Bullet Points: Born To Fly (2024)

If I’m going to watch a military film I just assume I’m going to be pounded with propaganda. It just so happens that most of the military movies I watch are American and I’m used to it by now. Mostly from films in the 80’s, but it’s still common to watch a film and feel that old sense of patriotism that I used to get in the Reagan era. Chinese military films are on a whole different level. It’s not a question as to whether or not the film will be chock full of it when the opening scene is of a Chinese flag waving in the wind. You have to respect that. I know I do.

Synopsis: After an unforeseen threat arises mid-air, a talented young air force test pilot (Wang Yibo) is forced to test not only the capabilities of his top-secret aircraft but also his own physical and psychological limits in order to survive.

• Stay out of our airspace: The film opens by introducing us to those dirty foreigners flying into Chinese airspace to harass fishermen and folks working on some sort of oil rig. They do a flyover that would make Maverick’s member stand. Two Chinese jets intercept them but they’re clearly outmatched when it comes to the technology of the planes but they are able to drive them away before their plane has to make an emergency landing. No worries, though, because pilot Lei Yu has nerves of steel!
• Training wing: After the plane malfunction, Lei Yu is offered a position on an elite team that tests the newest flight technology before it can hit the front lines. He’s not thrilled about joining the outfit but he eventually does and learns that his old nemesis is also there.

• Training: The young men go through rigorous training to find the best of the best. They start with approximately 30 and are dropped down to 7. Lei Yu is, of course, among those 7 and distinguishes himself with his knowledge of the planes and their systems. He immediately runs into some issues, though, when he is forced to eject on his very first test flight.
• Little bit of the romance: Born To Fly isn’t a romantic film, by any stretch of the imagination. The men in the training unit are dedicated to their craft and seem to think little of anything else. That’s great news for those at the front lines waiting for stealth aircraft but it means we have less drama to go with our jets. While this film tries very hard to be “Chinese Top Gun”, it doesn’t attempt to spark any serious romantic relationships between anyone. Even though I was hoping for Lei Yu and the good doctor to take it a step further.
• Commander Zhang: A character that really stands out is the Commander of the training unit. He sees something in Lei Yu that reminds him of himself at a young age, and he drives him to correct some of those holes in his skills that most wouldn’t see. Zhang has a family that he loves and we get to spend a little bit of time with them as the mission unfolds. Commander Zhang’s relationship with his family and his men becomes one of the major reasons as to why this film works.

• The Mission: The entire purpose of this team of men is to test the combat airplanes that would soon be going to the frontlines to protect the country. They take their mission very seriously and we’re reminded many times how the Chinese are cut off from the rest of the world and have to seek this out for themselves. It’s up to them to complete this mission and they’ll risk their lives to accomplish it.
• Test before your fly: They men suffer losses and tragedy. They question why it is that they’re there and whether or not they have what it takes to be successful. Each man has his own motivation for why he’s there and sometimes they need to be reminded why they took up this mission. In the end, the only why they can be successful is to risk everything and look death in the face. It’s their job to not just experience the problems with the new technology but to solve them. Only then can the high-tech equipment be used to protect China.

The Verdict: If you’re into movies about fighter pilots and you’re tired of watching Iron Eagle and Top Gun then this might be the movie for you. It’s certainly a different type of film than those two. It has far less combat flying in it and much more testing of the equipment. It’s never boring, however, and the characters are likeable while still being challenged throughout. I think the visuals really stand out and if you can get past the obvious flag-waving, you’ll most likely have a good time watching it.

Born To Fly debuts on Blu-ray and Digital March 26th from our friends over at WELL GO USA!