I have not seen a better flying movie ever produced. James Franco did a crazy good job. This movie is classic. -
MCT:April 2, 2008
Damn you Mark, I see you've beaten me to the tag line "A real boys own adventure". That said it was an enjoyable way to spend an hour and a half of my time. Yes its action all the way in WWI. I am sure it may have its critics but its inoffensive enough and keeps the attention. You have to doff your hats to those Americans, by god they did save us all (in every war of course) ;-]
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MCT:March 9, 2008
A real 'boys own' adventure. A mixture of Memphis Belle, 'Victor' comic and 'Wings' on the Commodore Amiga.
Cheesy, clichéd, vacant and occasionally historically inaccurate, but I enjoyed it. There were great dogfight scenes and of course the unwritten Hollywood rule, where Jean Reno has to play any on screen Frenchman. Good, undemanding fun. -
MCT:March 7, 2008
i don't think the full potential of this movie was tapped, which is unfortunate. The story was very interesting, of course, but the portrayal of "unlikely military companions learn to bond with each other to defeat evil Germans while the most handsome one finds love, and takes risks that he is awarded for" can get a little wearing..... the side story about the bank robber is amusing though. And Jean Reno is awesome, of course.
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MCT:March 1, 2008
Great movie. The story is about the adventures of the Lafayette Escadrille, young Americans who volunteered for the French military before the U.S. entered World War I, and became the country's first fighter pilots
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MCT:February 29, 2008
the storyline in this movie is all about taking a risk and adventure which (depending on how produced) could be really interesting but this is during the world war 1 so there's no great deal of entertainment to be expected...it's just a aeroplane-stunt show with a lil bit of love combined...
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Comments
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pavacri23posted 31 days ago -
iv never done this and yes i know i dont type / write good im only 15 but i saw this movie in world history class 2 days ago and i cant get it out my head, i just bought it on dvd i LOVE this movie iv always wanted to be in the airforce so this just makes me want to do it even more but iv seen alot of people talking bad about this movoe IMO there Fn retarded this the greatest movie awesome dogfights i give it 10/10 2 thumbs up is that correct ? o.O
posted 458 days ago -
allways2happy I'm sorry but your wrong. They are in fact fighting in WW1. Says so at the beginning of the movie. And Skinner is in fact fighting for the country he calls home.
posted 478 days ago -
alot of people in you reviews say there fighting for there country but there not the fighing for france and your saying its WWI it WWII !!!!!!!!!
posted 492 days ago -
WARNING: 1 SPOILER!
This movie is AWSOME! I don't even care about the story (which was pretty good) I just wanted to se some planes blow up! Anyway, the best scene of the movie is when Blaine (James Franco) is in a dogfight with a sort-of Darth Vader type pilot. The Darth Vader guy shoots Franco's plane and destroyes his machinegun. He flies next to Franco and and taunts him before getting on his tail to finish him off. As Darth VAder dude starts to fall behind and shoot him, he rolls back to the side of his plane. He has a revolver (there were no parachutes back then, so they commited suicide if their planes caught fire). He pulles out the revolver and shoots the guy right through is eye goggles! What makes this so cool is that is really happened (before they mounted machineguns on their planes they used revolvers and rifles). It was a great movie! See it!!!!posted 697 days ago -
