Click the links to explore more movies by these stars.
 |
Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn
Howard Hughes: "You're the tallest woman I have ever met."
Katharine Hepburn: "And all sharp elbows and knees. Beware." |
|
|
 |
Kate Beckinsale as Ava Gardner
Howard Hughes: "Does that look clean to you?"
Ava Gardner: "Nothing's clean, Howard. But we do our best, right?" |
 |
Gwen Stefani as Jean Harlow
Jean Harlow in Hell's Angels: "Would you be shocked if I put on something more comfortable?" |
 |
Jude Law as Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn in Captain Blood: "Up the riggings, you monkeys! Break out those sails and watch them fill with the wind that's carrying us all to freedom!" |
 |
Director Martin Scorsese
"You get a sense of Howard Hughes being Icarus with the wax wings. Those wings were great for a while, but he flies too close to the sun." --Martin Scorsese |
Other Movies by The Aviator's Oscar® Winners
Production Designer Dante Ferretti
Film Editor Thelma Schoonmaker
Costume Designer Sandy Powell
Cinematographer Robert Richardson
See all the Oscar® winners at Oscar Central
The Aviator at Amazon.com
The Aviator soundtrack |
The Screenplay |
Howard Hughes: The Real Aviator
|
Howard Hughes movies |
Great movies of the 1930s |
The films of Martin Scorsese
|
Description
An epic biopic depicting the early years of legendary director and aviator Howard Hughes' career, from the late 1920's to the mid-1940's.
DVD Features:
Audio Commentary: Commentary by Scorsese
Deleted Scenes:Deleted scene: Howard Tells Ava About His Car Accident
Documentaries:Modern Marvels: Howard Hughes-- a 45 minute Documentary By The History Channel
Documentary:2 Music Featurettes: Scoring The Aviator: The Work Of Howard Shore The Wainwright Family - Loudon, Rufus And Martha
Featurette:A Life Without Limits: The Making of The Aviator The Role Of Howard Hughes In Aviation History An evening with Leonardo DiCaprio and Alan Alda The Affliction of Howard Hughes: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder OCD Panel Discussion With Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese, And Howard Hughes' Widow Terry Moore
Other:2 Behind-the-scenes featurettes: The Age Of Glamour: The Hair And Makeup Of The The Visual Effects Of The Aviator
Photo gallery
Customer Reviews:
Howard Hughes - Another Scorsese Biopic Masterpiece.......2007-09-06
Martin Scorsese has a way with biopics. Each one has been a masterpiece. Raging Bull (Special Edition), The Last Temptation of Christ - Criterion Collection, and GoodFellas (Two-Disc Special Edition) are masterpieces and I feel THe Aviator ranks right up there with these.
It's a wonderful movie. Spectacular and grand in its scope. The cast is brilliant and their acting is perfect. Cate Blanchett steals the show as Katharine Hepburn, definitely and Oscar worthy performance. Also are Alan Alda, Alec Baldwin, Kate Beckinsale, Jude Law, Gwen Stefani, and John C. Reilly.
The film itself covers Howard Hughes life for 20 or so years. It features his move to Hollywood, the making of Hell's Angels, and his entagles with both Katharine Hepburn and Ava Gardner.
The DVD features an informative commentary with the man himself, Martin Scorsese, also included is one deleted scene, and a few featurettes, all of which are a must watch.
Although a tad on the lengthy side (170 minutes!), this muvie is a very good movie. I love it. It's one of the best of the year. Definitely recommended.
Highly recommended.
Interesting Portrait of Howard Hughes.......2007-08-25
This portrait of Hughes shows him both as a forward looking genius who took tremendous chances that ended in great success and as a reclusive eccentric with mental problems. Is it accurate? I don't know. I have two problems with this movie. First of all, Leonardo DiCaprio was not convincing as Howard Hughes. He tried very hard, but it just doesn't quite succeed. I think he is still too young and inexperienced to really pull it off. It's not a terrible job of acting, but nothing spectacular either. Perhaps a very difficult role to do. The second problem was the ending. The movie just stopped without any real conclusion. I guess after almost 3 hours, they had to end it at some point. I was disappointed that they didn't follow the story on a little further and make it more of a full biography. It would have been too long then, but some scenes could have been cut and the movie could have completed Hughes life within 3 hours. If nothing else, the movie inspired me to want to read more about Hughes and find out how many liberties they took in the film. Did Hughes really drink only milk from a sealed bottle? Was he a cleanliness freak? Did his mental illness cause him to repeat something over and over again? How much that went on between TWA and Pan Am in the movie actually occurred? Was Hughes a big ladies man and did he and Kate Hepburn have a relationship for quite some time, as the movies suggests? The movie held my interest from start to finish, so for that I give it 4 stars. Is it really a 4-star movie? Perhaps not, but it was very entertaining and that's what movies are supposed to do--entertain you. Hughes was such an interesting man, a true documentary biography might have been actually more far more enjoyable than this fictionalized account.
