Flyboys Takes Wing
by Ed Vitagliano
September 22, 2006
(AgapePress) - - The new movie Flyboys is an entertaining film, inspired by real events about American pilots during World War I, and filled with action, interesting characters, humor and suspense. Before the United States entered that war, a handful of Americans volunteered to fight for France, which, in turn, was fighting for its life. The Americans joined the Lafayette Escadrille, a squadron of pilots who flew fighter missions for France -- a country that was still remembered fondly by many Americans for its role in our own Revolutionary War.
The cast is ably led by James Franco (Spider-Man) as a cocky young Texan and Jean Reno (Godzilla, French Kiss) as the French officer charged with turning the brash Americans into fighter pilots. The film pulls off what is not always easy in a war movie involving a large number of individual characters: It makes the viewer care about what happens to them.
The story is suspenseful and the dogfights riveting, but the movie also has quite a bit of humor as the pilots, strangers at first, come to care deeply for one another.
Issues such as racism are also made clear in Flyboys, as a young black American is given a chance to fight for France -- a nation with a less racist past, due to its interaction with its North African colonies -- when he would never be given such an opportunity to fight for his own country.
There are a few cautionary notes, however, for parents wondering whether the movie is suitable for their children. Besides the scenes of wartime violence, there is a scene involving a bordello, and even though there is no nudity or sex, some of the prostitutes are dressed immodestly and several suggestive remarks are made by the airmen.
Also, in one of the final dogfight scenes, one of the American pilots -- his plane burning from enemy fire -- pulls out a pistol and shoots himself in the head. Historically, this was apparently a way to avoid burning to death as a malfunctioning plane spiraled down to the ground. Even though the film cuts away at the last moment, it is clear what the man has done.
Finally, there are two profanities, including one instance of taking the Lord's name in vain.
Overall, however, Flyboys gets it right, and is a movie that uplifts traits like honor, courage, and self-sacrifice in a way that is both entertaining and inspiring.
Flyboys opens September 22 in theaters around the U.S. The film is rated PG-13 for war action violence and some sexual content.
Ed Vitagliano, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is news editor of AFA Journal, a monthly publication of the American Family Association.
