George Lucas discusses his reasons behind making Red Tails...

[cf6285]

Control of the shipping in the Mediterranean was control of commerce. The Phoenicians and the Persians sought to hold that power. Following the Battle of Salamis the Persian navy was nonexistent allowing the Greeks full control of the Mediterranean.

Picture Leonidas in the sky, the 300 laying dead around him, looking down on thousands of burning and sinking Persian ships and dying soldiers. Start with the death of the 300 and end with Salamis. That's a story for the ages.

[cf6285]

"Spiraled into oblivion" were the words. The down fall of the Empire began at Salamis and Persia was never a naval power after its defeat there.

Between your Theo at Delmars and Papoo, while at New Hellas, my oldest got his first tastes of wine.

[cf6285]

Alexander had to promise Philip he would avenge the burning of Athens.. But, Persia never recovered from the defeat at Salamis and was a dying empire. Its ships no longer roamed the Mediterranean Sea like they owned it and trade went to the Greeks. Think of Salamis as the Epilog to Thermopile and audiences love retribution. The burning Persian fleet and dying soldiers while images of the 300 fill the background. That's a film!

I've been in Delmars, too.

[Vorzt]

Instead of making movies with black people, how about you work on making a prequel trilogy that's actually worth a damn.

[grego10r]

crap movie George Lucas suck dick

[Evilfisher]

crap movie! read the hilarious online reviews

[cf6285]

Good? They were flying the best aircraft in WW II. You want to show a battle try a real one like the Battle of Salamis. The Persian Empire spiraled into oblivion after its defeat. Now, that's a battle. American blacks are descendants of slaves who were traded to slavers. Find one who will trade places with the descendants of blacks who won the battles and are still in Africa, This white guilt tripping is ridiculous. Black Athena? What else are they going to try to steal? Philos mou.

[beatlesfan440]

@cf6285 The Battle of Salamis would be a great battle to cover, but its not widely known... Everyone knows of World War 2 but few know of the wars that happened back in the Hellenistic period... Actually you are sort of wrong however..The Persian Empire was only defeated once Alexander the Great became King of Macedon over 100 years after the Battle of Salamis and conquered Persia...

[beatlesfan440]

@cf6285 The Persian Army that the Greeks fought back through the Battle of Salamis (navy) and at the Battle of Plataea (army) and the Battle of Mycale (another naval defeat for the Persians) was nothing but an expeditionary force that Xerxes used to try and conquer Greece...I will not deny they are major historical events, but the Battle of Salamis was not what sent the Persian Empire to oblivion...

[hydrolito]

@diamondogz How could they think whites avoid anything with blacks in it? When Samuel L. Jackson is highest paid movie actor, Oprah was most successful talk show host, Bill Cosby was most popular TV dad, Muhammad Ali was most famous boxer, Will Smith, Eddie Murphy, Tyler Perry, Morgan Freeman, Danny Glover, Lou Gosset Jr., Whoppie Goldberg, Halley Berry, Kerry Washington, Beyonce, Sammy Davis jr. Sidney Poitie, etc made so many movies. Jackson family most successful family of singers, etc.

[ukewdgb]

THE 1%

According to Forbes, Lucas' net worth is $3.2 billion.

[beatlesfan440]

To be honest it was not a great movie... I felt that the writing was terrible, the animation was terrible, the plot was too compressed, and he tried to make it too sad and dramatic. I saw the point of the movie. But I think that it could have been much better written and that would have truly honored the Tuskegee Airmen.

[hydrolito]

@beatlesfan440 World War 2 a lot of people died how could it not be sad?

[beatlesfan440]

@hydrolito *facepalm* My point was that they emphasized the sadness too much...It should be a very happy movie about the black pilots prevailing in the end..Instead it left me with a fairly sad feel...

[hydrolito]

@beatlesfan440 War isn't a happy time even when you win as your dead airman and soldiers, etc. who died are still dead.

[SovietNo7]

One word... Epic...

[aliciabanks]

it is also racist that there are not many more black women in this film!...

shame!!!