Great Story- Fine performances........2007-08-24
I can't say I'm a huge Leonardo DeCapprio fan but he really does a fine job in this portrayal of the young Howard Hughes. He gets a lot of support from a great cast and the screenplay is very witty and engaging. A really good movie. It took me a while to get to this one but I'm glad I finally did.
Entertaining as far as it goes, but lacks context...and an ending.......2007-07-22
This is one of those movies which leaves you wondering why exactly it was made in the first place. If you are part of the DiCaprio target demographic, you have no earthly idea who Howard Hughes even was, and fact this applies to pretty much anyone under the age 40. Those of us in our early 40's are dimly aware of Hughes, while our parents will remember Hughes from the point where his story began to get really weird & really interesting. Those of you who can remember the time covered in the movie...well, you are probably already dead or very nearly so. This begs the question: for whom was this movie made, and what story is it trying to tell?
It is important to consider this, because the story really doesn't have an ending. We get to see the Spruce Goose fly in 1947, but beyond that...who knows? Does Hughes get crazier (he does). Do his plans for TWA come to fruition (ultimately, they don't). Does he make bigger & better movies (they are big, but they go from bad to worse --- John Wayne as Genghis Khan? Enough said). The movie is made with the assumption that the bulk of the audience knows ultimately how the story ends, but how can this assumption be made? We, the movie-going audience, are left at a dead end.
So why 4 stars? Because up until the dead end, it is one hell of a ride. For those of us who do know, more or less, how the bigger story ends, it is a glimpse at the Hughes who is less likely to be remembered than the reclusive nutjob occupying the top floors of assorted hotels for half a year at a time. It is a remarkable story of a driven man, whose self-destructive demons were nonetheless the source of much of his achievement. As the movie concludes, Hughes himself seems to accept that these warring aspects of his personality are interwoven to the point that he cannot have one without the other, and whatever may be in store for him in the future, it will be worth the price paid.
So --- a qualified 4 stars. Normally, I hate sequels. However, if ever there were a movie which needed a sequel, it would be this one.
A film that takes flight and soars above the rest..........2007-06-22
It took me a while to see `The Aviator' since word from my friends and family was that the running time was exhausting. While they have some reason to feel that way personally I feel that the film is so well put together that it more than makes the running time worth while. Leonardo DiCaprio is at his best here and delivers an award worthy performance as the legend Howard Hughes. Martin Scorsese delivers as well, directing powerhouse performances with great effects and amazing storytelling capacity. `The Aviator' truly is a mesmerizing biopic and is probably, but don't quote me on this, the best of the bunch to be released in `the year of the biopic'.
The film gracefully covers most of Hughes adult life, exposing his love life and his business escapades not to mention his quarks and obsessions. Along the way we are introduced to some of Hollywood's most elite, from Katherine Hepburn, played magnificently by Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, to Jean Harlow and Ava Gardner. His relationships with these women is dissected, mostly when it comes to Hepburn, and the chemistry between both DiCaprio and Blanchett is so effortless that it makes the whole experience comfortable and believable to the viewer.
The film, as is apparent by the title, focuses in large part on Hughes obsession with aviation, but it's his other strange obsessions that make a great canvas for DiCaprio's in-depth and articulate performance. I've always known that there was a great actor underneath those pretty boy looks and thankfully Leonardo took advantage of that when he took this role on full speed ahead. The way that he delves deep into the madness that overtook Hughes was pure genius, and the way he was able to keep his head, making it believable as apposed to over the top, his commendable and noteworthy.
The supporting cast including John C. Reilly, Alec Baldwin, Gwen Stefani, Kate Beckinsale and Jude Law is very impressive, and everyone is on key, but none so much as Alan Alda who plays Senator Brewster, the enemy as you could label him. The court hearings towards the end of this film where Brewster and Hughes square off are exciting and real and they really show the brilliance of these two actors. Watching them debate back and forth is so effortless it transcends acting. It's actually, don't take this wrong, beautiful to watch.
