The basic plot - the newbie second lieutenant trying to fit in to a tight-knit military group - has been done many many times, but this one gets it right. Hollywood usually uses a single climactic event to earn the respect of the men, but in this movie it is done the way it is in real life: hard work, brains, patience and a willingness to take care of your men, no matter the risk. At times the digital effects make you think you are in a video game, and the B-17's are sometimes depicted as if they were modeled on a kid's toy instead of the real thing, but in the end the viewer is treated to fantastic scenery and action. The attention to detail is to be commended. The uniforms looked like real GI uniforms that are cleaned and maintained in a field environment rather than by a Hollywood costume department. Even the nurses in wake scene looked like they are in the 1940's. The nod to the ground crews, the unsung heroes who worked way past the call of duty to keep the airplanes flying, was appreciated by this ground crew veteran. There are some nits, to be sure, especially noticeable to aircraft enthusiasts, but overall a great movie that deserves respect, and viewing.
Reviews
18 Reviews
The Man from Planet X
(1951)
Cheesy But Scary-Fun Rainy Saturday B-Flick
28 December 2011
In my mind, this film has two major distinctions. The first is veteran character actor William Schallert playing, possibly for the only time in his career, a weaseling villain. After all, to us Boomers he was Patty Duke's father in "The Patty Duke Show," or the humble, self-effacing-yet-professional Air Corps pilot that planned and led the interception of Japansese Admiral Yamamto in "The Gallant Hours." The second distinction is that this is the first movie that scared the crap out of me. I was 7 years old and after seeing this movie couldn't sleep with the lights off for a week. Even into adulthood, driving past the salt marshes of Eastern Long Island on a foggy night caused my imagination to go a bit bonkers.
While it certainly scared a bunch of kids, the cult appeal that other horror or B-movie flicks enjoyed doesn't carry over into adulthood. The dialogue appears to have been written by adolescent comic book authors. Enid, the heroine, upon getting a flat tire, actually says "Confound the luck!" And the egghead Professor Elliot seems to like the word "singularity," as he inserts it all over his speech at random and without any meaning. Plot devices used to connect to the next scene seem to have been made up on the set at the last minute. All the clothing, especially hero John's Air Force bomber jacket and his trenchcoat, appear to have been rented cheap provided they don't get wrinkled or dirty.
But, in the end, it needs to be enjoyed for what it is: A Cheesy Rainy Saturday Afternoon B-Flick. Get some of the frat brothers together, tap a mini-keg, and laugh at the dialogue, the cheap sets, the just-off-the-rack look of all the clothes, the plot devices, and the special effects.
While it certainly scared a bunch of kids, the cult appeal that other horror or B-movie flicks enjoyed doesn't carry over into adulthood. The dialogue appears to have been written by adolescent comic book authors. Enid, the heroine, upon getting a flat tire, actually says "Confound the luck!" And the egghead Professor Elliot seems to like the word "singularity," as he inserts it all over his speech at random and without any meaning. Plot devices used to connect to the next scene seem to have been made up on the set at the last minute. All the clothing, especially hero John's Air Force bomber jacket and his trenchcoat, appear to have been rented cheap provided they don't get wrinkled or dirty.
But, in the end, it needs to be enjoyed for what it is: A Cheesy Rainy Saturday Afternoon B-Flick. Get some of the frat brothers together, tap a mini-keg, and laugh at the dialogue, the cheap sets, the just-off-the-rack look of all the clothes, the plot devices, and the special effects.
Nobody's Fool
(1994)
Newman plays a "George Bailey" from the south side of the tracks
19 December 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Many reviewers have already cited the excellent acting and the sheer high quality of the movie, so I'll suffice to say I echo their sentiments. I will add that Bruce Willis earns respect as a real actor; his star was well towards its apex when he played this role which could really have been done by many character actors who specialize in playing weasels. Willis took this ordinary supporting role and made it into a very memorable and even likable character.
What I love about this film is the story itself, in that Sully Sullivan, an aging handy-man, APPEARS to be struggling with his life and what it meant, when in reality an entire town depends on Sullly to be....well....Sully. He is the thread that weaves the whole town and its many stories together. Even the few people who don't like him depend on him.
(Possible spoiler) Toward the end, his son sums it all up and even pays him the ultimate compliment when he says to Sully "It's not easy being you." Simply a great movie on so many levels.
