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Harry thinks Capone is on crack... RED TAILS is like an E.C. ACES HIGH comic brought to life!
I saw RED TAILS in a fairly miserable way. I held off reviewing it, because the setting & exhibition of the film was so half-assed and unprofessional - that it did actually interfere with my ability to become fully absorbed into the film.
A few days ago, a regional rep at one of the PR companies that represents Fox in TEXAS contacted me to see if I would like to host and introduce their screening of RED TAILS. I'd received a press invite for the film - and had decided I wasn't going to go, because it was going to be at AMC BARTON CREEK in Austin, Texas. I've had nothing but miserable film experiences at that theater. Sound bleed from other theaters, low light projection... and this time, the folks up in projection had left their 3D lens on, slightly askew, causing distant double images and focus issues that rendered most text illegible. But if you wound up on medium shots to closeups of characters - it seemed fine. Then... the worst part... The center channel speaker was completely out for the duration of the film. Meaning that the film sounded like crap... the score always being muted, the explosions missing their BOOM... the machine guns sounding flat. Yeah... George Lucas spends 20 years of his life working to get this story on the screen - and it gets put in one of the cheapest, low-rent, give a shit theaters in town. WAY TO GO!
I accepted the invite, because I have been reading about RED TAILS for 20 years. I'm a Lucas obsessive. I don't only look at his films, but read his interviews... I read accounts of people that have had conversations with the guy. I've read most of his admitted influences and am a fan of much of the artwork and pop-culture that he draws upon. Not so much because GEORGE LUCAS likes it, but because my father is of the exact same generation as him - and shares much of Lucas' passions. So I grew up with Maxfield Parrish prints, Norman Rockwell art at my Grandparents, but because my Dad ran that comic shop - he shared with me his passion for Golden Age and Atomic Age comics - so I grew up reading Fictionhouse's WINGS comics, ACES HIGH and the other E.C. combat books. People tend to focus on the science fiction and horror titles - but books like Frontline Combat and Two-Fisted Tales were spectacular as well.
If you're familiar with those books - your enjoyment of RED TAILS will only be heightened, because the aerial combat in this film is truly spectacular. That the Nazis and the brief looks we get at the non-Tuskegee Airmen that we get - they're drawn in the broadest of India Inks. They're pure comic book - but then, we know this about George. He doesn't get terribly detailed in his depth on his films. He's more about capturing the breathless sense of motion, the visceral thrill of being in the midst of combat - and you get that in this film more than in any aerial combat movie I've seen.
This isn't the best film in that genre. Not by a long shot, but it does offer some amazing visual bang for your buck. The main group of characters we stay focused on are likable enough for me. My favorite characters being LIGHTNING & RAYGUN... With EASY being close on in there. The best dramatic telling of this story is the film with Fishburne. And this is the best ACTION version of the tale. The audience I saw it with, which was just average film goers - not super geeks recruited by AICN, they seemed to love the film - with gasps and a good deal of applause when the film was over.
Me, when I left the theater... still bracing from the headache that the AMC BARTON CREEK gave me... the rep asked me what I thought and I said... "It's alright." Then complained about the miserable exhibition of the lowrent shithole this all went down in.
RED TAILS, I'll revisit on BluRay when it hits. Yoko didn't care for it, but then she had no desire to see the film at all - and stayed only due to my giddiness at actually getting to see this film. Which admittedly probably put me in a good state to like the movie.
I'm the sort of guy that loves WWII stories. I love watching blu rays like WWII IN HD. And I find that war hard to even imagine - as nearly everyone that fought it, grew up in a period where the tools they were using were being invented as they fought it. When the Nazis start fighting with JET power in this film. It is scary - because you're dealing with planes of two completely different classes flying at radically different speeds and the combat skills for the Tuskegee Airmen that actually downed in combat Nazi Jet Planes... amazing. Just amazing.
Reading about these men is one thing. Getting a visual sense for what they actually did - that's why I went to see this. It's why I was excited by it. NOW - would I have preferred for George to get an A-talent director - who would bring a polish to the dialogue and a depth to the emotional performances than a Television Director - who has done strong work, but just has never really elicited a brilliant performance out of any of the actors in the film. It is disappointing. The story and the history deserves acting and dialogue at the quality of the Visual effects sequences... which are exhilarating.
Capone's announcement about this being one of the worst films of the year... well, let us hope. I mean if this is the worst film of the year, we're in for a helluva good year. Cuz even though I saw this film in the worst shitty presentation that I've seen a film in a couple of years... I enjoyed it - and so did most of the audience.
This film played, despite the shitty presentation and technical stupidity of the theater. Even when people left to complain - they did NOT A SINGLE THING to right the wrong that we suffered through. It's experiences like the one I had at AMC BARTON CREEK that drives people into the welcoming arms of Home Video. When will the big chains understand that you have to HIRE people that give a shit, that are trained to know how to use the equipment and pay to have the best bulbs - the best sound and MAINTAIN IT daily.
Readers Talkback
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or Harry is becoming waaayyyy too predictable.
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sick of that guy
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Hey Harry- So funny to hear half of your review be about the AMC Barton Creek. While I do think it is a pretty terrible theater, after working there for 8 months I can at least say that a few of the projectionists are legit film geeks. However, AMC pays them...um...minimum wage. I was offered a chance to become a projectionist before I left, and I just couldn't accept because of that pay.
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I have complained there...and gotten free passes to see another movie in shitty quality. It's certainly no Alamo Drafthouse. An I see it's an IMAX theater now?!?! Wtf?
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Bottom line, should I pay $10-$12 to see this?
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Jan. 21, 2012, 11:02 p.m. CST
Bottom line . . . WHY GIVE LUCAS MORE OF YOUR MONEY? If you want to see it, wait for Netflix
by JMoe
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Jan. 21, 2012, 11:04 p.m. CST
Even the negative reviews say the visuals and dogfight are great...
by Jay
It's no coincidence that the harshest review I've seen is from AICN. Worst movie of the year... the hyperbole is hilarious sometimes. At least it's easy to see through peoples bullshit. This is the place where not a day goes by that Lucas or Star Wars isn't brought up, cherished and bashed all at the same time. Someone that hates Lucas gave it a scathing review (shocker) and someone who loves Lucas gave it a glowing review (Another shocker) I'll assume the truth is somewhere in the middle. Now, onwards with the excuses to discredit Harry, and onwards with why only hate and visceral should ever be acceptable.
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Vegetables. C'mon man. Jk Harry.
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Jan. 21, 2012, 11:07 p.m. CST
So Harry doesn't have high expectations, just expects a fun movie that's not intellectually deep
by Wookie_Weed
And he enjoys it. Capone expects a pile of dog shit because George Lucas raped his Star Wars childhood, and hates Red Tails. Is there a lesson to be learnt here, fellow filmgoers?
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Red Tails is a fun film if you leave your expectations and baggage at the door. It's not a gamechanger, but nor is it a pile of crap. It's definitely stuck in the middle between Harry and Capone... and that's an uncomfortable place to be stuck in!
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Fuck you bitch! Red tails, looks, marginal. monotone..... flatline..... George, What happened with Darth Maul. I was sure he was going to be as big as Vader. Even when you killed him, I thought his brother would show up for Vengeance. There has to be more in that race of Sith, than Maul, Right? What happened, George?
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Beyond the exceptional picture quality and exceptional footage of the actual planes in action, the character elements are atrocious. It makes a large portion of the Navy look like bumbling & idiotic fools. Just thinking about the film now, I can't even remember a single character clearly. But, it has amazing visuals and makes you believe that maybe this is what the attack really looked like. I haven't seen Red Tails, but I'm thinking it may be something similar. Amazing visuals, very interesting subject, but with cardboard characters and wooden dialogue. It should make for a perfect Blu-ray rental. I have no doubt it will be better than the overly serious and long Windtalkers or Flags Of Our Fathers.
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Oh GOD, did this movie actually happen. George, thank you for retiring. You are a legend in you own time, but a bane on our current existence.
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Jan. 21, 2012, 11:21 p.m. CST
I still want to see this, even though Harry likes it.
by SmokeFilledTavern
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Honestly lucas just got lazy over the years. Thx was ok at best, american graffiti was his peak; a great little peice of personal film and star wars was his pinnacle. After the 80s he became an industrial juggernaut. Untouchable. And thats when the ego came in and the yes men etc. When you have that combination you can pretty much shit in a box and get people to call it art. And thats the problem with the prequels, instead of challenging himself and evolving as a great filmmaker should he opted to try to catch lightning in a bottle again but he failed to realize that audience tastes have changed since the 70s and early 80s. And also the kids who loved and held star wars in such high regard were now in there 20s and 30s and expected much more out of there beloved franchise. What they got instead was rehash only now with better effects. Now lucas wants to get upset and resent his audience as the reason for retirement!? Bullshit.plain and simple those prequels were just plain lazy. Indulgent. I imagine lucas never heard the phrases "i don't think thats a good idea" or "lets try that a different way" or if he did he sure did disregard that sage advice during 99 to 05. No. George lucas can be equated to icarus, he got to cocky, failed to adhere to good advice, flew to high and got knocked down to earth for his stubborn attitude.
