La Kermesse des aigles

From the very first shot of Robert Redford taking off his aviator glasses and greeting his admirers from the cockpit with a beaming smile, it's clear that this film is all about people being hotshots - in the best sense of the word, of course. The Great Waldo Pepper is about people for whom flying has gotten deep under their skin and they just can't get it out. It's partly a funny retro, but very unexpected and harsh things happen in it, bringing the characters and the audience back to reality, to earth... But only for so long before they can take off again and seek peace and freedom "up there". It's an ode to flying, just like Besson's The Big Blue is an ode to diving. And it has the absolute best aerial scenes I've ever seen in a movie. (10/07/2016)

Robert Redford is captivating as always because that's what he does. Audiences will be on his side, even though his character is not downright good and has shady aspects. The plot has scenes that can surprise you quite a bit, but it also has scenes that can bore you. It focuses on the characters and on good aerial scenes, but it doesn't go anywhere, and in fact only to a certain pathos. (27/09/2017)

A film set in the early days of aviation. A film about top aviators who entertained many spectators with their stunts in biplanes, only to see many of their peers fall in aerial combat during the war. It is almost a must see for fans of the early days of aviation and everyone else will enjoy it too. (18/05/2003)