Aviation Films

[Thumper]

Was debating this last night with a friend and wondered what everyone elses opinions were.

Why do aviation enthusiasts slate the modern blockbuster aviation films like Top Gun, Pearl Harbour, The Aviator, Flight of the Phoenix etc? They are some of my favourite films, all I wanted on "another forum" was other peoples choices so I could expand my collection, instead it just turned into a 3 page rant about the modern films listed above

So, I'd love to know what your favourite aviation films are?

Mine are:

Top Gun
Pearl Harbour
The Aviator
Flight of the Phoenix
Iron Eagle (1,2,3 & 4!)
Hot Shots (its funny!!!)
Catch 22
Aces High
Tora, Tora, Tora
Memphis Belle
BoB

[Hihonyr8811]

Three of my top 5 favorite films of all time are (in no particular order).

The Dambusters
Reach for the Sky
Black hawk down

Honerable mention to Band of Brothers and a Bridge too far for the C-47 scenes, I need mops and towles for that


I like Pearl Harbour (watched it the other night in fact), but mainly because of Josh Hartnett and the B-25s

Love Hot Shots , I may have to dig the DVD out later

I own top gun, but Tom Cruise annoys the hell out of me lol so it looses marks for that but I don't dislike it

And Behind Enemy lines is pretty good, watched that the other week, had forgotten how good Owen Wilson was in it.

[Pujgnie]

Another addition to the lists above ...

'The Final Countdown' - Whereby a modern US aircraft carrier passes through a storm, and ends up back in 1941 prior to the Pearl Harbour attack. Do they destroy the Japanese fleet and change the course of history ?

Interesting film.. with some nice F14 v Japanese Zero's scenarios

[Thumper]

Thanks you 2! I have bought Final Countdown and Behind Enemy Lines today, I love Owen Wilson!

I forgot about Blackhawk Down, I also own that one and Band of Brothers boxset is coming for X**s

I agree with you H on Tom Cruise, he's a smarmy arrogant midget both in real life and in the films he plays.

I'm gonna watch Hot Shots tonight as I watched Aces High earlier and need cheering up!

[Hihonyr8811]

Aces High is one two films that when ever it's on TV I always seem to either miss it compleatly, or catch the end of it, I've never watched it from the beggining (the other being 633 squadron) so annoying
I tried to record it the last time it was on, but for some reason it didn't record

I think I'm destined to never see it

I always want to punch TC when ever I see him
The only film I like him in is the Outsiders.

[RLN]

Only 3 films really, and they are the obvious ones:

Dambusters
633 Squadron
Battle of Britain.

I think the reason that people don't like Pearl Harbour is because it is so historically accurate, it should have been made by Disney.

[Xplumberlives]

Only 3 films really, and they are the obvious ones:

Dambusters
633 Squadron
Battle of Britain.

I think the reason that people don't like Pearl Harbour is because it is so historically accurate, it should have been made by Disney.

Is that the one where the Yanks capture a German submarine and find out how to break the enigma code and make all the people at Bletchley Park redundant?

[RLN]

Probably.

[Jet Morgan]

Watched School For Secrets on Tuesday, starring Ralph Richardson and Raymond Huntley, and am sure that the director must have been an aviation enthusiast. The lead characters fly in at least five different aircraft. I spotted a Stirling, a Halifax, a Blenheim, a Sunderland and what looked like a Wellington. There was no particular reason plot wise, it just seemed like the director was trying to fit in as many types as possible!

[Sploosher]

Another addition to the lists above ...

'The Final Countdown' - Whereby a modern US aircraft carrier passes through a storm, and ends up back in 1941 prior to the Pearl Harbour attack. Do they destroy the Japanese fleet and change the course of history ?

Interesting film.. with some nice F14 v Japanese Zero's scenarios

I agree,the first time I saw this was on video in the early 80`s with dutch subtitles, My Sgt at the time recorded it whilst in Germany or Holland

Jakspeed has the dvd at the moment ....

[Checkflaps]

New(ish) one for your collections should be 'Sky Fighters' - as it is called in the English language. It's a French film called 'Les Chevaliers du Ciel'. Loads of Mirage action - shame about the dodgy script (especially) when dubbed into English .

Some of the best air to air footage I have seen in a movie .

Look it up on Wiki / IMDB and there are plenty of clips on YouTube (look up Jack Savoretti - Dreamers, for a good montage of the films best bits)

G