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I hope his retirement declaration is real. Please go away.
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Tora Tora Tora is wonderful.
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I think you got something there. From now on, I will refer to him as... ...George Icarus.
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was that a review?
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Darth Maul is coming back! http://tinyurl.com/3exxptg
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Jan. 21, 2012, 11:48 p.m. CST
I saw it today. Pretty good. Capone is a jaded Lucas hater.
by Quake II
Red Tails takes place in 1944. The dialogue is straight from that year. If you're going in expecting pilots to say things like "Take that you Nazi motherfucker!" you obviously have no idea how people spoke in the 40's. I read Capone's review and went in expecting a disaster. Has Capone ever seen a war movie that was made in the 1940's? It sounds just like this. And the battles WERE NOT Star Wars fights done with planes. They were much slower and with a couple of exceptions very realistic given the planes shown. The German 262 jets alone are worth the price of admission. I shit you not, my audience was mostly older white people with a smattering of African American and there was applause at the final ceremony. I haven't seen that in ages. And YES, I got a little choked up when the Red Tails finally got their recognition. I think Lucas has fucked up Star Wars as well and I have issues with the guy but this movie was good. 7 out of 10.
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Jan. 21, 2012, 11:49 p.m. CST
Yeah, because EC Aces High comics were the pinnacle of their artform
by Jaka
Please.
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Jan. 21, 2012, 11:51 p.m. CST
The setting of this was so perfect for John Williams! Especially with Lucas.. So... How is the score?
by Tank Williams
Guess that's a question for scorekeeper
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So people complain that the dogfights are rehashes of the X-Wing/Tie-Fighter shots? Did they forget that those same SW scenes were based on old WW2 dogfight films? He's just going back to the original source. I'm not a smug film fan so I'm still going to watch this and probably enjoy it.
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Jan. 21, 2012, 11:57 p.m. CST
bantuwind...Red Tails is WAY better than Flags & Windtalkers!
by Quake II
And Tora Tora Tora is such a different story so it's hard to compare the two. I would say that if you liked Flyboys or Memphis Belle than Red Tails should satisfy you. The fight sequences are amazing and when the Nazis start unloading anti-aircraft fire on the Red Tails (several times in the film) the sound in my theater was fucking stellar.
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Jan. 21, 2012, 11:59 p.m. CST
It's already 5.6/10 on IMDB and, remember, these responses are from the first in line who WANTED to see RED TAILS.
by justmyluck
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485985/ I saw HAYWIRE, instead which was okay filler. The STAR WARS UNCUT: THE DIRECTOR'S CUT YouTube experience was hard to beat!
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EW gave it a B-, not a damning review like Capone did. I am eager to see this. The dogfights look incredible. And if the dialogue is cheesy in a throwback kinda way, I can overlook it.
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Thank you for that! I haven't really watched clone wars, except one episode, But now I think I'll do some catching up. Darth Maul is to cool, for school! He should have been the one that turned Anakin to the Darkside, and Fought him in the end. Think if Darth Maul, would have fucked up Anakin, and not Obi-wan. Ah, the mind reels. Lucas, fucked that one up. But anyways, thanks, that is great! Sorry, I'm a Darth Maul sucker.
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Like me who use 2 smoke a joint from projector 2 projector start all the films then walk into each theater to make sure the sound and focus was crisp... Loved that job wrote an outline for a CLERK type script about abunch of theater workers... We use to have a couch on the roof and once in a blue moon and for a while every weekend a KEG party on the roof top... Loved that job concessions 2 ushering to playing the films and reeling back to start over... Like I aways use 2 say if you aint smoking a joint you aint working right... Can't wait 2 see RED TAILS...
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i.e. my uncle (yes, I'm talking about him again), he said that he found the film entertaining--he liked the action sequences and found the film to be mostly historically accurate apart from some Hollywood embellishments. Considering he was actually a TA who was a fighter pilot, I'd go by that. He could care less about who directed it. Incidentally, he didn't care for the HBO movie at all.
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Of course I'll never see this trash, so I can only take the word of every credible critic on the planet that it sucks.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 12:06 a.m. CST
If the poster was like that cover art we'd have some hype!
by Onin Solstice
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How many Giggles would you give it? You said you were Giddy, but did you giggle?
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He knows, (your uncle), more than we do. Would he consider, writing a review? I'd love to read it. Submit it to, Mr. Giggle-poo. Seriously, that would be fucking great. Oh, and thank him for his service. I and many others appreciate the sacrifice. Lord only knows, what my father went through in Vietnam. Crazy stuff, fuck the movie. Applaud your uncle. Give Him ten bucks, make some microwave popcorn, grab a soda, and close your eyes, and listen to the tale. Probably, better than Red Tails. Who knows?
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Your Welcome.
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It's my Birthday today, and well, I appreciate the sacrifices others have done, to let me enjoy my life. We can leave it at that, but I feel welcome.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 12:35 a.m. CST
Harry, did Lucas give you a free Lightsaber for this review?
by Jake Pantlin
... or a free Wookie mask?
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Yes. Vegetables.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 12:38 a.m. CST
Its time we all admit that Star Wars (original) Is the ONLY thing Lucas should be remembered for.
by LowDevil
Anything else is so awful. Of course everyone here thinks Empire is the greatest movie ever made but in my eyes what should have been followed up by the first masterpiece..... Empire pales in what should have been. Ya, thats right. It still is great but should have been better. As for this piece of shit movie i am happy that Lucas finally cried like a woman and is calling it quits. Tusgeegee Airmen is better than this garbage.
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Haha... you said vegetables too! Sorry I missed that. I guess that set up was just to easy. Anyway, I will probably wait for this film to hit Netflix before I see it. I've seen some previews and I could not get past the cheesey dialouge. I'm am interested in seeing the dogfights, but that is it.
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Nah, my parents were also Hippies - so I ate all kinds of veggies... in delicious french & italian sauces.. The sauces will kill ya!
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Jan. 22, 2012, 12:44 a.m. CST
"The Empire Strikes Back" is the greatest sequel of all time!
by Jake Pantlin
Any talk of it being somehow less then perfect is fucking crazy talk.
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I've been laying off the sauces for a year now (well, except for Bar-b-que sauce... can't seem to kick that one).
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Anything, you or I grew up on. How were your early Christmas memories, Harold? Did you get lots, and lots, of presents? Did you like Inception? Is Stallones Dick Out of Your Mouth? Oh, I See, now that Dick is named George. Why do I say these things? I'm Sorry, I love you harry! Wait, no, you are a fat, red haired bitch, with a mail order bride, fuck you. Harry, I'm confused. Please help me, smooth out my thoughts. I LOVE/Hate you!
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Jan. 22, 2012, 12:54 a.m. CST
The screeching in here about Lucas has really derailed the site.
by MisterManReturns
Actually, the talkbacks in general, have become so caustic, it's almost unbearable. I have been present since the beginning, when people came in here to share their love of film. What's happened? Is the site now populated by teenagers? Is everybody a bitter bitch? I can complain with the best of 'em, but AICN has become a joke. Not the coverage, but the responses. Good God, people.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 12:59 a.m. CST
@mistermanreturns: It's interesting you think it's everyone else and not Lucas. Doesn't that give you a little hint?
by justmyluck
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Jan. 22, 2012, 1 a.m. CST
It's time we admit that George Lucas be given PARTIAL credit for Star Wars!
by Emperor
Star Wars is not George Lucas' creation, any more than Windows 7 is the creation of Bill Gates or the airplane is the creation of the Wright Brothers. There are thousands of individuals who helped shape Star Wars into what it became in 1977 and beyond. 2 of the three original Star Wars films were written and directed by individuals OTHER than Lucas. The original film was written by many individuals other than Lucas, (editing, script re-writes, etc), but Lucas ended up getting much of the credit. Lucas had a creative spark. It was an idea. Star Wars is not an idea. It's the creation of hundreds and eventually thousands of unique individuals who participated and in some cases made significant alterations to Lucas' wild fantasies. Lucas never was brilliant. He never will be brilliant. He had a few brilliant ideas, yes, but Star Wars is not the product of his brilliance. His brilliance played a FACTOR, yes, but nothing more. This is why Capitalism is such a sick, disgusting, worthless and unfair system. (And no, assholes, I am not a communist/marxist/whatever). It's plain and simple logic: Why should Lucas receive so much money, for something he only partially created? Why should Bill Gates own so much of the Planet's resources, when millions of others contributed to the product he falsely claims credit for? He founded a company. It's called Microsoft. He did not create most of the subsequent products that sprang from that creation, so he does not deserve to receive even 1/hundredth of the royalties thereof. And I am sure some of you dimwits will defend the wealth of these pigs, but that only proves that dimwits like you are the reason why they even exist -- so enjoy. It's always easy to just heap all the praise on a single individual. The reason for that is simple: Most human beings have a basic, primitive brain, and are thus unable to handle more than a few pieces of information (such as the information I have outlined above). So go, keep worshiping the individuals above and trying to convince yourselves they are special. They are not. They came up with an idea or two, and had the business sense to CAPITALIZE on it. There are many who are far more brilliant and creative than a George Lucas or a Bill Gates -- it's just that those individuals do not care about money enough to try to exploit others with it. And that's what big business is: Exploitation of the masses for the celebration of a few undeserving fat fucks. You may happily apply that basic principle to Wall Street and Government, etc. And the cause of this problem goes back to people like you me: We continue to support a sick and corrupt system like this and so we continue to get products by people who are nothing but businessmen. And that's what George Lucas is: A business man. A business man, with a little bit of creativity, savvy enough to exploit the system to his ludicrously unfair advantage. And once he had piled up the dough and was capable of fully financing his own films, we got the Prequel Trilogy and the Star Wars special editions. And you fuckwits still have the nerve to complain. It's your own fucking fault, you apes. Argh, why should I complain? I am wasting my time here.
