The Tuskegee Airmen
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Movie Reviews of The Tuskegee Airmen
Movie Review: "I'd like to have the 332nd take me to Berlin"
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an excellent story of real people. It is not PC BS where all whites are bad and all blacks are good. Instead, it is about a great and valiant group of men, the first black combat pilots during World War II. They are depicted as the heroes they were, not as supermen. They faced all of the challenges thrown at them to become pilots and they faced more challenges from their race. Some were primadonnas and some were modest. Some failed and some succeeded. Some were serious and some were jocular. Their humanity made them heroes even when others didn't want to admit their worth. They were regular guys called upon to do a difficult job and they did so with aplomb and dignity. They also did so magnificently.
The story takes a group of the airmen from their pilot training in Alabama through the North African campaign where they were relegated to important but unglamorous work against ground targets. We see them mature into professionals and develop their skills, all while being denied an opportunity to prove those skills. Finally, they are moved to Europe where they face more discrimination. Even though they do a great job, no one wants to admit that they have done so. Even redneck bomber crews who have their bacon saved are reluctant to give thanks when they learn they have been saved by black men. Still, the men of the 332nd persevere.
Finally, comes the push to Berlin. The bomber crews know its going to be tough. For me, the climax comes when one of the rednecks tells his CO, "If its all the same to you, I'd like the 332nd to take me to Berlin". This is the same guy who would not even acknowledge they could fly earlier. While flying bomber escort, the 332nd never lost a single bomber to enemy fire. They were magnificent.
That is the story and it is no secret. I'm not giving away anything not already in the history books. What makes this film so much more than docu-drama are the characterizations of the men who lived the story. They are real American heroes and they are played with greatness. They fought the Germans and they fought their own chain of command and they prevailed.
Bravo!
Movie Review: Democracy Begins At Home
Summary: 5 Stars
During World War II an "experimental" program was attempted at the Tuskegee (Alabama) Air Force Base that would have much greater implications for the years to come.
Call it a "Manhattan Project" for the minds of military and political leaders; it was to train and use a black air squadron in the war. And the rich history of fighting for democracy in war while battling racism is brought to life in this outstanding DVD based on the triumphs & travails of the airmen.
An all-star cast - including Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr., Malcolm Jamal Warner, Vivica A. Fox and John Lithgow - follows the airmen through their training to the skies over Africa and Italy, with the focus on the lives of each major character.
The DVD does an excellent job in juxtaposing the patriotism of the flyers with the Jim Crow laws on the homefront and in the military. In one powerful scene, German POW's are given better accomodations on a train transport than the airmen.
The flyers proved to be one of the most efficient and valuable squadrons in the war. The squadron actually had a low casualty rate while suffering no losses of bombers being escorted. The squadron also tallied a high kill rate of enemy aircraft when engaged in combat.
Not only heroes in war, the squadron was an important factor in setting the stage several years later for the military to be desegregated by law by President Harry Truman.
As with most movies with a historical theme, there are liberties taken to push the story along. But The Tuskegee Airmen is a great story and sets a solid foundation for anyone interested in further pursuing research in yet another lost gem of American history.
Movie Review: low budget, but a great movie nevertheless
Summary: 5 Stars
I won't knock a movie too hard if the story's good, but has a small budget. Because I have a thing for World War II movies (and for aviation movies), I really found this movie very enthralling.
I don't like the back of the DVD box that says how it's "1943, and the Germans are winning the war." In early '43, Von Paulus had surrendered in Stalingrad (which is generally seen as a huge turning point in the war). By late 1942, the Germans had already been losing in Stalingrad. But anyways...
This movie's great. I like how these men have to fight not only the Nazis, but racism in their own country as well. The best part is when the First Lady decides to fly with one of the "colored" pilots (and you can see how angry the commanding officer is).
The weakest part of this movie is the budget. Whenever aerial combat occurs (or even ground attack from the air), the movie uses stock footage from World War II. If I wanted to see footage that old, I'd watch a documentary (and yes, I do watch documentaries). But the advantage of watching a movie is that you can RECREATE these re-enactments in a more flashy way.
But all minor weaknesses aside, this movie's awesome. And the cast is awesome too featuring Cuba Gooding Jr and Lawrence Fishburne. It also has that guy from the Cosby Show. Suffice it to say, the acting is great.
It's a really touching movie because it shows the plight of these men as they risk their lives for a country that gives more rights to Nazi prisoners-of-war than to their own people (who happened to be non-White).
It's nice to see that this country has come such a long way in just 60 years.
Movie Review: Outstanding!... But Could've Been Better
Summary: 5 Stars
I was thrilled to hear about the coming of this movie--then saddened to realize that it was only to be shown as a TV movie. It seemed to me that the saga of these marvelous aviator warriors--treated as they were as second-class citizens by their own government--is one which deserved to be a silver-screen triumph. Our four-engine bombers were being punched out of the sky by the Luftwaffe, but NEVER when the Tuskegee pilots graced their wingtips. Their combat record was nothing short of amazing. The movie was well done, with great story, great actors, great acting. Still, I came away wishing that it might have been better in one respect: During the aerial combat segments, you hear the pilots bantering back and forth loudly over the radios using these rediculous phrases: "Take that, Gerry!" "That's for yo mamma, Gerry!" This was such a great movie; why did they have to dip into corny dialogue during the dog-fighting? It was a flawless procduction till it went hackneyed in those moments. Aside from that, it was awe-inspiring, moving, even gripping. I just hope the subject is not dropped, and that someday the Tuskegee heroes' story is given even better homage--on the silver screen. This is a far more important story than, say, the sinking of the Titanic.
Movie Review: Outstanding
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie not only addresses the tragedy and patriotism of those of served our country in WWII, but in brings to light the discrimination that was also a very real part of the existence of our black american heroes. This movie is not what I originally feared it would be, a typical portrayl of the oppresive white man keeping the black man down. It showed the courage and tenacity of a group of Americans (in the case African Americans) who fought and died for their country in the war to end all wars. The storyline follows a group of black pilots who not only bring honor and pride to themselves, but their country. They lived the motto, "My country, right or wrong, my country." It didn't matter that these men were discriminated against because they were black, they did the job that had to be done and they did it well. What more can we ask of any American? Watch this movie for the accurate history it portrays, not only in the struggle for equality in our country, but for all the guts and glory of those fighting men we owe our very freedom to today. God bless America.