Best WWII flight movies? Preferally seen from the german eyes.

[Nil]

Anyone got some suggestions?

Been watching the 'Wings of the Luftwaffe' series today, Thought it to be.. ok, 'but than the americans came and turned the tide' where getting annoying, and now hope for a nice recommendetion.

[Cybermat47]

Battle of Britain is good, and about half of it is from the German point of view.

[sturmkraehe]

Yes, Battle of Britain is a good ww2 Flight movie and pretty neutral when it comes to show the German side (no all black painted evil uber planes of an evil monocle wearing bald baron with a scar in his face against a brave handsome young underdog boy caught up in a desperate love affair fighting off the lord of evil himself).

 

Another good movie: The honor to fly. It's about the Tuskegee airmen and I am not talking about the new movie.

 

Dark Blue World is also nice although it does not deal with the German side either.

[Cybermat47]

Another great WWII flight movie is Tora! Tora! Tora!, which deals with the attack on Pearl Harbour and is shown from the American and Japanese points of view. It mostly deals with the politics leading up to the attack, but when it gets to the attack it's the best action sequence put to film.

[Nil]

Another good movie: The honor to fly. It's about the Tuskegee airmen and I am not talking about the new movie.

 

I couldn't even found 'The honor to fly' on Imdb, does it have another name?

[sturmkraehe]

Ah sorry: I simply translated the German title "Die Ehre zu Fliegen" into English

 

The English title is simple "The Tuskegee Airmen". With Lawrence Fishburn, an actor that I like a lot.

 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Tuskegee-Airmen-Laurence-Fishburne/dp/B00319ECI8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392676686&sr=8-1&keywords=tuskegee+airmen

 

I just remember another very good movie: "Memphis Belle" I can really recommend it. It's a nail biting movie.

Edited February 17, 2014 by sturmkraehe

[Sternjaeger]

not much else really, I remember hearing there was something in the works, but never quite made it.. there's plenty of great books out there though! 

[Finkeren]

While I enjoyed them as a kid, I have to say, that both "Battle of Britain" and "Tora, tora, tora" utterly fail as movies (even though it is a bit awesome to see a young Ian Mc'Shane in BoB) They are more like filmed documentaries with very little character development and vey rudimentary plot lines beyond simply recreating the historical events.

 

"The Tuskegee Airmen" holds up a bit better and is certainly a more interesting story, but it is inferior in terms of the flying action.

 

"Dark Blue World", though I think it's a bit too preoccupied with painting the rooskies as the true antagonists is propably the closest thing to a "good" WW2 air war movie.

 

Still waiting for that one good air war movie from a German producer. Perhaps there even might be a good Russian one some day, when their screenwriters get a little more experience in making gritty war movies.

[sturmkraehe]

That's true what you say about the movie "Battle of Britain", Finkeren. But I think it was the style at that time. There had been a lot of war movies from that period that were pretty same tone. Today we want those big heroic movies with emotional involvement of the audience (nothing bad about that) like in "Saving Private Ryan", etc. Back than it was more about the war and the events. 

Edited February 18, 2014 by sturmkraehe

[Nil]

Finished BoB now, and kinda liked it.. No extreme lovestory,(luckily) mainly plane action in just the right amount. watching Memphis Belle right now..

[Sternjaeger]

if you're after classics you must watch "12 o'clock high" and "Flying Leathernecks" among the many, if anything for the genuine warbirds in them! 

[Finkeren]

"Memphis Belle" is definately watchable, but could have done with a better script. The characters are completely uninspired cardboard cutouts. However, it is really well shot, the action is nice (if not terribly realistic nor historically accurate) and it conveys some of the same claustrophobic feeling, you get from watching "Das Boot".

[Finkeren]

Today we want those big heroic movies with emotional involvement of the audience (nothing bad about that) like in "Saving Private Ryan", etc.

 

Not sure we want "heroic" movies, but you're definately right about the emotional involvement. If I don't care whether the characters I watch live or die, then the movie pretty much fails as a war flick.

 

That's why I hold "Das Boot" in such a high regard, because for some reason it really makes you care about the entire crews fate, even though you only get to know a handful of them on a first name basis.

[II./JG27_Rich]

The Battle Of Britain from 1969. I would love to see a movie made abould the fighters over Europe in the second half of the war or the Night Fighters.

Edited February 18, 2014 by II./JG27_Rich

[Nil]

Not sure we want "heroic" movies, but you're definately right about the emotional involvement. If I don't care whether the characters I watch live or die, then the movie pretty much fails as a war flick.

