I SINCERELY appreciate the recognition the Tuskegee Airmen are receiving in the media and public's eye right now due to the release of Red Tails. With any luck, some of the folks who have seen the film will be inspired to go pick up a book and learn more about the battle the Tuskegee Airmen fought to be allowed to fight for their country and their commendable combat record. That being said, the film itself is lousy in my opinion. Some really superb actors were hamstrung with an absolutely horrible script and storyline. I know producer George Lucas and screen writer John Ridley have said numerous times that they were not making an historical documentary, but rather a throwback adventure film in the vein of the 1940s action flicks like The Flying Tigers. I can accept that. I can accept the sometimes spotty CGI and mismarked airplanes that defy the laws of physics. What I can't accept is a movie that does a poor job delivering on what it proclaims to be - an action flick. It just wasn't very good. I wanted to like it, I really did. But I found I had to focus on the great set design and costumes to make it through the crummy dialogue and storyline and get back to the admittedly fun dogfights and flying scenes. The rest was just filler. If I had to grade Red Tails, I'd give it a C at best.
Now all that being said, I do encourage folks to go see the film themselves and form their own opinions. I've heard through the grapevine that there are a few other WWII aviation flicks in development, but if this one falls completely flat, they may not get the backing needed to be made. Not everyone has the personal finances that George Lucas does to bankroll their own film. And as I said, the flying scenes, while not at all realistic, were somewhat enjoyable. I just wish Mr. Lucas had watched the British made-for-tv movie First Light to see how good an aviation movie can be made on a small budget.