I love to read reviews by these guys who whine about the color of the airplane being off, or this or that historical misfire. Here's a surprise- it's a movie, not the history section of your local library. And there's a reason for that- because the history section of your local library doesn't sell tickets.
Since Arnold freakin Toynbee didn't write the script, and no one would go to see it if he did, they decided to go with what most people know about WWI- the Red Baron, ya know, with the red airplane. That's what 99% of (todays government schooled) Americans know about WWI. Maybe 1% would tell you Germany, France, England and America were involved- and a good percentage would say 'there was a WW I !?'. But for sure about 1000th of 1% would know what damned color the German planes were and what size bullet was used in the machine gun.
And what looks better against the big screen sky- olive drab planes vs olive drab planes- or multicolored planes with spiffy decals vs scary red (or black)3 winged killer "hun" planes? "OOOOHHH but his scarf should have been white, not off white." Who cares.
A good, well told story, based on history with dramatic liberties and enough attention to detail to make it passable. The characters were well, not overly drawn and likable- you cared when one got shot down. The love angle was nicely written and only a bit schmaltzy- and the girl was cute. Decent acting from everyone. Flying/dogfight scenes pulled you in. It was great (if not unexpected) how the lead character handled the black plane.
Over all very entertaining.
Since Arnold freakin Toynbee didn't write the script, and no one would go to see it if he did, they decided to go with what most people know about WWI- the Red Baron, ya know, with the red airplane. That's what 99% of (todays government schooled) Americans know about WWI. Maybe 1% would tell you Germany, France, England and America were involved- and a good percentage would say 'there was a WW I !?'. But for sure about 1000th of 1% would know what damned color the German planes were and what size bullet was used in the machine gun.
And what looks better against the big screen sky- olive drab planes vs olive drab planes- or multicolored planes with spiffy decals vs scary red (or black)3 winged killer "hun" planes? "OOOOHHH but his scarf should have been white, not off white." Who cares.
A good, well told story, based on history with dramatic liberties and enough attention to detail to make it passable. The characters were well, not overly drawn and likable- you cared when one got shot down. The love angle was nicely written and only a bit schmaltzy- and the girl was cute. Decent acting from everyone. Flying/dogfight scenes pulled you in. It was great (if not unexpected) how the lead character handled the black plane.
Over all very entertaining.