Scorsese really outdoes himself here, combining a great true life story with a powerful script that does it's best to flesh out a man who had a lot to uncover, not to mention the fantastic acting and fluid chemistry, making `The Aviator' one of the must see movies of the given year. I remember watching it and wondering how anyone could walk away feeling indifferent. Sure, it's not perfect, but it's one of the best films of the year and surely one of the best showcases for pure acting genius. Scorsese and company is truly to be commended for delivering one great work of art.
Average customer rating:
- Essential French cinema: Rohmer's 'La femmme de l'aviateur.'
- One of Rohmer's most puzzling films.
- Magical Cinema
- Typical Rohmer fare
- Fear of Intimacy
|
The Aviator's Wife
Starring:
Philippe Marlaud ,
Marie Rivière ,
Anne-Laure Meury ,
Mathieu Carrière , and
Philippe Caroit
Director:
Eric Rohmer
Manufacturer: Fox Lorber
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
 Comedy
| By Genre
| Art House & International
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
French
| By Original Language
| Art House & International
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Art House & International
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| France
| By Country
| Art House & International
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
French New Wave
| France
| By Country
| Art House & International
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Comedy
| France
| By Country
| Art House & International
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Comedy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Luchini, Fabrice
| ( L )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Rohmer, Eric
| ( R )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
World Class Cinema
| Wellspring Home Video
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
General
| Foreign & International
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
France
| European Cinema
| Foreign & International
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Eric Rohmer
| By Director
| Foreign & International
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Comedy
| By Genre
| Foreign & International
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
French
| By Original Language
| Foreign & International
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Comedy
| By Theme
| Foreign & International
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
French New Wave
| By Theme
| Foreign & International
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $7.49
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
( A )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
Summer
-
Boyfriends and Girlfriends
-
Full Moon in Paris
-
A Good Marriage
-
La Collectionneuse
ASIN: 1572525398
Release Date: 1999-06-15 |
Customer Reviews:
Essential French cinema: Rohmer's 'La femmme de l'aviateur.'.......2007-08-01
Éric Rohmer (1920) first challenged traditional Hollywood cinema with his French New Wave cycle of films, "Six Moral Tales," which he completed in 1972 before commencing another six-film cycle, "Comedies and Proverbs," each based on a different proverb.
Based on the proverb, "on ne saurait penser à rien" ("it is impossible to think about nothing"), The Aviator's Wife (La femmme de l'aviateur) (1981) is the first in Rohmer's insightful "Comedies & Proverbs" film series. It tells the story of an obsessively-jealous young man, Francois (Phillippe Marlaud), who believes his lover, Anne (Marie Rivière), is cheating on him with her airline-pilot ex, Christian (Mathieu Carrière). Christian, we learn, has visited Anne early one morning only to tell her he is returning to his wife. While wandering the streets of Paris, Francois encounters a 15-year-old girl, Lucie (Anne-Laure Meury), and they decide to follow Christian, who is with a blonde woman. Rich in relationship dialogue, like many of Rohmer's films, the Aviator's Wife illustrates how the course of love never did run smooth, particularly for his young Parisian characters. Hopefully Criterion will remaster Rohmer's "Comedies and Proverbs" series, and then offer it as a boxed collection similar its "Six Moral Tales" boxed set.
G. Merritt
One of Rohmer's most puzzling films........2007-07-24
Once you know Rohmer's medieval Catholic mindset, there are certain pointers that let you know if Rohmer likes a character or not -- a character is basically decent if they respect laws, both heavenly and earthly, they want to marry or at least find true love instead of just flitting around, they drink tea, they'll take menial jobs without complaint, etc.
With that in mind, how to decode Francois in The Aviator's Wife, played by Philippe Marlaud? Could this maddeningly ambiguous character be the closest Rohmer has come to a self-portrait? Francois is studying law, and working to support himself, both good qualities in the ethical schema of Rohmer. But at the same time he is seemingly a blind fool, wasting his time chasing after women who don't love him. Mainly Anne, played by Marie Riviere, a bitter shrew who is hopelessly in love with the titular aviator -- who in turn claims to be married with a pregnant wife. This makes Francois jealous.
