In training day after day, Leonardo and Liu Ye were strangers at the beginning, but gradually developed a tacit understanding and even became each other's best comrades.
At this time, the Japanese army continued to invade southwest China, and the Flying Tigers took off for more and more combat operations. The aerial combat scenes in the film were very well depicted, and the computer special effects used made it even more difficult for someone like Li Mu, who has aesthetic standards that are more than ten years ahead of his time. , you will still feel that it is extremely realistic after watching it, and you can hardly find any faults.
In fact, computer CG special effects have been innovating in technical means for a long time. For example, in the past, computer special effects had to take out each frame to create it bit by bit. Later, computer special effects directly used 3D modeling and matching. Human movement collection equipment and green screen save time and effort.
Although we do not have such excellent technical means as later generations, we use the most primitive frame-by-frame special effects, and the effects are not inferior to those of later blockbusters.
The reason why many later movies were criticized for having 50-cent special effects was not because they were not good enough, but because they simply wanted to save money.
"Titanic" released in 1998, "The Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" released in 2001 are all outstanding representatives of today's computer special effects. Supported by high budgets, the level of special effects in these movies is, Even if it is put aside more than ten years later, it can still crush a large number of low- and medium-cost movies.
"Flying Tigers", which has an investment of US$200 million and surprisingly low actor costs, invested a large amount of its budget in real-scene construction and computer special effects. It basically adheres to one point of view: those who can build real-life scenes will definitely not use special effects, and those who need special effects will , regardless of cost, we must do our best, even if we use graphics software to do it frame by frame, we must also achieve the ultimate visual effect.
Therefore, the visual effects it presents are almost at the top of the current film industry. The pictures alone are enough to be called an epic blockbuster. The pictures of multiple consecutive air battles are definitely the best among all air combat movies so far.
If you have to pick out any faults, in Li Mu's opinion, the fault is just one: it's not 3D.
There is really no way to do this. 3D technology has not really matured yet. From shooting to screening and viewing, 3D equipment has not yet become popular. Therefore, this regret can only be made up for by re-creating a 3D version in the future.
The air battles were presented at a very fast pace. In each battle, Liu Ye and Leonardo became more and more cooperative. In the later stage, Leonardo became Liu Ye's regular wingman, and the two became the whole team. The most powerful combination of the Flying Tigers.
One day, the Japanese Air Force assembled a large number of invading fighter planes, and all the Flying Tigers scrambled into the air to meet the enemy.
This is the largest battle the Flying Tigers have faced since its establishment, and it is also the most intense battle.
The two sides fought fiercely in the sky, and the entire sky was filled with the sound of huge cannons, engines, and the roar of aircraft.
From time to time, a fighter plane would fall to the ground with black smoke or hit a mountain, with a deafening explosion.
All the commanders, ground maintenance personnel, doctors and nurses of the Flying Tigers were worried. They didn't know whether the Flying Tigers who took off to face the enemy could win the war and come back alive.
The nurse played by Anne Hathaway was nervous and at a loss in the hospital. She looked out the window from time to time and asked people about the situation. When she heard that a plane was injured and had to make an emergency landing, she looked around impatiently. All she thought about was Liu. Ye even secretly crossed himself on his chest and asked God to bless him and come back alive.
At this time, the picture returned to the sky.
Leonardo and Liu Ye cooperated with each other and successfully shot down a Japanese Zero fighter.
At this time, the three Zero fighters discovered that the two of them were very powerful, so they formed a formation to bite the two from the side and rear, trying to shoot them down.
Liu Ye used Professor Chennault's roll maneuver to successfully decelerate the aircraft in an instant and get behind the enemy aircraft. However, while Leonardo was making the maneuver, the left wing was shot.
Immediately afterwards, his left wing exploded, half of the wing was blown off, and the plane spun in a circle and fell diagonally to the ground.
A moment later, the ground exploded and flames shot into the sky.
Liu Ye thought Leonardo had been sacrificed, and while furious, he opened fire violently on the Japanese fighter planes.
Other Flying Tigers also came to support them, and they worked together to shoot down several enemy planes. Seeing that they were at a disadvantage, the Japanese Air Force was at the end of its efforts, so they immediately retreated.
The Flying Tigers temporarily repelled the enemy at a heavy cost. After a long and fierce battle, most of the fighter planes ran out of fuel and began to return. Liu Ye flew several times at low altitude where Leonardo crashed, but did not see Leonardo alive. If there are no traces, we can only return home with heartache.
At this time, at the Flying Tigers airport, everyone had learned that the enemy had retreated. The officers breathed a sigh of relief, and others celebrated their victory.
Planes began to land one after another. Many planes landed with injuries, smoking, spitting fire, and some even failed to land and ran off the runway, exploded and caught fire. Ground personnel rushed out to rescue, and the entire airport was busy.
Anne Hathaway finished the work at hand and rushed to the airport, carefully staring at the landing planes, but all the planes seemed to have returned and landed, and Liu Ye's plane was not seen.
Anne Hathaway was anxious, but she still looked up at the sky full of red clouds, hoping to see Liu Ye's fighter plane.
