Warbird Information Exchange

It is true, after all this time, that the Dambusters will be remade. Peter Jackson is producing. There was even some truth to the old story about Mel Gibson's involvement several years ago. See the story here...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5301998.stm

With Peter Jackson involved, it looks like it will be a very faithful retelling of the story, and will include many details which were still classified during the original films day.

Cheers,
Richard

Well....unlike the British who will bemoan the 'butchering' of a classic without even frame one being filmed yet, I for one will look forward to the retelling of this story, especially with Jackson at the helm as he has a respect for all things aviation...the CGI Lancs (and there will be many) will no doubt look spectacular and if they stay true to the original movie story...Looking forward to seeing it..

Mark

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Mark Morris

Hey Mark... you forget I am British... well, originally at any rate... and I can't wait to see this film. With Peter Jackson at the helm, it will certainly be handled sensitively, which wouldn't at all be the case if some inept individual of questionable judgement like Michael Bay was doing the job. I mean, we all know what Pearl Harbor turned out to be like, and I think we'd all agree that should never have been allowed to happen! Made me laugh though Mark.

Cheers, Richard

For as much as I love good SFX, I have some serious doubts about how good the CGI bombers will be. I hope they get it right, but bad CGI is waaay worse than no CGI.

The drop scene in "Band of Brothers" was an example of CGI gone slightly wrong. Maybe it was the camera angles, but it had a really "fake" feel to it.

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Phil K.
Yankee Air Museum
Systems Admin / Ramp Crew / Professional Photo Ruiner

I hope they use the CWH and BBMF Lancs for some of the filming. Aswell as any other real warbirds they can.

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Share your story: Rutgers Oral History Archive http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/

Only one question, will the movie be 4 or 6 hours long?

I heard this on BBC radio this evening ~ excellent news !

I'm sure they will stick to "the original plot" but I actually hope they don't just try and remake the original film ~ I would like to see the story from the point of view of one of the other pilots / crews .....

Les Munro from New Zealand would be an obviously choice for Peter Jackson ~ but they had to turn back after being hit by flak.

For real box-office success it could be Joe McCarthy from Brooklyn USA

His aircraft went unserviceable just prior to take off ~ they took the only "spare" ~ which turned out to have a faulty compass

They were 30 mins late taking off and the night fighters were on full alert by the time they crossed the North Sea ~ his report later stated he could see night fighters above looking for them

His crew were the only ones to reach and attack the Sorpe dam ~ which they hit but didnt breach

Oh and they strayed off course coming back and got shot up by flak

And landed with a burst main wheel tyre ......

Would this add a enough tension to a well known story ?

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If this news has got any of you thinking about a taking a ride in the CWH Lancaster ~ it better be soon because I think they are going to get swamped with enquiries

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Blue Skies .....

Peter

Consolidated by US state ~ see if there's a heavy bomber tour stop coming to an airport near you ...... http://www.bomberflight.info

Warbirdapps on facebook ~ every day a new image from my personal journey thru the world of warbirds ..... https://www.facebook.com/Warbirdapps

For all who may be curious (and I really enjoyed this) check out this clip from the new movie FlyBoys, which features what I think is some pretty darn good computer generated aircraft, mainly the Gotha Bomber. Go to this link, click on "Extended Clip: The Battle" and enjoy! I for one am very excited about such a man of aviation and historical integrity as Peter Jackson taking this project on.

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/flyboys.html

-Dennis S.
Greeley, CO

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"We must bond together and fight as brothers or we will all die as fools."

As far as "Flyboys" goes, I think that many of the CGI aircraft scenes "Pearl Harbor" were better than "Flyboys". I saw the film last week at it's Connecticut Premiere and even met the director. He spoke after the film and jokingly laid down a challenge that he would put money on the table and bet that no one could pick out the CGI stuff from the real aircraft. I wanted to take the bet, but my wife held me down!

About 85-90% of "Flyboys" flying is CGI. The story is good, dragged a little in the middle, and I think it was one dogfight too long. (could that be a sacrilegious statement on WIX?!!!) I'd give it about a 6 out of ten.

Until the CGI guys get the sun/shadows right for everything done on "green screen", the CGI airplanes will always look too evenly lit for daylight.

I work in the business, so I'm quite familiar with what I'm actually seeing.

When "Flyboys" comes out, see it and then watch "The Great Waldo Pepper" again to see how people and planes should look in real daylight.
This is not meant to trash the film, it could be a small hit, but it's part of my two cents. I'm sure WIX will see a flurry of posts at the end of September when "Flyboys " is released!

I can't wait to see what the director that Jackson hired to deliever "Dambusters" will do. As producer, Jackson might have a lot of input, but he's not directing it.
Blue skies,
Jerry

Richard-

Never for a MOMENT forgot you were British when writing the above....it was intended for all those who share forums between WIX and the Key Publishing forums who are of British descent and who LOVE to butcher any and all films with comments about how everything is 'Americanicized' by Hollywood and how we only portray America as having won the war and then we do a bad job on top of it...what with Jackson doing it this time round, and him being from Oz, we can now see if they shift the blame if the movie is crap.

God save the Queen..

Mark

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Mark Morris

'Him' being from WHERE??

Dave

Oz!

You remember Dave, that little island just off your coast.

(the one that still has an Air Force)

Good holiday, btw?

According to a New Zealand press acount published on the other site,
it gives you the impression most of it will be filmed in NZ. The story also mentions that 10 full scale non-flying replicas are being built.
Gee, I hope it's wrong.
Because if it's correct, it sounds like it will be all CGI...

Then again...bombers on a night mission blowing up dams (I'm sure the Germans won't let them do it to the real ones...again) sounds like a perfect use for CGI. The night can hide a lot of struff that would look bad in a daylight scene.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

Don't worry Dave those Mexicans sometimes have problems with geography............

What I would like to know is how they are going to deal with the dogs name, and therefore the success code word, P.C or historical accuracy?

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Wow, has it really been that long since I last visited?

God, can't believe I messed that up....Jackson being from NZ, not Oz...my bad....and i KNOW better...

My thoughts exactly on the CGI question....nightime CGI shots of Lancs making bombing runs will no doubt make it easier to conceal flaws that may have appeared if the CGI Lancs appeared in a DAYLIGHT bombing raid, but then look at King Kong and the daytime flying done by those CGI planes and I think you'll agree that's some pretty impressive work....and they DID build two full scale birds for that movie (Curtiss F8C's if I recall?)
I think Pete will do a good job on this film even with Christian Rivers at the directorial helm (Rivers is the really tall guy in the 'Lord of the Rings' extended DVD's if you have them, talking about the CGI effects used in those movies)..

Mark

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Mark Morris