 

That's why I hold "Das Boot" in such a high regard, because for some reason it really makes you care about the entire crews fate, even though you only get to know a handful of them on a first name basis.

 

Das Boot is a one of a kind for sure!

 

The Battle Of Britain from 1969. I would love to see a movie made abould the fighters over Europe in the second half of the war or the Night Fighters.

 

As they say, bombers make history, fighters make movies. But 'realistic' movies from WWII seems to be sparse. I myself didn't have the interest until I watched the 'main' WWI movies, after playing RoF Even though my entire life have circled around flight sims.

 

[II./JG27_Rich]

Yes Das Boot is one in a Million. Thank goodness Mr. Petersen made it. If you get the chance get the full original mini series disk set almost 5 hrs long. That;s the way to see it.

[Cybermat47]

Yes Das Boot is one in a Million. Thank goodness Mr. Petersen made it. If you get the chance get the full original mini series disk set almost 5 hrs long. That;s the way to see it.

I've got the uncut 5 hour version, as well as the Director's Cut on DvD (which my Mum lent to a guy who's Grandfather was a U-boat captain, and the stuff he and his girlfriend lent us is a topic unto itself), and the Director's Cut on my iPad. Plus, I've got the original novel.

 

Of course, Das Boot isn't that realistic, just ask Lothar Gunther-Buchheim or any surviving U-boat crewmember (even the book is regarded as crap among U-boat veterans), but it's still a great movie and book. Perhaps it's better they exaggerated everything, in order to convey the horror across to those of us lucky enough to not have been in war.

Edited February 18, 2014 by Cybermat47

[TheBlackPenguin]

if you're after classics you must watch "12 o'clock high" and "Flying Leathernecks" among the many, if anything for the genuine warbirds in them! 

 

12 o'clock high is one of my favourites .

[IVJG4-Knight]

Der rote baron 2008 

[Feathered_IV]

I really disliked the Rote Baron movie. Perhaps if it had not taken MVR's name for its fictional character it might have been ok. As a film about the real Richthofen though, it has no integrity whatsoever.

[danjama]

I really dont agree with the comments re cut out characters in Memphis Belle. I actually think they are quite well developed and probably represent a good cross section of the American youth at the time. The film really does well to create an emotional connection between the viewer and the characters.

 

Anyway, not ww2 but I really enjoyed The Blue Max and Aces High.

 

For WW2 there is also a film called The Best Years Of Our Lives with a lovely scene in a bomber graveyard and a flight inside the nose of a B17 over post war USA. I believe these clips are on youtube but the whole film is worth a watch.

 

Another must watch is the series Piece Of Cake, which is about a squadron of pilots in France flying Spits before the retreat.

Edited February 25, 2014 by danjama

[Feathered_IV]

Though not cinema, there's a great little novel called, Ace by Spencer Dunmore which is about a fictional Luftwaffe pilot.  It's great fun and has all the hallmarks of a "men's" novel written during the 1970's.  A cycle of tragedy and humor, followed by intense action and then a brisk shag every third chapter or so.  Worth picking up if you can find a copy 

 

[Rama]

Another must watch is the series Piece Of Cake, which is about a squadron of pilots in France flying Spits before the retreat.

Yes, this one is absolutly great. And the part with Ray Hanna piloting a Spit under a bridge is just incredible.

[Finkeren]

I really dont agree with the comments re cut out characters in Memphis Belle. I actually think they are quite well developed and probably represent a good cross section of the American youth at the time. The film really does well to create an emotional connection between the viewer and the characters.

 

 

I obviously disagree, but I can see your point. The reason I view the characters as underdeveloped and occasionally stereotypical is precisely because they are designed to be a cross section of american youth, not as it was at the time, but from that mythical, never existing, "golden age" of the 1950s and early -60s.

 

It's even admitted up front at the beginning of the movie in the voiceover by the PR-officer: He's already planned out a role for each member of the crew and more or less lays out their personalities beforehand, which is kinda disasterous in terms of moviemaking ("show, don't tell") That would be all well and good, if the characters actually challenged those preconcieved characteristics or were shown as being distinctly uncomfortable with their "roles" (only the navigator is really shown that way).

 

As I see it, only the bombardier (I forget the names) truly brings any nuance to his character with his shady backstory about faking his medical credentials. Other than that, the characters more or less conform to expectations: The captain is the "grown up" everyman, the navigator is the neurotic pesimist, the co-pilot is the foolish "cool-guy-who-will-learn-his-lesson-soon", the ball turret gunner is the dwarfish funny man, the tail gunner is the pondering philosopher, the waist gunners are respectively the big, dumb brute and the superstitious nut etc, etc.