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That's a rare thing on the Internet these days, and an even rarer thing on this particular site. I loved all six SW films, I love The Clone Wars, and especially his smaller films -- THX and American Graffiti. He's done some less than stellar things when it comes to Star Wars, but goddamnit, I've never understood the hate and ferocity towards the man. I don't think he deserves any of it. That being said, coming from a Lucas apologist, I wouldn't give Red Tails a fanboy/glowing review. I liked it. Maybe a solid 6 or 7 out of 10. Not close to great, but WELL worth my $7 and 2 hours I spent in the theaters. Some stiff acting and bad writing here and there, but the characters are likable and the action is superb. Bottom line, just a pretty good film. Okay I'm done.
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I quite reading your quote when you started taking about EBERTS take on a film... The only thing EBERTS good at is reviewing a film he likes, thats it... The man hated Bloody Sam'S STRAW DOGS But like if not loved STRAW DOGS 2011... A critic is only as good as his taste...
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Me 2 I saw STAR WARS 1 and STAR WARS 2 at least 30 times each in the theater...
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you have got to be the single most retarded person ive ever had the misfortune of reading their retard thoughts. truly, truly retarded
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And then I read your response to atheron and his post and I realize you are brilliant. We may bust your balls daily but you got a lot of nerve to let us write all this crap about you and you never lash out at us. When you do respond it is with humor. Yes, we bitch because we care, and you sir kick untold amounts of ass! Thanks Harry. Humbly bowing to you.
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Poorly written, and even more poorly 'argued' (although I couldn't find an argument there). Nice try doofus. Good luck in your meaningless and insignificant life.
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I like your complaints, please continue.
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Is a film I grew up on watched maybe 40 -50 times in grade and high school... HOWARD tTHE DUCk was the bomb love that film... There would be no epic KHAN in Star Trek and the enterprised be n scraped if not for the man... RADIO LAND MURDERS WILLOW LABRYITH BODY HEAT Kagemusha 0 International version Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters Those are some of the greatest films to ever be conceived or produced Let alone the technological breakthroughs hes made for all of Hollywood... And I fucking Loved CRYSTAL SKULLS the refrigerator scene was the shit... Yet nobody in hollywood respects him or will give him money to make films KRAZY...
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Durp.
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Explain to us how THX-1138 and American Graffiti aren't works of genius, and how SW:ANH isn't plausibly the work of the same genius that created those flicks. I guess all zeitgeist moments in popular culture occur by accident You fucking pleb. A member of the most important revolution of artistic auteurism, breaking the studio system and enabling artists like Soderberg, Peter Jackson, Cameron, Cronenberg, Nolan, Aronovsky and others to come into being... must be an exploitative businessman. Ummm no. In other words, shut it you prick.
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You have proven yourself a waste of erroneous "genetic material" in the fewest words possible. I guess if one drew upon earlier references and archetypal stories and styles, then we can all invalidate the contributions of artists like Shakespeare, Picasso, Mozart and the rest. Have you ever taken art history? How many virtuoso painters started out painting guitars? Look it up. And while we're at it, what piece of originality have you ever been responsible for my idiot friend? Nothing. Next. Fucking plebs.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 1:58 a.m. CST
I came away from INCEPTION, thinking about how much I prefer WIZARD OF OZ, DREAMSCAPE, SPELLBOUND, BRAINSTORM and NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET PART III: DREAM WARRIORS.
by CT1
Cool, can't wait.
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Jerry Jones isn't such a bad analogy. But if Lucas owned the Cowboys, he'd go back and replace Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman with Hayden Christiansen in all the old NFL Films footage of Cowboys games, tell us that was his "vision" for the games, and never let us see the real game footage. And Bill Parcells now says, "NOOOOOOOOO!" when Romo muffs the field-goal hold in the 2007 playoff game.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 2:23 a.m. CST
SHUT THE FUCK UP WITH THX-1138 ALREADY. It's an okay film, nothing more.
by Emperor
THX-1138 is an okay film, made by a guy who had to dig a little and actually try. It's not the greatest sci-fi film, it's not the greatest 'any' film. It's a solid film. Don't come to me with bullshit stories about how it inspired great film makers and blah blah blah. Almost every fucking decent film inspires somebody to some extent. All this bullshit about how George Lucas was once brilliant and became a shithead is rubbish. He had some great ideas. End of story. He never was able to follow through properly, without the help of countless other nameless, faceless helpers, some of which are credited, and many others, which are not. So, once again: George Lucas is a businessman, first and foremost. And all you ugly, big nosed, awkward sounding geeks are simple-minded cunts, who cannot process more than 8 bytes of information. Fucking patsies.
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...not that you'd know it from Lucas hogging the publicity spotlight. It's Richard Marquand all over again.
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Moriarty was once the greatest reviewer in the world. Then i got the feeling he started to despise fanboys and in this business that is not a good thing.
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I love how the "experts" here know how much work Lucas put into all of the original Star Wars films. Wow, you were right there, working along side the cast and crew? Amazing that you have found the time to grace us here with your presence. So tell us, how many films have you worked on since the OT? I bet you have some very cool stories to tell about the making of the OT. Oh wait.......you didn't work on those films? Hmmm, you didn't work on the films, so then we are to assume you have some sort of inside scoop on things eh? You have worked in the industry for a while and have collegues who worked on these films? Way cool, you probably have some really great stories.........oh wait, you say you don't work in the industry? No friends that worked on the films? I see. I have it, you are literature or film professors, right? Through the course of your education and masters work you have established relationships with persons who worked on the OT? How cool is that, I bet through the years of your education you have learned how to spot the phoney's and hacks, the people who have talent and those who just write down the title of a movie and fill in all the story elements of previous works. Man, it is damn lucky for us you are here to inform us, wow, we would have been so misinformed about Lucas, it is.......wait, you are not highly educated in the literature or film arts? Well, that is OK, I mean you don't have to have any kind of formal education in those arts to critique them, but you know people that are and THAT is what you are basing all this on, gotcha. Oh, that isn't the case either? Hmm, OK, then surely you know people that worked on the OT and worked with Lucas prior to the OT and have insight that no other biographer has ever been able to attain. Damn, how were you able to get that insight? This is fortunate for us that you happened along to find AICN talkbacks. I mean, the Lucas misinformation train would have gone on forever without your insight. It would have steamrolled over us like a............what is that? This isn't the case either? OK, so you didn't work on the OT? You don't work in the industry at all? You are not highly educated in the fine arts? In fact, you know absolutely noone that worked on the OT, or worked with or had a relationship with Lucas prior to the creation of the OT? So really, all you have is an opinion based on absolutely no first, second, third, hell 8th hand for that matter, information? An opinion based on nothing more than the fact you buy a ticket and a bucket of popcorn and sit in the movie theater? Well hell, that is most of us in here. So you really have nothing of relevance to provide. Whew, then I can go read something else, I thought perhaps there was some real knowledge being spewed out in this talkback and I was missing something.
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Your failed attempts at 'sarcasm' have backfired. There is plenty of information publicly available regarding the making of the Star Wars films. This information is not the ramblings of some fanboy. It is based on evidence-based enquiry, i.e. interviews with people (cast and crew) who actually worked on the films, early story boards and early versions of the script, along with its subsequent edits, etc. Stop trying to be a smart-ass and actually do some research yourself. It is not a terrible secret that George Lucas' version of Star Wars would have been disastrous as a film. His 'version' became the version of many others, because quite frankly: Lucas is an idiot with some great ideas. Make sense? Yes, idiots can have great ideas too. He is a business savvy, fat and bloated idiot with a few truly great ideas and a LOT of more talented and helpful acquaintances. There is nothing controversial about this: It is pure and simple fact. Now go back to your basement and fuck a tie fighter's ass, you silly dweeb.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 3 a.m. CST
I like Memphis Belle a lot, and Flyboys was acceptable with great action scenes
by Autodidact
Might go see this one.
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By writing a thesis about hating someone. Just read some excerpts in here, apparently extensive research was done on somebody they absolutely hate. A doctorate is in order, that or they simply need to get a life.
