u/ripgoodhomer

Simply living in 2026 is the process every day.

If Kaiju don't find you attractive at least they can find you radioactive.

May the odds be ever in your favor!

Spend hundreds on computer accesorries, stereo equipment, and coffee. Never offered any of that. But the Prime day sale page shows they know what I actually want, I just have to pay.

I remember watching this movie as a young child, and then watching it again at least 25 years later last night. When I checked the IWAOM subreddit, I was surprised to see that no one had yet written up this movie. I can honestly only describe it as an epic comedy, and not like any comedy movie I've seen made in the last 30+ years. The closest thing I can think of is Tropic Thunder, where it's a full effects spectacle with a comedy backbone.

Oftentimes, comedies don't need an effects or stunts budget like this: $6.5 million in 1965, which is close to $70 million today, and every penny was on camera. You cannot talk about this movie without discussing the practical effects, specifically the recreations of the 1910-era planes. Each time you saw a plane in flight, it was actually happening; no composite shots (and definitely no CGI) were used to show the flight.

The acting and comedy both serve well, although there are some jokes that probably already felt dated in 1965. A lot of the comedy relies heavily on nationalistic stereotypes: the impish Frenchman, the stiff, militaristic Prussian, and the rough and uncouth American cowboy. Fortunately, it subverts this with the Japanese pilot, who is the most practical and grounded of them all.

Comedy, unfortunately, doesn't always translate from generation to generation. While I got a chuckle out of many jokes, most did not have me laughing like a modern comedy. That is not to say the movie is lacking in charm, and if you like classic comedy, you'll find a lot to laugh at here.

The cinematography is of its era, for better and for worse. It has that great 1960s coloring that I remember from classics like Mary Poppins. The camera work is more static than modern film typically has, but it still does an excellent job of showing the planes in flight.

One special shout-out has to go to the proto-Mel Brooks History of the World, Part I sequence starring Red Skelton at the beginning, showing the history of flight.

I would give this movie a solid 8 out of 10, and it is definitely worth watching once for the stunt work and planes alone.

Anthony Head has died.

That or Roger Smith six killing people over $19.