vigihawk Reviews

Devotion (II) (2022)

How to spoil a book

[5/10 · 24 November 2022]

Only reason I gave Devotion 5 stars is the subject and the airplanes. Poor direction, poor costumes, poor sets. Problem with casting actors who look like the real person is they may not act well. The Browne/Majors character does little more than puff out his cheeks and grimace. The mirror scene is tedious. The many errors historical and military distract from what should be--and was in the book--a dramatic and emotional event. Brown shows little to make it understandable why he was liked by his squadron mates. As a Navy carrier veteran, the group mourning and wailing was not the way it was in real life. I was embarrassed by their behavior. The replica carrier built on land was an idea that did not work. I had high hopes for the movie, but was almost as disappointed as I was by "Fly Boys". To experience the real feel of Navy carrier air combat watch "Bridges at Toko-Ri".

1917 (2019)

DIE HARD meets PRIVATE RYAN meets THE ODYSSEY

[8/10 · 13 January 2020]

Definitely on the must list for this corterie. I'm not a fusillier (or whatever BT calls hisself), but the weapons and kit looked smack on. The manufactured trenches were enough to give one the willies, and wonder how they trained all those rats. There's not a plot-it's all in the journey, er, quest. Characters met along the way make the story. In a series, protagonist (not hero) encounters officer fixated on his watch to get it exactly correct; officer incoherent and in tears, useless; officer too busy to be bothered. Best line from a major who knows the message is to not attack, 'Have witnesses when you deliver the order to the colonel, there are men who love to go on fighting." The "one take" technique works ( fun to watch where the transitions are; they obviously couldn't shoot in one take), by the end of the trek, you're much more tired than with the usual scene breaks. Impressed by sequence in ruined city lit by falling flares; the shadows move realistically. They avoid a blatant moral. The cumulative affect by the end if how stupid war is. No glorifying. Pathos avoided-well, the mother, baby encounter a bit much-and just enough sentimentality. Quibbles: I'm no geography expert, but don't think there's raging rivers with tall waterfall in that part of France.

Dunkirk (2017)

Dunkirk Disappoints

[4/10 · 23 July 2017]

Too much confusion due to swift cuts between drowning, crashing, and being blown up. No narrative line just two, three, (or are there five?) smaller tales. If you are expecting any historical value, forget it. Dunkirk may catch the mood of the evacuation with its confusion and frantic pace, but there are no explanations of the action. Oh, Branagh— being stoic and heroic—does try a few words about what's going on. Have to give the actors credit for spending a lot of time being very wet. Aerial sequences are good, but I'm soft about Spitfires. Problem is, airplanes keep appearing when you thought they had crashed a couple of scenes before. Have not yet checked on actual air combat at Dieppe, but willing to bet it was not as much as in the flik. Also featured are two very stupid pilots—you're supposed to open your canopy before crashing or ditching—and a Spitfire with engine-out glide characteristics better than a high performance sailplane. An expensive waste of effort.

On an Island with You (1948)

Not Navy Aviation

[5/10 · 14 October 2016]

After placing On an Island with You on my list of Tailhook movies, got to watch thanks to TCM. Putting it on list a stretch, but if there was a comedy (Hot Shots) why not a musical? Esther Williams vehicle with several Busby Berkeley on the Briny numbers. Ricardo Montalban a surprisingly good swimmer as well as a dancer. Peter Lawford not so much. Had trouble believing in him as a Navy pilot. Supposedly acting endearing—I thot him a wimp. He plays a movie adviser and corrects an actor's ribbons as upside down (yet as the film rolls on; both characters change between DFCs and Silver Stars) and doesn't like his accent while his own rawther Brit tones are obvious. Jimmy Durante as comic relief and does a couple of numbers. OK if you like that sort of thing. Oh, airplanes. Plot has Lawford taking Williams up in a TBM but instead of flying overhead heads off to an island he was based on during the war. Hmmm, Hawaii to war zone in TBM? Anyway, real Avenger with Williams fetchingly climbing in and out of hatch. Other Navy guys come to rescue in a JRF-6 Goose. Interior shot looks real as it's cramped. Filming was done on Anna Maria Island, FL (Gulf Coast, south of Tampa Bay) TBM BuNo 8394? Both aircraft have 5 with bar above and below. Any idea what unit did the flying?

Wings of Courage (1995)

Mountains yes, Story no

[4/10 · 4 September 2016]

The scenery and representations of the Latécoère 28 airplane are good. Otherwise I found the movie confusing and rather dull. Just how much tromping through the snow can one take/ Difficult to figure out who was who as the characters appear so briefly. As real historic figures they are reduced to mere secondary characters. To someone unfamiliar with aviation they mean nothing. Saint-Exupery's name is merely a come-on as his talent is not apparent. (Interesting seeing Hulce years after he played Mozart. Credit is due for what must have been difficult filming in the mountains. If you are a Saint-Exupery fan, you're better off seeing the wonderful 2015 "The Little Prince".

