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Fighter Pilot - Operation Red Flag (IMAX) (2-Disc WMVHD Edition) | 
 enlarge | Director: Stephen Low
Actors: John Stratton (iii), Robert Novotny (ii), Sam Morgan (ii), Michel Perron, Charles Edwin Powell
Studio: Image Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $12.31
You Save: $7.68 (38%)
New (34) Used (11) Collectible (1) from $10.49
Rating:  54 reviews
Sales Rank: 5651
Format: Color, Dolby, Dts Surround Sound, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 2
Running Time: 48 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.6
MPN: IMED2729D
UPC: 014381272925
EAN: 0014381272925
ASIN: B000A2XB9K
Theatrical Release Date: December 2, 2004
Release Date: September 27, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW AND FACTORY SEALED
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Studio: Image Entertainment Release Date: 09/27/2005
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| Customer Reviews: Read 49 more reviews...
 This hurts my brain... November 9, 2008
M. Trudell (CA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm watching the movie as I type this and I gotta say, I agree completely with Flightjunkie's comments. I have an aviation background so of course I wasn't expecting to learn anything new in an IMAX movie of all places but jeez, this film insults my intelligence. I was expecting *at least* some spiffy in-flight shots to show off my HD setup but I'm *extremely* disappointed to find that many, many of the shots have been tampered with in post-production. This consists of VERY apparent (to the educated eye!) insertions of green-screened cgi jets, bogus HUD shots, videogame-style AWACS graphics and really just green-screen effects galore. And to my friend that testified that the explosions are not fake, well okay they're not CGI but you obviously have not seen what an A-10 can do to a tank in real life. Hint: It does more to a than toss a few pretty sparks into the air. SQUIBS! And dear god, enough with the obligatory flare shots! I have visions of the director sitting in his director's chair acting out his favorite scene from Office Space and screaming, "Yes! Give me more FLARE! MORE FLARE!" Why they are using flare during close-range gun combat I'll never know... Wait I do know, because the movie was directed and edited by morons and they think the audience doesn't know the difference. The lighting, editing, general direction and "story" are in the usual flavor of IMAX Cheddar Cheese but that's to be expected, and even forgiven if it contained some decent shots but it does not.
The only cool part in the movie was the C-5 in-flight refueling; that's something you don't see everyday. Oh, and the cover photo is sorta neat. Ya I'm pretty sure that's about it.
In conclusion, unless you are 6 years old or know absolutely NOTHING about aviation or air combat, you are wasting your time and money. They gave this film such a Hollywood treatment that it ends up feeling like a Bruckheimer B-movie. You would be better served watching Top Gun. The IMAX guys have hit an all-time low. It ends up feeling like a horrible parody of the real thing and it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. I give it 2 stars because I got it for cheap (well compared to other BD's), it did in fact contain a film on the disc and hey, I should have known better. Joke's on me! Very, very disappointing.
 tennesseecurt November 3, 2008
Curtis H. Smith (Cookeville,TN)
Excellent video, if you love the air and our military you will love this video. Thank you for explaining how great our military is.
Fighter Pilot - Operation Red Flag October 28, 2008
S. Winburn (Herriman, UT)
If you stare into the sky until your neck hurts when you see a jet fly by, if you love our Air Force pilots for their bravery, patriotism, and all the sacrifices they have made and are still making, then you must watch this video. This is a multinational exercise and shows not the competition, but the great cooperation and comradery that exists between fellow aces. This is the real deal. The skill, the training, the dedication are all apparent. And you get to watch some really incredible flying!
 A view from the inside October 25, 2008
Dr Hog (Las Vegas, NV United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I know this world well--flew from Nellis for 3 years against all of these aircraft, targets, and all through this airspace. Overall, I think this documentary does what they set out to do, and I think it tells a good, but overly spectacular story of Red Flag.
There is no doubt that this film is filled with CGI aircraft effects, rigged explosions, questionable flying tactics, and conversation/terminology that you just don't hear in a real training battle. I thought I would offer up the "why." Much like Top Gun, movie producers quickly learned that the "real thing" doesn't make for very engaging movie material. The real thing includes spread out formations, intense radar work, and shooting long range missiles from 30,000 feet, often without ever seeing the bandit with your own eyeballs. None of this shows too well on the big screen, so they have to "juice it up" by bringing all of the aircraft together into the same video frame, move the fight down to treetop level to convey the speed, and throw in a bunch of aileron rolls because they look cool (even though they don't make the guy behind you spit out in front of you). The CGI fills in the gaps where the AF wouldn't fly the requested maneuvers due to safety reasons.
As for the rigged explosions, there are a couple of reasons for this. The first is that the directors/producers wanted a "from the target" view of the bombs and bullets hitting, which I must say came out really cool. To film that actual aircraft's ordnance hitting the target would have meant losing their camera and the film in the course of the explosion. The other thing is that the rigged explosings can be crafted to be especially "fiery" whereas real world bombs look like gray, soot-filled explosions and don't cut the mustard for the Hollywood types.
The last thing that really varies from the real battle is the communications between pilots. To put it simply, it they were to use real terminology, only other military pilots that knew the lingo would be able to follow the action. The target audience would be totally lost. So they toss in some of the lingo, and then typically have the pilot "explain it" in english, all in the same radio call.
Does any of the above wreck the movie? Only if you're really familiar with the way it really happens. My biggest complaint is that the CGI additions to the dogfight look fake. On the other hand, they look a lot better than they did in Air Force One, which I'm sure had a lot bigger special effects budget. For whatever reason, the CG folks just haven't figured out tactical aviation yet, so I'd rather them just show me the real thing, even if it isn't quite as spectacular.
awesome - Made My BlueRay Player Purchase Worth It October 18, 2008
Julian S. West (Denver, CO)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I purchased this, like my blueray player on a whim. It sat unwatched for a couple of weeks until today. OMG - if you like military aviation - there is nothing better out there. The photography is incredible. Be warned - there are some inflight combat shots that I had to rewind to make sure they were real - they are. It is just that you have never seen it from the perspective that It was shot - amazing stuff. Tip: crank up your surround sound and sub woofer. Some of the take off scenes in particular sound and feel like you are standing right there on the flightlne when they take off - simply awesome .
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