Red Tails

I remember when they were filming Red Tails in Milovice. I saw a lot of photos, I even saw the old planes in the sky and I was thinking how glad I was that they were again filming something in Milovice and that it would certainly be worth it. Then I was sorry that the film was delayed and even sorrier that when it was finally released in America, it got quite a lot of negative reviews. But then I could finally watch it and judge it for myself. I think the biggest issue is with the black people who have their own style and you have to get used to them. That’s not so hard though, because after all the successes, they earned our favor. I rather regretted how extremely digital the film is. It’s nice that the effects were done by a Czech company, but I’m sorry that the film is so digital. It didn’t have to be. For example, when I compare it with older films about airmen from the First and Second World Wars, where the action was real action, I realize that there’s always been a way to film it. In this film they just wanted to spare themselves the work and rather worked with digital. Okay, so they did it the way they did it. On the other hand, I have to say that I enjoyed it and this film certainly doesn’t deserve a negative review. (13.05.2013)

Quite a lot of value for 30 million dollars. Excellent action sequences (with a few exceptions), brilliantly shot aerial combat. Unfortunately, the the story is firstly predictable and boring, secondly flat, without any stronger emotional catharsis (how many films have we seen where a foreigner finds their love from a completely different nationality in a city?). There’re no raw deaths like in Saving Private Ryan, nor the fierceness and urgency of Black Hawk Down. Moreover, seeing a turbo-prop fighter destroying a 150-meter armored cruiser with a regular machine gun was a bit too much for me. The film shows enthusiasm, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough. (19.08.2012)

Herr Oberst, acht oder achtzig deutsche Jagdflugzeuge – das ändert nichts daran, was ich von Ihnen und Ihren Jungs halte. – Uns ist es egal. Ein völlig problemloser Film, welcher vor allem tolle Actionszenen hat, von denen es viele gibt und von denen jede immer wieder etwas Neues zu bieten hat. Vivat ILM! Die zwei Stunden sind sehr schnell vergangen, die eher unbekannten Schauspieler waren unterhaltsam und ich habe mich auch an Blanchards Musik gewöhnt, die mir nur beim Anhören unpassend modern vorgekommen ist. Der Hauptgedanke von Red Tails ist (leider) immer noch aktuell. Deshalb sehe ich, vor allem dank der Botschaft des Films, gerne über ein paar Unwahrscheinlichkeiten hinweg (von denen mich am meisten der Zweikampf am Ende mit einem Messerschmitt 262 gestört hat). Vier und ein bisschen. (06.08.2015)