In addition to securing the appropriate location, Spielberg indulged the obsession of his childhood self by ensuring the aircraft featured in the film were as accurate as possible.
He commissioned a series of full-scale replicas and even oversaw the restoration of a number of old war-planes for use in the picture. Hard work, eh Steven?
Spielberg also adapted certain passages of the novel in order to reinforce the sight of aircraft as a symbol of hope and escape.
Indeed, the sequence in which Jim stands upon a rooftop staring in wonder at the American warplanes seems to have been lifted from Spielberg’s childhood rather than Ballard’s.
As a P-51 Mustang flies overhead, the world around Jim appears to stop dead and the plane passes by in slow motion.
The pilot turns to look at our young hero, and waves down at him beatifically.
For a brief moment, a lonely young boy is transported to a happier place entirely.
That isn’t quite how the scene plays out in the book, but by drawing upon his own childhood fascination with warplanes, Spielberg creates a powerful sense of Jim’s fleeting ecstasy.
It’s an extremely memorable scene.
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Comments
Jareth64
Oct 18th 2012, 11:04
It's a forgotten gem. A brilliant film.
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kittycati
Oct 18th 2012, 11:24
I remember seeing this movie as a child...it still loved it the next time I watched it as an adult 20 years later. Not many films can do that.
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SiMan
Oct 18th 2012, 12:27
Watched it a few years back and although i remember liking it, i have to say it didn't leave much of an impact with me. Can't remember much from it. Think i'll have to give it another go soon.
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licantro
Oct 18th 2012, 13:17
This was the film that introduced me to Drama for the first time when I was just a kid, a step in growing up and because of that I remember it fondly. The way it was filmed and the way it was told it was captivating and shockingly emotional. Being 12 years old and now 35 probably helped me to understand it better since the view of war was through the eyes of also a kid, who now is such a prominent actor, Christian Bale. It's so amusing to see how Spielberg has always been so good storytelling from a kids points of view. An amazing film.
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Hadouken76
Oct 18th 2012, 18:08
Another Spielberg and Bale film please.
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