Spielberg/Hanks 'Masters of the Air' sequel is 'Band of Brothers' With Planes

[BigRedChief]

Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg produce Apple's upcoming follow-up to the epic WWII series, with Austin Butler and Barry Keoghan leading an up-and-coming cast

Based on Donald L. Miller’s book of the same name, and scripted by John Orloff, Masters of the Air follows the men of the 100th Bomb Group (the “Bloody Hundredth”) as they conduct perilous bombing raids over Nazi Germany and grapple with the frigid conditions, lack of oxygen, and sheer terror of combat conducted at 25,000 feet in the air.

Portraying the psychological and emotional price paid by these young men as they helped destroy the horror of Hitler’s Third Reich, is at the heart of Masters of the Air. Some were shot down and captured; some were wounded or killed. And some were lucky enough to make it home. Regardless of individual fate, a toll was exacted on them all.

Ranging in location from the bucolic fields and villages of southeast England, to the harsh deprivations of a German Prisoner of War Camp, and depicting a unique and crucial time in world history, Masters of the Air is enormous in both scale and scope, and a genuine cinematic achievement.

[mr. tegu]

It was pretty bad. Endless story lines or brief moments that looked like something was being developed and just go nowhere or are completely forgotten. The Crosby love affair especially and mystery of the woman’s job was a giant waste of time. It would have been much better off focusing on perhaps one specific year of missions.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by DCTwister

I watched through the finale tonight. It was a satisfying end. Spoiler alert - in the end USA are back to back World War champs. Seriously though, it always brings a tear to my eye when you get to the end and they show the bios of the real men that they portrayed in the series.

Yeah, this series doesn’t hold up to BOB or the Pacific. But it grew on me. In the end I really enjoyed it. There is also a companion 1-hour documentary, which seems good so far. I’ve read and watched so many things about WW2, been to the Normandy beaches, etc. and I never knew much about the 100th. I’m glad their story was told.

Same. Ending was better. It did have huge problems that I’m flabbergasted that Spielberg and Hanks allowed to stay in or fix.

Definitely bringing up the rear. BoB, Pacific and then way back Masters of the air.

So disappointed

[siberian khatru]

The accompanying documentary, The Bloody Hundredth, is very good, more satisfying than the series itself. Had interviews with some of the real guys, including Rosie.

[BigRedChief]

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

The accompanying documentary, The Bloody Hundredth, is very good, more satisfying than the series itself. Had interviews with some of the real guys, including Rosie.

Thanks, I'll make a point to watch that



Overall, pretty disappointed with the series, though the finale was a lot better than the rest of it. At least they got me to care about the main characters at the end. Mostly what it did was make me want to rewatch BoB.