Product: Flyboys [Blu-ray] (2006)
Rating: 4.0
Better than advertised.
I hadn't heard much about this movie and I hadn't heard of any of the actors before so I was reluctant to watch it, but it's a great medium-budget movie! I love all war/historical movies that are based on real people. This movie follows about 7 military pilots in WWI that are based on real Americans or on composite characters. It's not as dramatic and over-the-top as a big-budget war movie, but that makes it a lighter form of entertainment. I'm going to buy the DVD so I can watch it again and share it with other people, whereas I couldn't stomach re-watching Private Ryan. If you've ever enjoyed an airshow, you'll love the old-time planes in the movie. The pilots are exposed to the elements, sticking out of small paper-wing airplanes with prop engines that need to be started by hand, and glide to a stop in open fields. One of the characters says "planes were only invented 10 years ago!" All the pilots had interesting life stories, one an aristocrat, one the son of a slave.. there is also a love story with the James Franco/Blaine character which I liked (he's quite handsome!).