[hydrolito]

@aliciabanks It was World War 2 they didn't have any black woman or women period as fighter pilots maybe moms, sisters and friends they left behind though.

[wildone106]

wow Im befuddled by people who say he is a good writer/director...you must have some very low standards. Even at the very basic level the writing sucks, the direction sucks, the dramatization sucks..what kinda movies do you like to say anything he's done lately has been any good, as a piece of cinematic entertainment/!?!

[666orsexsexsex]

i so have to see this i don't care what people say george lucas is still an amazing writer/director

[nubfail]

George please make a new star wars, don;t listen to people who say you are a bad writer, they just joined the fail critics bandwagon

[MarkHansAvon]

Wow, this project looks great!

...

Please tell me George Lucas didn't write it...He's a great producer and director, but when he writes it reminds me of death.

[quezcatol]

the last indiana jones sucked so did the last 3 star wars movies, rather not see a GL movie ever again. has nothing to do with "race".

And guess what? most people are fed up with ww2 movies already. but hey, keep saying its a movie about black people and thats the only reason...

[Shuxa02]

Any one know what cgi software they used here?

[TheThinkinggimp]

There is already a movie about the same air men, with some of the same actors but it was a low budget movie. The thing is with the "SOPA" laws...george lucas could get into a lot of trubble from the big movie makers. But i don't think they got the balls!

[TheFrostbird]

Ure all so right guys! Please George Lucas: Give us more of jar jar binks!!!

[chakdeindiasidd]

The movie was absolutely amazing, i dont care what the critics say ill have them talk to me when they have been on a base overseas livin like a soldier, the movie was great, a great homage to the Tuskegee Airmen, if you dont believe me, ask the actual airmen that were flyin the missions back in WWII, if they say so im all in

[TheNanieLuv]

It's awesome that a producer the caliber of George Lucas felt so deeply about this film that it was made and hit theaters running. On opening day the film was in half the theaters of the number one movie. This week more theaters have been designated to Red Tails.

We hope to honor these men by making this movie a money maker not a loss for the investors. We need the film to hit $200 million for the movie to break even, then the rest is gravy.

Let's get out and see a great movie.

[Ghostkill458218]

we want more star wars !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[aspiringactress8806]

@R0M04MVP: Well, actually, that's not an ill-informed opinion. That was actually said by the man himself. He did an interview on The Daily Show saying that, plus it's all over the Internet. Just Google and see for yourself. I'd personally start with the interview he did on that show I just mentioned.

[MoonlightPlaylist]

That's great.. now where's our blockbuster on women's rights..?

[aspiringactress8806]

The sad thing about this movie is that the big Hollywood studio executives didn't want to help him to back the movie because it featured an all black-cast and didn't want to have anything to do with it. That's sad that we live in the 21st century world, but yet we are still stuck back in the 1950's.

[jarod40able]

An awesome movie! Definitely a must see...

[ThePonies72]

Great movie.

[BrooklynNYC777]

i have to go see this right now i cant wait

[beautifulleo]

Checking this out today after work.

[aBoxfulOfVids]

just so you know, Lucas didn't direct this. If he did, he'd have a heart attack trying to direct those large outdoor sets that he'd have to resort to a confined greenscreen room. The guy's done the special editions after all.

[thecreativelady]

Saw the movie last night on opening night. George Lucas did an AMAZING job with this movie. I loved seeing the stories of the Tuskegee Airmen on a personal level. We fight, we fight, we fight! I am going to see it again today!

[matrixyoda]

its about time this story was told.

[TRE1275]

@matrixyoda It was already told back in 1995-The Tuskegee Airmen

[lucky44124]

Lucas has FINALLY put the stupid green screen outside!! Thats what made the star wars prequels looks soooooo fake!! Natural outside lighting is the key.

[hemanshera777]

hey, George. good luck in making your Musical.

[innerpeaceforlife]

yes Ironbumm you know the truth of what is in his heart and how these men stood up for you to be able to write such a comment......ummm do you know anything about anything?

[Ironbumm]

Another rich Hollywood guy showing his racism

[PrinceChaloner]

CGI SUCKS! Should have done it like the movie "Battle Of Britain."

