History YMMV / RedTails

* UnfortunateImplications: The reason this languished in DevelopmentHell for so long was the fact that [[ExecutiveMeddling Execs]] didn't think that a movie with non-mainstream black actors as main characters (the more well known had supporting roles in the movie) would be successful. Considering that the premise of the movie was basically about people doubting a black squadron would be successful, [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything this can come off uncomfortably...]]
** However in terms of box off.. it didn't (it was a 10 million short of its 48 million budget).

* HateDumb: While there are legitimate criticisms on the shortcomings of the film, some negative comments are thinly veiled "Lucas Sucks!" eye-rolling or accusations of "ripping off" HBO's ''Tuskegee Airmen''.

* ClicheStorm: Purposely invoked since the movie is supposed to be reminiscent of old patriotic war movies of the [=40s=].
** "[[CaptainObvious They're giving up glory]] [[{{Anvilicious}} to save our butts!]]"

** DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler: Lightning barreling towards Pretty Boy, never letting go of the trigger despite getting shot multiple times with autocannon rounds.]]

** DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler: Lightning barreling towards Pretty Boy, never letting go of the trigger despite getting shot at least twice with autocannon rounds.]]

** DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler: Lightning barreling towards Pretty Boy, never letting go of the trigger despite getting shot atleast twice with light autocannon rounds.]]

* MissedMomentOfAwesome: For whatever reason, there is no moment in the movie where the racist white pilots use the squadron's nickname of "Red Tails" as metaphor for their being "like baboons," and the Red Tails squad gets to quantify their name or tell them off with an epic speech.

* AndTheFandomRejoiced: [[TheBoondocks Aaron McGruder]] co-writing the final script, [[TheWire Anthony Hemingway]] directing, and the fact that they're trying to make the movie as historically accurate as possible.

* StylisticSuck: Possibly just this troper's imagination, but the minor white characters' performances sometimes come off as flat and artificial. Might be deliberate, either to keep the audience's focus squarely on the black characters, or to simulate how, to the Red Tailers, their Caucasian fellow-soldiers really ''would'' seem a bit stiff, due to W.A.S.P. uptightness and/or discomfort about serving with Negroes.

* UnfortunateImplications: The reason this languished in DevelopmentHell for so long was the fact that [[ExecutiveMeddling Execs]] didn't think that a movie with non-mainstream black actors as main characters (the more well known had supporting roles in the movie) would be successful. Considering that the premise of the movie was basically about people doubting a black squadron would be successful, [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything you gotta wonder...]]

* UnfortunateImplications: The reason this languished in DevelopmentHell for so long was the fact that [[ExecutiveMeddling Execs]] didn't think that a movie with black main characters would be successful. Considering that the premise of the movie was basically about people doubting a black squadron would be successful, [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything you gotta wonder...]]

** It also doesn't really hold up to logic considering that it's a ''remake'' of a much older film, and, y'know... WillSmith, WesleySnipes, CubaGoodingJunior, and many other black actors who most studios would kill to have headlining their films. It seems far more likely there was a different reason for its languishing (possibly that World War II movies went out of style for awhile and only began to make a resurgence in the last decade or so), and people simply couldn't comprehend any other idea than [[MisBlamed evil racist studio suits]]. Well, that and George Lucas pushing the idea... unfortunately, George has a long history of [[LyingCreator embellishing]] the tales of his projects' creations as he sees fit.

** It also doesn't really hold up to logic considering that it's a ''remake'' of a much older film, and, y'know... WillSmith, WesleySnipes, CubaGoodingJunior, and many other black actors who most studios would kill to have headlining their films. It seems far more likely there was a different reason for its languishing (possibly that World War II movies went out of style for awhile and only began to make a resurgence in the last decade or so), and people simply couldn't comprehend any other idea than [[MisBlamed evil racist studio suits]].

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: While it doesn't have as huge a budget as most blockbusters, it being a pet project of GeorgeLucas, who also ponied up much of the cash to get it produced, it looks to have ILM's full force behind it regarding the battle sequences.

** DyingMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler: Lightning barreling towards Pretty Boy, never letting go of the trigger despite getting shot atleast twice with heavy-caliber machine gun rounds.]]

** ... And it turns out they were right (Hasn't made its 60 million budget back.)

* StylisticSuck: Possibly just this troper's imagination, but the minor white characters' performances sometimes come off as flat and artificial. Might be deliberate, either to keep the audience's focus squarely on the black characters, or to simulate how, to the Red Tailers, their Caucasian fellow-soldiers really ''would'' seem a bit stiff, culturally and/or due to their discomfort about serving with Negroes.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: As noted in the poster, the producers obviously think the Red Tailers shooting down jet fighters with propeller planes definitely qualifies.

AndTheFandomRejoiced: [[TheBoondocks Aaron McGruder]] co-writing the final script, [[TheWire Anthony Hemingway]] directing, and the fact that they're trying to make the movie as historically accurate as possible.