posted 07-18- 05:49 PM               

Great Movie!

posted 07-18- 06:10 PM               

Heh-heh, you're right bud. That is one cool flick. Even my wife, who HATES to hear about WWII aviation and my flying online, actually sat through that movie, and I dare say, even found it entertaining.

Oh, and by the by, thanks for all you do dude. Hope to see you in the war soon. I'll be out for two weeks, but should be able to play the next three in a row if the Gods smile.

posted 07-18- 06:22 PM               

I have no idea what the real crew of the Belle thought of the movie. I would be guessing, but wouldn't be surprised if at least some of them were pleased that people had not forgotten about the sacrifice all the men and women who served during the War made.

This movie while not historically accurate, at least helped, if only for awhile, to bring this sacrifice to the forefront of our minds. Who knows how many conversations were had during, and after this movie, as sons asked fathers "Did that really happen?..."Did alot of people die?"...."Is that what Grand Dad did in the War?"...etc. I think any thing that reminds us to speak to our sons and daughters about the War, sons and daughters whose only knowledge of the war comes from what they learn in history class, I think anything that explains to them alittle of the personal sacrifices made....well, I think that's a good thing.

Of course, I could be wrong.

posted 07-18- 08:29 PM               

Well-- if you ever have the pleasure of meeting the real pilot-- Mr. Robert Morgan-- as I have...you may see stacks of posters that you can choose from to have him sign (It cost me $15 and was worth every penny!)

One of these posters shows some of the original crew posing with the cast from the movie...now while it may have been publicity- the fact that he so prominently displays them even today tells me he doesn't mind too much.

posted 07-18- 08:50 PM               

You see Brit's.....it happens to us too! It's just Hollywood.

posted 07-18- 09:52 PM               

Possibly the film makers were trying to make a movie that appealed to a wider audience than just the discriminating guys at forums like this contain.

Maybe if they had included a flying Cow you wouldn't have found it so fluffy.

posted 07-18- 10:53 PM               

Why can't people enjoy Historical Fiction? And not say "Damn hollywood always spreading lies!" No they aren't, they're spreading entertainment. Truth doesn't sell to the 15-30 crowd @ 8 dollars a ticket. Must have a hero. Must be "one of us." And they must come through in midst of a great struggle. (The majority of) People wouldn't take their dates to go see an airplane fly to france and come back without a scratch.

posted 07-19- 01:00 AM               

What's wrong with creating a story based on Historical events? I watch movies to be entertained. I don't believe any movie coming out of Hollywood is labelled as "THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED!" As a matter of fact, on the back of the Memphis Belle box: "Matthew Modine and Eric Stoltz head the dynamic cast of Memphis Belle, an adventure inspired by true World War II heroics."

Inspired!

quote:

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I think movies about actual events should not alter historical facts to suit a larger (usualy US)audience, but should be allowed a little leeway to make it "prettier" for the general public

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Those are called Documentaries, I watch the History Channel to see that, not go pay 8 dollars to sit in an uncomfortable seat

... what am I arguing about again?

I need to take a sedative :>

posted 07-19- 02:57 PM               

For an example of a popular movie based on a real event that made reasonable use of artistic liscense, I'd put forth Apollo 13. While I didn't like how they portrayed Swigert as nearly incompetent, (he was very competent) I thought the movie did a good job of accurately portraying some of the important hurdles they had to overcome. It was simplified, and they left some bits out, but overall it was very close to the truth.

Maybe Memphis Belle wasn't the best subject for the kind of movie they wanted to shoot. About the only thing they retained was the name of the plane and its crew. Everything else was fiction. Why not base the story on a different incident?

It seems to me they could have told a more gripping story about one of the other aircraft in the Belle's final raid. We as the audience would know the Belle was going to make. But how about these other guys?