What I love about this film is the story itself, in that Sully Sullivan, an aging handy-man, APPEARS to be struggling with his life and what it meant, when in reality an entire town depends on Sullly to be....well....Sully. He is the thread that weaves the whole town and its many stories together. Even the few people who don't like him depend on him.
(Possible spoiler) Toward the end, his son sums it all up and even pays him the ultimate compliment when he says to Sully "It's not easy being you." Simply a great movie on so many levels.
Tampico
(1944)
Great rainy afternoon movie
25 March 2011
This is one of those little gems that makes discovering on a rainy Saturday afternoon a pleasant surprise. It is not a great movie in any sense of the word, but a very enjoyable one. Yeah, like some of the other reviewers, I wondered what in God's Green Earth it was that Kathy saw in Captain Manson (Edward G. Robinson), but short pudgy guys need love too and outside of Hollywood, romances like this very often happen. Also, Victor McLaglen played his role as the ship's First Mate so straight, not in his usual drunk loudmouth Irishman character, that I almost did not recognize him.
The plot was interesting (more fun than riveting), as the story goes from a sea adventure to a spy tale, with a little bit of romance thrown in. The perceived mismatch between the young attractive Kathy and the older Capt Manson only add to the mystery regarding her real motives.
Just a fun little movie to hunker down on the couch under a blanket, pass the time and eat some popcorn.
The plot was interesting (more fun than riveting), as the story goes from a sea adventure to a spy tale, with a little bit of romance thrown in. The perceived mismatch between the young attractive Kathy and the older Capt Manson only add to the mystery regarding her real motives.
Just a fun little movie to hunker down on the couch under a blanket, pass the time and eat some popcorn.
On Any Sunday
(1971)
Take When You Need A Happy Shot
14 September 2009
I somehow missed this when it first came out. There was this thing called Viet Nam going on and me wearing green clothes, but I digress....
The first time I saw this movie I was already an experienced rider, having ridden all over the North American Continent and the island of Oahu on everything from 90cc dirt bikes to Harleys to Ninjas to full-boat tourers. But like other reviewers on this forum, it's now Must See at least twice a year. While it centers on off-road competition rather than road riding, OAS still conveys the thrill riders get when in the wind. Bruce Brown knows how to tell a story, and he does a fantastic job. On one hand, he tries to cover too much in the allotted time; on the other hand, there are so many more stories in the motorcycle world that didn't get told. Just enjoy the movie for what it is, a neat little story, photographed and narrated by a talented story-teller with genuine love for the sport.
For those that are not motorcyclists: while Steve McQueen indeed has the draw, the two other riders in the movie are today giants in their chosen fields. Mert Lawwill today is a gifted engineering pioneer in the field of human hand prosthesis, and Malcom Smith still owns a dealership and runs Malcom Smith Racing, a producer of off-road rider equipment.
The first time I saw this movie I was already an experienced rider, having ridden all over the North American Continent and the island of Oahu on everything from 90cc dirt bikes to Harleys to Ninjas to full-boat tourers. But like other reviewers on this forum, it's now Must See at least twice a year. While it centers on off-road competition rather than road riding, OAS still conveys the thrill riders get when in the wind. Bruce Brown knows how to tell a story, and he does a fantastic job. On one hand, he tries to cover too much in the allotted time; on the other hand, there are so many more stories in the motorcycle world that didn't get told. Just enjoy the movie for what it is, a neat little story, photographed and narrated by a talented story-teller with genuine love for the sport.
For those that are not motorcyclists: while Steve McQueen indeed has the draw, the two other riders in the movie are today giants in their chosen fields. Mert Lawwill today is a gifted engineering pioneer in the field of human hand prosthesis, and Malcom Smith still owns a dealership and runs Malcom Smith Racing, a producer of off-road rider equipment.
633 Squadron
(1964)
The deHavilland Mosquito in All It's Plywood Glory
2 July 2009
This movie should be way better than it is, as it is one of the few movies showing the fabulous deHavilland Mosquito. The plot is right out of a "Blackhawks" comic book, and the acting by mis-cast actors is extremely wooden, especially by "Mr. Oaktree" himself, Cliff Robertson. The good part is of course the Mosquitoes, those wonderful twin-Merlin-powered plywood wonders that could out-lift heavy bombers, out-fight fighters on both sides, and in an out-and-out dash, the fastest bloody thing in the sky until jets came along.
