The Tuskegee Airmen get the chance to prove their worth to their fellow pilots in the LucasFilm movie, “Red Tails.” The group of pilots is sent to Italy during 1944 and accept they shouldn’t be seeing too much of the action. But, after proving their worth, one commander decides he wants them to protect his bomber unit. Along the way, one pilot is captured, another nearly died in a crash, the commander experiences alcoholism and the best pilot in the group sacrifices himself to save his friend.

While loosely based on the true story of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, this is a very well-done dramatization. Anyone who has studied American history knows how important the Tuskegee Airmen were to the American war effort. Their success in helping the Allies is especially important given how Hitler viewed everyone who wasn’t of the Aryan race. The Nazis didn’t view the Tuskegee Airmen as equals, but unfortunately, neither did many of the American allies. Some learned to respect them as the movie demonstrates, but they still had a nearly as tough of a battle at home as they did during the war.

This film is filled with some amazing performances that will encapsulate you as you watch. Terrence Howard, Nate Parker, Cuba Gooding Jr., David Oyelowo, Michael B. Jordan and Tristan Wilds are all incredibly amazing as their characters. None are playing actual people during World War II, but all are playing composite characters of real people. They make you thrilled when they get the chance to go to Berlin. They make you cry when Lightning gives up his life to save Easy. And they make you shout with joy and relief when Junior escapes Nazi imprisonment. This film does everything the viewer needs to be enthralled beginning to end.

This is the last film released by LucasFilm before the sale to Disney. It is a far cry from the science fiction and fantasy adventures we’ve come to expect from “Star Wars” and “Willow.” However, it stands out with excellent storytelling and solid dialogue. It’s not the type of film that I think of when I think about LucasFilm, but I’m glad it exists. If you are a fan of war movies, this one is worth check out.

Rating: 4 stars

What did you think of “Red Tails?”

Jeremy Brown

Jeremy has been a big Disney fan since he was a kid growing up during the Disney Renaissance. One day he hopes to go to every Disney Park in the world.

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