Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag (2005)
Genre: Education/General Interest
Buy It On DVD
Reviews
The movie is something of a throwback to the early days of Imax, when the emphasis was more on awing audiences with technology that made us feel as if we actually were in the picture.
Timing has not been kind to Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag, a well-made movie coming out when rah-rah militarism isn't an easy sell.
The titular operation often yanks the film from big-screen sensation to a pedantic look at military procedures best suited to a TV documentary.
The movie's main strength is that it conveys what we might feel blasting along at 600 mph, flying under the radar, almost skimming desert rocks.
It's curiously uninvolving for any viewer who is not already into military flight or video games.
The film flies the fine line between edutainment and propaganda for the Air Force. Could have used more excitement, but still pretty interesting, and has its moments.
An interesting overview of the unique-in-its-scope training exercise.
Fighter Pilot is a mere snippet of entertainment, enlightening in the oversized format, but underwhelming as a thrill ride.
Factor in the thunderous digital surround sound, and the only thing missing is the smell of jet fuel.
The film is less sure-footed when on the ground, but the stunning aerobatics will blow you away, while the close-ups enhance the sense of intimacy and urgency.
An IMAX film highlighted by exhilarating sequences of simulated aerial combat.
Flies as a tribute to these heroic folks and provides a rare supersize peek at the teamwork and dangers involved in flight training.
Presumably, the greatest strength of an Imax format film about flying would be placing viewers in the cockpit and immersing eyes and ears in the total flight experience. Director Stephen Low is either unable or unwilling to do this.
All but the most rabid aficionados of aviation trivia will find Fighter Pilot slow, even at 48 minutes.


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