 

Don't get me wrong: I love "Memphis Belle" for what it is, but to call it a "good movie" would be an overstatement.

Another must watch is the series Piece Of Cake, which is about a squadron of pilots in France flying Spits before the retreat.

 

I have not seen that. Sounds interesting though, I'll give it a try.

Edited February 25, 2014 by Finkeren

[Sokol1]

Today we want those big heroic movies with emotional involvement of the audience (nothing bad about that) like in "Saving Private Ryan", etc.

 

Your dream are come:

 

 

 

Sokol1

[danjama]

Finkeren, reading your post, it occurred to me that your reason for disliking the characters is my reason for liking them. Whilst we are on the subject of character arcs/development, I agree the bombardier has one of the more interesting back stories, but each of the characters transforms (or at least reveals themselves) during their 'final mission', which is something your average movie goer will appreciate, without even realising it. For example, Jack, the bullying waist gunner, loses his temper and apparently chucks Genes medal out of the window. But he later returns the medal to Gene, as he had only hidden it out of spite. He surprised the viewer here, as we expect him to fit the character stereotype subscribed to him by the Captain. They all show signs of transformation as characters in my opinion.

 

p.s. that Mighty Eighth trailer looks absolutely awful, the sort of drivel that really boils my piss.

[sturmkraehe]

@Sokol: :D When I was saying "we" I meant it in a metaphorical way I did not include myself

[Bladderburst]

Red Tails.........................................................................................................................................................................

[II./JG27_Rich]

Red Tails.........................................................................................................................................................................

Joke right?

Totally forgot about this. Not a very good movie..very cheese infested but it's all about him. He may be in A Higher Call he was in the book

 

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049796/?ref_=ttmd_md_nm

[Bladderburst]

Joke right?

Totally forgot about this. Not a very good movie..very cheese infested but it's all about him. He may be in A Higher Call he was in the book

 

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049796/?ref_=ttmd_md_nm

 

Yes joking, I got really angry when seeing this.

[II./JG27_Rich]

Sorry for going on and on but..You know how Red Tails have crazy markings on the 109s like SS Panzer Div. Death Heads etc. There is this small indi film called Fortress and their CGI G6/AS 109s are excellent compaired to Red Tails. In my opinion it's a better movie too.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y83rT19jFA

[Feathered_IV]

I haven't watched all of that one yet. The actors are not very gifted to day the least. Watching them as a group as they try to express sorrow fatigue or even a hangover is pretty funny, with each one experimenting with several overly theatrical facial expressions. Sort of like a version of the Backstreet Boys on valium.

[II./JG27_Rich]

I haven't watched all of that one yet. The actors are not very gifted to day the least. Watching them as a group as they try to express sorrow fatigue or even a hangover is pretty funny, with each one experimenting with several overly theatrical facial expressions. Sort of like a version of the Backstreet Boys on valium.

Have to agree there LOL. What I liked about it was they were based in Africa rather than the same old same old England and the nice effort on the 109s compared to the multi million dollar Red Tails

Edited February 28, 2014 by II./JG27_Rich

[Finkeren]

I watched about 1/3 in on that one. I'll give them a thumbs up for effort, but I just couldn't stomach it in the end. I still think "Memphis Belle" is rather mediocre in terms of script and acting, but compared to "Fortress" it's The Godfather, Shawshank Redemption and Schindlers List rolled into one.

Edited February 28, 2014 by Finkeren

[Bladderburst]

I'd have to say that the best aviation movie is probably the blue max. Then again it's WWI.

 

WWII that's a tough one.

[Finkeren]

I really wish there was a meaningful way to adapt Saint-Exuperys "Pilot de Guerre" to the big screen, but unfortunately I can only see it come out as contrived and boring.

[6./ZG26_Emil]

It has to be the Battle of Britain

[Bladderburst]

Iron Eagle 3 or 4 has WWII warplanes............................................................................

[kestrel79]

Hmmm I had high hopes for Mighty 8th...that looked pretty cheap to me. Acting wise and special effects. Band of Brothers set the bar so high.

[LLv44_Mprhead]

Hmmm I had high hopes for Mighty 8th...that looked pretty cheap to me. Acting wise and special effects. Band of Brothers set the bar so high.

 

That teaser is not from the HBO mighty eight series.