Spielberg/Hanks 'Masters of the Air' sequel is 'Band of Brothers' With Planes

[BigRedChief]

Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg produce Apple's upcoming follow-up to the epic WWII series, with Austin Butler and Barry Keoghan leading an up-and-coming cast

Based on Donald L. Miller’s book of the same name, and scripted by John Orloff, Masters of the Air follows the men of the 100th Bomb Group (the “Bloody Hundredth”) as they conduct perilous bombing raids over Nazi Germany and grapple with the frigid conditions, lack of oxygen, and sheer terror of combat conducted at 25,000 feet in the air.

Portraying the psychological and emotional price paid by these young men as they helped destroy the horror of Hitler’s Third Reich, is at the heart of Masters of the Air. Some were shot down and captured; some were wounded or killed. And some were lucky enough to make it home. Regardless of individual fate, a toll was exacted on them all.

Ranging in location from the bucolic fields and villages of southeast England, to the harsh deprivations of a German Prisoner of War Camp, and depicting a unique and crucial time in world history, Masters of the Air is enormous in both scale and scope, and a genuine cinematic achievement.

[InChiefsHeaven]

I notice the small reference to the Tuskeegee airmen, looking forward to a good representation of their story...unlike Red Tails...oy...

[Molitoth]

Originally Posted by BleedingRed

P-38 and p-47 were my planes I loved. Also had soft spot for P-40. On American side.

Germans FW-190, and ME-262

British Spitrefire mk9 was a beast

My Dad took me to the National Championship air Races back in the 90's (Maybe it was at Whiteman base?).

Anyway, plenty of P51's and such, but there was a Corsair that just looked and sounded so badass. Was always fond of the Corsair after that day.

[Megatron96]

Another great plane of the day was the P-47D Thunderbolt. Great big P&W Double Wasp R-2800 Radial air-cooled 18-cylinder engine making over 2,000 HP. Kind of an armored muscle car with wings and eight .50 cal machineguns, lol. Didn't turn for shit but had a great roll rate and could out-zoom climb most enemy fighters of the day. The Thunderbolt, sometimes nicknamed the "Jug," by its flightcrews, initially was the bomber escort fighter for the allies until the introduction of the P-51D Mustang.

[Buehler445]

In my formative years, I was a sucker for the bombers. I think they're just elegantly beautiful. The fighters were like Amanda Nunes. Short, stocky, strong, fast, and angry. Not necessarily wholly unattractive, but you're signing on for the physical manifestation of explosiveness. The bombers were like Charlize Theron. Long, lean, efficient and clean. Unfortunately, not too good in a fight. I haven't really thought about how I feel about them after fully grasping the degree to which they were a deathtrap.

If you're asking today, give me the mosquito. That thing was an absolute unit.

[Megatron96]

Love the Mossie. Fastest prop-driven aircraft of WWII. Freaking wings were made of wood. I think the wing surfaces were canvas, or some kind of cloth material.


Another beautiful bomber of the day was the A-26 Invader:

[DJ's left nut]

I've always had a bit of a soft spot for the Mitchell.

Hideous thing. And really pretty much a piece of shit; range was poor unless stripped down. They really lacked power (look up "Flying the Hump -- India to China over the Himalayas and those things would occasionally just run out of ass and crash trying to do it). Not much in the way of loadout, speed or durability.



But by god, for a bit there they were the best we had. We had to get the job done with them and we did. Granted, having huge swinging balls like James Doolittle did certainly didn't hurt, but at least a little credit is due to one of the uglier planes we ever put in the air.

[Demonpenz]

saw a b 25 with a canon in the nose the other day on facebook. Massive airbrake when thaat at thing fired

[Kman34]

The FW 190… In the hands of an expert flyer this plane was hard to beat..

A lot of people don’t know that in the later stages of the bombing campaign of Germany, the Germans would put bombs on the 190s and ME 109s and drop them into the B-17 bomber formations with good results.. Then they would engage the bombers with their guns and cannons.
The shear numbers of bomber escorts ( P47s, P51s) was just too much to overcome..
Hitler always thought the production of bombers should be more important than making enough fighters..

[Dunit35]

I took a flight on a B17 once. We were allowed to go wherever we wanted except the cockpit. Cost $450 each. My two siblings and I surprised our father with a ticket as well. One of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had. Especially with my father. Could even stick our head out of the top turret.

As an avid collector of USAAF I hope this show doesn’t raise the prices of their items like Band Of Brothers did. Any PIR items are crazy priced.

[DCTwister]

Watched the first episode last night. Pretty good, I’d give it a B grade. BoB is hard to live up to, and this one has too much CGI. But as a serious WWII history buff (visited Normandy last summer) still looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by DCTwister

Watched the first episode last night. Pretty good, I’d give it a B grade. BoB is hard to live up to, and this one has too much CGI. But as a serious WWII history buff (visited Normandy last summer) still looking forward to the rest of the series.

That was kind of my read on it from the trailer. I dumped AppleTV a few months ago. Once the series is complete I'll probably get it again for a month and binge watch it. I'm sure I'll enjoy it, but not nearly as much as the first two.

[srvy]

The first 2 episodes were just ok nothing special. I guess I expected more character building. Nothing interesting from any of the people so far.

[Dunit35]

Episode three was awesome. Their depiction of the 1st Regensburg/Schweifurt mission was solid. Definitely better than the 1st two episodes. Really made you feel for what they had to go through.

[TinyEvel]

I've seen all three episodes and it just makes me want to watch BoB again.

So far this just feels a lot like watching Memphis Belle three times.

Other than the usual fighter and flak drama, what harrowing was action is there to be had? I figure it would be a strong character film.

But so far I'm not even lightly attached to any of the characters. I really dislike that actor who played Elvis. Just feels flat as a pancake to me.

Maybe the developing story that started in this last episode will give some variety

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

I've seen all three episodes and it just makes me want to watch BoB again.

So far this just feels a lot like watching Memphis Belle three times.

Other than the usual fighter and flak drama, what harrowing was action is there to be had? I figure it would be a strong character film.

But so far I'm not even lightly attached to any of the characters. I really dislike that actor who played Elvis. Just feels flat as a pancake to me.

Maybe the developing story that started in this last episode will give some variety

I don't dislike the Elvis actor, but damn, I couldn't deal with the Elvis movie. Not because of him, but because of Hanks. It was like watching a film narrated by a creepy old child molesting clown with a fingernails-on-the-chalkboard voice. Ugh. I lasted about half an hour, and had I seen it in the theater I would have walked out.