The bad part is the people, a squadron made up of token characters right out of the aforementioned Blackhawk comic book. There is even a Norwegian Navy lieutenant played by George Chakiris in one of the most extreme cases of mis-casting ever - he's Greek, fer cryin' out loud!
This film was shot in the 60's, where the production crew managed to scrape together four flyable Mossies and three more that could taxi under power (and were eventually destroyed for crash scenes). Sharp-eyed deHavilland experts will realize that all but one of the Mosquitoes were actually target-tug (TT) models, with their glazed noses merely painted over and phony machine gun tips glued on to make them look like fighter-bomber (FB) models. But gripes aside, this is probably the finest collection of footage available for this wonderful airplane and is worth at least renting the DVD, if not owning it.
The bad part is the people, a squadron made up of token characters right out of the aforementioned Blackhawk comic book. There is even a Norwegian Navy lieutenant played by George Chakiris in one of the most extreme cases of mis-casting ever - he's Greek, fer cryin' out loud!
This film was shot in the 60's, where the production crew managed to scrape together four flyable Mossies and three more that could taxi under power (and were eventually destroyed for crash scenes). Sharp-eyed deHavilland experts will realize that all but one of the Mosquitoes were actually target-tug (TT) models, with their glazed noses merely painted over and phony machine gun tips glued on to make them look like fighter-bomber (FB) models. But gripes aside, this is probably the finest collection of footage available for this wonderful airplane and is worth at least renting the DVD, if not owning it.
The Right Stuff
(1983)
Fun flick that's long on legend, short on truth
1 July 2009
Take a series of events that by themselves stir the imagination and the soul, romanticize and embellish them in a novel by a pop-culture author, then take that novel and give it the Hollywood treatment, and you end up with something that's long on legend, short on truth, but who cares? It features historic people and airplanes, excellent cinematography, a gang of stellar actors and even acceptable model and special effects work.
Unlike Tom Wolf's novel, the movie ignores the Navy's Pax River and gives all the glory to Edwards AFB and the Zoomies. The CAF's "FIFI," the last flying B-29, has a major role as the X-1's "mothership," as well as a privately-owned F-104 Starfighter out of Mojave as the plane that almost killed Chuck Yeager. The real General Yeager has a bit role as a crusty old prospector doing bartender duty at the watering hole the Edwards pilots hang out in. The scene where Harry Shearer and Jeff Goldblum, playing two NASA flunkies, are bad-mouthing Yeager because he has no college degree, all while the real Yeager, playing the bartender, is standing in back of them listening in, is precious.
While the plot and action centers on Yeager and the original seven Mercury astronauts, two actresses are worth watching: Veronica Cartwright does her usual great job as Betty Grissom ("I want to have lunch with Jackie!!") and the ever-versatile and talented Pamela Reed as Gordon Cooper's long-suffering wife, Trudy, who has some of the best lines in the movie (referring to the macho Edwards test pilots, "But they sure are handy assholes.").
A bit of tragic trivia: Jane Dornacker, the talented actress, comedienne and musician who "uglied up" to play Nurse Murch in the hilarious "sperm count scene", later a traffic reporter in New York City for WNBC radio, was killed when her helicopter lost its tail rotor, narrowly missed a pier and crashed into the Hudson River. At the time of the crash she was live on the air, and her screams "Hit the water! Hit the water" were heard by literally thousands of stunned New York commuters.
Unlike Tom Wolf's novel, the movie ignores the Navy's Pax River and gives all the glory to Edwards AFB and the Zoomies. The CAF's "FIFI," the last flying B-29, has a major role as the X-1's "mothership," as well as a privately-owned F-104 Starfighter out of Mojave as the plane that almost killed Chuck Yeager. The real General Yeager has a bit role as a crusty old prospector doing bartender duty at the watering hole the Edwards pilots hang out in. The scene where Harry Shearer and Jeff Goldblum, playing two NASA flunkies, are bad-mouthing Yeager because he has no college degree, all while the real Yeager, playing the bartender, is standing in back of them listening in, is precious.