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I agree with everything Harry said. This movie is right in that "633 Squadron" "Dambusters" mode. I read an interview with Lucas saying this was the big, patriotic war movie these guys never got in the 40's and 50's and thought that was actually kind of sweet in a way. I don't know why everyone slams the dialogue so much. Sure some of it's right on the nose (you can practically see the comic book bubble over the characters heads) but there's some genuinely poignant and witty lines as well. Went to the midnight show on Friday at my local AMC and had encountered the same problem with the focus on the projector. I left the movie twice to complain but in never got corrected. To the credit of the manager on duty they apologized and gave everybody free passes.
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Aside from the dogfight scenes, I mean. Just one man's opinion.
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Honestly, THX and American Graffiti and Star Wars don't feel like movies made by a "businessman" in their time. Regardless of that, however, who cares? That's an insult?
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It's called FORTRESS, yeah, about one of the B-29 flying fortresses. They fly out of north Africa to bomb Sicily during the allied invasion in 1943. Not as good as MEMPHIS BELLE, but worth a look.
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Agreed on whoever said John Williams should have scored this. I liked whatever they used in the trailers. Anyone know if that was in the movie? I couldn't tell. A John Williams score would've probably added 20 points to the tomato meter.
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I just want to say that your post was awesome.
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Of what relevance is his weight to the quality of his films? The fatter you are the less the talent? How do you explain Hitchcock and Orson Welles then? And why do I get the feeling George Lucas weighs less than 2/3 of the people who post on this website?
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Those movies, which were made for a grand total of $24 g's, are the films that broke the studio system and created dominance in the market for auteur filmmakers? And there I was thinking it was Easy Rider and THX-1138. All that success as an auteur filmmaker must be what led Cronenberg to work in TV for a decade. Thanks Deaft0ne, you really have impressed me with your ability to misinterpret IMDb info. Never mind actually using your capacity for extrapolative thought to actually analyze a cultural movement. It all comes down to the earliest date, not the fact that Easy Rider and Star Wars created a cultural zeitgeist. That must be why Cronenberg is always standing shoulder to shoulder with Coppola and Scorsese as the prime revolutionaries of auteur filmmaking in our time. Thanks for that (you fucking pleb).
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It's no different than what happened to War Horse. The day it opened it had a rating of 6, and the forum was simply people bashing it & Spielberg without seeing it. But than people did see it, and they did vote. And now the rating has gone up around 15 points. That's what happens when fanboys are involved. That's why every Nolan movie makes it in the top ten for the first week. That's why Transformers has a good rating. Or why Sherlock Holmes 2 has a 7.7 (lol) Fanboys... And lastly, Red Tails received a cinema score of A. The highest of all the new releases. THOSE were from people who actually saw the movie...
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Actually The Phantom Menace lifted more from Hidden Fortress than the original Star Wars did. The Japanese princess even disguises herself from the heroes a la Queen Amidala.
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I say this as someone with no strong opinion of Lucas one way or the other, however I have een looking forward to this movie for quite some time. The movie sucks. There's no kind way to put it, it's dreck. It's a two star movie with *some* redeemable value. THe visuals are good. Indeed, everything flies and explodes purty. In that regard it's veddy veddy good. There are small flashes of brilliance during the action sequences. Seeing the pilots perform aerial maneuvers in a single wide shot. Little things like that. And had that been the main thrust of the movie, Red Tails would have been the first big budget winner of the year. Instead it was an unfocused idiotic mess. Lousy plotting, shitty dialogue, crappy editing and almost zero direction. Did I mention the climax? Well, no need, cause there isn't one. This movie has no climax. It's not anticlimactic, it's aclimactic. Zero fucking climax. The movie just ends. And that's after so many scenes that go on seemingly forever. There's a scene where they're talking an injured pilot down to land. It...doesn't...end. Had the editing been tighter, scenes like this would have been more tense. By the end, I stopped caring. I just didn't give a damn about the ultimate fate of the characters and that, I think, really sucks. It's an inspiring story, what these men went through. Surely they deserve to have it told by the best story-tellers in the biz. Tough luck I guess. I could, at best, recommend this movie for kids ranging from 8 to 12. For the kids that don't know the story and need a primer. Kids that age certainly wouldn't care about the film's flaws. Anyone else would find the movie unsatisfying.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 5:03 a.m. CST
NO MORE LUCAS MOVIES!!! IM AS GIDDY AS HARRY WATCHING A SHITTY FILM!
by DOGSOUP
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Happy Birthday!! I hope you enjoy many great movies this year!!
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Jan. 22, 2012, 5:58 a.m. CST
HARRY GETS A FREE SCREENING AND GIVES RED TAILS A BLOWJOB WITHOUT ACTUALLY REVIEWING THE FUCKING MOVIE!!! YOU'RE A DISGUSTINGLY GREEDY PIECE OF SHIT KNOWLES!!!FACT!!!
by CreepyThinMan
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Jan. 22, 2012, 5:59 a.m. CST
HARRY WOULD GIVE HITLER AND EVA BRAUN'S HOME MOVIES A RAVE REVIEW IF HE GOT A COMPLIMENTARY ASHTRAY!!!FACT!!!
by CreepyThinMan
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Wanna fuck around? That is a fact. Better get used to me, you cunt. FACT!!
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the man has major issues with paying attention during movies. ive lost count of how many films he's reviewed where he has either completely misunderstood the plot or has blatantly made it up as he went along.
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It's like saying "the Red Tails pilots kicked a lot of republican ass in this one." How do you know these dudes were Nazis? They were fighting Germans.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 6:54 a.m. CST
phantomcreeps, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND DURING THE "AICN BLACKOUT SOPA" AND "GEORGE LUCAS IS DONE" THREADS LAST WEEK!!! FUN TIMES AND GOOD TROLLING!!!FACT!!!
by CreepyThinMan
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Fuck you Creepythinman! We have started a war, whether you like it or not. See, my friend. I know a few things about you. 1- I know you are not a 13 year old, from your older posts. 2-You don't live in your mommas basement. 3-Don't care if you eat Cheetos. What I do know: 1- You are loser, are annoying, dumb, and you have a skidmark in your pants, as you type your CAPS LOCK Bullshit. Don't worry, I'm all over you. Forever.
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Heard, all your bullshit.
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I really wanted to like it, but the line delivery was so terrible. Imagine Jake Lloyd's acting ability from TPM, only delivered by every single actor that isn't Terrance Howard or Cuba Gooding Jr. How in the world did Lucas pick this director? It is beyond terrible. I rolled my eyes at nearly every non combat scene. It felt like ever scene was shoehorned in because it was a storyboard on the wall or a poit that HAD to be in there. Nothing felt real to me. The score is not epic in scope, and even the cinematography felt like it was staged for TV. Lucas used to be known for making epic films, this felt like it was shot entirely on sets, and bad sets at that. MASH had more realistic sets on TV 30 years ago. Anyone calling this less than a failure is kidding themselves. After reading that article on Lucas in the NY Times, I was left feeling sad that he was thinking about retiring. After seeing Red Tails, maybe its not a bad idea. It's bad. Period.
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Right down to the dialouge. If you get off on seeing a literal adaptation of the comic-format, you'll love it. If you don't you'll hate it.
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I thought I would be down for the film and dialogue being lifted directly from a comic. Turned out it just made me cringe. But I can't disagree with the notion that Red Tails IS like an Aces High comic. I just wanted more.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 8:40 a.m. CST
Yeah but did the projector bulb burn out right as they were at the crest of that massive wave in perfect storm?
by UltraTron
True story. But man. Perfect storm was one of the most unique theaters ever. It was in new Orleans and the screen was from the absolute floor to the ceiling. Love a screen that starts at the floor. Your entire vision is just screen. Love perfect storm. One movie that is better in every way than the book.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 8:41 a.m. CST
I'll take an actual E.C. Comics weird science for the remake.
by UltraTron
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You must be selective in your choice of biography's and first-person accounts from the making of the OT. I want you to stop with the generalities and give us less-informed folk specific names of cources and names of published works that give weight to your comments. Because I want to read or listen to an interview where your "facts" are backed up. Because what is out there for the average fan to read and watch doesn't back you up one bit. Actors such as Hamill, Fisher and Ford, who make no attempt to kiss the feet of Lucas, have always told a different tale than what you are trying to pass as fact. Dennis Muren, Ben Burt, Norman Reynolds, Richard Chew, Gary Kurtz, John Williams, Lawrence Kasdan, Irvin Kirshner, none of these folks seem to recall this minimal input Lucas had into the making of the OT. In fact, Kirshner has said in several interviews, both in print and video, that Lucas was one of the best students he ever had. Kasdan is another who is not going to sugar coat anything, references the large amount of work Lucas had put into the story of Empire and Jedi. All of these people can be heard on well known documentaries such as Empire Dreams and the countless other well documented video interviews. Hell, you can google any print magazine that has their archives available. So don't be shy, don't pull the "I can't devulge my sources" coward's card here. You better have more than some disgruntled fanboy's lame ass opinion to back up your comments. Give us the names of these sources and point us to these revelatory tales. The counter evidence to your revelations are easily found, where is your smoking gun? Your complaints and accusations are nothing new for those that continually want to discredit the man's work. You gotta come at us with something more here than generic ramblings that recycle previous disgruntled fanboy muses.
