ACES HIGH is an interesting little British war film looking at the plight and antics of World War 1 fighter pilots. It's less gung-ho than expected, with little in the way of Biggles-style jingoism; instead this is an anti-war effort in which courage and sacrifice count for little when it comes to slaughter and bloodshed. Inevitably the aerial combat sequences are a highlight here, but the real surprise is that this turns out to be a deep character piece that really attempts to get into the heads of the cast members. The older pros like John Gielgud and Christopher Plummer are little more than set dressing, but it's the young stars like Malcolm McDowell, Simon Ward and, in particular, SPOOKS actor Peter Firth who really stand out here.
Review of Aces High
