Flyboys is a 2006 American drama film set during World War I, starring James Franco, Martin Henderson, Jean Reno, Jennifer Decker, David Ellison, Abdul Salis, Philip Winchester, and Tyler Labine. It was directed by Tony Bill, a pilot and aviation enthusiast. The screenplay was written by Phil Sears, Blake T. Evans and David S. Ward with the screen story by Blake T. Evans.

The film follows the enlistment, training and combat experiences of a group of young Americans who volunteer to become fighter pilots in the Lafayette Escadrille, the 124th air squadron formed by the French in 1916. The squadron consisted of 5 French officers and 38 American volunteers who wanted to fly and fight in World War I during the main years of the conflict, 1914–1917, before the United States later joined the war against the Central Powers.

Modern war films don't thrill me much. I may sound sadistic but I prefer battles that require contact or at least, close combat. Gun fights from 100 meters away, planes locking onto other jets and taking them out from great distances simply does not create much excitement for me. This is probably why I enjoyed Flyboys, as it portrayed a transitional era in warfare when modern machinery was only just getting integrated.

The story starts off by introducing us to a bunch of Americans who have all decided to volunteer to fight for the French in World War I for their own personal reasons. One lost his ranch, the other to keep the family hono,r while another to fight for the country that gave him shelter. They all gEt together at the airfield in France, to become part of the Lafayette Escadrille, a squadron of the first American fighter pilots. After the brief introduction followed by training exercises, the film's focus changes to the transition in the attitudes and relationships between the characters once they get their first taste of combat and the impact it has on them as each tries to either find their own purpose in the war or learn to deal with its horrors.