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Bain Capitol owns (at least part of) AMC, Burger King, Clear Channel, Warner Music Group, Staples, and Dominos Pizza. Bringing mediocrity to the masses--imagine what he'd bring to the country as president!
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Jan. 22, 2012, 9:08 a.m. CST
So GL instead of making a historic drama war movie based on a real story which happened during WW2
by KilliK
he just made another videogame/comic movie with the usual stereotypes and cliche.I bet he has also created a merchandise line to sell with this movie. GOOD JOB GEORGE.
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. . . year, but it may have been the most meh. I wasn't even impressed by the dogfights, and I was seriously let down by the "climax". I thought for sure that there would be a huge battle at the end that would blow my mind, but it was just meh. It really needed a main character. Lightning was pretty close but no cigar. If it had had a good main character that we were invested in, and with a more grounded approach this could have worked. Also, shooting on digital really hampered the film. It felt flat and visually uninteresting. TV regularly has better visuals, so don't blame it on a TV director. I'm sure it looks just the way George wanted it to, and he made it that way to prove a point about digital filmmaking (and he made it, as far as I'm concerned, but it wasn't the one he intended). I'm glad I didn't pay to see it (maintaining my vow: I won't pay for anything George makes until he releases the classic remastered OT on Blu. You won't get any more of my money, George!)
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Jan. 22, 2012, 9:36 a.m. CST
Anyone who tries to take credit from Lucas for Star Wars
by Thunderbolt Ross
is an idiot, a dickhead, or both.
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The entire `review` seems to boil down to a paragraph saying `I liked it`.???
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Jan. 22, 2012, 10:40 a.m. CST
Harry wants to keep getting invited to the Ranch, so he's gonna pretend this didn't suck.
by NeonFrisbee
Fixed your headline for you.
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I kind of doubt they would have done such a chant. Maybe Im wrong. Maybe they did in fact do it. Im not particularly sensitive to racial stuff but it made me cringe when Lucas shows the fucking Tuskegee Airmen doing a chant you might see at a college basketball game.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 11:06 a.m. CST
Solid review Harry... George Lucas does it his way...I think that is just Awesome!
by CinematicFusion
Went to see it knowing it was a George Lucas movie. Which means it's made for 11 year old boys. Just like Willow, Star Wars, Indiana Jones. It also has a certain vibe of others movies he produced and directed like American Graffiti and Tucker: A man and his dream. Thought Red Tails hit its mark for its target audience. The crowd participated in the screening I was at. The movie plays and looks good on a big screen. It was a fun action adventure film. Gave this movie 3.5 out of 5 stars This is a movie that will play on TNT or Spike for a long time. Kids will love it! Gotta love that George Lucas makes the movie he wants to make...for better or worse. What's weird is he says he now wants to make personal movies. He has made personal films this whole time. This has a personal vibe all over it. Lucas can't help to make the spectacle...it's what he loves. He is the one who created Star Wars. He created Indiana Jones. These are personal films. Created inside his mind from films he loved as a child. He makes his movies the way he wants to see them. Again...for better or worse. For better or worse....I guess if you grew up in the 70s-80s...you are sort of married to this guy in a love for film sort of way. He has created legends and also created things that just make you scratch your head. I imagine he will start writing a personal film that will take off in his mind into something like another blockbuster...and he will have to make it. In some ways he reminds me of some amazing misunderstood hobbit. It's been a fun ride watching the Adventures of George Lucas. Mark my words....when this man passes away he won't quit...movies are in his blood. It's his life. When this man passes away, he will be missed. Movies will be made about his life. He is a living legend. One we can all hope to become someday. Doing things his way.... Harry here is doing the same thing. Creating a website about movies done his way. Very powerful when you think about it.
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..so the kids can relate.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 11:17 a.m. CST
Reading a review from Harry is like reading some autobiography of his lame fat existance
by Nick
Lets open up by bragging how you got a personal invite or an invitation to a free screening...maybe toss in an anecdote about your health, your childhood, your father, or some other facet of your shitty life, and then explain why shitty movies are great to you, like Red Tails, or tear down a completely good film because you werent feeling well one day or some shit.
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Why was George so hell bent on making this movie if he wanted to make a comic book version of the tale. Why not create something of pure fiction if you want to make that sort of thing.
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Never Forget.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 11:23 a.m. CST
Yay, the dumbed down an important historical event into a comic book story. Please take my money, George.
by BurnHollywood
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Maybe it`s me but after seeing so many blockbusters over the years they have lost their appeal somewhat in the last few years. Too many CG showreels passed off as movies. No depth, no acting just CG crapfest. Poor test screenings ? Throw some more money at the screen. Now I`m not a 100% fan of the new Batman fracnhise, it leaves me a little cold somehow. But I can damn well recognise talent and decent film making when I see it. And this culminated in Inception which is maybe a little overhyped but after so much dross from the old guard in Hollywood can we really be blamed for going nuts when true class rises to the top. Hollywoods self-inflation is to blame, too much money rides on movies these days to warrant taking a risk on something new or maybe just different. On the other hand you can count on one hand the number od exciting new directors that have made an impression and as soon as they do they are corrupted into the very system that strove to keep them out. The movie future is worrying indeed.
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You ARE wasting your time because responding to your original post in a truly intelligent manner is IMPOSSIBLE. Why? Because your original argument blended reasonable points and factual data with contradictory statments - i.e., you think capitalism is "sick," but you're NOT a Marxist/Socialist, etc. Okay... then what are you? We all know what kind of system you DON'T want. What kind of system DO you want? Since you claim you're not a Marxist or Socialist, etc., I'm assuming you don't want one in which the federal government manages absolutely everything and nobody ever gets more or less depending upon their level of contribution? And yet, you obviously wish that were the case because you hate that so few people get so much credit for what so many worked on. How, then, do you propose to solve this little problem - or are you just content to blame everyone else and pretend that nobody else's viewpoints have any merit. People on here bemoan the dwindling quality of things such as STAR WARS and the movies that have arguably come because of it. You seem to believe it's the fault of "businessmen," so evidently, you hate "businessmen" - or, at least, you think they should have little or no place in the creation of movies. What is it you think a "businessman" does? What do you think George Lucas did, with a little help, that qualifies him as a businessman? I'll tell you one thing he did. He teamed up with Ralph McQuarrie to convince 20th Century Fox to get behind the first Star Wars when no other studio would. That's something a "businessman" does. If he hadn't done that, what do you think the result would have been? Do you think you would still be on here complaining about the creator of STAR WARS and the dwindling quality of his movies if this individual that you think deserves so little hadn't guaranteed that you - as part of the "masses" - actually got to see his movie? I'm not going to keep arguing with you the way others on here do. You'll probably get on here and reply to this by calling me some kind of childish, unoriginal name after making some sarcastic, backhanded compliment that isn't meant to be taken as anything but what it really is - a personal disparagement. I can see what's going on here, though. You ARE a socialist, but because being one is so generally... "unpopular" and unaccepted around here, you just deny it and preemptively strike out at anyone who says otherwise. How cowardly. You're really not worth arguing with, which reflects poorly upon me because I actually bothered to reply to you in the first place, but so what? I defend capitalism. Is it perfect? NO. Yet you fail to recognize the merit in capitalism, which is that because someone is allowed to OWN their own business and the products that are produced, collectively, by employers, they can make more money and - if they're reputable - use at least some of that money to give people jobs and chances at careers. I prefer it to a system in which the government runs EVERYTHING, so even if the people in the "colletive" get paid equally and receive the credit they deserve, in the end, they usually exist in perpetual, borderline-poverty because their employers are never able to pay them very much. What good comes of that? Of course, some of it is dependant upon population size. I'm sure socialism probably does wonders for very, very small countries, with small populations that aren't very diverse so that the government never actually struggles when serving their interests. Countries like the former Soviet Union and current North Korea... with the exception of China (which benefits largely from a very large population that nevertheless has a strong work mentality... despite earning very little... and upon lucrative trade agreements with CAPITALIST nations), they're prime examples of why your idea of economic "fairness" simply would not be as good as it seems. But no, you're right - there's nothing "socialist" or "Communist" about that. Whatever you call it, though, I don't base my economics solely upon "morality" - nor do I think anyone should be governed based solely upon morality. If that were the case, don't you think it would be easier to get the consensus on abortion being "murder" that would be needed to Constitutionally ban it again? Would you support that? I kind of doubt it. That's the problem, though. People like you hate it when conservatives bring up their idea of morality, but morality is the only way you can really defend any other system, particularly when it comes to economics. From a MORAL standpoint, you're right in what you say - but that's part of my point. You're right, but only from a very narrow perspective. You don't take into consideration the bigger picture. You probably can't see yourself actually being responsible for hiring a lot of people and doing the organization needed to accomplish what people like Lucas have accomplished, so you just fall back on your "proletariat" mentality and damn people like him for making so much money on the backs of so many people. SO WHAT? I guarantee that if it weren't people like George Lucas making the money, it would be a big, centralized, COMMUNIST government - also run by fallible human beings - and if you think such a government in such a system would remain uncorrupted and ALWAYS use that money for the common good, then either you have no conception of history or historical context... or you're hopelessly confused and don't even know it. Either way, we've both effectively wasted our time on here, but I'm done. By all means, blast away. Call me an ignorant, Fascist dog (among other things) and ignore the FACT that I started out by acknowledging at least a little bit of merit in the points you tried to make - however scatter-brained and contradictory the rest of your first post may have been.