[jpsaavedraurra]

George Lucas, with all respect messed up Star Wars saga, Leonardo DiCaprio was perfect for the role, a great pity to choose Hayden was committed, Leonardo Dicaprio was much like the Boy episode 1, in addition to that role was very important to film, Leonardo DiCaprio told Truth wing press is because it was a surprise to the world, but the decisions you made was very bad

[BluePittbull666]

Please , Mr. George Lucas make Star Wars episode 7 , 8 & 9.

We are not interested in your other movies besides Star Wars.

[whatisthis2040]

@BluePittbull666 u are racist.

[loujencece]

MAAAAAN AM I FIRED UP FOR THIS!!!!!!

[JacksonOssea]

You guys know Lucas didn't direct Red Tails right? He produced it, Anthony Hemingway directed it.

[angelfleet1]

Gotta see this

[tredgkskate]

its like right in time for blackhistory month

[NSquaredDesignStudio]

great piece! so thankful for the Red Tails and Lucas making it happen

[mrmikeVIVO]

Deff gonna c this

[musikenergy]

Thanks George Lucas for doing this movie. Super excited and I know it will not disappoint!

[tippytop7]

@musikenergy Then again...that's what they said about the prequels...

[gethsoftware]

@musikenergy it did. i mean, for fuck sakes. can you have any more uncreative dialouge, and even more hypociritical creation? the movie is racist against germans, while trying to say "racism is bad" fuck sake.

[playadominical]

@musikenergy it sucks to be wrong, doesn't it? what a piece of garbage movie!

[musikenergy]

@playadominical I was so right. Box office proved it. :-) Have a great day and be blessed!

[playadominical]

@musikenergy you actually liked this movie? there's no accounting for taste, but come on! don't let george lucas con people into paying money for this movie out of some kind of racial loyalty thing!

[playadominical]

@musikenergy just because people paid to see this movie doesn't make it good! come on, be objective lol. the fact that george lucas managed to con legions of black people into thinking they should like this movie for racial reasons is pretty surprising considering he is a big fat rich white guy!

[musikenergy]

@playadominical ROTFL! Wrong. In the movie theatre I attended, the house was packed. Only 4 black people were in the audience. Poor dear. It's obvious you have nothing to do but make assumptions about a movie you haven't seen, don't know about the audience, and you're in attack mode for what? It's sad that you feel the need to hide behind a computer and rant. I on the other hand will not. I'm sure you'll reply because you're bored. I won't reply again because I've rested my case. God bless you!

[playadominical]

@musikenergy wow, take it easy. i can't imagine how you could have viewed my response as a personal attack on you. easily offended? why so defensive? lighten up.

it's a shame that two people can't dialogue about a movie without one of them flipping out

ps: like you, i saw see the movie in a packed theater and it was awful, people of all skin colors were laughing at the screen. if you loved it, that's nice for you, but freaking out in defense of a movie is a pretty weird thing to do.

[playadominical]

@musikenergy it's also a bit strange that you actually COUNTED the black people. racist?

[deijajadewalker]

Anyone else notice how lucas' name isnt mentioned in the commercial ads? I had no idea he was associated with the film until I saw this video...I've seen several of his films and ones he took part in and I always remembered hearing his name in the promos...

[LokiDWolf]

@deijajadewalker LucasFilm, Ltd shows up on the trailers. His name isn't needed to be mentioned with that. Also, he's been on a few different shows already promoting the movie. He's not behind the scenes at all. :)

[00Pablo01]

Gotta see this at the cinema

[Sephitron]

Damn I wanna see this now!

[obiwashere]

can't wait!

[Mooncricket]

George Lucas is the best!

[CAROLYNMARIE18]

Well I can't wait to see this

[MagicJamielyn]

I can't wait to see it. saw it on the daily show where he said that the distributors didn't wanna touch it cause of all black cast.

[roscoegino]

kudos to george, terrence, et al.

[St3aLThhh]

cnt wait!

[roscoegino]

I'm so there!