While the plot and action centers on Yeager and the original seven Mercury astronauts, two actresses are worth watching: Veronica Cartwright does her usual great job as Betty Grissom ("I want to have lunch with Jackie!!") and the ever-versatile and talented Pamela Reed as Gordon Cooper's long-suffering wife, Trudy, who has some of the best lines in the movie (referring to the macho Edwards test pilots, "But they sure are handy assholes.").
A bit of tragic trivia: Jane Dornacker, the talented actress, comedienne and musician who "uglied up" to play Nurse Murch in the hilarious "sperm count scene", later a traffic reporter in New York City for WNBC radio, was killed when her helicopter lost its tail rotor, narrowly missed a pier and crashed into the Hudson River. At the time of the crash she was live on the air, and her screams "Hit the water! Hit the water" were heard by literally thousands of stunned New York commuters.
Twelve O'Clock High
(1949)
Flying Isn't All Beer, Girls and Silk Scarves
24 April 2009
While a favorite, I never really considered this a true Aviation Movie, as there really isn't that much aviating done here. This is likely due to the fact it was originally conceived as a stage play, and in the movie the aerial sequences merely connect the acts of the play. However, this does not keep this film from being one of the most revered movies in aviation lore.
While it is considered one of Gregory Peck's finest work, all my attention is on Dean Jagger as the group's Adjutant, Major Stovall, and later, a lawyer on business travel. Stovall is the river the pieces of the plot float along on, and Jagger's Academy Award for best Supporting Actor was well deserved. A B-17 was belly-landed by the great stunt pilot Paul Mantz on purpose (and some GP Medium tents destroyed) and caught on film, and the scene was used again in the Steve McQueen flick, War Lover.
While it is considered one of Gregory Peck's finest work, all my attention is on Dean Jagger as the group's Adjutant, Major Stovall, and later, a lawyer on business travel. Stovall is the river the pieces of the plot float along on, and Jagger's Academy Award for best Supporting Actor was well deserved. A B-17 was belly-landed by the great stunt pilot Paul Mantz on purpose (and some GP Medium tents destroyed) and caught on film, and the scene was used again in the Steve McQueen flick, War Lover.
The Blue Max
(1966)
The World Looks Better From Up There
24 April 2009
George Peppard plays a German working class infantryman in WWI who gets into pilot training and becomes a flight officer, the rest of whom are mostly aristocrats. He easily dispatches enemy airplanes in the sky, but on the ground against the upper class of Germany he is the perennial loser. James Mason is excellent as his mentor and puppet master, and Ursula Andress is, well,
..Ursula Andress.
Aviation purists may question the types of airplanes used in the story line, but they are real and accurate to a detail. Excellent aerial photography throughout. Indeed, while in the air the Earth is lush and verdant, with bright blue sky and fluffy clouds. On the ground, the Earth is a barren war zone, with blown-out buildings and hungry suffering people. Only the aristocracy seem to be able to keep their earth-bound world intact with their fancy mansions and parties.
Note that after the breathtaking aerial scenery and lush sets, the final scenes are shot in a stark bare-walled military office, with only the dialogue and faces of the actors, along the sounds of an air-show crowd outside, telling the audience what is happening. It is the most tense, drama-filled part of the movie.
Aviation purists may question the types of airplanes used in the story line, but they are real and accurate to a detail. Excellent aerial photography throughout. Indeed, while in the air the Earth is lush and verdant, with bright blue sky and fluffy clouds. On the ground, the Earth is a barren war zone, with blown-out buildings and hungry suffering people. Only the aristocracy seem to be able to keep their earth-bound world intact with their fancy mansions and parties.
Note that after the breathtaking aerial scenery and lush sets, the final scenes are shot in a stark bare-walled military office, with only the dialogue and faces of the actors, along the sounds of an air-show crowd outside, telling the audience what is happening. It is the most tense, drama-filled part of the movie.
Field of Dreams
(1989)
A Religious Experience - So Sue Me
24 April 2009
If I had to pick a Top 5 of my favorite movies, this is on the list. The naysayers can pontificate all they want on its cinematic merits, but I don't give a ratsass. When I watch this movie I demand quiet and reverence. I'm not a baseball fan - heck, I'm not even a sports fan. But the simple matter is this movie speaks to a part of me that doesn't show.
