George Lucas' " RED TAILS" A MUST SEE MOVIE

THE RED TAILS RIDE
AGAIN

Bravo and Right On for George
Lucas-the Hollywood movie director of “Star
Wars” fame who has taken a stand for
producing a film that artfully combines modern cinematic technology in the telling
of an important story that depicts how far the United States has advanced in
racial relations since World War II. This
is a movie that big money Hollywood
turned its back on, presumably due to the absence of marque white stars and
sporting a predominantly black cast of actors.
The fact that George Lucas possessed the passion and guts to go-it-alone
in re-telling the story of the experiment to train Black pilots in Tuskegee,
Alabama during the early 1940’s once again demonstrates that greed for profits
in “tinsel town” trumps industry support for great films that portray a profound
story from our American past that younger and senior Americans need to hear. In a Private screening last night, the
Atlanta Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, with 17 Original Tuskegee Airmen
present, came out for a pre-release viewing party.
The film title is “Red Tails,” the breakthrough film story of the Tuskegee Airmen who
courageously trained and served as fighter pilots, bombardiers and technical
support personnel in Italy during WW II against the German war machine. It was
a magnificent work of film making technology; the visual scenes with Dolby
Stereo put viewers right in the middle of the aerial dog fights, occurring at
blinding speeds with the deafening surges of high powered turbo-prop engines. Warning:
Movie-gowers must have fascination with airplanes and fighter pilot action;
there is a ton of it. But at the same
time, there are sub-themes of race relations, the bond of camaraderie among the
airmen who were fighting for the Liberty of African Americans at home as well
as the United States abroad. Contrasted with the discrimination these Black
heroes faced at home and from their white military counterparts, the sacrifice,
dedication to mission and desire to prove themselves worthy was powerfully
depicted in the dying and human sacrifice in this magnificent war saga. And,
yes, even romance between the airmen and the Italian beauties was tastefully
interjected as a part of the Tuskegee Airmen reality while stationed in
Ramotalli, Italy.
In the final analysis, the courageous
achievement of the Tuskegee Airmen is beautifully captured in “Red Tails,” a must see movie for all
Americans who believe in the greatness of a country that is known for its
ability to triumph over adversity and challenge to remain a beacon for
individual freedom and democratic ideals in the world. With the latent resurgence
of political polarization, in part brought on by the election of the first
African American President, Barak Obama, it is indeed inspiring to have a great, honest
film that injects fresh hope in the hearts of Americans who will make the time
to see this movie, “Red Tails.” African
Americans have absolutely NO excuse not supporting this film. Thank you, George
Lucas!
By – former airline Captain Brian H. Settles, author of a
next generation Black fighter pilot story about his combat tour flying almost
two hundred missions in Vietnam at the time of Dr. King’s assassination titled:
No
Reason for Dying: A Reluctant Combat Pilot’s Confession of Hypocrisy,
Infidelity and War
www.CaptBrianSettles.com