George Lucas' Red Tails

[roach]

as of wed its sitting at 22.4 mil BO

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

It seems in one swoop Goerge Lucas has done more for black actors in cinema than Spike Lee's years worth of ranting.

 

[roach]

sometimes you have to stop talking about it and do it.
Sure GL has more money that most small countries but I seem to recall Spike getting some rich friends to help with X...which is why they show up at the end of the movie.
I am glad GL did this...
...but I find it hard to believe between Oprah, Will Smith and other top black entertainers a big budget 'black' film couldn't be done

 

[RockSP]

It seems in one swoop Goerge Lucas has done more for black actors in cinema than Spike Lee's years worth of ranting.

How exactly? By being the producer of one movie? Spike has produced as well, not to mention the careers he's helped jumpstart (Snipes, Sam Jackson). If you're not a fan cool but let's not go overboard.

Sure GL has more money that most small countries but I seem to recall Spike getting some rich friends to help with X...which is why they show up at the end of the movie.

Been a while since I watched Malcolm X, but I don't remember that.

 

[KenK]

I am glad GL did this...
...but I find it hard to believe between Oprah, Will Smith and other top black entertainers a big budget 'black' film couldn't be done

That I'll agree with. And especially Will Smith, 'cause he basically passed on developing an original sci-fi/fantasy concept that would have utilized an all-black cast, to do Men In Black III. He's long since been in a position to get a film like Red Tails made, if he wanted to.

 

[roach]

Been a while since I watched Malcolm X, but I don't remember that.

There is a seperate special thanks after the normal one that says: "Thank
Allah for Bill Cosby, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Oprah Winfrey, Tracy
Chapman, Prince, Janet Jackson, and Peggy Cooper-Carfritz." This is because
they aided Spike Lee in raising money to finish the film when the
production ran into financial trouble. They also appear at the end of the film wearing X hats and making X signs with their arms.

 

[terry78]

I am glad it did make a decent profit before the glut of family/B-list sci flicks of February and March hit.

 

[RockSP]

There is a seperate special thanks after the normal one that says: "Thank
Allah for Bill Cosby, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Oprah Winfrey, Tracy
Chapman, Prince, Janet Jackson, and Peggy Cooper-Carfritz." This is because they aided Spike Lee in raising money to finish the film when the
production ran into financial trouble. They also appear at the end of the film wearing X hats and making X signs with their arms.

The bold part I knew about, just not them appearing at the end.

 

[Marvel]

7/10

Maybe it was my imagination but it did seem like George Lucas’ hands where all over this movie. There’s something about CGI WWII dog fights that just doesn’t sit right with the mind’s eye. There’s also the terribly cliched and rather shallow writing of every single character and circumstance. It really is an uneasy and bad first half of a film that feels like a TV movie searching for something. Yet, somehow this film wears down the viewer. Somewhere along the way the shallow writing adds up and you actually start to care about characters and about the story. I was moved by the fate of a character and caught up in good ole USA pride in the third act. Overall, the race factor seems superficial like the writers wanted to do it justice but not get bogged down in a “stick it to whitey” film. The forced romance is flat out unbelievable and silly. Lucas should have added a super soldier serum or alien technology for the airmen because they really are portrayed as superhuman pilots. Not the epic these real life heroes deserve but a not bad bubblegum flick that gets better after enduring the first half of the film.

 

[terry78]

Though we do try and stick it to whitey at least a couple times a week when time permits.

 

[roach]

7/10

Maybe it was my imagination but it did seem like George Lucas’ hands where all over this movie. There’s something about CGI WWII dog fights that just doesn’t sit right with the mind’s eye. There’s also the terribly cliched and rather shallow writing of every single character and circumstance. It really is an uneasy and bad first half of a film that feels like a TV movie searching for something. Yet, somehow this film wears down the viewer. Somewhere along the way the shallow writing adds up and you actually start to care about characters and about the story. I was moved by the fate of a character and caught up in good ole USA pride in the third act. Overall, the race factor seems superficial like the writers wanted to do it justice but not get bogged down in a “stick it to whitey” film. The forced romance is flat out unbelievable and silly. Lucas should have added a super soldier serum or alien technology for the airmen because they really are portrayed as superhuman pilots. Not the epic these real life heroes deserve but a not bad bubblegum flick that gets better after enduring the first half of the film.

weird since he didn't write it

 

[GoldGoblin]

He did write it,but he put someone elses name on it.

 

[roach]

He did write it,but he put someone elses name on it.

and you are getting your info from.....

currently sitting at 41M

 

[roach]

currently sitting at 45M

 

[MadVillainy]

JUst finished this. It was okay. Cuba Gooding was decent with what he had. Terrence Howard was good. David Oyelowo and Nate Parker were really good. I actually liked all of the side character (even Ne Yo) except for Tristan Wilds. Not his character, but his acting.

Dog fight scenes were really cool, but the romance angle was really crappy I felt.

over all 7/10

 

[Thundercrack85]

I remember when George Lucas said nobody wanted to back the film because it had an all black cast. After seeing it (well I really only saw part of it, couldn't sit through the whole thing), I think they just read the screenplay.

 

[MadVillainy]

Well I do think the all black cast with no stars had to do with it too

 

[Thundercrack85]

Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard aren't exactly nobodies.

It was just a bad movie.

 

[MadVillainy]

Cuba Gooding Jr. hadnt been in theatrical movie in 4 years. Terrance Howard isnt a BO draw.

I'm not saying some didnt balk at the script, but worse scripts have been put through. I think the combination of the script and the fact they wanted an all black cast

 

[Thundercrack85]

Films with less known actors make it. I'm not saying that isn't the case. There's certainly a lot of racism (for a lack of a better word). But, nobody in their right mind would back this film. It's not like films with all black casts don't get released.

I suppose we could debate which reason was more problematic for backers. The all black cast, or the fact that the movie was lousy.

 

[Mandalore464]

Edit : Deleted

 

[Lord]

I really want to see this film. I have mixed feelings about Lucas as a director, especially after his SW prequels, but I am glad someone at long last had the balls to make a blockbuster-type action film with an all black cast.

I'm so tired of quotas and casts that need to have a couple of white superheroes, a black guy, an asian guy, a strong woman, a lesbian, a fat guy for comic relief, etc...

Go George!

Now if only this film was released in my country................

He didn't direct this film

 

[Mandalore464]

Edit : Deleted

 

[chamber-music]

Lousy movies get made all the time.

Hell 70% of what Hollywood puts out right now sucks ass.

Red Tails wasn't terrible just average.

 

[terry78]

Needless to say, they won't be doing anything similar anytime soon. More Madea is what we'll get.