Just like in the movie where the characters wonder what their reason for being is, and then realize it in the end, the viewer is treated to the same odyssey. Every character in the movie adds to the total effect, and moves the story along, and without the character, no matter how minor, the story would be incomplete.
Maybe because of my relationship with my own Dad; maybe because I've had the opportunity to visit the actual field used for the filming (it still exists, and yes, People Do Come), maybe it's the reinforcement in my belief there is a heaven - whatever the reason, this movie just makes me feel good.
Just like in the movie where the characters wonder what their reason for being is, and then realize it in the end, the viewer is treated to the same odyssey. Every character in the movie adds to the total effect, and moves the story along, and without the character, no matter how minor, the story would be incomplete.
Maybe because of my relationship with my own Dad; maybe because I've had the opportunity to visit the actual field used for the filming (it still exists, and yes, People Do Come), maybe it's the reinforcement in my belief there is a heaven - whatever the reason, this movie just makes me feel good.
No Country for Old Men
(2007)
What The Heck Happened?
4 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Outstanding Acting - CHECK. Breath-taking cinematography - CHECK. Sweeping locales - CHECK. Quirky Humor - DOUBLE CHECK. Edge-of-the-seat Thriller - CHECK-A-ROONIE.
Put it all together and what do you got?
Beats me.
I am sure it's just my perspective as the whole world seemed to love this movie. It is good, and worth the price of admission, but I just didn't get it.
Hey, I have no problem with an open-ended plot where the viewer's imagination takes over and haunts him for the next 6 days. But this movie has loose ends coming out of the woodwork.
After all the graphic violence, why do we never see Llewelyn actually die? Was it his body in the morgue or someone else's?
Did Carlea Jean live or die? I think it's important to the plot development to know.
Who is the dude in the wheelchair and what purpose did he serve? Sheriff Bell could have easily held the same discussion with his wife, so what's the deal?
How did Carson Wells find Llewelyn so quickly? And in Mexico? Whey was he even in the story?
Where was Stephen Root's red stapler?
Like I said, maybe it's me. Maybe I just like to know why stuff happened and at least WHAT happened.
On the up side, the gas station scene has taken over in my brain as the Number 1 Scary Scene from the shower scene in Psycho. "Call it" is now the "in your face" catch phrase.
And if I ever, EVER find a bag of money, I ain't touching it.
Put it all together and what do you got?
Beats me.
I am sure it's just my perspective as the whole world seemed to love this movie. It is good, and worth the price of admission, but I just didn't get it.
Hey, I have no problem with an open-ended plot where the viewer's imagination takes over and haunts him for the next 6 days. But this movie has loose ends coming out of the woodwork.
After all the graphic violence, why do we never see Llewelyn actually die? Was it his body in the morgue or someone else's?
Did Carlea Jean live or die? I think it's important to the plot development to know.
Who is the dude in the wheelchair and what purpose did he serve? Sheriff Bell could have easily held the same discussion with his wife, so what's the deal?
How did Carson Wells find Llewelyn so quickly? And in Mexico? Whey was he even in the story?
Where was Stephen Root's red stapler?
Like I said, maybe it's me. Maybe I just like to know why stuff happened and at least WHAT happened.
On the up side, the gas station scene has taken over in my brain as the Number 1 Scary Scene from the shower scene in Psycho. "Call it" is now the "in your face" catch phrase.
And if I ever, EVER find a bag of money, I ain't touching it.
The Manchurian Candidate
(1962)
Great Story and Great Acting
30 May 2008
This is a gem. A keeper.
In my mind, THIS is the movie that proves once and for all Ol' Blue Eyes could act. Just watch his face, especially the eyebrows, during the drunken monologue of Raymond (played to a "T" by Laurence Harvey).
Angela Landsbury is so damn evil in this movie. What a job of acting! I thought it was a hoot that she was the mortal enemy of Senator Jordan, played by the ever warm and fuzzy John McGiver, her co-star in the Disney musical Bedknobs and Broomsticks. I never considered Landsbury as "sexy," but in this movie, hoo-boy! The scene where she gives Raymond, her son, directions to kill Jordan makes the audience expect a little Mother-Son action. Steamy.
This also had to be one of the finest roles for veteran character actor James Gregory as the McCarthy-esqe Senator Iselin. He switches between blustering bully to meek Momma's Boy in an eye-blink with ease.
