Red Tails...

[tmanthegreat]

I saw it yesterday. I really liked the flying sequences (even though they were a bit unrealistic and over the top) and the aircraft, scenery, uniforms, equipment were all quite accurate and beautifully rendered.

The dialogue, flow of the story, and the fact that it glossed over the racism and the hurdles that the Tuskeegee Airmen really had to go over really detracted from the film.

I think Lucas/Hemingway took the film in a bit more light hearted - "comic book" style approach. While thats good for entertainment, I think it simplified the story and made it cheesy, which really shouldn't have been done.

Still, if it gets people (particularly minorities) interested in WWII and the struggles and contributions of those who participated in it, then the film will serve a good purpose

[Dauntless]

The 21stC "Bunnie" P-51D up last week and relisted ended at exactly the same price. This time no reserve, so the buyer got it this time. Still a good price for originally a $40 to $50 at retail plane.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190629543110?ss ... _928wt_941

The 1:72 Matchbox P-51D Redtail seems to be fetching good prices too (I think I have this one)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/290655849472?ss ... _500wt_956

Saw a little segment on the local news about a Tuskegee pilot living here in ABQ.
An interview with him and a local celebration dinner coinciding with the premier of the movie. They had a 21stC "Bunnie" displayed on one of the dinner tables. I'll bet people who saw that were wondering where to get one.

[tmanthegreat]

Should have bid on that 21c P-51. I did when he first listed the auction, but there was a reserve that wasn't met - and the auction amount was higher. Guess the seller decided it was better to let the plane go and get what money he could

[aferguson]

since the movie's not a turd, i suspect they'll be a new Redtail in 1/18, either by Allgo or BBI.

If either of them has it planned they'd be wise to announce it, to scare of the other from doing it too.

[aferguson]

ok, so, apparentlly, Red Tails did 'far better than expected', with the opening weekend tally being $19.1 million. So i wonder if this is close enough for the other movies to be made?

"Red Tails, about the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, did far better than expected. Lucas spent 20 years pursuing the project, and recently revealed he couldn't get any studio to finance the film because of an all-black cast. He finally decided to put up the money himself, and spent $58 million on the production budget and another $35 in distribution costs."

[[CAT]CplSlade]

So, only about $74 million to break even. He can probably do that even if it fizzles out at the theaters when the next big movie comes along, because he will have overseas box office and dvd/cable money to add in.

[Dauntless]

What I want to know is... when are we going to get a "hand me down" P-40E Warhawk from BBI, Merit, Allgo, anyone?

[aferguson]

if you don't mind doing a little repainting:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... duct=20950

[Dauntless]

Yeah...but too late, got spoiled with some of the later 21stC and BBI planes. Most of us would expect a nicely detailed one, and would pay for it with the higher prices these days. I'm sure Merit, BBI, or Allgo could make a good one. I don't think I could settle for a foam plane Though that's an option.

The hand me down P-40E has slipped through the cracks on someone's list of planes to do for a while.
Maybe now with the movie? ...yeah right.

[EnemyAce]

ok, so, apparentlly, Red Tails did 'far better than expected', with the opening weekend tally being $19.1 million. So i wonder if this is close enough for the other movies to be made?

"Red Tails, about the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, did far better than expected. Lucas spent 20 years pursuing the project, and recently revealed he couldn't get any studio to finance the film because of an all-black cast. He finally decided to put up the money himself, and spent $58 million on the production budget and another $35 in distribution costs."

My guess is that this is going to be good enough to get some more WWII aviation movies greenlit.

After all, in the studio's eyes, Red Tails had two HUGE strikes going against it. 1. All black cast. 2. War movie. Considering that, I bet they'll now think that a similar movie with white 'name' actors like Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt will at least do double the business.

[Threetoughtrucks]

When the studios accept the fact that they can make a war movie, not ground war but air war, sea war, sub war, with the fantastic CG effects to support a few actors, we will see a new era of realistic warfare.

Can you imagine "In Harms Way" with CG and no dopey model boats? or "Tora Tora Tora" even "Pearl Harbor" with complete CG effects on the attack. Even "BOB" or "Patton" with CG correct tanks. Wow.

TTT

[Dauntless]

...or a Battle of Midway with accurate aircraft?

No carrier based Hellcats, Corsairs and Helldivers (like the original Midway movie) but Wildcats, SBD's and TBD Devastators that no longer exist except a few salvageable ones at the bottom of the ocean (bring them up dammit)
Throw in a few Midway land based Brewster Buffalos, B-26's, Catalina, Vought Vindicators, even six TBF Avengers in their first combat mission ever.

Did I miss anything? Oh yeah the Japanese aircraft. Man would that be an undertaking to do it right.

I dunno though, they fell a little short on Redtails without P-39's, and P-47's right? I haven't seen it yet (going tomorrow) but was there any FW-190's?

[456THBG]

...or a Battle of Midway with accurate aircraft?

