Red Tails

Are you ready for a little action with your history?

Set in 1944 and inspired by the true story, Nate Parker, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Terrence Howard, Method Man, Tristan Wilds, Ne-Yo, David Oyelowo and more star as members of the Tuskegee Airmen - a collection of African-American pilots valiantly determined to dispel the racist notions that they are inferior in any way. Finally, they get their chance as the Air Force rethinks its strategy to better protect the massive bombers flying over Europe and key to winning the war

Will the Tuskegee Airmen be able to help win the war?

Spoiler Alert - We are not speaking German, so I think you know how the war went for us.

Red Tails is much more than a historical story, even though that history still is very important.

Director Anthony Hemingway fills Red Tails with some exciting action as the pilots engage in daring dog fights and aerial maneuvers. Plus, this is one of the finest acting ensembles put together for any movie. The personal relationships between the characters and the struggles they face become more real because of it.

Specifically, look for Oyelowo and Parker. As two best buddies looking out for each other, but, also, willing to be brutally honest when the other needs it, you get to see a great friendship full of caring and concern. Oyelowo exhibits the confidence and cockiness you know a great pilot needs to do the unthinkable, while Parker brings a steady, even keel to help show the leadership and guidance his character must provide for everyone's safety.

Sadly, writers John Ridley and Aaron McGruder provide some of the worst, most amateurish, phony dialogue you have ever heard in a big time Hollywood movie. While it is fun to see Red Tails is a slight throwback to the World War II movies of that era, the dialogue doesn't need to be this simplistic and obvious.

However, the rest of the movie works. Produced by George Lucas, I do wish he made Jar Jar Binks a German pilot who got shot down out of the sky, but maybe he will insert that into the Red Tails DVD Limited Edition release.

Red Tails is rated PG-13 for some sequences of war violence.