Red Tails

Red Tails came out on DVD today and I couldn't help but rent it. This was a film that I had huge regrets not seeing in movie theaters, but honestly after seeing it; I don't feel much regret. The film stars Cuba Gooding Jr. and some others you might know and is directed by Anthony Hemingway.

Now I will say that this film is entertaining on the whole, but when I watch a historical film, I want a little more than what Red Tails had to offer. From the get go, the film is really campy. The German villains are right out of the comic book with scars, bad lines, and evil stares in all. The film is FILLED with CGI and all in all that takes away from the entire realism of the film. Director Anthony Hemingway finds himself guilty of trying to push a lot into something made for just a little. The film encases a love story, a prison break, overcoming racial adversity, an addict, the horrors of war, and the historical facts that are kind of lost in the mix somewhere. So in the end, if you're looking for a good time I fully recommend Red Tails, but if you're wanting a little more meat in the mix, look elsewhere.

If you're looking for a great historic film to partake in, go out and get Laurence Fishburne's TV movie Tuskegee Airmen. This film was produced by HBO studios and hits on all the spots where Red Tails misses. This film is filled with stark realism, hope and faith of men fighting for their country, and the sense of realism that are missed by the Star Wars sound effects that are used by Red Tails. Another good hit for WWII would be Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima and Flags of Our Fathers or the Spielberg hits of Band of Brothers and The Pacific. Each of these films are both personal and historic visions of the trails that American soldiers faced in times of great tragedy and strife. Of course, when in doubt there's always Saving Private Ryan, and we all know you can never pass of that.

Well later today I'm planning on watching the Lady in Black and will blog about that as soon as I get a handle on it. Also I may be putting through a post about little known film gems on things that might by missed by those looking for a real good film experience.


Get to watching,
J.