RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Flyboys
Flyboys

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Flyboys (2006)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
33 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:123

Fresh:40

Rotten:83

Average Rating:4.9/10

Consensus: A poorly scripted history-rewriting exercise with mediocre acting and unconvincing CGI battle scenes.

Rated: 12A [See Full Rating] for war action violence and some sexual content.

Runtime: 2 hrs 20 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release:01-06-2007

Synopsis: "Flyboys," the first World War I aviation film in over 40 years, is inspired by the epic, courageous tale of the American young men who would become known as the legendary Lafayette Escadrille. ... "Flyboys," the first World War I aviation film in over 40 years, is inspired by the epic, courageous tale of the American young men who would become known as the legendary Lafayette Escadrille. They were ordinary boys who volunteered for the first World War looking for adventure, and in the process, they became heroes. Never before has a movie so accurately portrayed the thrill and danger of the aerial dogfights that played such an integral role in the Allied resistance. In 1917, prior to the official entry into the war by the United States, the Allied powers of France, England and Italy were on the ropes against the German juggernaut. Some altruistic young Americans volunteered to fight alongside their counterparts in France. Some joined the infantry, others chose the Ambulance Corps. But 38 young men had a different idea: they decided to learn how to fly. Their motivations for enlisting may have been different: Blaine Rawlings (James Franco) is searching for his purpose following the bank's foreclosure of his family ranch, Briggs Lowry (Tyler Labine) is shamed into joining by his disciplinarian father, while African-American expatriate boxer Eugene Skinner (Abdul Salis) vows to repay his debt to his adopted, racially-tolerant country. But under the command of French Captain Thenault (Jean Reno) and the leadership of American veteran Reed Cassidy (Martin Henderson), these young American men took to the air with honor everyday as they risked their lives, not just in facing the formidable German aggressors, but also in boarding their newly-invented, mechanically-imperfect aircraft, which were being used in combat for the first time. Inspired by the true story of the legendary Lafayette Escadrille, "Flyboys" is directed by Academy Award ®-winner Tony Bill ("The Sting") and produced by Dean Devlin ("The Patriot," "Independence Day," "Stargate") and Marc Frydman (ABC's "Commander in Chief"). James Franco ("Spiderman," "Spiderman 2") stars with Marin Henderson ("The Ring") and Jean Reno ("The Da Vinci Code"). -- © Electric Entertainment [More]

Starring: Jean Reno, James Franco, Martin Henderson, Ian Rose

Starring: Jean Reno, James Franco, Martin Henderson, Ian Rose, Abdul Salis, Jennifer Decker, Lex Shrapnel, David Ellison

Director: Tony Bill

Director: Tony Bill
Screenwriter: Blake T. Evans, David S. Ward
Producer: Dean Devlin, Mark Frydman
Composer: Trevor Rabin
Studio: MGM

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Exclusive Look Behind The Scenes
    >
    Trailer
    >
1 - 2 of 2

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for Flyboys

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
06/19/07
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Yearning for a time when warfare seemed so much simpler and more honourable, Flyboys is a thrilling, spectacular ride - but only when its dull characters get off the ground.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
06/12/07
Anton Bitel
Anton Bitel
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
06/05/07
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
06/02/07
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
06/01/07
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
05/31/07
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This well-produced, engaging film somewhat overreaches itself, trying to turn a crackling adventure into a sweeping emotional epic.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
05/10/07
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

The characters, although based on real life people, are one-dimensional stereotypes that exist for the sole purpose of presenting indistinguishable flesh-and-blood pilots for superabundant air battles.

Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | comment Comment
04/25/09
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

The best of Pearl Harbor meeting the worst of HBO's Band of Brothers.

Full Review Source: Calgary Movies | comment Comment
09/16/07
Ryan Cracknell
Ryan Cracknell
Calgary Movies
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: USA Today | comment Comment
09/01/07
Claudia Puig
Claudia Puig
USA Today

It's as family-friendly as a war movie can be these days, relying on the daring of its amazing aerial sequences rather than carnage or vulgarity to promote its authenticity.

Full Review Source: Spectrum (St. George, Utah) | comment Comment
03/31/07
Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett
Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

Flyboys doesn't just use cliches - it wallows in them, feeling more like a film based on old war movies than actual history.

