Fighting The Blue - Battle Of Britain (DVD)

Advantages: A good five star film
Disadvantages: none

...The Battle Of Britain is an absolute wartime classic. Even to this day, it acting, music, special effects and story are unbeaten. The film starts in France. The British are retreating to Dunkirk and a RAF tempory base is evacuated as the German offensive continues. Meanwhile, Sir Hugh Dowding (head of the RAF) advices Churchill that no more RAF forces should be sent to France as it would weaken the home defenses. With Germany in control of France and the British refusing to surrender, Adolf Hitler orders the Luftwaffe to take control of the skies in preparation of invasion. So the RAF are outnumbered and outgunned and must bare the brunt of the Luftwaffe attacks. But will the RAF be able to hold out against the Luftwaffe and prevent a German invasion of Great Britain. The story for the film of the battle of Britain is extremely... Read review

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Advantages: Great aerial photography, stirring score, fine all-star cast
Disadvantages: Some subplots are a bit dire....

...stand in for their 1940 forbears. Nor do I find fault with the now outdated visual effects; yes, some of the explosions (particularly of crashing planes and the big bombing raid on London at night) look cartoony, but, again, this film was made in 1969, not 2005...or even 1999. The MGM 2003 DVD release is a bit lacking in the critical areas of sound (it's okay but not exactly earthshaking) and extra features, since the only such offering is the original theatrical trailer. Heck, it doesn't even bring a chapter list or one of those trivia-filled booklets such as those in the MGM Home Entertainment DVDs of The Great Escape and A Bridge Too Far. Nevertheless, its restoration to widescreen places The Battle of Britain's DVD version head and shoulders above the fullscreen VHS videotape edition.... Read review

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Advantages: Real Aircraft, Stunning Photography
Disadvantages: Marital sub plots

...I bought this DVD some months ago mainly because the kids were doing WW2 as a project at school and I remember it being a good film of my youth. Needless to say I rediscovered the quality of the film and as a bonus the kids loved it which kept them quiet for a couple of hours. The all star cast is outshone by the quality of the aerial photography and the fast paced, all action story. The Battle of Britain is not just the story of the battle but is also a peek into the private lives of the pilots themselves reminding us all exactly what the pilots were fighting for. I have to say the side plots of marital problems lacked quality but thankfully they only took up a minor portion of the film. The real stars of the film are the (now) vintage aircraft, remembering that this is years before CGI so what you are seeing are real... Read review

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