For Any IL2 pilots

[EAGLE_01]

In case you have never seen this, check out this man's video.

Absolute work of Art!! http://www.gamerztheatre.com/content/view/165/82/

His Site is here http://www.aqqm31.dsl.pipex.com/my%2...ed%20again.htm
Sign his Guestbook. Let him know what you think!

[EAGLE_01]

Sorry for posting this in the wrong thread....

[HunterICX]

this is really a piece of art
nice find!

I liked the voice acting a lot it really makes it look like a WW2 movie

[Dowly]

I must be the only one in the world who doesnt really like the vid. I mean, it's VERY well done, but somehow I dont like how the opening attack at the B-17s and the rest of the movie seems like two different vids, not a one solid story.

That was the best 300 MB I have ever downloaded.

[Chock]

I must be the only one in the world who doesnt really like the vid. I mean, it's VERY well done, but somehow I dont like how the opening attack at the B-17s and the rest of the movie seems like two different vids, not a one solid story.

You are not alone in not liking this video, I thought it was appallingly bad, not well done at all. However I didn't want to post that on the site where it was hosted, as it would merely have rubbed a lot of people up the wrong way with a first post on that site!

In the first place, there are a huge amount of factual errors in the piece and as if that isn't bad enough, the film has a long list of people who apparently 'researched' it in the end credits. I found myself wondering what they had actually 'researched'.

Simple things like the B-17 gunners not wearing gloves while at 25,000 feet, yet still able to fire their guns crop up, with gunners apparently immune to frostbite (guns which also appeared to have endless ammunition too as did the Focke-Wulf 190 in this movie it seems). The standard load for a B-17 gunner was 500 rounds, which a bit of genuine research would have told them. Other more fundamental errors include the aircraft being shown on the bomb run with the bomb doors still closed, knowledge of which requires no research at all, just common sense. Less obvious continuity errors litter the film too, for example, bombers showing contrails (even mentioned in the narration) but many fighters apparently being able to fly at such heights without leaving a contrail at all.

The list of cock ups goes on. My favourite mistake being the end shot of the aircraft parked up at Manston (where the aircraft in the real event returned to) with a mountain in the background! Must remember to visit the mountains of Manston next time I am there. But seriously, anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of air combat in WW2 will know that Manston was the airfield attacked most often by the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, and this is because Eprobungsgruppe 210, who were usually responsible for the attacks, were specialists in precision low level attacks, which is hardly something that happens on an airfield with mountains alongside them. Again, lazy research.

Then we have what is laughably described in the titles as 'Voice Talent', I'm sorry, but the voice actors do not manage to convey any of the excitement or danger of aerial combat in their radio calls at all, in fact they sound entirely bored with the affair. You do not have to be Laurence Olivier to be able to shout a radio call excitedly. As if this isn't bad enough, the same radio call sound files are used repeatedly, for which there is just no excuse, it smacks of laziness and a lack of commitment to the project.

What really makes the film poor though, is the fact that the editing is dry, and it seems that the film maker is relying too much on the 'prettiness' of the graphics and not enough on pace and direction, something which also juxtaposes the theme of the film anyway. The most obvious flaw in the 'prettiness' trap fallen into by the film-maker is that the entire mission (in reality having a duration of several hours) evidently takes place during the world's longest sunset, something 'daylight' bombing B-17s would have studiously avoided.

Those familiar with film-making (and this is apparently one of many films by the same guy) ought to know some simple rules for it, yet this film ignores all the basic principles of action directing: the four-second sequence rule, cutting on the beat, cutting on movement, starting with establishing shots, not crossing the camera line etc, etc - the film-maker disregards (or is unaware of) all of these. Since most of this can be learned by simply studying a few action movies, again there is no excuse for not knowing about -and using - these tried and tested basic film-making techniques.

What is worse however, is that some of this poor film-making results in a muddled storyline, notably with the tale of Flak Dancer - seemingly added as a confused afterthought. This is particularly ironic since Flak Dancer was one of the most famous B-17s in history (note that the film also portrays the wrong version of B-17 too). Flak Dancer was not 'lost' as the film portrays, the aircraft was skillfully force-landed at Laon airfield in France by its pilot Lt Dalton Wheat, where it was subsequently repaired by the Germans and transferred to the famous Luftwaffe evaluation squadron, KG200. Wearing the code A3+CE, the former Flak Dancer was used extensively by the Luftwaffe, including on some combat missions. Again, some simple research would have revealed this to the film-makers.

Finally, the piece is way too long and repeats itself unecessarily, which is a cardinal film-making sin (particularly on the internet, where downloading is often a necessity).

I was surprised how many people were impressed by this movie, and like the pilot of the FW190 portrayed in the film, I suspect that they really ought to aim a little higher. I'm sure many people will disagree with me, and if they like the film, fair enough, but I didn't rate it myself.

Chock
ai