War Horse (2011)

War Horse: 5 stars, 2 hankies

[9/10 · 27 January 2012]

This is the combined comments of two military historians:

Just saw War Horse. Nicely plotted, excellent characters/cast, beautifully filmed. Critics say that Spielberg manipulates the audience emotions. Well duh! Ya think? Sheesh. Anyway, it's likely the teariest hoss film since Smoky with Fred MacMurray (about the time I was born.) MUCH Western Front detail: I don't know a lot of WW I grunt rivet-counter stuff but saw nothing to fault. Especially liked a minor character, the savvy Indian NCO who scouted the Hun positions. Favorite line: "Time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted." That's straight out of the Brit Army Manual...

As usual w/SS, it's too long at nearly 2.5 hrs. I kept looking at my watch, knowing that a plot point would occur at 45 minutes. The prewar stuff could've been condensed to 30 minutes w/out a problem.

Took child bride on Friday. Concur in ratings. But they're guy sniffles in bandanas, not hankies. Some classic Spielberg touches: gritty battle field, an almost monochrome sunset scene and the snow.

Only objections (besides not even one aeroplane) were no-mans land too narrow and cluttered and his flaming trees. Good effect, but how much can one tree burn?

Heard that it took 15 trained horses--each-- to do all the stunts for the two equine stars.

Browsed IMDb about the actors and cept for some minor parts in Harry Potter fliks whole bunch of unknowns, but they sure were good.

SPOILERS FOLLOW

The Brit cavalry attacking the hunnish encampment from the wheat field meets 0.00 resistance until the Germans flee into the tree line....where there be Maxims. An outraged Hun officer berates the newly-captured Brit colonel: "Did you think we would leave an open encampment undefended? What kind of people do you think we are?" When in fact a skookum Hunnish Offizier would've had some Emma Gees between the camp and an obvious line of approach.

The film viscerally demonstrates the wastage among horses. People don't know that in WW II the Heer was at least 40% horse-drawn so obviously it was moreso in Round One. Definitely not a date/chick flick in that regard.

Also liked that the little French maiden and the redhead in the auto did not turn into some ticky-tacky romantic ending.

Above and Beyond (2006)

The airplanes deserve an apology

[2/10 · 24 June 2008]

Possible the worst movie on my favorite subject of aviation. Right up there with 'Pearl Harbor' for a what-were-they-thinking stinker. There are so many errors of fact that it is not worth sitting thru the miserable acting and plot to note them all. The announcement that the Nazis had two aircraft carriers (as already noted in IMDb goofs) was bad enough, but to have an American general arrive in a RAF Lancaster bomber was way beyond credible. Even the costuming was bad; uniforms did not fit, there were too many meal ribbons and why were neckties not drawn up correctly.

Only good parts were with the actual flyable Lockheed Hudson and all too brief scenes with the Avro Lancaster.

Joyeux Noel (2005)

Stupidity of war 90 years ago

[9/10 · 9 January 2007]

As a military historian, I'm certainly not a peacenik saying all war is bad, but stupidity that wastes lives is. No better example of such stupidity can be found than in the First World War. 'Joyeaux Noel' is a splendid anti-war war movie without being preachy or macabre.

Obviously a high-budget movie, the recreation of the trenches and costumes are spot on. Based on a true event, details may be fictional, but stay in the spirit of the informal truce.

Truly a multi-national movie. The cast and dialog seems equally divided between French, German and English (Scots, to be precise. Fun reading subtitles for two languages. Assume which language is subtitles changes in which country it is being shown in.

The final irony is today's viewer knows that that war dragged on for another four bloody and tragic years.

Down with Love (2003)

Trashy and done in poor taste

[2/10 · 26 June 2004]

One of the worst movies I ever watched all the way through. Called a homage to the romantic comedies of the '60s it lacks their sparkle, wit and plot coherence. McGregor's pretend character is repulsive, not cute. His principle one not much better. Zellweger comes across as shallow and silly. If the point was to show the progress of women, this is not the way to do it. Slow paced and very few laughs. Plot convoluted. What I call a "Hollywood Insider" movie. Kinda a look-how-clever-we-are thing. The wrong assumption being that the Day/Hudson movies were clever to begin with and worthy of a homage.

