Product: Flyboys [Blu-ray] (2006)
Rating: 4.0
Over the Skies of France!
First I like to address the controversy sustained by various reviewers of this film about accuracy or inaccuracy of historical events.As usually occurs when Hollywood's products states "based on historical or true facts" viewers should take the statement as "very loosely based on historical or true facts", such is the case here. So do not get annoyed when lots of tri-planes shows up or a zeppelin intends to bomb Paris, those are the usual "historical licenses" of this kind of films.I regard this movie as an "action film" as for example "Indiana Jones" or "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" and as such is quite good."Flyboys" (2006) was directed by multifaceted Tony Bill who is also actor and producer of many films.The story is based on the ventures of young Americans volunteers to become pilots of Lafayette Escadrille. From all over the States with different motivations they go to France without even knowing a French word.There they are trained and launched, still green, into the fry suffering losses and evolving step by step into veteran and even aces.I love the special effects now possible with CGI, crowds of planes may be shown, fighting each other fiercely and giving the word "action" a full new meaning.Play acting is correct, with only Jean Reno as Capt. Thenault over par, beautiful French actress Jennifer Decker as Lucienne give way to romance.The runtime, 140 minutes, is a little excessive.A good movie for a variety of audiences: WWI buffs, action movie's fan, romance fans.Reviewed by Max Yofre.