The Shamrock Spitfire

The Shamrock Spitfire is a highly commendable film. It tells the story of Flying Ace Wg Cdr Brendan Finucane the youngest Wing Commander in the history of the RAF.

First off, no this isn't a big Hollywood studio pic, it's a modest indie film from the UK. But what the filmmakers have achieved is stunning. Visually the film bursts with colour - how sick are you that sickly green/ yellow colour palette every other modern movie has today? And it has a story that holds you. A beautiful and fitting tribute to a courageous young man.

Hollywood, please take note.

The Shamrock Spitfire, a film that has a whole lot of of heart and passion - just like the man himself.

As someone who has a keen interest in the war in the air during WW2, (my late father flew Lancasters), I need no second invitation to watch a film on the subject.

In spite of my interest, I had never heard of Brendan "Paddy" Finucane or his remarkable story, a young half Irish lad with a longheld ambition to fly, decides to get involved in a war that he could easily have avoided. He defied his father, prejudice and instead relied on his unwavering belief and fighting spirit to become the youngest ever Wing Commander in the RAF aged just 21 and not surprisingly was highly decorated for his achievements.

It is clear that The Shamrock Spitfire is on a budget and whilst Shane O'Regan does a decent enough job in the lead role, the air action sequences are akin to a computer game plus inaccuracies are regular. Battle of. Britain sequences featuring Mk IX Spits - nah! All too often, senior RAF officers looked wistfully skyward as a flight of aircraft passed over them, it's as though the film makers couldn't concoct anything more and this was a shame.

So why 6/10? The story, pure an simple - it really is compelling. I just wish I could have given a score of 9 because the film matched it.

Sure it's low budget, unknown actors, tries to get lots of context into the story, relies on cheap but effective visuals and is'nt up its own backside.

Simple, straightforward, not making points about stuff that's got nothing to do with anything.

Reminds me of a 1950's movie where you watch and munch the popcorn and have an enjoyable tale told well that keeps up the pace and interest till the end of the show. The acting was good, just playing their parts.

I got really bored with planet of the apes,dune and other mega long, shiny, squillion dollar movies as they repeat the same story and the semi ok stars dominate...I want movies like this.... Honest film making!

Yes the film is on a tight budget, actors I have never heard of, some dodge CGI mind you not as bad as Die Another Day.

I had never heard of Brendan Finucane before, I live near Hornchurch and never knew their was a wing based their.

The best thing about this film was the "Story" a true story, I learnt some info about Spits and a lot about Hornchurch and loads about this amazing young man.

To lose his life the way he did, heartbreaking even worse for Bluie who lost his life after the war doing a training mission.

The battle scenes are Ok, yes it's not Top Gun Marvel quality and maybe some shots are not the right spits But it's a decent film, not perfect, but does not deserve the hate.

Maybe this film is about the past and what we can learn from it, the youth of today should remember this: "For your tomorrow, We gave our today" This is why we must never forget the sacrifice these men and women made for us to have our freedom today.

Certainly deserving of a higher rating than around 5

Especially as it's a film based on a true story about a real World War 2 brave fighter pilot. Yes it's a low budget movie and the acting was just average but the battle scenes were okay

What worked for me the most was I knew nothing before watching this about Paddy Finucane so it was educational and I think we need to see more films about little known hero's like him from from both World Wars as it's important that there are permanent reminders to all what these brave men and woman sacrificed for our freedom

So well done to the film makers here who brought his story to the screen.