Best & Worst Mil Aviation Film and Why
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Have to agree with PLovett. How many "SAS troopers" bought it in the big battle at the end of "The Odd Angry Shot"? About a ten times as many as the SAS lost in 12 years of very high pressure operations in South Viet Nam.
If you want to read a really good book that gives an accurate (and highly readable) account of what the SAS actually got up to in SVN, see Gary MacKay's "Sleeping With Your Ears Open".
After reading some of the rubbish written here about the RAAF helicopter squadron's supposedly piss poor efforts in SVN, some might also be rather surprised to read in this book what the SAS guys thought of the RAAF chopper crews.
If you want to read a really good book that gives an accurate (and highly readable) account of what the SAS actually got up to in SVN, see Gary MacKay's "Sleeping With Your Ears Open".
After reading some of the rubbish written here about the RAAF helicopter squadron's supposedly piss poor efforts in SVN, some might also be rather surprised to read in this book what the SAS guys thought of the RAAF chopper crews.
Last edited by Wiley; 1st Jan 2008 at 10:54. Reason: typo
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A Plea
I'm sure you will all agree with me on this one ?!
WHY when films, sky video / dvd documentary makers etc, quote ' technical advisor ' --XXX, usually someone who one has heard of and plainly knows their stuff, do so many, I would say the majority, of such films make simple glaring errors which render the whole effort laughable to anyone with a hint of knowledge ?
It seems plain these poor sods who've done their best to advise, are either never shown the final pre-production result, or their objections are over-ruled.
One can I suppose semi-excuse the things in 'Top Gun' such as loading blue dummy Sidewinders for the big fight at the end ( poor walk-round if he wasn't a bit worried by that ! ), the ejection handle saga etc, as it was very Hollywood;
But on dedicated, low budget documentaries about particular aircraft, one still encounters howlers - I have a video on the Hunter where the narrator talks solemnly of the Rolls Royce Nene, pronouncing it ' nee-nee'...
I imagine the 'advisor' on that one still has a twitch & has to be sedated.
There's also the point that if one adds up the amount of kills claimed for each fighter type ( particularly U.S, and each one featured is described as 'The Best Fighter Of The War' ) - then the axis powers, particularly Japanese, must have had a few hundred thousand more than thought in the first place...
PLEASE give us accuracy, it might be a foreign concept to Luvvies, but it is what this media requires - and it earns a lot of respect when it does appear !
WHY when films, sky video / dvd documentary makers etc, quote ' technical advisor ' --XXX, usually someone who one has heard of and plainly knows their stuff, do so many, I would say the majority, of such films make simple glaring errors which render the whole effort laughable to anyone with a hint of knowledge ?
It seems plain these poor sods who've done their best to advise, are either never shown the final pre-production result, or their objections are over-ruled.
One can I suppose semi-excuse the things in 'Top Gun' such as loading blue dummy Sidewinders for the big fight at the end ( poor walk-round if he wasn't a bit worried by that ! ), the ejection handle saga etc, as it was very Hollywood;
But on dedicated, low budget documentaries about particular aircraft, one still encounters howlers - I have a video on the Hunter where the narrator talks solemnly of the Rolls Royce Nene, pronouncing it ' nee-nee'...
I imagine the 'advisor' on that one still has a twitch & has to be sedated.
There's also the point that if one adds up the amount of kills claimed for each fighter type ( particularly U.S, and each one featured is described as 'The Best Fighter Of The War' ) - then the axis powers, particularly Japanese, must have had a few hundred thousand more than thought in the first place...
PLEASE give us accuracy, it might be a foreign concept to Luvvies, but it is what this media requires - and it earns a lot of respect when it does appear !
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BAT-21 i thought was a great film.
I haven't seen Pearl Harbour because i don't want to watch a love story.
As for Top Gun i thought it was a crock of poo... i can't stand it when they use Western aircraft to 'play' as Migs (and a non existant Mig for that matter).
Can't fault the "Iron Eagle" series of films...... can you?
Or what about Firefox?
I haven't seen Pearl Harbour because i don't want to watch a love story.
As for Top Gun i thought it was a crock of poo... i can't stand it when they use Western aircraft to 'play' as Migs (and a non existant Mig for that matter).
Can't fault the "Iron Eagle" series of films...... can you?
Or what about Firefox?
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Bat 21
I agree is a great film on many levels, and has the huge advantage of being based on a true story; the bit I'm not too sure about is the chap 're-learning' to fly a helicopter again...
To be slightly fair on 'Top Gun', the F-5's portrayed as Mig's were the aggressor squadron of the time, though that's not explained of course.
As a UK semi-military photographer I would have given my left whatsit for a fraction of the co-operation the US Navy gave the film crew in that - think of the British offerings like ' Squadron' & 'Warship' !!!
'Iron Eagle' should of course be used for training purposes, as should 'Firefox' - by anyone we particularly dislike.
Re.Firefox, a chum, who is not in aviation, said he'd seen more realistic flying in ' Superman ' !
I agree is a great film on many levels, and has the huge advantage of being based on a true story; the bit I'm not too sure about is the chap 're-learning' to fly a helicopter again...
To be slightly fair on 'Top Gun', the F-5's portrayed as Mig's were the aggressor squadron of the time, though that's not explained of course.
As a UK semi-military photographer I would have given my left whatsit for a fraction of the co-operation the US Navy gave the film crew in that - think of the British offerings like ' Squadron' & 'Warship' !!!
