Flyboys (DVD, 2007, Widescreen)

I Really Wanted To See This At The Theater... but our schedule did not allow us to take it in during its theaterical run.

I saw a special preview of it at the San Diego Comic Con International prior to its release with the people that were getting it into production.

It looked good, and I'm sure it would have been even better on the Big Screen...

But this DVD came across pretty good on our large TV screen.

The story was good, the action was fine, and the characterization was there.

All in all, a pretty good movie for the war genre!

Michael

Okay, if you're just looking for a good action film about WWI aviation without total regard to historical accuracy, this is a good movie. However, if you are a student of the topic you will spot the many errors: Wrong planes and years in many cases; situations are largely contrived and romanticized. Many technical aspects and tactics are not true or in some cases, not possible. There is a lot of artistic license taken and it is very loosely based on real personalities and historical events. It has also been made "politically correct" to 21st century sensibilities. Nevertheless, it is gratifying to see a new movie (with good computerized action)on this topic. The last somewhat "respectable" portrayal of the era was the late 1960's "Blue Max" film. I hear the Germans are currently in production on a movie about Richthofen's life which sounds promising.

This epic drama tells the true story of the Lafayette Escadrille,
a group of Americans who volunteered for the French military before
the United States entered World War I. Farm boy Blaine Rawlings
(James Franco) joins up and soon finds himself on an adventure more
exciting than he ever imagined as he and his fellow flyboys become
the first American fighter pilots in combat (even though they fly
for France). Great scenes of dogfights are in this movie and you
will enjoy seeing the old bi-planes and tri-planes fighting with
each other--but you will have to look past a few historical facts
also as to the caracteristics of these planes. Still, it shows how
the Flyboyds of old overcame the mechanical difficulties of machine
guns jamming or running out of ammunition and resorted to different
methods of battle such as shooting at each other with pistols or
the ramming of a zeppelin as a last choice. A very good movie for
war movie lovers to enjoy as well as action and adventure devotees.
Jean Reno also stars in this movie as the French training officer
of the American flyers - who in the end has much to be proud of.

IF YOU LIKE DOGFIGHTING PLANES, THIS FIRST WORLD WAR MOVIE IS FOR YOU. GREAT ACTION WHERE A GROUP OF YOUNG MEN FROM ALL OVER LEARN HOW TO FLY, AND DIE, IN THE ARENA OF AERIAL COMBAT. GREAT SPECIAL EFFECTS.

This is a good movie for the war enthusiast with a little love story added in. It is up to date with good special effects, lots of action and a good storyline. It is the most modern WWI air combat movie that has come out. The DVD format shows excellent detail on both the characters and the background effects which is why I prefer DVD over VHS. For an actual historian the storyline details are inaccurate but for a modest WWI or WWII buff the movie provides a nice break from ealy WWII battle movies and the new big budget mainstream battle movies that have come out lately. This is an enjoyable movie that you can watch over and over and pick out new details each time you watch the movie.

The price of the dvd was reasonable. The tape , when watched,was in excellent condition.The only problem was the length of delivery time, which the seller apologized for. Robert Culver

I enjoyed the movie was interesting to see that type of combat and all they went to. Was worth buying and watching for sure. B+ movie

I bought this movie because a friend was interested in seeing it. I didn't believe that it bwould be my cup of tea. After watching it however, I was pleasently surprised and did enjoy it. It is based on a true story and the acting was very good. Very good, highly recommedded movie.

Since I am USAF retired I always enjoy an airplane type movies, SAC was the last one that I bought and also enjoyed that one. Being old fashioned I really do not like the wide screens as they block out a lot of the picture.

Here we go again. It's yet another movie about a relatively unknown chapter in history brought to the screen in the form of a cliché-fest. I keep hoping filmmakers will learn the error of their ways, just like I keep doubting they will.
The United States has yet to enter World War I, but several of America's sons have enlisted in the Lafayette Escadrille, a squadron of pilots aiding the French and English in their struggle against the German war machine. Heading up the newest batch of volunteers is Blaine Rawlings (James Franco), a Texas cowpoke who fled the States after punching out the banker who foreclosed on his family's ranch. He is joined by rich kid Briggs Lowry (Tyler Labine), African-American boxer Eugene Skinner (Abdul Salis), Midwesterner William Jensen (Philip Winchester), and perpetual screw-up Eddie Beagle (David Ellison). While awaiting his first sortie against the enemy, Rawlings meets and falls for Lucienne (Jennifer Decker), a local girl who is raising her late brother's three children. But duty eventually calls, and the boys finally take to the skies, battling the superior firepower and skills of the German pilots. Needless to say, not all of them will be coming back.

