The Bruce Willis Historical Drama Flop Getting A Second Chance On Hulu
Before its release in 2018, the Chinese film Air Strike, which follows the Chinese effort against the Japanese bombings of Chongqing during World War II, was set to become one of the most expensive Chinese films ever shot, per Variety. Instead, according to The Wrap, a tax evasion scandal forced its total cancellation in its home country, and the film was released in a home video format in the United States to an ice-cold 0 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating from critics and 13 percent audience score.
Fortunately, Air Strike is getting a second shot at making a good impression by recently launching on the streaming platform Hulu. Although the film, directed by Xiao Feng and starring both Bruce Willis and Adrien Brody, lacks much substance in terms of plot even from its biggest advocates, there are two big reasons it may be worth sitting down with some drinks and popcorn to see.
Air Strike has lots of big explosions and takes place in a relatively unexplored part of World War II
Sometimes, you don't want to watch a film that challenges your perceptions and forces you to contend with the nature of humanity. Sometimes, you want the big planes to go boom as a big, beefy man flexes his muscles and patriotic, triumphant music blasts in the background. If you're looking for something to turn your brain off to and bask in the noise for an hour and a half, Air Strike may just be the perfect movie for you.
Although the film won't likely give any revelatory insights into the horrors of World War II, it does portray a side that is relatively unexplored when compared to the endless retellings of D-Day and the U.K. bombing Blitz. According to The Japan Times, the Chongqing bombing killed over 20,000 people, and the effort against it was an example of the role China played in fighting off the Axis Powers and ultimately ending the war. Air Strike isn't terribly invested in portraying the most grounded analysis of this historical event, but it may inspire audiences to do some research and learn more about it.