Review by paul-allaer

As "The Blue Angels" (2024 release; 93 min.) opens, we are told that at any given time, the US Navy has about 3,700 battle-ready fighter pilots, of which 6 are assigned each year to the Blue Angels. We then go to "January, first day of training" in El Centro, CA, as the latest group of Blue Angels starts a grueling 3 months of training and flying as much as 3 times a day. At this point we are less than 10 minutes into the documentary.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from veteran British director Paul Crowder. Here he takes us along on the entire 2022 season of the Blue Angels, from training to air shows and everything in between. Of course what interests us the viewer most it the flying sequences, and let me just say it: the footage is nothing short of eye-popping, a trye delight from start to finish. The 6 pilots are just the top of the iceberg as they are supported by dozens and dozens of additional support staff. As they go from city to city, it's very much like following a top band doing a national concert tour. You might say that this documentary is just one long commercial for the US Navy and you might not be wrong. But the fact remains that the footage of flying sequences is so spectacular that it doesn't matter.

"The Blue Angels" premiered on IMAX and Omnimax screens earlier this year, and it is now streaming on Amazon Prime, where I saw it the other night. This movie is currently rated 85% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, which feels like a little too generous. That said, if you are in the mood to see our country's best fighter pilots putting on one heck of a spectacular air show, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.