Warm Water Under a Red Bridge (2001)

A mistake

[2/10 · 20 January 2004]

Took a chance at video store, expecting another "Red Lantern" or "Mask Maker". What we wound up with was so totally strange as to be incomprehensible. I am a reasobale savvy movie watcher and can handle explicit sex. rampant symbolism and some pretty peculiar twists, but "Warm Water" is too deep for me. Best just to let this movie pass Under the Bridge.

cheers,

The Eagle and the Hawk (1933)

Tough to call

[7/10 · 1 January 2004]

Bought my own copy. A film in the old style with many faults, but for someone who enjoys flying fliks, especially World War One aviation, it is great. Dialogue is terrible, the acting bad, plot predictable, but it has airplanes and derring-do in the air. All the "Dawn Patrol" cliches are there. Good fun and well worth seeing...if you like this sort of thing. I do.

cheers, Boom

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)

Pretty fantasy

[8/10 · 28 December 2003]

Great cast, lovely settings. I am a fan of Shakespeare reset so this fills the bill. Choice of Tuscany is good. Tucci a wonderful Puck. "What fools these mortals be", never sounded truer. Michelle Pfeiffer in a fantasy bower...sigh.

Cold Mountain (2003)

Fans of the novel won't be disappointed

[10/10 · 19 December 2003]

Superbly done. Watched at a benefit for local PBS station with historian discusing the Civil War before the movie. He pointed out the trauma the war had on everyone and Cold Mountain dramatically and effectively backed him up.

Opening battle of The Crater was overlong to establish background (was it in the book?)and the big love scene a flash test of human anatomy and uneccessary. Other than that, the pace was just right.

Renee Zellweger's performance as Ruby steals every scene she is in.

Don Juan in Hell (1960 TV Movie)

Intelligent, witty, philosophical play superbly performed.

[8/10 · 3 January 2003]

Probably too "intellectual" for most audiences. Shaw wrote as play within a play, "Man and Superman." A four-sided debate on the meaning and purpose of life. The serious subject enlivened by Shaw's humour and wit. The play has little action, but the 1960 TV production overcomes this with clever staging.

Scott witty and sardonic, the perfect devil, well before he became famous.

My rating would be higher except I am relying on my memory as I have not seen the show since it was originally on NY's Channel 13. I keep hoping that one of the PBS networks will realize what a treasure it is and re-televise it.

cheers, Boom

PS The Broadway cast mentioned in the next review had Cedric Hardwicke as the Commendatore, Agnes Moorhead as Dona Anna, Boyer Don Juan and a superb Laughton as the Devil. An LP recording was made by that cast.

The Americanization of Emily (1964)

Wit, beauty, brains and humour

[10/10 · 3 January 2003]

Not a box-office hit because audiences expected Garner-humor or Mary Poppins cheeriness. Despite the laughs it is a serious movie on the futility of war. The writing is Chayevsky at his best. To those of us who "get it," it is one of the finest films made.

cheers

Kate & Leopold (2001)

refreshing, bright and witty

[9/10 · 16 July 2002]

When's the last time you saw a chaste kiss in a Hollywood flick? Good premise, well done. Lots of smiles and a feel good movie. About my only complaint is Meg's hairdo for most of the story.

cheers, Boom

Hopscotch (1980)

One of the best

[9/10 · 15 May 2002]

A sleeper. I can watch it again and again. Well written, well crafted, fun performances. Shame it is not available commercially. Wonder why? Funny situations interspersed with witty dialogue-- as good as comedies from the thirties. The airplanes for me are a plus.

For the Moment (1993)

Airplane buffs take note.

[8/10 · 21 April 2002]

Very nicely done movie. It does stay in your memory. Better billed as a romance than flying or war, altho the flying parts are realistic and almost error free. Flying buffs like myself will enjoy this movie even if attracted by the airplanes, unless they have no sensitivity or have never been in love.

Fun watching early Crowe. He is good and exudes charm. His reading of "High Flight" is superb.

cheers, Boom

Rat Race (2001)

Not as good as it could have been.

[5/10 · 13 December 2001]

Thanks to Delta Airlines, watched "the Score" and "Rat Race" on one of them iddy-biddy screens. Questionable benefit is the movies are unedited since everybody on the bus doesn't have to watch. Altho I first saw "Analyze This" with all the F&S words bleeped over. Thought it a lot funnier than actually hearing them.

"Rat Race" had some good moments and imaginative bits, but pales in comparison to "Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" which has the same basic plot. The big stars don't really have a chance to shine, and the lesser actors are eminently forgettable, except the dumb and dumber duo.. who are repulsive. Little wit and heavy slapstick and wildly improbable events. Busload of Lucille Ball wannabes good for a laugh. As a pilot I enjoyed the spurned femme helo driver beating on her ex using her helicopter.

The Pigeon That Took Rome (1962)

Enjoyable relief from "real" war flicks

[7/10 · 29 November 2001]

I also consider this a sleeper. Found it humorous, well played and well written. Heston as serious soldier on off beat mission. Ilsa Martinelli (far from plains of Africa) as love interest, but not so lovely as big chested actress who plays her sister. Harry Guardino in yet another GI role. Barry Fitzgerald even more typecast as Irish priest. Good character actors for kid and bumptious dad. Great bit by Randolph Anders as Werhmacht Oberst. Worth looking for. Couldn't help comparing this "war" movie with Band of Brothers.