Even the supporting cast shined in this movie, such as frequent Sinatra co-star and "fringe Rat Packer" Henry Silva (who can play - and HAS played - just about every ethnic type you can think of).
Turner Classic Movies is showing it now and then; set up the DVD and then wait for a nice rainy Sunday afternoon, make some popcorn, and enjoy.
In my mind, THIS is the movie that proves once and for all Ol' Blue Eyes could act. Just watch his face, especially the eyebrows, during the drunken monologue of Raymond (played to a "T" by Laurence Harvey).
Angela Landsbury is so damn evil in this movie. What a job of acting! I thought it was a hoot that she was the mortal enemy of Senator Jordan, played by the ever warm and fuzzy John McGiver, her co-star in the Disney musical Bedknobs and Broomsticks. I never considered Landsbury as "sexy," but in this movie, hoo-boy! The scene where she gives Raymond, her son, directions to kill Jordan makes the audience expect a little Mother-Son action. Steamy.
This also had to be one of the finest roles for veteran character actor James Gregory as the McCarthy-esqe Senator Iselin. He switches between blustering bully to meek Momma's Boy in an eye-blink with ease.
Even the supporting cast shined in this movie, such as frequent Sinatra co-star and "fringe Rat Packer" Henry Silva (who can play - and HAS played - just about every ethnic type you can think of).
Turner Classic Movies is showing it now and then; set up the DVD and then wait for a nice rainy Sunday afternoon, make some popcorn, and enjoy.
Sergeants 3
(1962)
The Rarest of the Rat Packers
22 May 2008
Praise the Gods and Ted Turner! This rarest of the Rat Pack Movies is now being periodically carried on the TCM (Turner Classic Movies) channel during tributes to Old Blue Eyes. The DVD was set up and now I can enjoy this any time I want.
I have not seen this movie since its original release at the beginning of the 60's. Since movies can't change in the can, I guess I have. Or at least my view of the world. Back then I laughed like hell at Davis' wondering-out-loud on how they got the skin off the skulls without taking the headbands off, but now I wince at the stereotype of the uneducated Negro.
Also, back then, the Western was king on TV (Maverick, Cheyenne, The Restless Gun, Have Gun Will Travel, The Rebel, The Virginian, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, et al) as was military stuff (Combat!, The Gallant Men, The Blue Angels, Wackiest Ship In The Army, McHales navy, etc) so as a young lad this was the best of both worlds, a Military Western. Funny, too.
But world-weary vision aside, it's still a classic Rat Packer and very enjoyable. Sinatra actually does some acting, and this is probably one of Dino's best jobs short of The Young Lions.
I have not seen this movie since its original release at the beginning of the 60's. Since movies can't change in the can, I guess I have. Or at least my view of the world. Back then I laughed like hell at Davis' wondering-out-loud on how they got the skin off the skulls without taking the headbands off, but now I wince at the stereotype of the uneducated Negro.
Also, back then, the Western was king on TV (Maverick, Cheyenne, The Restless Gun, Have Gun Will Travel, The Rebel, The Virginian, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, et al) as was military stuff (Combat!, The Gallant Men, The Blue Angels, Wackiest Ship In The Army, McHales navy, etc) so as a young lad this was the best of both worlds, a Military Western. Funny, too.
But world-weary vision aside, it's still a classic Rat Packer and very enjoyable. Sinatra actually does some acting, and this is probably one of Dino's best jobs short of The Young Lions.
This Man's Navy
(1945)
A neat little film about the Navy's LTA operations.
18 March 2008
Not many movies were made about the Lighter-Than-Air (LTA) aspect of aviation, but this is one of them and it's damn good. Just a fun film to watch.
Most of the movie takes place at the Navy blimp operations at NAS Lakehurst (with NAS Tustin playing the role). Wallace Beery plays a likable but Munchausen-like Senior Chief Ned Trumpet, an enlisted pilot, whose tall tales have gotten so frequent nobody really believes him. Half the fun is near the end of the movie when events start proving that most of his more outlandish tales are actually true.
Set during WWII, the main plot centers around bachelor Trumpet wooing a local widow only to end up having a father-son relationship with the widow's crippled son, Jess. Told he would never walk without crutches by doctors, Chief Trumpet pulls some strings and a Navy flight surgeon helps in restoring the lad's crippled leg. Jess goes on to join the Navy to become a flight officer, flying blimps back at Lakehurst and facing a whole new set of challenges.
