Product: Flyboys [Blu-ray] (2006)
Rating: 5.0
Best movie of 2006 - also best kept secret
I saw this in the theater and couldn't wait to get it on dvd. I couldn't believe such a great movie got such ho-hum treatment by the critics, but as usual, what do they know. I'd rate this the 2nd all-time best war movie, after Private Ryan. (With Enemy at the Gates #3). I am so glad they make movies like this, to educate people about long-forgotten times. It has everything, action packed scenes, Americans volunteering to go in harm's way - once again in France. The Lafayette Escadrille was a volunteer group of American aviators, similar to the Flying Tigers in WW2 - the AVG (American Volunteer Group). This is WWI, and it follows their adventures and combat, they are trained by the French, and fly their planes into the teeth of combat with Germany's best. I was amazed at the accuracy of many details, like the German infantry's uniforms, and correct rifles, and the use of the lozenge camoflage on the German bombers - all correct. I love it when war movies get it right. And this one has some super action scenes that will take your breath away as you hang there in the sky with the flyboys with not much more than canvas and string for wings and a single-blade wooden prop, it is so harrowing and uplifting to see. Talk about entertainment. I absolutely love this movie and am proud to own it. This was by far the best movie of 2006. It seems impossible that it is such a well-kept secret.