The second section of the film takes place during an idyllic afternoon Francois spends with a younger girl, playing Sherlock Holmes together and trailing the aviator. When Francois is together with this girl who calls herself "Lucie" -- she could be lying -- there is a powerful feeling of Adam and Eve reborn. But even this bubbly, chirpy Eve turns out to be a manipulator with the obscurest of motives. Check out the prominent alligator logo on her Izod shirt. In this case, Eve IS the serpent. And listen closely to her dialogue. Several times, the overimaginative Lucie suggests that Francois is going to kill either Anne or the aviator, like she's trying to put ideas in his head. Later, when Francois visits Anne in her apartment, we realize that indeed this grotesque, moronic woman is eminently killable, thanks to the brilliantly unsympathetic performance of Marie Riviere. Francois even has to stop himself and say, "I'm not going to kill you, but..."
Lucie ( as in Lucie-fer? ) is the character that exists in almost every Rohmer film, the one I call The Facilitator, who gives bad advice to the lead and tries to make them fall from grace. My favorite example is the diabolical Octave from Full Moon in Paris, but often there are several Facilitators -- in Claire's Knee, for instance, everyone gangs up to make Jean-Claude Brialy reveal his vicious streak. Here it's the young girl, Lucie. By playing along with Francois' obsession, Lucie leads him into a potentially deadly confrontation with the infuriating tease Anne. Then, when that fails, Anne sends him back to Lucie, who, as we discover, not only has a boyfriend, though she pretended not to, but whose boyfriend is a friend of Francois! It's almost like they are trying to drive Francois insane, to undermine any sense of reality. "I feel like I'm in a dream" he says at one point. The question becomes, do Lucie and Anne know each other somehow? We know that Lucie's boyfriend took a letter from Francois to Anne earlier that day, so perhaps a conversation took place between either the boyfriend and Lucie, or the boyfriend and Lucie and Anne. Rohmer leaves it open, but somehow Lucie became curious about Francois and followed him, pretending that she just met him by accident. At the end of the film, we can tell that Francois has forgotten Anne and has a new, more powerful enigma to unravel, that may very well cost him his mind. Sequel, please!
Francois is very close to the "detective" characters in the films of Jacques Rivette, who suspect that they're surrounded by a vast conspiracy. I also thought of Jeffrey in Blue Velvet. He is half-awake ( he's a narcoleptic, practically a sleepwalker ) but in a way, that is still better than being treacherous, like everyone else around him. Aren't the innocents always the ones left in the dark? After all, the ones who know only "know" because they're pulling something on someone else.
Francois starts out wanting love, and then becomes consumed by unsolveable mysteries. We're left wondering if he'll go too far, or if he'll be protected by his slightly dim but thoroughly decent character. One thing's for sure -- only a holy fool would dare venture into the realms of Lucie.
Magical Cinema.......2007-07-04
This is a magical piece of film from Eric Rohmer. We spend a day following our characters around, traipsing across the XIXe arrondissement, sitting in cafes, avoiding thunder-storms. In typical Rohmer-fashion the end result is dubitable, unresolved, open-ended, undetermined -- just like real life! It is a little sketch, but suggestive of all the possibilities of the world. There is the constant sense, as in a Dutch landscape, of how the roads lead on beyond the visible horizon: the characters live their lives and we are but granted to look in at them for an hour or two. The illusion is so great that the curtain's coming-up comes as a shock - I had forgotten I was only watching a movie.
The film is also sadly our only chance to see the young lead (Philippe Marlaud) who managed to get himself killed in a camping accident a few months later.
The subtitles on the DVD are very inaccurate unfortunately. If you have any French, you would do well to turn them off.
Typical Rohmer fare.......2007-02-18
This is a typical Rohmer film, talky, dealing mostly about relationships between men and women. It was the first Rohmer film I saw, and it's not among his best, but is a very good introduction to his work (I think he has proven a much better director when he has tried to put his idiosyncratic take on historical subjects, such as in Perceval, Triple Agent and The Lady and the Duke). In this film, Philippe Marlaud (a young actor who unfortunately died a few months after this film was released in a freak accident) is jealous that his somewhat older girlfriend (Marie Riviere, a Rohmer regular) has been meeting against her previous flame, the titular aviator. (The aviator's wife, incidentally, does not appear in the film except in a photograph). He has catch the aviator coming out of Riviere's apartment, so he sets himself to discreetly follow him. For that endeavor, he accidentally enlists a very quirky high school student (Anne Laure Meury). The heart of the film occurs when they follow the aviator and a blond woman they believe is his wife. As it would later turn out, things are not what they appear. You can enjoy this movie for its dialogue, and for the performances, but it is also true that there is a certain question of what was Rohmer's point in this movie (which happens in a lot in his movies). Some critics bring up great philosophical questions, but even if this is true, most people won't catch them.