A very well-done movie, albeit not without some corny Hollywood dialogue slipping past the technical advisers, and Beery's apparent inability to march in step. Otherwise this movie gets good grades for technical accuracy, and gives a rare look into the Navy's LTA operations. The Cash Register Scene, an exchange between Trumpet and Jess's future love interest Cathy, is an absolute hoot.
Most of the movie takes place at the Navy blimp operations at NAS Lakehurst (with NAS Tustin playing the role). Wallace Beery plays a likable but Munchausen-like Senior Chief Ned Trumpet, an enlisted pilot, whose tall tales have gotten so frequent nobody really believes him. Half the fun is near the end of the movie when events start proving that most of his more outlandish tales are actually true.
Set during WWII, the main plot centers around bachelor Trumpet wooing a local widow only to end up having a father-son relationship with the widow's crippled son, Jess. Told he would never walk without crutches by doctors, Chief Trumpet pulls some strings and a Navy flight surgeon helps in restoring the lad's crippled leg. Jess goes on to join the Navy to become a flight officer, flying blimps back at Lakehurst and facing a whole new set of challenges.
A very well-done movie, albeit not without some corny Hollywood dialogue slipping past the technical advisers, and Beery's apparent inability to march in step. Otherwise this movie gets good grades for technical accuracy, and gives a rare look into the Navy's LTA operations. The Cash Register Scene, an exchange between Trumpet and Jess's future love interest Cathy, is an absolute hoot.
Independence Day
(1996)
Pretty good....up to a point.
18 March 2008
Things were going pretty darn good until the Area 51 crap started. I really liked Will Smith's excellent interpretation of a Marine aviator (it is obvious he met some and spent some time with them in preparation)and even his CGI dog-fight with the alien fighter-thing-a-ma-bob was pretty good. Then.....everything goes either silly or flat.
This may be a movie where the script writers got three-quarters of the way through and then got drunk. The great Randy Quaid plays a drunk pilot in this movie, and I think he really had to have been drunk to say those lines he had. Judd Hirsch also must have been drunk. Everyone probably was bombed in the last 30 minutes of this flick, except Jeff Goldblum, who appears stoned. Maybe the next time I watch it I'll do likewise and it will make more sense.
This may be a movie where the script writers got three-quarters of the way through and then got drunk. The great Randy Quaid plays a drunk pilot in this movie, and I think he really had to have been drunk to say those lines he had. Judd Hirsch also must have been drunk. Everyone probably was bombed in the last 30 minutes of this flick, except Jeff Goldblum, who appears stoned. Maybe the next time I watch it I'll do likewise and it will make more sense.
Executive Decision
(1996)
Docking Stealth Fighters and Horrible Writing
5 March 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This is a laugher where terrorists take over a 747-400 and a squad of crack anti-terrorist troops sneak aboard, in flight, by having an F-117 Stealth Fighter "dock" with the '47.
Stop! PLEASE, make it STOP!
This one is actually painful to watch. One of the few redeeming factors is the Steven Segal character gets killed early in the movie (oh, thank you!) so you don't have to listen to Mr. Roboto any more. Halle Berry could be a redeeming factor, but if I want to get a Halle Berry fix I'll watch Monster's Ball. This movie should be classified as hazardous waste.
Stop! PLEASE, make it STOP!
This one is actually painful to watch. One of the few redeeming factors is the Steven Segal character gets killed early in the movie (oh, thank you!) so you don't have to listen to Mr. Roboto any more. Halle Berry could be a redeeming factor, but if I want to get a Halle Berry fix I'll watch Monster's Ball. This movie should be classified as hazardous waste.
Dark Blue World
(2001)
Action movie, buddy movie, romantic movie, epic movie, it's even got a dog!
5 March 2008
Absolutely one of the best aviation movies of all times on so many levels. Hardware junkies will drool over the largest single massing of flyable Spitfires outside of a Battle of Britain reenactment. No less than eight flying Spits are on hand for very accurate ground and air sequences.
