9/10
As an old film in the last few years of the silent film era in 1927, I thought "Wings" would be a poorly made film, but I never thought that this film has a grand and real scene, and it also organically conveys love. The themes of friendship, war and peace merged together, and the profoundness it showed, the reflection on war had unparalleled foresight in that era. The emotional performance of the actors has also left a strong mark in the era when silent films are coming to an end.
Let’s talk about the scene first. As the half-protagonist of the film, the plane is too late. Except for the silhouette at the beginning, we see that the first time the protagonist flies the plane soaring into the sky for 40 minutes, and the film has jumped to a dimension from this moment. It’s like a super soldier who has lost weight and has been transformed into a strong super soldier in "American Team 1". The splendid air battle scene, the ground battlefield like a meat grinder, the drunken gold fans during the war, the fight between brothers on the wall, and finally desperate. The chase, and the difference in the dilapidated church, the scenes of wonderful scenes suddenly exploded after the foreshadowing in the front. It is worth mentioning that it is said that most of the air combat in the whole film is real shooting, so it has such a good effect. In fact, the authenticity can be seen from the dive shots of some fighter planes, and in this real shooting environment Naturally, what you get is a very beautiful air battle scene. The plane is flying in the clouds and fog, which is very beautiful.
It is also worth mentioning that all the scenes of airplane crashes in this film were also shot by stunt actors. The shooting of the year was really life-threatening.
Another place where special effects are important is naturally the bubbles in Paris. It can be seen that the special bubble effects of the year were all painted by hand. This must be a very time-consuming and labor-intensive work back then. As for the deep meaning of the bubble, Let's postpone it.
Next, let’s talk about love and friendship. The beginning of the movie is Mary’s suggestion to Jack. You can kiss the girl he likes when the shooting stars pass by. However, Jack was in love with Sylvia at the time, but Sylvia also liked David. Jack and David participated in the Air Force, and the photo Sylvia prepared for David was snatched by Jack. The two originally had a suspicion, but an army plane also allowed the two to abandon their previous suspicions and establish a deep friendship. . Love and friendship are always unavoidable topics in this kind of war movies, because wars are often inhuman, and directors and screenwriters must show us the brilliance of humanity in wars. So we saw Mary joining the army looking for Jack, seeing the two people standing together again when facing the enemy for Sylvia’s almost counter-intelligence, seeing the anger of Jack who was revenge for David, and seeing Jack. Carrying glory, and returning to his hometown with sad news. Fortunately, after the film is deeply and sad, Mary and Jack finally come together. The two saw the shooting star again. At this time, Jack can kiss the one he loves.
It is truly an unparalleled romance, especially in the peaceful years after the war, this kind of romance is even more precious. Regarding David’s line, I would like to mention his lucky charm again. Although the little bear is only a small object, this little bear does add a lot of emotional points to the film. When David has a premonition of his life Soon we left the little bear with Jack, we knew he could not return safely. Before he left, his father told him that this little bear was too small to fight for him, so let him protect this little bear. Everyone has it in their hearts. Such a bit of softness, and when this little bear was David's final relic, it was the moment when the softness was torn most fiercely.
My favorite set of scenes in the whole film of war, war and peace is the last chase of Jack and David, and the last difference. David was shot down by the enemy and survived. Finally, he stole a German fighter plane and planned to escape back to his camp. However, Jack, who thought that David had already died, vented his anger on every enemy plane. He clearly saw the great hope. Wei, being chased by the skilled Jack, no matter how he shouted or broke free, he couldn't let Jack let go. In the end, he fell to a church in a small town.
Before Jack landed the plane on a cemetery, he excitedly jumped off the plane and took off the banner of the enemy plane. However, he soon discovered that the enemy plane he shot down turned out to be David. In the church, the two finally parted with each other. At the moment when David died, the propellers of the fighter planes parked outside by Jack finally stopped, behind which were tombstones all over the mountains.
The war is over, but those who died, those who sacrificed for the benefit of the country and safeguarding the motherland, will never be able to return. And the magical bubbles in the middle of the film are really just the director's way of showing off his skills and humor? Certainly not so. The fragile and illusory bubble is like the excitement and psychedelic effect brought by the short victory of war. It looks beautiful, but it is only a momentary brilliance. Jack is fascinated by the illusory color in that scene. He couldn't even tell the girl in front of him who had always been devoted to him, but also the war, which caused Jack's anger to kill his best friend. We won the war, but war is not something to be proud of or praise. We participate in war not for aggression, but for peace. The core of war films should always be anti-war. Real special effects and sophisticated production are also meant to express the cruelty of war and the preciousness of peace, not just to provide a refreshing and entertaining popcorn look. In this regard, "Wings" does better than many contemporary war films, much better.
This Oscar's best visual effects series is not so much a series of film reviews as it is my viewing notes. Many of these works that once shining in the history of film special effects have become uninterested because of their age. The number of grading members is too small and there is no grading. I write these viewing notes, try not to involve well-known works, that is, the winners of the best special effects awards after the 1980s are basically out of this series, but if there are people who are interested in the history of special effects, they can discuss it together. , It might as well be a blessing.
To view more film reviews of the Oscar's best visual effects series, please click: Oscar's best visual effects series
View more about Wings reviews