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Of all the people to start a "war" with here, why pick creepy? I mean, it's your business and all, but I'm just curious as to what, specifically, tripped your trigger so badly that you feel compelled to "hate" someone you'll never know or meet, on an anonymous talkback board? Personally, I get a kick out of his comments, but that's just me.
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Looks like my screening wasn't the only place the movie played well. George Lucas was right.
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keep it up please... very amusing.
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The dialog in the trailers is as bad and cringe worthy as anything I have ever heard in any film ever. Period. Bar none. The dogfights look cartoonishly CGI just like every fucking thing that Lucas has had his hands on in the last 20 years. As for the dogfights being realistic? The WWII prop planes in the trailer look like they are moving 800 miles an hours or about twice the actual speed they were capable of. In one shot alone in the trailer a P51 Mustang is shown making what would have been about a 30 G turn. Put aside for a moment that the actual plane in question wasn't capable of such a maneuver and you are still left with the glaring fact that G levels like that would have sheared the winds off and killed the pilot. In another scene with a ME 262 a P51 is show with small bullet holes from the 262's machine guns. Problem? The ME 262 did not have machine guns. It had two 20mm cannons. Any hits any where on a P51 would have blew the plane apart like a bomb went off in it. All this tells me that no real effort at historical accuracy was even attempted by the people who made this film. Combine that with the gut churning dialog and I think we have a strong candidate for the Razzies.
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and on top of that....how is it possible that Superman flies? That could never happen! A kid who is a witch....com on! so fake! Spaceships don't make noise in space....so unreal! I think you are missing the point of the film. It's an action adventure that cares more for the emotional vibe. It was a solid crowd pleasing film. got a cinemascore of A and took in 19 million. People like it....did what it was supposed to do!
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You are a waste.
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Blacks and Whites can work together? Cool.
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as this is a true story and the drama should come from the racism and stupidity that the tuskeegee airmen faced....not the dogfights
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Harry and Capone now have me wanting to see the film!! Damn, two good reviews, on opposite sides of the coin - when it opens in the UK I may just go and see it!!
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Next time just call him a cunt. It gets your point across and doesn't give me a headache reading it.
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She hate war films or do black people get on her nerves?
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If Quentin tarantino, had made the same movie, you goofballs probably swooning over it! Inglorious Basterds, is probably just as good, yet the ending was Whack, since we all know Hitler had at least 1,000 bodyguards around him & I.G. Had what? 6 maybe?
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Full disclosure--I teach a class on the second World War, so I am always looking for good theatrical films that are mostly accurate, and entertaining. Band of Brothers,Letters from Iwo Jima etc. Frankly, without the far superior aerial combat sequences, this flick is no better than--perhaps inferior to "The Tuskegee Airmen", which was a TV flick on both counts. Everything that took place on the ground was cringe inducing and a waste of a talented cast. Sorry--it failed on both counts for me. If Lucas's "Edutopia" effort, to supposedly provide what is "best" in education has this as an example of what he has to offer for History classes,please spare me, George.It commits the venial sin of being dubious historically and the mortal sin of being, again, on the ground, pretty damned shitty. These men deserved better than a 1943 version of TIE fighter battles.
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....was getting......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........................coxxed!!!!!!!!!
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Does that now make Quentin Tarantino, Satan, to George's, Godly-ness!? Heh, they could team up & make a movie of LucasArts, "Afterlife", game now!!!
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why do little hipster movie geeks like you think it makes you cool to rag on star wars? when you grow up youll understand. until then please try to get help for your mental retardation. i think people would actually respect your opinions then.
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SUCK THE BEARDED ONES NUTSACK
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Jan. 22, 2012, 3:04 p.m. CST
Talbackers are great. Everything is either great or THE WORST MOVIE EVER!
by Quake II
I've read all the comments for this movie and it seems most of you have decided it's horrible it based on a 2 1/2 minute trailer. Someone posted "It's all about dogfights and not the racism these guys endured" it dead-fucking-wrong. The movie tackles the racism several times and the words nigger & colored are thrown at them a few times. We also see how little respect these guys got from most of the white officers. Go see the movie or don't comment. I respect people who don't like a movie after they see it but you guys are seriously pathetic if you choose to spend your days sitting on your fat asses commenting on movies you have no interest in seeing . And as for the history teacher above who uses Letters From Iwo Jima as an example of something historically accurate...Wow. That movie was the biggest piece of pro-Japanese propaganda ever seen and Clint eastwood lost all credibility after that one. It did well in Japan btw so no thankfully one was offended. Use The Pacific as an example next time. That movie was based on fact and not liberal guilt.
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was one of the greatest computer games ever made. Too bad a teabagger douchebag is using it for his user name.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 3:23 p.m. CST
HUH? You're blaming the director Harry? After the last IJ film? How could you be so utterly clueless about the script influence Lucas has in his films!
by quantize
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See what happens when people who actually saw the movie vote? Within a week the rating will be balanced out, and all the 1s Lucas haters gave it on the Thursday prior to it's opening will be meaningless. It happens to remakes and fanboy movies all the time. Nothing new... My guess is it will be at a 6.8 by Friday. We'll see ya than!
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No matter how many times you try to sell Lucas as a visionary and that you get him you never will convince a lot of us. We left the Lucas train in the 90s.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 3:37 p.m. CST
i love it. as long as the movie focuses on the evvviilll white man
by DanielnocharismaCraig
And the poor oppressed person of a darker shade, fanboys will eat it up. No matter if the dialogue or special effects are atrocious. F that. As long as a movie can placate guilty white wannabe movie critics such as roger ebert, the movie gets a pass. Now see that's where Lucas messed up big time on aotc. What he should have done with that movie is cast anakin as a black guy dealing with the prejudices of the time. Especially from those racist sith. Course the entire original movies would have to be digitally altered, but hey, Lucas is used to that already.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 3:46 p.m. CST
@bantuwind: Oh, so it's all about *people who actually saw the movie* voting? Well here's 33% with consensus on RT for you, sunshine.
by justmyluck
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/red-tails/
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Jan. 22, 2012, 3:49 p.m. CST
If you Blame Lucas for Red Tails....you must Blame him for Empire Strikes Back and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
by CinematicFusion
HUH? You're blaming the director Harry? After the last IJ film? How could you be so utterly clueless about the script influence Lucas has in his films!
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Jan. 22, 2012, 3:53 p.m. CST
A movie has to be incredibly mediocre to get a rank below six on IMDB, since its reviews are disproportionately weighted by people with an existing interest in the movie, its genre, its actors, talent, etc.
by justmyluck
Sheesh.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 3:56 p.m. CST
Cinescore gave it an A....took in 19 million....someone likes it
by CinematicFusion
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Jan. 22, 2012, 4:03 p.m. CST
You mean CINEMASCORE? It's forecasting, not hard results. Freaking UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING has *already* made more than RED TAILS.
by justmyluck
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Jan. 22, 2012, 4:14 p.m. CST
Red Tails had *already* made more then Haywire domestically
by CinematicFusion
awakening will kill Red Tails with revenue....what is your point? Your talking about a franchise with a built in audience. Red Tails has already made more then Haywire domestically.
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Remember when Lucas and other filmmakers created it as a certification program in the 80's? It was created specifically for the purpose to avoid shitty rooms and experiences like this. Not the whore he sold it off as to have it turned into a horrible sales and marketing of sub par electronics pitch.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 4:32 p.m. CST
The point, of which you are completely aware, is that RED TAILS has *aready* made less than a second-rate sequel, and is therefore *fucked* to be any type of blockbuster.
by justmyluck
Compare the marketing of of HAYWIRE vs RED TAILS, or even UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING to RED TAILS and the opening weekend RED TAILS B.O. results are OMINOUS.
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Get your caffeine ready, another Nolan movie is coming out July 20th. I know you are not looking forward to that review.
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Or the Nightmare On Elm Street remake?
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Jan. 22, 2012, 4:44 p.m. CST
liked the film but thought the music seemed out of place at times.
by skiff
I was expecting to just watch the dog fights but found myself wrapped up in the story. By the end I wasn't just looking at plane i was thinking about the people in them. So I guess it worked.
