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Flyboys 2006
Starring James Franco, Jean Reno, Philip Winchester, Martin Henderson, Abdul Salis, Jennifer Decker, Tyler Labine, David Ellison
Directed by Tony Bill (tv's 'Monk', 'Felicity')
Written by Phil Sears, Blake T. Evans, David S. Ward
Action, Adventure, Drama | 2hr 19mins | Rated (M) | Origin: France, USA
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The Peoples voice
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FlyBoys
3
James Franco was fantastic! He has so much of the James Dean characteristics that he fits this kind of role to a tee. He acted brilliantly as usual and his leading man capabilities are endless. James Franco was a perfect match for this role. Martin Henderson actually wasn’t horrible to watch, his acting has certainly improved from his days on Shortland Street, but as much as he tries to be a serious actor, he just comes off wrong and also his character’s pet lion was random, probably true to life but completely out of place. The flight sequences were fantastic. They were very heavily reliant on CG but the choreography of the sequences was flawless.
This film is based on a true story, so I can’t critique the storyline too much but there were flaws in the writing, and flaws in the elaboration of the story itself.
Overall this was a great film to watch.By RhondaS
Press Reviews
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Hollywood Reporter
A decidedly old-fashioned war film that reaches for epic sweep but is often bogged down in cliched drama and two-dimensional characters
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Premiere Magazine [USA]
2 2 out of 5 stars
1/2 Part of what makes these kind of war movies such cinematic comfort food (aside from the moral certainty they strive to convey) is their familiarity. But I wonder if said familiarity is what compels contemporary filmmakers to overstuff the material -- Flyboys is a good two hours and 20 minutes...
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The Press [Christchurch]
2 2 out of 5 stars
Not so much a historical lesson as a warning to the makers of the proposed Charles Upham movie of how not to make a war movie. As for those wanting to commemorate Anzac Day, they would be better off renting Peter Weir's excellent Gallipoli...
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USA Today
Flyboys doesn't succeed as a wartime adventure story or as a period romance. Even the special effects, set in a historical context, are too ho-hum to save this over-long and tedious film...
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Variety [USA]
Lovingly and knowledgeably made by director Tony Bill, who got his pilot's license as a teenager, pic nonetheless has a lightweight, airbrushed feel; despite the brutal dogfights and inevitable deaths, there's little gravity or resonance...
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