It was nice to see a movie on WWI. This movie had good action scenes and a great look for the era. James Franco was good in this. Has a good true life story.
Really Good Movie. James Franco was Great in it. I hated it when they had to kill of piolts, espically Cassidy, cause I got so attached to the characters!
I quite liked it. Great actors. Brilliant movie! the plane shots are great. First time I've ever liked James Franco in a movie. He did a great job, he took and looked the part!
Great action sequences. And there was great story behind the action. And to think this was based on real events, really makes you thankful that we don't have to go through stuff like this. Really well done. Good acting. The only thing I can't get my head around is how Cassidy had a lion as a pet?!?!
James Franco did wonders for this character. Without his cute little smile and acting ability behind this character, it would be a boring movie.
I give it points on trying to be historically accurate, but the fact that Rawlings never got to meet that gal again murdered all the heartfelt scenes before. Couldn't they have actually made a positive ending and THEN give the audience that last bit of info?
But I did like the rivalling pilot and the final dog fight between the two. At least that gave the movie some closure.
''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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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!
It 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.
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:November 7, 2008
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MCT:April 19, 2008
