Anyone else looking forward to this? A friend of mine was developing a script similar in concept to this, only with a more romantic storyline, I think he is probably kicking himself right now. I think the movie looks awesome. Link to official site Music is very "Band of Brothers" ish. DD
I can't wait. WWI pilots were totally crazy and the people in Lafayette Escadrille were all volunteers. Someone somewhere else brought to my attention the black gentleman in the film. There were plenty of black French Zouaves from North Africa, but black American pilots weren't exactly something that I was expecting to see. In case that seemed odd to anybody else, the man is Eugene Bullard who lead an interesting enough life that they could make a film only about him. The CGI looks great, and they seem to have the historical aspects correct (i.e. no Americans flying German planes; I can't watch quite a few WWII movies because all the Germans are driving postwar American tanks!). I deal with a lot of WWI era stuff and in the trailers they are actually flying French planes and wearing the correct horizon blue French uniforms. [cheap plug](BTW I deal in quite a bit of WWI-related stuff so if anybody sees something they want for their very own let me know and I can help.)[/cheap plug] The only think that I can see that turns me off is the possibility of a "Pearl Harbor" style Hollywood love story that they seem to be hinting at in the trailer, but no film is perfect. The film is based quite a bit on real people and events of Lafayette Escadrille. I don't think that a more formulaic type of movie would do anything but diminish it. I mean no insult to your friend, but I think that the film is better the less 'Hollywood' formula item scripting that is involved. Would it have ‘improved’ 'Band of Brothers' if someone rewrote it to include some bogus sappy love stories between the Americans and several junge deutsche Mädchen? The closer this story sticks to reality, the more it is like "Band of Brothers" and less like "Pearl Harbor".
It looks good but I'm a little worried it might be somewhat cheesy in terms of story (ala Pearl Harbor) and not as realistic as it should for a war movie. But the effects look damn impressive. Plus there aren't too many films about WWI as well as films focusing on aerial combat. So I think I'll have to check it out.
I love WWI pilots. The old 1938 movie, Dawn Patrol is great and captures some of the spirit/chivalry that to a certain extent was real. I hope this does the same thing. I will definitely try and see this film.
This one and Flags of our Fathers is also one I am looking forward too. And Otto, the script my friend is developing is called "The Scarlett Knight" and it is about the Red Baron and the American who shot him down. The script is AMAZING, and he has done some test CGI which was fantastic too, I just hope he gets to make it. Lately he has been producing movies instead of directing them, He produced...Lucky number Sleven, and Lords of War among many. I just want him to get the WW1 movie off and running as the script is really good. DD
Be sure to let your friend know that the Red Baron was actually shot down by an Australian on the ground with a Vickers.
There is still some controversy over that. A movie on von Richthoven would be great but, as a continuing controversy over exactly who killed him would suggest, some people are still very passionate about the man. It would have to stick fairly well to the facts or all the WWI fanboys would flip out. Some people who are wiser than me think that there is going to be an upswing in interest in World War One between now and the 100th anniversary in 2014. If this movie does at all well I would imagine that your friend will probably have a pretty good shot at getting his film done in the next few years. If he does, I will certanly watch it.