At the same time, Tom Hanks also walked to the other side of the airport. He also looked at the sky anxiously and looked around, waiting for Liu Ye and Leonardo's plane to come back.
Seeing that it was getting late, he said nervously to his adjutant: "Our two best pilots haven't come back yet. God bless them not to have any accidents."
At this time, someone heard the roar of the plane. Everyone tensed up and followed the sound. They saw a plane emerging from the clouds and Liu Ye returned.
However, Liu Ye was the only one who returned.
When Liu Ye's plane landed on the runway, Tom Hanks and a group of officers strode towards him. Anne Hathaway also ran towards Liu Ye from the other direction.
Anne Hathaway got closer. When she ran in front of Liu Ye first, Liu Ye's expression flashed with excitement, but Anne Hathaway didn't pause at all and threw herself directly into his arms.
Liu Ye suddenly didn't know what to do. He was very nervous, his hands were cramped and had nowhere to place them, and his expression was dull and dull.
At this time, Tom Hanks also arrived. Seeing this situation, he touched his nose awkwardly, and then asked Liu Ye about the whereabouts of Leonardo.
Liu Ye looked sad and told Tom Hanks in detail the whole process of Leonardo's crash that he witnessed with his own eyes.
Tom Hanks was stunned for a moment. His expression was full of sadness, and he instinctively recalled the scene when he made a bet with the unruly Leonardo at the Flying Club.
Liu Ye added at this time: "I searched at a low altitude and could not find any signs of survival within the visual range, nor did I see an open parachute."
Tom Hanks asked: "Is the place where the plane crashed in the Japanese-occupied area?"
Liu Ye nodded.
There was a hint of despair in Tom Hanks's expression.
As early as when he was giving lessons to pilots, he told these Flying Tigers that if they make a forced landing or parachute, they should avoid the Japanese-occupied areas as much as possible. When they land, they must go to the local people for help instead of the local local government. , because no one is sure whether the local government has surrendered to the enemy.
The pilots who made an emergency landing in the Japanese-occupied areas narrowly escaped death. That was because the ground forces in the Japanese-occupied areas were very sensitive to the Flying Tigers pilots. Their superiors had already issued strict orders: Once a Flying Tigers plane made an emergency landing in the occupied areas, Or crashed, we must find the wreckage of the plane and the pilot. No matter whether the pilot is dead or alive, even if it is burned into a skeleton, we must be able to piece together a human being. Otherwise, even if the entire occupied area is dug three feet into the ground, the flying tiger must be destroyed. The pilots were found and executed.
Therefore, after Tom Hanks learned that Leonardo's plane crashed in Japanese-occupied territory, he immediately concluded that Leonardo would definitely not come back alive.
Thinking that it was Leonardo's handsome and uninhibited smile, he murmured to himself: "I brought that child into this war. If it weren't for me, he should have lived his life peacefully in Texas. His own life, but now, he has left himself in a strange country on the other side of the world. I can't even send his body back to his parents... "
Liu Ye said instinctively: "I'm sorry..."
Tom Hanks wiped the tears from his eyes, shook his head and said, "It's not your fault. You did your best."
As he said that, he glanced at Anne Hathaway, who was hugging Liu Ye tightly, and said, "If the Japanese don't come over tomorrow, you should stop training and have a good rest. Don't let the girl's feelings for you down."
Immediately, Tom Hanks turned around and left. Liu Ye, who was puzzled by the charm, subconsciously pushed Anne Hathaway away and chased after him, saying, "Mr. Chennault, I don't want to miss any training opportunity!"
Tom Hanks looked back at him and saw Anne Hathaway running away in tears, and said helplessly: "What is on your mind? Can't you see that she likes you?"
Liu Ye was a little shy, but said firmly: "I swore not to drive away the Japanese and not to think about the love between my children!"
"Hey..." Tom Hanks sighed, turned around and left.
…
The scene then returned to the air battle scene.
When Leonardo crashed, there was a Japanese Army patrol far away. One of the Japanese soldiers pointed at the spinning and falling plane in the distance and said loudly: "That plane... should be from the Flying Tigers, right?" ?”
The Japanese soldier next to him nodded and said, "Although it's a bit far, it looks like it should be."
The man who looked like the captain said: "Looking at the location, it should be in our occupied area, hurry up and get there!"
Immediately afterwards, this group of Japanese soldiers immediately ran towards the direction of the crash.
At the same time, on a hillside, several Chinese farmers were watching the plane. One of the older men said, "It's the Flying Tigers' plane that has landed! Erwazi, Sanwazi, you follow me." Go over and see if the Flying Tigers pilot is still alive!"
The young man known as Erwazi blurted out nervously: "Uncle Lao Tian, the Japanese and the Japanese have said many times that whoever dares to rescue or harbor a Flying Tigers pilot will have his whole family beheaded!"
The older man scolded: "The Flying Tigers are fighting in the sky and are not afraid of falling. Why are you so timid? If you don't go, I will go alone!"
After that, the older man knocked the pipe against the stone, stuffed it into his waist and ran down the hillside.
The two young men glanced at each other and hurriedly caught up...
(End of chapter)