Sky Fighters (2005)

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

This is the kind of movie that focuses so much on the aviation side of things that it ends up forgetting it is a movie and such it is meant to entertain.So, if you like airplanes you will have plenty of cool stuff to see, but if you like movies then you'll be disappointed. Poor acting, cheesy story, and very bad CGI and special effects

This is was a refreshing look of French military films where they have taken the focus off the French Foreign Legionairs and WW2. While film has a weak story-line and characters however I feel that the film is not focused on those aspect of a movie rather on the cinematography and the thrill of flying. The cinematography of this movie reveals Top Gun. The characters as fighter pilots combining their efforts with stunt pilots (from the air force) with cameras mounted on a hired chasing Lear Jet and of course inside the Mirage and Alpha jet, brings a breath taking and stunning views of the action. Unlike Top Gun where most of the shots where on the ground, Sky fighters give the audience a chance to "fly" with the film rather than a spectator and a sense of thrill of flying from the comfort of their couch. The film indirectly showcases the French military and aeronautical industry through whatever has been seen in this film. From I hear from rumors and ranting in the aviation world about French aircrafts especially the capabilities of the Mirage 2000 in focus they were rumored to be "crappy" like goods made in China. This film however aviators get the chance to see performance of the Mirage 2000 as being a graceful and agile delta wing fighter handed by the films skilled characters Captains Antoine Walk'in Marchelli (Benoît Magimel) and Sébastien Fahrenheit. Vallois (Clovis Cornillac). Bottom-line: This film I believe is not really meant for the general audience but aviators who would enjoy the cinematography which beats Top Gun over-roll but don't expect an excellent (and romantically cheesy) story like it.

This movie is a masterpiece in its genre. Far better than Top Gun but less impressive than Pearl Harbor. The first asset of this movie is without any doubt the flights scenes which are truly awesome. Taken from pods attached to the real planes, it gives a feeling of realism and freedom you've never seen anywhere else. Of course, The actors are not piloting the jets: The French Air force was in charge of shooting the flight scenes alongside with Gerard Pirès, who is a real fan of aviation. So don't be surprised if the jets are the real stars of the movie: it's on purpose!The second asset is the soundtrack who really fits well the scenes. It gives a sensation of freedom and lightness during some soft scenes and are very bouncy during dogfights.Unfortunately there are some goofs too. The action side is very present, too much present and the story becomes too much weird because of that. 9/11 was still in everyone's head in 2004 (it still is today) and we were all afraid of what Al Qaeda was capable of. But Imagine that: Stealing a Mirage, using it for a terrorist strike in Paris??? Too much awkward for me!I want to clarify something: Alice Taglioni is not playing an American pilot. The other girl is American. Taglioni's character is a french pilot who was in love with Marchelli (Benoit Magimel) and joins the squadron to become an instructor in Salon De Provence (French Air Force school). So, in conclusion, visually its perfect but the scenario's writers need to improve themselves.

Generally, the film does have a very similar feel to Top Gun. There are many noticeable similarities. However, the film overall is very much average, if not boring. I felt the flight scenes were very frustrating. The film starts with a very promising aerial combat scene. However, all the combat scenes are sped up for some reason. So, the action makes frustrating viewing, with all the combat scenes just essentially fast forwarded. The director may have felt this would emulate the pace of aerial combat, but it feels cheap. Top Gun had excellent aerial combat scenes, none of which is super sped up. Some of the flying scenes are nice, looks gorgeous, especially the start, and the shots over Paris. Just not the combat scenes.