'Iron Eagle' should of course be used for training purposes, as should 'Firefox' - by anyone we particularly dislike.
Re.Firefox, a chum, who is not in aviation, said he'd seen more realistic flying in ' Superman ' !
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In regards to Iron Eagle, they used F-4 Phantoms as Red Starred aircraft!
BAT-21 was made better by the fact they had Gene Hackman and Danny Glover as the main characters.
Didn't anyone like "Behind Enemy Lines?"
BAT-21 was made better by the fact they had Gene Hackman and Danny Glover as the main characters.
Didn't anyone like "Behind Enemy Lines?"
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Was airshowing in the States last year, and a survey was being done as to the best Aviation film ever. This national survey voted the best film ever as Top Gun. I love visiting the Staes but..........??????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Final Countdown
I thought Final Countdown pretty good. Far fetched plot, I know, but the flying scenes were great.
Mosquito Squadron has to be pretty bad. Mirrored shots to increase number of mossies and JPs in the background of the landing scenes.
Sharmine
Mosquito Squadron has to be pretty bad. Mirrored shots to increase number of mossies and JPs in the background of the landing scenes.
Sharmine
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Surprised nobody has mentioned 'Piece of Cake'. So what if it's not a film.
It's still got some of the best flying shots of any program, and I think that Mark and Ray Hanna advised on it.
I was quite young when I saw it, but I remember the Bridge, the tea tray in the officers mess and the description of a pilots personality in the way that they take off.
Another that I didn't see, so I don't know if it was any good was that martin Clunes series, was it much cop?
It's still got some of the best flying shots of any program, and I think that Mark and Ray Hanna advised on it.
I was quite young when I saw it, but I remember the Bridge, the tea tray in the officers mess and the description of a pilots personality in the way that they take off.
Another that I didn't see, so I don't know if it was any good was that martin Clunes series, was it much cop?
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Another that I didn't see, so I don't know if it was any good was that martin Clunes series, was it much cop?
One to remember
Amazing Stories: The Mission (Steven Spielberg)
A young man is given one of the most dangerous assignments of the war: belly gunner. That is just what it sounds like: a lone airman with just a couple of guns to defend him, in a round glass chamber on the bottom of the plane. He must spend the whole flight crouched in the shell, and due to the exposure of the compartment is at constant risk of becoming someone else's target.
The whole expedition is dangerous enough. Suddenly the gunner is stuck in his seat, and the landing gear are flummoxed.
It might take a miracle to save the lives of the brave men.
They say the pen is mightier than the sword. In this case, it's mightier than accidents of fate and the skills of the enemy.
Tense action and an ending that is unforgettable.
A young man is given one of the most dangerous assignments of the war: belly gunner. That is just what it sounds like: a lone airman with just a couple of guns to defend him, in a round glass chamber on the bottom of the plane. He must spend the whole flight crouched in the shell, and due to the exposure of the compartment is at constant risk of becoming someone else's target.
The whole expedition is dangerous enough. Suddenly the gunner is stuck in his seat, and the landing gear are flummoxed.
It might take a miracle to save the lives of the brave men.
They say the pen is mightier than the sword. In this case, it's mightier than accidents of fate and the skills of the enemy.
Tense action and an ending that is unforgettable.
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What about 'The Fighting Lady', the film made about a US Carrier in the Pacific in WW2. I have it on DVD and if you freeze it you can see American aircraft straffing Jap sea-planes at literally 0 feet. Awesome ! Superbly filmed in colour and actually very moving as a lot of the characters in the film are sadly killed.
I think carrier aviation, BRITISH carrier aviation, has been sadly ignored by film producers, even the Bond films. Sharkey Ward, Dave Morgan and Nick Richardson all produced books that would have made good (not necessarily 100% accurate) films.
Certainly, the Fleet Air Arm would have got extra publicity and recognition - the lack of which may have been a factor in the Sea Harrier decision (link here).
I think the Sea Harrier is featured in a recent Argentine film about the events of 1982?
Or a overview type film about Operation Corporate?
Certainly, the Fleet Air Arm would have got extra publicity and recognition - the lack of which may have been a factor in the Sea Harrier decision (link here).
I think the Sea Harrier is featured in a recent Argentine film about the events of 1982?
Or a overview type film about Operation Corporate?
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I'll admit to having enjoyed watching Top Gun a spotty teenager 
, but this has much more drama and made the movie look a bit gash to me. Suits my short attention span too.
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?doc...81125103734411
B&W aviation films always look good!
, but this has much more drama and made the movie look a bit gash to me. Suits my short attention span too.http://video.google.ca/videoplay?doc...81125103734411
B&W aviation films always look good!
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Had a quick read through but I don't think anyone mentioned it. Made in the sixties using the same Buchons as in BoB but painted as RAF fighters. Ok fair enough you might say.
But guess what? The Luftwaffe flew Spitfires against them. Badly made and animated model Spitfires painted with Iron crosses. I might add!
Anyone know the name?
But guess what? The Luftwaffe flew Spitfires against them. Badly made and animated model Spitfires painted with Iron crosses. I might add!
Anyone know the name?
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I am not too sure whether it has been mentioned but BAT 21, with Gene Hackman is a cracking film. The 'Birddog' sequences are really well done, it looks an amazing aircraft to fly.
BfB
BfB
Slightly OT but the directly relevant threads on this subject in the military area are closed. I found a long interview with Peter Jackson on the Dambusters remake here:
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/30076
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/30076