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Poor baby. Can't think for himself. I guess you like Episode 1, 2, & 3, huh? The Special Editions? Indy 4!? You MUST love them because they have a good-to-high RT score. Can't argue with the critics! What next, box office equates to a good movie? Look at any box office article today. http://www.deadline.com/2012/01/first-box-office-red-tails-flying-underworld-4-strong-extremely-loud-solid/ The success story everyone is talking about is Red Tails.
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Can the Lucas bashers have any more egg on their face at this point?
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Went from about a 7.5 to a 6.7 in one day. Not to mention the lackluster opening...
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Just pointing out the discrepancies in comparing what critics and what audiences like. History is filled with poorly reviewed much loved and great films.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 5:49 p.m. CST
19 millions not anything to write home about
by judge dredds fresh undies
not sure what youre feeling so chuffed about Lucas worshippers.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 5:51 p.m. CST
When reading Harry's reviews I often forget what he's actually reviewing...
by 77AD
His poor mother. "Harry, how was your day?" Well gee mom where do I start, blab blah blab...2 hours later...blab blab blab.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 6:06 p.m. CST
When citing RT, You Should cite BOTH numbers: Critics AND Audience
by Longtime Lurker
As of now: Red Tails Critics: 33% Audience: 72% It's only fair, after all.
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It is NOT fair. Audiences are fucking idiots. Why do you think Michael Bay still has a fucking career?
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You can weigh the figures as you like, but not to include both is to misrepresent set of the data that RT provides. Thus, in this instance, to say it is at 33 percent, or to say it is at 72 percent, simply and without elaboration as to which figure is which, is not a fair representation of what RT says, whether you like the film or not.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 6:53 p.m. CST
For the Record, Proevad I share and agree with your general disregard of...
by Longtime Lurker
The Michael Bay devotees. The true tragedy regarding them is that there appears to be no law on the books preventing them from voting in their respective countries. Even more tragic is that they may very well do so on occasion. No wonder the world is a mess. :)
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..."should have been better"? Go fuck yourself you fucking tool. ESB is perfection. You are perfectly fucked. All is right with the world.
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Like most of your articles I didn't get very far. Seriously stop writing, and just be the cartoon figurehead you are... and hire a real web designer.
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Did I offend you politically? What's a teabagger? I don't vote or belong to any criminal organization (aka political party), so fuck off you wanker.
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Jan. 22, 2012, 7:19 p.m. CST
It sucks, blame Lucas the producer! It's great, thank God Lucas just the producer!
by wadi77
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Jan. 22, 2012, 7:20 p.m. CST
@bantuwind: Lobbing *basher* and *poor baby* ad-hominems isn't going to save RED TAILS a second-week NOSE DIVE. How desperate! LOL!!!!
by justmyluck
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Jan. 22, 2012, 7:24 p.m. CST
CONTRABAND made more this weekend than HAYWIRE, so we should assume the RED TAILS cheerleading section loves CONTRABAND just as dearly? :))
by justmyluck
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Jan. 22, 2012, 7:25 p.m. CST
Who cares what it makes or how accurate it is. It brings attention to heroes.
by Quake II
And if a few thousand African American kids do some research and learn about The Tuskagee Airmen and watch documentaries and look up to these guys then Red Tails did its job. Better role models than some fucking gansta rapper or drugged-out movie star. Saving Private Ryan was a fictional story set around factual events but it still got millions of people interested in WW2 again and spawned countless more films. Finally these guys were remembered for the sacrifices they made. I'll take ANY World War 2 story over 90% of the shit Hollywood churns out year after year.
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Nah dude. Blacks have it too easy playing the race card. Why would they change that. Not only that,but picking up a book to read or using the internet for research is much too taxing for the average african.
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Idiots like yourself are why this country was segregated for so long. I guess you dont like peanut butter or telephones either? You are a straight douche bag.
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You insulted Eastwood and a great fucking movie by comparing it to Triumph of the Will for chrissake. Some Japanese did monstrous things--but they weren't all monsters. Jeff Dahmer was American--but we don't all eat people ya idiot.
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Dude, there is a hell of a difference between a complete fantasy film like Superman where the made up fantasy character has super powers and shooting a film about a real life group of WWII pilots that is set in the real world where all applicable rules of physics apply. What are you? Eight years old and fucking retarded?
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What are you? Eight years old and fucking retarded?
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Of course, I don't care about Star Wars, so I was able to watch the whole thing without a clenched sphincter and George Lucas voodoo doll.
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Many of you would do well to read it. http://www.reelviews.net/reelthoughts.php?identifier=685
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Jan. 23, 2012, 12:07 a.m. CST
Watched Red Tails this weekend, thought it was pretty good. Air sequences are great.
by Marlboroliteman
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Red Tails kicked ass.
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Jan. 23, 2012, 1:02 a.m. CST
anyone else ever notice how the racial egalatarians.....
by DanielnocharismaCraig
In america never actually live amongst those supposed minorities they admire? For example, George Lucas is dating this black girl, yet grew up and still lives in uber rich marine county just north of san francisco. Kinda funny how the judgmental hypocrites walk amongst us lower plebs.
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Jan. 23, 2012, 1:07 a.m. CST
re: clenched sphincter and George Lucas voodoo doll — proper procedure since 1992!
by justmyluck
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Jan. 23, 2012, 1:31 a.m. CST
HAIRY - - - Remeber that "epic" review you wrote about CAPTAIN AMERICA and how it was one of the best movies you ever saw?!?!!
by ShavedLeatherPig
And then it didnt even make your top 10 list !!!!!
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With Redheads. Who doesn't like a good ginger?
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Lucas was born and grew up in Modesto. These are rather well known facts. He moved his film company to escape the studios and run his own show. Also well known. Modesto is in the Central Valley of California and is NOT posh. Ever see American Graffiti? That is a better picture of Lucas' youth.
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That fewer than 10% of the posts here wallowed in racial animus. Danialnocharisma basically is by his misinformed lonesome. Puts a smile on my face.
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Jan. 23, 2012, 7:16 a.m. CST
The UK press are giving this good reviews. You have to credit Lucas with his patience in bringing this culturally significant story to the big screen.
by batfunk
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I dont know but I believe there might have been a presentation problem with the film in general. Over the weekend we received a few complaints about the sound at the beginning of the film and we honestly couldn't find anything wrong. The mid way during the film is just got better.
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Jan. 23, 2012, 8:53 a.m. CST
I actually rather enjoyed the roughtly 80% African American audience I saw it with...they were
by Dogmatic
REALLY into it...and really seemed to appreciate the story being told and there was thunderous applause at the end. Impressive, really.
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Also, I work with mostly black men, and I am fucking sick of hearing about their "plight" while they stand around not working.
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Jan. 23, 2012, 9:48 a.m. CST
Yikes is right dogmatic. I know it's harsh, but it's the truth.
by Ironhelix
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Took my six year old to see it--we both loved every sec. You have to remember it is not intended as a historical docudrama--it's a pulpy action movie with an interesting/inspiring social period as its backdrop..We loved it.
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Jan. 23, 2012, 10:22 a.m. CST
Harry's issues with the theater are intrinsic of MOST theaters in the country now.
by MattFini
If it's not an Alamo Drafthouse, or some of the higher-end theaters in LA, then it's going downhill fast. Theaters have faltering equipment, lousy projection and crappy sound everywhere these days. Factor in their refusal to deal with rude/obnoxious patrons and you've got the REAL reason audience attendance is down. And theaters keep ignoring it.
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Jan. 23, 2012, 10:50 a.m. CST
This is very much in the vein of John Wayne WWII era stuff....
by ZodNotGod
Like "Flying Leathernecks," "The Fighting Seabees." Nothing wrong with that. A crowd-pleasing, love your country sort of thing. I know its awful to show your love for America, but glad he did it... and yes, read this you all must http://www.reelviews.net/reelthoughts.php?identifier=685 and grow a pair and get laid, shut up and grow a soul you must.
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Is that it apprears the airmen act very "ghetto." Like when a football player scores a touchdown or something. I imagine the real Tuskegee Airmen were way more mature and dignified than the clowns portrayted in the commercials. The commercials make them look like rap ghetto brothers. People were not ghetto back then. Fail.
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Even after you earn your certifications and pass the Sony Practical Exam, you still make minimum wage. As a result, you have a ton of AMC projectionists who just don't give a shit and will only work hard enough not to get fired. For minimum wage though, what should people expect?