Those that marvel over the lore of flying and get misty-eyed reciting High Flight will identify with the central characters' reverence for the freedom of being fast, free and high in their Dark Blue World. Be warned: romantics and even dog lovers are treated to a very emotional ride in this movie. The core message is one that is shared by many war vets, in that their finest hours, their period of life when they felt most alive, was in fact during the war when everything else is sad and gray.
The plot concerns Czech pilots who escape from their country when the Nazis invade and join the RAF Free Czech Squadron. There are a few subplots, all of which are worth careful attention. This is just a plain old excellent movie that even the most ardent anti-hardware romantic will love (keep the Kleenex on hand). Beautiful photography, first-rate acting, accurate details of RAF life during the Battle Of Britain. Easily a candidate for any aviation enthusiast's personal DVD collection.
Those that marvel over the lore of flying and get misty-eyed reciting High Flight will identify with the central characters' reverence for the freedom of being fast, free and high in their Dark Blue World. Be warned: romantics and even dog lovers are treated to a very emotional ride in this movie. The core message is one that is shared by many war vets, in that their finest hours, their period of life when they felt most alive, was in fact during the war when everything else is sad and gray.
The plot concerns Czech pilots who escape from their country when the Nazis invade and join the RAF Free Czech Squadron. There are a few subplots, all of which are worth careful attention. This is just a plain old excellent movie that even the most ardent anti-hardware romantic will love (keep the Kleenex on hand). Beautiful photography, first-rate acting, accurate details of RAF life during the Battle Of Britain. Easily a candidate for any aviation enthusiast's personal DVD collection.
The Dam Busters
(1955)
An exceptional movie on many levels
5 March 2008
First of all, it's a pretty darn good depiction of the factual events of Britain's destruction of German hydroelectric dams in WWII, including the sometimes single-handed efforts of Dr. Barnes Wallis, engineer, scientist and visionary, to convince British high command to implement his plan. Second, excellent footage of the AVRO Lancaster, Britain's premier heavy bomber of the war, at times yanking and banking at extreme low level. Third, it's a very good depiction of the combat crews and their emotions before and after the missions. Fourth, it's just a damn good movie, no pun intended.
The main plot is to develop a means of destroying the three main dams that power most of Germany's war industry in the Ruhr Valley, and then executing the plan. Sir Michael Redgrave's rendition of Wallis treats the audience to the same enthusiasm, exhaustion, disappointment and triumph that the man himself must have felt. A very interesting part of the movie is when, after finally winning over bureaucratic lethargy and getting his plans for the destruction of the dams approved, he now realizes his pet project will put young men in danger, and many, even possibly all, will die.
Richard Todd and a competent cast play the Lanc crews with a minimum of schmaltz. All depictions of the Lancasters are live footage with the exception of the few crash scenes, which are done using miniatures. Legend has it that George Lucas used footage and even duologue from this film for his Star Wars movies.
Warning: Todd's character, Wing Commander Gibson, has a black Labrador Retriever named "Nigger." In fact, they use the dog's name as a code word indicating success. Obviously, the word means something much different in the US today. The US version of the movie and the one seen on TV had "Trigger" dubbed in, but the DVD version uses the original duologue. It take a bit getting used to, and may be a distraction for some.
Look for future greats Robert Shaw and Patrick McGoohan in bit parts.
The main plot is to develop a means of destroying the three main dams that power most of Germany's war industry in the Ruhr Valley, and then executing the plan. Sir Michael Redgrave's rendition of Wallis treats the audience to the same enthusiasm, exhaustion, disappointment and triumph that the man himself must have felt. A very interesting part of the movie is when, after finally winning over bureaucratic lethargy and getting his plans for the destruction of the dams approved, he now realizes his pet project will put young men in danger, and many, even possibly all, will die.
Richard Todd and a competent cast play the Lanc crews with a minimum of schmaltz. All depictions of the Lancasters are live footage with the exception of the few crash scenes, which are done using miniatures. Legend has it that George Lucas used footage and even duologue from this film for his Star Wars movies.
Warning: Todd's character, Wing Commander Gibson, has a black Labrador Retriever named "Nigger." In fact, they use the dog's name as a code word indicating success. Obviously, the word means something much different in the US today. The US version of the movie and the one seen on TV had "Trigger" dubbed in, but the DVD version uses the original duologue. It take a bit getting used to, and may be a distraction for some.
Look for future greats Robert Shaw and Patrick McGoohan in bit parts.
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