No carrier based Hellcats, Corsairs and Helldivers (like the original Midway movie) but Wildcats, SBD's and TBD Devastators that no longer exist except a few salvageable ones at the bottom of the ocean (bring them up dammit)
Throw in a few Midway land based Brewster Buffalos, B-26's, Catalina, Vought Vindicators, even six TBF Avengers in their first combat mission ever.

Did I miss anything? Oh yeah the Japanese aircraft. Man would that be an undertaking to do it right.

I dunno though, they fell a little short on Redtails without P-39's, and P-47's right? I haven't seen it yet (going tomorrow) but was there any FW-190's?

Didn't see any 190's...All 109's and 262's, but they were awesome!

[EnemyAce]

...or a Battle of Midway with accurate aircraft?

No carrier based Hellcats, Corsairs and Helldivers (like the original Midway movie) but Wildcats, SBD's and TBD Devastators that no longer exist except a few salvageable ones at the bottom of the ocean (bring them up dammit)
Throw in a few Midway land based Brewster Buffalos, B-26's, Catalina, Vought Vindicators, even six TBF Avengers in their first combat mission ever.

Did I miss anything? Oh yeah the Japanese aircraft. Man would that be an undertaking to do it right.

I dunno though, they fell a little short on Redtails without P-39's, and P-47's right? I haven't seen it yet (going tomorrow) but was there any FW-190's?

Didn't see any 190's...All 109's and 262's, but they were awesome!

Apparently in older drafts there was a bigger variety of fighters, and some even bigger action sequences. I read that the final mission was originally scripted to be hit with multiple waves of different German aircraft, with the 262s only appearing over Berlin itself. The bombing run over Berlin was supposed to be a *massive* sequence with the entire city & AA defenses (including Flak towers) rendered, and the sky filled with smoke and fire. It apparently got cut due to the fact that no studio would contribute any money to the movie, and the BoB sequence was going to cost over a cool million per minute(!).

[Dauntless]

That would have been cool. Just before that raid the general did mention FW-190's. I guess we're lucky Lucas paid for it himself and we got what we could. Maybe he can keep tweaking the story like he did with Star Wars as the money rolls in and technology gets cheaper. Wouldn't bother me at all.

I saw it today. Enjoyed the heck out of it.
I could see they took a lot of liberties with the story with quite a few inaccuracies, but what the hell, I was entertained for sure.

[[CAT]CplSlade]

and the BoB sequence was going to cost over a cool million per minute(!).

What, ILM doesn't give Lucas a discount? It's his own company.

[EnemyAce]

and the BoB sequence was going to cost over a cool million per minute(!).

What, ILM doesn't give Lucas a discount? It's his own company.

That must be with the discount...I don't think the people and computers there work for free...

[Dauntless]

Right about now would have been a good time to have Wingscale's 1:32 Flying Fortress B-17G released no?
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... CCwQ9QEwBg

[cjg476]

What the hell!!!!

LOOK at this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUPER-RARE-HUGE ... 1903392964

[aferguson]

THIS MUSTANG IS SUPER RARE BECAUSE IT HAS THE "PERIOD CORRECT" WING WITH CORRECT MARKINGS, WHEN RELEASED by BADCAT TOYS THE YELLOW STRIPES WERE IN THE WRONG PLACE FOR THE REAL PLANE AND THEY PAINTED THE YELLOW STRIPE OVER THE LAND GEAR COVER (as seen in the last picture) WHICH IS WRONG, ONLY AROUND 20 CORRECT WINGS WERE MADE AND SOLD, WE BOUGHT ONE BACK THEN NEW ON EBAY, BOTH WINGS COME WITH THIS PLANE IN THE AUCTION! THE NEW WING ALSO HAS GUNFIRE EXHAUST SMOKE STAIN ON THE WINGS AT THE GUN BARREL TIPS!!!

[456THBG]

Right about now would have been a good time to have Wingscale's 1:32 Flying Fortress B-17G released no?
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... CCwQ9QEwBg

I'm guessing this is a kit, correct?

[[CAT]CplSlade]

It was a kit, but the Chinese stole it from the man who came up with it and the B-25 kit in 1/32.

He's attempting a comeback, but hopefully not with a Chinese manufacturer.

[ram04]

Seen the movie this afternoon with the wife, it was'nt bad, since I had read everyones reviews here, I kind of knew what to expect, my wife liked it and that was a plus.

[sdcc73]

Looks like the movie is moving along.Likely reaching $40 million by this weekend.
That is near the $58 million production cost. There's still more costs involved to compensate. So keep spreading the word, for everyone to check it out, so we can see many more movies (of and beyond Red Tails) in the future.

[[CAT]CplSlade]

Curious though, about Lucas's prospect of a prequel and sequel to the film.

What exactly would the prequel be? And a sequel - not having seen it yet, does the movie not end with the war's end like many do, or is there still some story left to tell?

Cameron wouldn't do a prequel to Titanic. That would just be the financing and building of the boat, right? Exciting stuff, watching guys rivet steel for several hours. I believe that story centers around a welder who has fallen in love with a pipefitter's wife.