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Jan. 23, 2012, 11:28 a.m. CST
@bilboring...actually it is not at all. The "ghetto" comments are all in the trailers. It is very well done as a 50
by Dogmatic
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Jan. 23, 2012, 11:28 a.m. CST
'50's pulp film that couldn't have been made before the civil rights movement....see as that and it is a solid flick.
by Dogmatic
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I saw this movie on Friday matinee with a pretty decent sized audience..dads/sons and older couples... It's not as bad as I was afraid it was going to be, and not the worst movie of the year so far. I'm pretty cynical about Lucas and Star Wars but I'd have to say this.. he not only financed the film himself, but he paid for the prints/marketing/distribution/etc. as well.. so that probably explains why he's doing so much PR for the movie. For this alone, I have to give Lucas credit... he said this was a project he was passionate about for a while, so he really put his money where his mouth was on this...so kudos to him for that. As far as the idea behind the story itself, it really is a good story and deserves to be told.. most of the negative headlines I've seen are "Tuskeegee Airmen deserve a great story, unfortunately this movie isn't it" To call the characters two dimensional is a kindness, but I also don't think it's fair to say "Hey we made this in the style of an old John Wayne movie that's why it's so cheesy and ham-handed" because that' just lazy writing/filmmaking. If the driving force for the Red Tail unit was to get in their planes and be able to fight for their country, everything in the plot should drive that...and once they take flight it should be bananas. For me the two biggest problems that make this movie just OK rather than being great are: 1. It's hard to really care about any of the characters, not because the dialogue sucks, but the structure is kind of all over the place... and by any of the characters I mean every character in the movie, they're all just kind of shorthand (i.e. smart ass, hothead, clown, good general, bad general, racist white guy, love interest, etc.) 2. When the planes are flying, the editing/pacing feels somewhat slow... the battles LOOK great, but they don't really move that frenetically and I think the smoothness of the CG tends to take out some of the grit. And I think that's the big disconnect for the movie.. one can decide that they either: 1. Tell a really compelling story about the Tuskegee Airmen 2. Make the best aerial combat movie you can 3. Try and do both I think it's an OK movie, but what keeps it from being great is that I get the feeling that someone said "OK the script is good enough" and then "OK those battles look good enough" and then "OK movie is good enough lets put it in the can". Having said all that, it's a "good enough" movie not as bad as the haters would like to believe but also not as good as it could have, and perhaps should have, been.
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Fuck off. You thought that was Japanese propaganda? I hope you're 15 because if you're not go hide in your hole until you no longer exist. This is a HUGE problem in America these days. People seem to want to ignore reality to the point that anything showing the other side or different opinions is EVIL! This dude said that Eastwood's movie is liberal propaganda... First off anyone who uses the word "liberal" like that is a fucking retard. Secondly I don't get how someone could watch that movie and not find it interesting or touching at all. Good for you, enjoying a digital movie where the dialogue is so horrible people left the theater I was in. Every scene with Lightning and his Italian girl friend hurt to fucking watch. Red Tails was just bad, I'm glad you enjoyed this movie because it "supports" heroes though. Problem is there are heroes on both sides. I know that's an adult concept to grasp... But if you think about war... The real ass holes are the one's in the back making decision and the money from it. The people fighting are usually just normal people fighting for flag or country. So there are heroes on both sides. Normal people on both sides. Maybe you should go see Warhorse and you could learn something... Oh wait Warhorse is some "Spielberg melodrama piece of shit" or some other nonsense right?
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Red Tails is my favorite Native American porn movie. Red Tails is my favorite spanking fetish porn movie.
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Jan. 23, 2012, 4:20 p.m. CST
If you are under 35 you most like have no idea what Harry is talking about
by Arteska
Unfortunately.
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was release this under a pseudonym. The only reason this can be on one persons Best list and another's Worst list is their bias for or against anything the man produces.
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I've heard that they've produced some quality work.
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Harry's recommendation should ice it.
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Jan. 23, 2012, 10:06 p.m. CST
He should have given us something that honored history and the men behind it.
by DougMcKenzie
Come on not even bothering to have Benjamin Davis as a character? Lame George. Anyway if he is true to the aircraft and the era I will at least give him that.... All of the recent Gentlemen Pilots movies like "Flyboys" and "The Red Baron" seem to have the same issues as this one. Realisitic flight scenes with weak stories and characters. My favourite fighter pilots movie is still "The Blue Max" with George Peppard.
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Television director, huh? I guess that explains the television-y vibe...of the melodrama! Not the dogfights, though! REALLY COOL. I cannot imagine nor explain why anyone who saw this (in a good presentation) wouldn't love to see More Action on the big screen a second time. See it. See it again!
-
I liked the movie, I really did, just noticed a few things. The Me 262 is armed with 4 30mm canons only. There is a scene where a P51 goes head to head with a Me262 and the P51 pilot gets riddled with bullets but manages to say good bye to everyone and apologies for letting everyone down. But honestly if he would of got hit by several 30mm canon shells in the torso he would have holes through him the size of golf balls, I don't think he would have time to say goodbye.
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Jan. 24, 2012, 1:27 a.m. CST
I've not seen redtails yet but when your review spoiled jet tech in WW2 made me sceam BSW
by darthSaul666
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My Grandpa was a WW2 Allied airplane mechanic.... No Joke at all... I'm serious like a Heart attack!!!! Jet fighter in 1944?!??!?! Sorry but really don't see the point... I haven't seen the flick yet but it sounds like they made a comic out of something that should be Oscar worthy... And when I say comic book I mean Howard the Duck quality and not the Dark Knight!!!
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Umm, the ME 262 saw service in 1944...
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We saw Red Tails last Saturday afternoon at a multiplex that must be a twin to the one the reviewer saw it in. Two pre-teen boys sat next to me. They didn't move a muscle till the film was over. When I told them that one of the Tuskegee Airmen lives in the Seattle area, they expressed a wish to meet him. My husband and his buddy did not stop talking about the planes involved, etcetera, for half an hour afterwards. I thought the dialogue was really wooden and the characters weren't well-developed, but the flying sequences were amazing. I am also sorry that George Lucas didn't hire a director worthy of his twenty-year vision. I predict a brisk DVD market for this one.
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The lack of sharing our love of movies has been replaced by sour frustrated teenage retarded bickering. For christ sake people, enough redon- dant endless Lucas bashing, or any copy paste talkback bashing of any news, of any reviewer, of anything. Talkbacks have become such an uninteresting haven for underconstructed toughts spewed by, it seems, a crowd of dissatisfied loosers who seem to consider this platform a place to agressively beat the shit out of each other verbally. Grow the fuck up or quit talkbacks.
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My 11-yr-old son (total Halo, WOW and Call-of-Duty geek), LOVED this film. He has not quit talking about it, watching the YouTube videos, etc. He wants to see it again. But most important, he wants to know more about the men that made up the Red Tails! I thought it could have been better on several levels, but overall, it isn't bad. I enjoyed it. Very few films hit on every level- but I will not bad mouth this one for not acheiving such. Kudos to Lucas for putting his money where his mouth is; I believe it needs to be done more often. Maybe if movie moguls would bankroll their own stuff (and get the profits from it), we might start seeing some really creative work.
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The best comparison I can make between Red Tails and the HBO Tuskegee Airmen from 1995 is to Never Cry Werewolf and Fright Night. Both films tell the same story, but one sucks so badly it belongs in its own category. Watching Red Tails was like watching a very cheap anime translated by an ESL class working with scripts from Scooby Doo. Uwe Boll could easily have been a consultant on this film. The best dialog in the film is where Lt. Little is trying to communicate with Sonya and neither can speak the other's language. This film made the preview look good and those were for Eddie Murphy's A Thousand Words, Tyler Perry and the new Three Stooges Film with Snooki. Even Robert Shaye has not fallen as far as George Lucas in my estimation. If that doesn't discourage you from seeing this bit of digital scatology, then you are on your own.
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Thanks for that.. Good to know... But If it flew or acted like a Mig or something I'd still scream total bullshit..
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Jan. 27, 2012, 8:24 a.m. CST
I hear you Harry. I don't go to fucking movie theaters anymore.
by Ricardo
It's an overpriced scam, filled with noisy people, trash, and terrible presentations. I've been to the movie theater about 4 times over the last 2 and a half years, and I've NOT enjoyed it any of those times. I'm fucking DONE with theaters. Done.
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The vast majority of the movie going audience in America HAVE NO FUCKING IDEA WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE!!!!
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They took Pearl Harbor and Phantom Menaced it. The dialogue was cringe worthy. Especially the bomber pilots. "Wow, they are sticking with us forgoing glory to protect us" Something like that. The sound track awful for most of the dog fights, it has some sort of electronic drum beat. Also 60+ member of this squadron were evidently really killed, but that danger was never really represented in the movie. I wanted to like this. I get the whole comic book angle, but to me that was spin to give the film cover. I am really hoping they do a serious film about this squadron. There is enough substance to do a Band of Brothers like series, and really make it powerful. The only credit I will give this movie, is that it created awareness about these pilots. Much deserved. There was an article on this site earlier saying that Lucas was done with movies. That is because he showed this to Spielberg and got an honest review. That is my best guess. It is just a shame.
-
...enough said.
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You remind me of that angry little dwarf from one of those Rob Schneider films. Go back to your peanut butter castle, dickbag.
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And if Red Tails showcased Kate Beckinsale in a tight leather onesy, it too would kill at the box office. Lots of horny virgins out there.
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It's totally the worst cinema in town, check out what this guy had to say... http://austincinemacritic.blogspot.com/2009/06/terminator-salvation-amc-barton-creek.html
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plenty of shit flying past outside the windows as characters walk by...that'll be much better
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