Taking "Flight"

Taking Flight Part 1

Here in Branson there are all sorts of people and many travel in packs (tour groups).

I would always advise people who aren't frequent movie patrons to read up on the movie before going. Yes, it is sometimes a crap shoot, but:

Tonight, we went to see Denzel Washington's new movie "Flight".  I HAD read up on this movie and was still shocked by how it started. But I was not as shocked as the eight older ladies that sat behind us.  Before the previews they were  laughing and talking loudly making me wonder if they would talk throughout. When the previews began, they were still talking some, but as the movie started all I heard was gasps.  You see the opening two scenes to identify two main characters had an abundance of nudity (including full frontal)  and an abundance of F-bombs.  The first nude scene had the ladies grumbling, but the second one sent them for the door in flight!  They were heading to get their money back!

Taking Flight Part 2

Suddenly the theater was quite and ironically free of nudity (except for Denzil's bare bottom at the hospital).  The F-bomb was still present but tame compared with the beginning.

You may ask, "Why that kind of beginning?"  The movie is about people who have lost their way and almost their lives.  It is about a dark journey to the light.  In the beginning religion is taken lightly as is AA, etc.  But this is an honest albeit very direct look at "hitting the wall".  Things that were once made fun of can become important at the wall!  Denzil is a heroic pilot who saves many lives. John Goodman is a Drug pusher.  Don Cheadle is an attorney.  All are great as is the other cast members. The director is Robert Zemeckis (Castaway, Forest Gump).

If you are up for this, Flight will make you think and make you thankful for your place on this planet.

It is a strong movie.

I give it ***1/2 stars. 2012 movie 37