When it came time to write this, I was almost tempted to cut and paste my recent review of Pearl Harbor and simply change the names of the characters and actors. It would almost work, as Flyboys shares many of the same problems as Michael Bay's misfire. Despite producer Dean Devlin's claims that this movie was independently financed in order to avoid any interference from studio brass, Flyboys plays just like your standard Hollywood wannabe-epic. The movie isn't really bad, it's just old-hat. The characters are all pretty much stereotypes, the story follows a well-worn path, and a sappy, nonsensical romance is shoehorned into the plot, so yet again we end up with a movie that completely squanders its potential by sticking to conventionality like gum to the sole of a shoe. You want a hero who gets in trouble while just trying to protect his family's way of life? Check. You want an older pilot with a mysterious past who is haunted by the deaths of his friends? Check. (This one is played by Martin Henderson.) You want a no-nonsense but loving commanding officer? Check. (This one is played by the great Jean Reno.) You want a bigot who eventually realizes what a fool he's been and makes amends with the man he's wronged? Check. You want a daring rescue in the middle of a raging battle? Check. You want everyone to get a shot at redemption by movie's end? Check. You want the whole thing bogged down by a superfluous romantic subplot? Check. You want a city threatened by lava flows? That you won't find here, but I wouldn't be surprised to find out the writers had tried to work it in.


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Although the movie did not meet my expectations it was still good. I was expecting a little more action and less of the romance portion of the movie. But alas, they have to appeal to the females as well. Being based on a true story it should have been more parallel to the historical events that actually did take place with the Flyboys. The effects were really done well, during some parts I felt like I was in the sky with them. Even the ending was a little surprising, I did not expect it. Although the beginning of the movie was somewhat boring because of the need for character development, I would still give the overall production a 4/5. This could've been a masterpiece...

If you are a fan of WWI air combat this is a good movie for you. If you are a fan of good plot and feasibility then not so much.

The story is kind of goofy, the airplanes are pretty realistic but why are the wings drooping on the Nieuports? The animated action is OK for a movie, only a little unrealistic in some parts.

But most of all, the movie is VERY long and yet incomplete. There is just too much story to put it all in one movie. The plot jumps too fast, and yet the movie seems like it will never end.

And the part about the guy getting his hand caught was just disturbing. It would have been easy to cut off part of the airplane wing. It didn't have to turn out like it did.

Well, overall I guess it's worth the low price.

This movie is my grandson's favorite. When I say the great price I just had to get it for him.

The seller was very prompt in sending the movie upon receipt of my payment. It came packaged as described and I would buy from this seller again.

if you like historic movies this is great one,excellent story line,very good acting,this is how i would see world war europe,if you have'nt seen it this definetly a must see!!!

I always wanted this movie to add to my collection of movies,I'm very impressed on the quality of the DVD

This is the very best WWI(world war one) movie I've ever seen. Its about a squadron of fighter pilots - it tells of their losses, and their conquests. It has the very best photography of its type I've ever had the pleasure to watch. I can't wait to watch it on the new HDTV I'm planning to get.

this movie has some great dog fight scenes the best so far, I thought the Aviator was good this surpasses by far for best aerial, the story line is very good but once they're in the air "forget about it" the movie is great

Bought it for war plane action and was not disapointed! It is definitely a fantasy film due to the incredible plane manuvers.

Wonderful movie based on a true story. Dog fights are a great part of this movie. The story line is very good.

It was a great experince. It arrived when he said it would and it was in excellent shape. It was sold at a great price. Yhaks for the Product.

What a stink bomb! A cross between a high school play & a video game. The actors were bad enough, but who decided it was also a NO SMOKING movie? This is a period piece, everyone smoked - except this bunch - it was so glaring, I began to laugh! There is a bar scene, with ash trays, but not a wisp, nor anything to make an ash - we might not smoke today, but they did back then... This may sound silly, but was a part of life back then & another example of how Hollywood makes it's own history.

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The movie was okay, good special effects. But the story line was predictable and nothing spectacular just like Top Gun.