Interesteg What makes it different from others?

Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Michael Neumann There's a reason why they don't make war films like this anymore: it's hard these days to sell the idea (Desert Storm aside) of a good and noble war. Which makes this dramatic re-creation of a World War II bombing mission (by the first 8th Air Force B-17 to complete a full tour of duty) an anachronistic throwback to those crowd-pleasing propaganda movies made while the conflict was still being fought. Much effort went into the airborne battle scenes, some of which are undeniably exciting despite the obvious F/X work, but the film collapses whenever there's a break in the action. Monte Merrick's one-dimensional screenplay presents the horror of modern mechanical warfare as a grand adventure fought by reluctant heroes: those magnificent stock characters in their flying machines. And the triumphant, champagne-popping finale has all the emotional credibility of an Air Force recruitment ad. Let's get real: a war film, in this day and age, with a happy ending?

Chiprd Sanfo This movie has a lot going for it but it isn't as good as it could have been.The aircraft, the uniforms and the sets were great, but the acting was 1990s. You knew these guy were the grandsons of the men that flew the missions. The actors were part of the "ME" generation and they acted it.They were self absorbed. They were emotional. They were soft. This is more like a movie made about a Time Warp where Generation X is put into the "Way Back Machine" with the dials set to WWII with the cameras running.If you want to see a good WWII movie about B-17 crews and a good movie about leadership watch Twelve O'Clock High. That is a bomber movie.Having said that Memphis Belle is easy to watch. The acting is average. The plot is OK. The sets and props are excellent.I wish they could have used the sets and props for a better script and better director.

naseby The story of the Memphis Belle, although fictional, still has the impact to show you the sacrifices made by (American) airmen with a footnote that others served in the same theatre in WW2.There thankfully, isn't too much of a real love interest, apart from a small mention of 'Virg' getting his end away with an early scene from UK actress Jane Horrocks. However, what emotions there are are well-handled and well-placed like the publicity 'Star and Stripes' officer, John Lithgow, being a complete ass and being humbled by the CO, with being presented letters home to the dead airmen's families. The other emotions are handled on board the B-17, with the crew having various personalities and this, apart from the excellent action scenes, the bombing runs, fighter attacks etc make this a great war film with just the right balance, as it's telling a story also. Amazingly, we all probably thought this genre, the air war wouldn't be seen again after 'Tora! Tora! Tora!' or The Battle of Britain. Nice to see Harry Connick Jnr. as the tail gunner - but of course he gets a cheesy moment to sing in the film to Eric Stolz, the American boy-next-door type in the film.Still haven't bought it on DVD though - that's really unforgivable!

Travis Bickle "Memphis Belle" is an ideal movie of the World War II genre. Movie that shows cruelty and horror of the conflict but at the same time focuses on specific bonds that are to be born between the men of duty. Audience gets familiar with a crew of so-called flying fortress, the biggest bomber airplane used by Allied Forces in that period. Ten of brave, immature and so much different to each other young people on their way to final 25th combat flight over Nazi-Germany in May 1943.Viewer is introduced to the circle of individuals with their own habits for example carrying lucky items. Strong belief in symbols and luck is characteristic for the people who find themselves in extreme situations. Those unforgettable events make every crew-member a part of a brotherhood. They will tease each other and make jokes but in crucial moments they are ready for a sacrifice themselves in the name of their friendship.What makes the movie even more exciting is the scene when one of the main characters reads his poetry to the other crew-members. In fact he doesn't read his poem. It's a quotation from William Butler Yeats. An Irish writer awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1923. In decisive seconds he shouts writer's name to admit he didn't actually write it."Memphis Belle" is a story of the people who volunteered to fight the enemy but also must struggle against their own weaknesses. Their airplane which is supposed to be their home comes out as a metal trap held high over the clouds. Pointless fight between the men and machine is shown in a very suggestive way.