Fear of Intimacy.......2007-01-25
Anne wants to prove to herself and the world that she's defective and unlovable by choosing men whom she knows are either unavailable (married pilot) or whom she can easily manipulate (20 year old Francois). She says/admits she's a "maneater" and poor Francois is so hungry for love that he denies reality to keep his fantasy alive. A nice coming of age movie and according to Enigma, "to learn to live and love - that's what we are here for."
Average customer rating:
- "You're a hundred and five pounds of freight. Freight doesn't talk."
- A Middle of the Road Survival/Coming of Age film
- THE AVIATOR-CHRISTOPHER REEVE-1985
- Flight of Survival
- Reeve and Arquette really shine.
|
The Aviator
Starring:
Christopher Reeve ,
Rosanna Arquette ,
Jack Warden ,
Sam Wanamaker , and
Scott Wilson
Director:
George Miller
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
Disaster Films
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Romantic Adventure
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Love & Romance
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
| Crumbling Marriages
| Erotic
| Infidelity & Betrayal
| Love Story
| Love Triangle
| Marriage
| Romance
| Romantic Epic
| Star-Crossed Lovers
| Unrequited Love
| Young Love
Arquette, Rosanna
| ( A )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Daly, Tyne
| ( D )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Reeve, Christopher
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Strassman, Marcia
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Wanamaker, Sam
| ( W )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Warden, Jack
| ( W )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Wilson, Scott
| ( W )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Miller, George
| ( M )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
All MGM Titles
| MGM Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
4-for-3 All DVDs
| 4-for-3 DVD
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $7.49
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
General
| Action & Adventure
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
( A )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
The Aviator (Two-Disc Special Edition)
-
Rear Window
-
The Bostonians - The Merchant Ivory Collection
-
Deathtrap
-
Mortal Sins
ASIN: B00005V9HP
Release Date: 2002-04-16 |
Description
Christopher Reeve (Superman) and Rosanna Arquette (Pulp Fiction) star in this thrilling post-World War I drama about survival, romance and the resilience of the human spirit. Co-starring OscarÂ(r) nominee* Jack Warden (The Replacements) and Tyne Daly ("Judging Amy"), The Aviator soars with adventure. As a solo pilot for the nation's newly-formed airmail service, Edgar Anscombe (Reeve), a man haunted by a tragic memory, has made a career of keeping tohimself over the years. But one day he's unexpectedly assigned an involuntary passenger: the rebellious and outspoken Tillie Hansen (Arquette), whose unrelenting impudence drives Edgar crazy! But when their plane is forced to crash-land in a rugged and desolate mountain canyon, the unlikely companions find they have only one source of hope against the excruciating elements, the savage wilderness and a pack of hungry wolves: each other! *Supporting Actor, Heaven Can Wait (1978); Shampoo (1975)
Customer Reviews:
"You're a hundred and five pounds of freight. Freight doesn't talk.".......2007-06-21
We all know that Christopher Reeve never got a chance to make a lot of movies in his career. Filmwise, he'll always be remembered best, of course, for his iconic Man of Steel role. And, after that, probably for his terrific romantic fantasy SOMEWHERE IN TIME. But, sandwiched in between the decent SUPERMAN III and the crappy SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE, Reeve made a now obscure 1985 picture titled THE AVIATOR. It's an okay adventure film, if hokey and by the numbers. In this one, Reeve may not have on his classic red cape, but he still manages to soar in the sky.
Here comes the plot: A decade after surviving a horrible airplane mishap which kills his student, ex-Army Air Corps flight instructor Edgar Anscombe (Chris Reeve) has changed careers and is now an air mail pilot. But, still, that tragic event haunts him. His guilt isolates him from everyone, so he's not exactly full of cheer when he learns of his teenaged airplane passenger Tillie Hansen (Rosanna Arquette). From the get go, the taciturn Anscombe and the bratty Tillie don't get along (even her father dubs her "an affliction"), and Anscombe cannot wait to dump off his irritating cargo. But when a mechanic's negligence causes their plane to crash land into the wilderness, Anscombe and Tillie must pool resources as they endure an unforgiving climate, various injuries, and hostile predators. Thru all this, they'll strive to reach civilization. That's if they don't kill each other first.
