aces high

[joseybhoy]

Has no one ever given thought to re-making this movie?? i have to admit no this movie could be made wi proper replica's instead of the dodgy looking ones in the original and with decent hun aircraft just me thinking out loud but it could be done and done better i think!!!

[DarenCogdon]

I have...

I've thought of it often, as I like the idea of using 85% scale replicas (since they're pretty plentiful), plus some Fokker Dr.1s for the flying sequences. I wouldn't use much in the way of CGI, although some large-scale models would suit for some of the crash scenes.

However, there's a distinct lack of suitably-sized WW1 German biplanes in the UK. I thought of Bucker Jungmeisters, however, since they look suitably "scout-like" with a bit of paint!

I've got a couple of magazines which describe the making of the film - interesting stuff!!

[DarenCogdon]

Something I never realised until today - bear with me!

Gresham (Malcolm McDowell) flies an SE5a throughout the movie, yet is described as having a Nieuport that he "absolutely swears by." This is quite often listed as a mistake by various movie websites, but here's a thought....

Now, it's a little-known fact that "76 Squadron" is very loosely based on 56 Squadron, and that Albert Ball was an early member of said unit. It's also known that he flew a Nieuport on lone patrols.

So, by the rationale of the film's script/dialogue, we can assume that Gresham is, in some ways, based on Ball. We never see him fly a Nieuport throughout the film because, obviously, he's never seen flying a solo patrol. (Well, that and they might not have had the budget for those scenes!!)

So, what could be described as a "mistake" could actually be quite accurate, since we never see the main character flying his beloved Nieuport...??

[joseybhoy]

yup agreed just the same way as the great waldo peppers story loosley follows ernest udets barnstorming career!! also i think 'uncle' (christopher plumber) is i suppose loosley based on maj blomfield!!??

[DarenCogdon]

That's a possibility, I suppose....

Regardless of its faults, I LOVE Aces High. And while I love it, and won't have a word said against it, I would welcome a modern remake with more accurate replicas. Just so long as there's no CGI...

[joseybhoy]

yup coz cgi is crap it ruines the red baron but so did a lack of airial combat too shame could have been done better but yep aces high is a classic for me thompson's the main man great character!!!

[DarenCogdon]

I dunno about CGI being "crap", per se.

Red Tails has some pretty decent combat sequences, and goes to show that when the developers actually pay attention to the physics of real aircraft, they can produce a good result.

Having said that, CGI is no substitute for something that's real. I'd be much more sucked into a scene if it involved a large-scale SE5a model going down in flames than if it was a bunch of pixels spinning around.

Except for the crashing Fokker at the end of Flyboys. That was silly, but then....

[joseybhoy]

lol so was the jasta's of red triplanes made them all look like baddies!!! lol yup they should take a leaf from rise of flight or over flanders fields at how vintage aircraft behave in combat then work there CGI round that tbh i think they should use this and bring some of ct W.E Johns early biggles books to life but thats just my opinion!!!

[DarenCogdon]

Good point, although I'm amazed a certain Mr. Jackson hasn't decided to do a film using his WW1 replicas yet...!

[joseybhoy]

my thoughts exactly!! he has a trailer called crossing the line out but dunno about a full movie yet and it was discussed that another movie about mr von ricthofen was in the pipeline but again money and i guess lack of resourses i would like to see a remake and a continuation of wing the 70's tv series made with a look at the development of the fighter and to see how long the characters survived!!! or i have a book about probs the great aviator ever werner voss called september evening now that would make and adventure/war film worth going to see!!!