“The Red Baron” (2008) tells the story of Manfred Von Richthofen’s career as a fighter ace until his death at 25 years old on April 21, 1918. It follows in the footsteps of other World War I aviation movies like “The Blue Max” (1966), “Aces High" (1976) and “Flyboys” (2006). "The Blue Max" stands out as a deeply sad, epic film, while “Aces High” is well-made but feels rather plain. “Flyboys,” which was intended to be more of a big hit, has entertaining moments but suffers from storytelling that’s like something out of a comic book—similar to "Legends of the Fall." Does “The Red Baron” live up to or exceed these films? Sadly, it doesn't. Everything needed for a good movie of this type is present, yet the way the story unfolds creates an oddly detached viewing experience; it’s hard to say if that’s due to the writing, directing, or some other factor (likely a combination). The beginning fails to establish any real dramatic tension or provide enough background information to engage the audience, and the movie never really manages to recover. This is made worse by additions that aren't historically accurate, like the idea of Von Richthofen (Matthias Schweighöfer) and Capt. Roy Brown (Joseph Fiennes) having friendly conversations throughout the war. A smaller complaint is that some actors seem too old for their roles; Lt. Werner Voss was only 20 when he died in action, but actor Til Schweiger was in his mid-40s during filming. Lena Headey’s casting isn't as noticeable of an issue. The music is decent, but it borrows heavily from “The Last of the Mohicans” in a couple of places. It's not without its merits; Schweighöfer does a good job in the lead role and helps carry the film, which certainly looks visually appealing. I’ve watched this movie several times over the years, and there’s enough worthwhile material to recommend it to those interested in Von Richthofen and what life was like during World War I. The story just isn't very gripping. The film has a running time of 1 hour, 46 minutes, and filming took place in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, with studio work done in Prague. GRADE: C+

Source on TMDB