Rating: 
Summary: Fly high with "The Duke"
Review: A stirring performance by The Duke in this fictionalized account of the American Volunteer Group, better known as The Flying Tigers. It's typical of the period, a story of American gallantry in the face of the enemy and a side character whose bad deeds are redeemed in a heroic act that ends in death, but for fans of the War Movie genre, John Wayne or just airplanes in general, I have to recommend it as an entertaining flick. The AVG was important to America in the dark times after Pearl Harbor and the methods learned in the skies over China proved crucial for the thousands of airman who were to fly in the war in the South Pacific. Some truly fascinating, behind-the-scenes insights into the making of this movie can be found in a book called "Celluloid Wings," by James Farmer, which is also a must-read for aviation-film fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Youthful war-monger becomes pacifist
Review: I am not a John Wayne fan, and believe other reviewers who have pointed out the inaccuracies in 'Flying Tigers', but I'd like to have the DVD just to take me back to a time (1942) when, at the age of six, I was left with a friend in the United Artists theater on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, to watch my very first movies - this one, and 'Bambi'. I entered that movie house a dedicated, blood-thirsty fan of blowing enemy folks to bits, and left horrified by having repeatedly watched pilots get their faces shot off behind broken canopy glass. I had not realized there was so much bleeding in war, and that death might actually happen. Upon returning home, I told my mother, who would die, of TB, the following year, that I had become a pacifist. 'Uh huh'. she replied, knowing well my sanguinary inclinations. Of course, she was right - before very long, I was happily imagining myself flying a B-17 and creating firestorms all over Europe. This is a VERY good movie for young children to see.
Rating:
Summary: A great WWII movie
Review: I love the Duke. This is one of his best war pictures, along with Sands of Iwo Jima. Some may say some of his work is corny, but who cares. He's great. An American icon. God bless the USA.
Rating:
Summary: Could someone post the DVD aspect ratio
Review: I think the aspect that I enjoyed most about this movie is that even though it is a John Wayne movie, we see a lot of character development from the other actors as well. In 1942, John Wayne was not yet a top 10 movie actor, so the director did not have to have the whole movie spin around him (not that there's anything wrong with that!). But this movie gives us insight into a number of men the Duke have under his command, and the movie is a much richer experience for it. As for the transfer to DVD, it varies from good to excellent. Certainly not as good as Republic's 50th anniversary version, released on Laserdisc. But the DVD has behind the scenes information on the cast members, after the movie finishes. All in all, a great John Wayne movie that no fan should be without!
Rating:
Summary: Duke's first war movie...A Great One!!
Review: I think the aspect that I enjoyed most about this movie is that even though it is a John Wayne movie, we see a lot of character development from the other actors as well. In 1942, John Wayne was not yet a top 10 movie actor, so the director did not have to have the whole movie spin around him (not that there's anything wrong with that!). But this movie gives us insight into a number of men the Duke have under his command, and the movie is a much richer experience for it. As for the transfer to DVD, it varies from good to excellent. Certainly not as good as Republic's 50th anniversary version, released on Laserdisc. But the DVD has behind the scenes information on the cast members, after the movie finishes. All in all, a great John Wayne movie that no fan should be without!
Rating: 
Summary: Lame and innacurate
Review: I used to live in the part of China where this film supposedly takes place. My current backyard in New Mexico looks more authentic than the California sets for this film. It was made on a shoestring with the wrong planes and gear. From there it goes downhill into cliche dialogue, a predictable plot, and poor technical quality.
John Wayne is pure, classic "John Wayne as commander," but that alone cannot save this wildly historically inaccurate film. If John Wayne can pass for Claire Chennault, I can pass for the Queen of England!
No mention of the real Flying Tigers' OSS connections, nothing about the savage Japanese attacks on civilian targets in Chongqing (Chungking) and the mass deaths in air raid shelters.
Unless you are a completist or a real Wayne fan, there is no reason to watch an innacurate, porr quality, hoaky, low-budget film, is there?
Rating: 
Summary: A hoot, but little to do with the AVG
Review: Of course this flick has nothing to do with the real-life Flying Tigers. (All the action takes place BEFORE the Pearl Harbor attack.) I enjoyed the airplanes, especially the "Nakajimas" tricked up from training planes. (How come the makers of this B movie knew what a Ki-27 looked like, when most later historians ofthe Flying Tigers believed they spent their time battling Zeros?)The Duke's line about "termites" is a B movie classic. Great fun. Just don't take it seriously :)
Rating:
Summary: One of the Duke's very Best
Review: Of the John Wayne movies made, this would have to be among his very best. No one could make a movie like the Duke. The dogfight scenes truly capture the essence of the film and the life and times of WWII. I found that the Hollywood genere of this film was great for its display of the US and Japanese aircraft. Whenever I watch this movie, I wonder were and when Hollywood lost its "magic" to make a film that can capture the feeling that David Miller did. Get this one - it is a winner!!
Rating:
Summary: The Duke - The Flying Tigers
Review: OK - we all know that the men of the AVG disowned this movie version of their exploits. We know The Duke plays a fictional role here - but he still does the Tigers proud, in my opinion. Regretably, there is no other movie (that I know of) made of the AVG. Looking at it through today's prism, the movie is corny. The "Chinese" actors are cliche' and the scenes on the ground are trite. However, the movie was made a long time ago, and designed for movie goers of another generation. The story is still a good one, and gives a small glimpse of some hardships endured by the real Tigers of Chennault's AVG. I'm happy to have it as part of my collection of works devoted to this high-spirited group of fine American men (and Olga). Mike McCaffrey
Department of State/Foreign Service - Retired
Rating:
Summary: Could someone post the DVD aspect ratio
Review: Question for someone who has already bought this DVD: is the DVD formatted for widescreen or fullscreen aspect ratio? Thanks!
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