Full Review Source: UGO | comment Comment
03/24/07
Brian Tallerico
Brian Tallerico
UGO

With its meticulous attention to detail and superior production values, the film promises much more than its unseasoned cast and thin plotting deliver.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/01/07
Daniel Eagan
Daniel Eagan
Film Journal International
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
02/23/07
Sydney Morning Herald
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Amazing aerial stunts %u2013 they are really are quite a sight to behold.

Full Review Source: Moviehole | comment Comment
02/17/07
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

Romanticised battles and chivalry, heroic deeds and brutal deaths, these are the elements that Flyboys flies by, a thrilling adventure from the pages of history, tinged with the sadness of it all.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
02/10/07
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

Weak on story, but strong on action, Flyboys is actually worth seeing for the effects alone.

Full Review Source: 7M Pictures | comment Comment
02/05/07
Kevin Carr
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures

The aerial combat scenes are visually stunning.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
01/14/07
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

An embarrassing cliché-fest.

Full Review Source: FulvueDrive-in.com | comment Comment
01/01/07
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
FulvueDrive-in.com

Even the aerial battle scenes are frustrating because they've been shot with no sense of space (the effect is similar to watching a dance sequence where you can't see the dancers' feet).

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
12/30/06
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
all

Latest News for Flyboys

September 20, 2007: Box Office Guru Preview: Jovovich vs. Alba in Multiplex Mayhem
Jodie Foster will find herself in the middle of a catfight over the number one spot this weekend. The star of current chart-topper The Brave One will face challenges from Milla... More...

October 09, 2006: Box Office Wrapup: Leo and Matt Face Off at #1 with The Departed
Martin Scorsese scored the best opening of his career, and his first number one film in fifteen years, with the star-studded gangster thriller "The Departed," which... More...

October 05, 2006: Box Office Guru Preview: "Departed" Arrives with a Bang
Movie studios are offering something for every age group over the Columbus Day holiday weekend. Mature adults will go undercover with Martin Scorsese's cop thriller "The... More...

October 02, 2006: Box Office Wrapup: Open Season Shoots Up #1 Opening
Ashton Kutcher ambushed the top two spots at the North American box office this weekend playing an animated mule and a Coast Guard rookie in Open Season and The Guardian,... More...

See All

More DVDs

Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
15% 15% The Ugly Truth
98% 98% Up
36% 36% G.I. Joe: The Rise of …
52% 52% The Taking of Pelham 1…
45% 45% Ice Age: Dawn of the D…

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
36% 36% Angels & Demons
68% 68% Funny People
25% 25% Four Christmases
45% 45% Shorts

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Prince of Persia

Prince of Persia

Your first look at the swashbuckler.

Vampires

Vampires

We rank cinema's bloodsuckers.

Avatar

Avatar

The full trailer for Cameron's epic.

2012

2012

12 facts about Emmerich's disaster flick.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • First Look (Sort Of) at New Nightmare's Freddy Source: ShockTillYouDrop.com
23
  • First Look at Shrek Forever After Source: USA Today
46
  • Woody Harrelson Will Battle Zombies in 3-D Source: Moviehole
26
  • Natalie Portman Says Kat Denning Is in Thor Source: MTV
34
  • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
10
  • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
118
  • Idris Elba Joins Thor Source: Hollywood Reporter
112
  • Jackass 3D Coming in 2010? Source: Collider.com
32
  • 6 Reasons 'Twilight' Is Doomed Source: The Wrap
64
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: New Moon Shatters Records
178
  • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
80
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
59
  • Critics Consensus: Flee From Ninja Assassin
41
  • 5 Facts About The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
37
  • Friday Harvest: New Moon, Avatar, and more!
32
  • Five Favorite Films With Zombieland Director Ruben Fleischer
21
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
14
  • Ban Them All! 10 Infamously Controversial Movies
9
  • Ho, ho, ho! It's RT's Great Big Gift Guide!
0
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
14
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
10
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
20
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
7
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
20
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
28
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
14
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Flyboys at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Flyboys at IGN
  • Flyboys at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
RT on YouTube
RT on YouTube External Link

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

RT on Twitter
RT on Twitter External Link

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.