So, the story's certainly not new. In fact, THE AVIATOR is reminiscent of, if not as entertaining as, HIGH ROAD TO CHINA - which was released two years before (1983). Both films take place in the same post-World War 1 era and center on a gruff pilot and his unwanted female passenger. It's a bit weird to watch Reeve sporting a mustache and a scar on his mug, but you get used to it, and he does turn in a perfectly fine performance. He's the best and, probably, the only reason to watch this film.
Those who've only known Reeve as a mild-mannered reporter and a polite superhero will be startled at his ungracious, 180 degree turn here as the resentful and cantankerous pilot. Those who've followed his film career, of course, are already in the know about the range of his acting talent. Not that it takes great skill to play an embittered chap, mind you, but Reeve manages it divertingly well. When he calls Tillie a "stupid little brat" you can quite imagine the spittle spray out with the venom. It's so much fun witnessing a mean Christopher Reeve that it's almost a bummer when he begins acting civilized and gentlemanly. Rosanna Arquette is okay as the petulant gabfest of a girl Tillie. By that, I mean she doesn't get on my nerves too much. She and Reeve does have a kind of chemistry, but I don't know if I can call it a romantic chemistry. The film was a tad wishy washy when it came to hooking these two up as an item.
As a theatrically released feature, THE AVIATOR is decidedly lacking in scope and big movie sensibilities. Instead, this would've been an ideal television movie. The 1928 setting is mostly wasted as the two leads spend a huge amount of screen time in the wilderness, an environment which does little to generate that sense of cliffhangery pulp nostalgia. The film, when not on our two leads, focuses on the distraught supporting roles as they do their token bits with the fretting and the sending out of search parties. I found these scenes to be all too trite and boring. In my opinion, there just wasn't enough to work with, plot-wise, script-wise, hazard-wise. Which brings me to what I feel is another flaw. Other than the wolves, I didn't get any real sense of jeopardy in the wilderness scenes, nothing which made me believe that, uh oh, these guys might not make it, after all. The tension really could've been ratcheted up much more. Instead, what I got was a bland Grizzly Adams sort of vibe.
Now, if you're gonna slack off on the suspense route, then you need to have an interesting character study. We don't exactly have that here. Oh, Christopher Reeve's role is intriguing, don't get me wrong, but the person he plays off against the most (meaning Tillie) isn't on the same par as he. And that's probably because Tillie is a one note character. Add to that Arquette's mediocre acting and the result is a display of interpersonal dynamics between the two that just isn't, well, dynamic. So, lamentably, the story suffers from predictability, from languid pacing, and from a lack of spirit, of that sense of high adventure. Ultimately, the film squanders Chistopher Reeve's angry but engaging performance. So, a grudging three stars for THE AVIATOR, which, at least, is better than SUPERMAN IV. With not a lot of choices in films for Chris Reeve fans, this flick just about falls into the must see category. But, honestly, if you crave high flying pulp adventure done up 1930s style, then you might as well go with HIGH ROAD TO CHINA.
A Middle of the Road Survival/Coming of Age film.......2005-05-13
Christopher Reeve plays an airmail pilot who has to carry a passenger. Rosanna Arquette is that passenger and she is a spoiled teenager being sent away to live with relatives because she has "disgraced the family". The two take an instant diliking to each other. The situation changes, though, when their plane crashes in the mountains and it looks like they are about to become Purina Wolf Chow.
Both of the characters are changed by their ordeal. He learns to put away some of the baggage from surviving a training flight 10 years earlier. She matures without losing her independant mindset and outspoken ways. Their crash, fight for survival and trek through the mountains makes them put their differences aside and depend on each other.
This film is certainly not the best survival film nor is it the best plane crash movie nor does it even approach being a great love story. It is, however, well done and entertaining. Fans of Christopher Reeve will enjoy it as will fans of Rosanna Arquette. It is a good movie even if it is not a great one.
THE AVIATOR-CHRISTOPHER REEVE-1985.......2005-03-08
Not to be confuse with the new movie that's out.But this is a very interesting REEVE movie.When his plane is forced to crash-land in a rugged and desolate mountain canyon,the unlikely companions find they have only one source of hope against the savage wilderness and hungry wolves.Co-starring is Rosanna Arquette..as..Tillie,a rebellious & outspoken woman.Mr.Reeve
and Ms Arquette play off of each other very well.On dvd in widescreen..gives it the SCOPE of the mountains.It's a pretty well down flick.
Flight of Survival.......2004-10-14
When former WWI pilot instructor Christopher Reeve crashes his biplane with Rosanna Arquette aboard, it is more than a matter of survivial. Arquette plays a spoiled society girl that happened to need a ride so bad she paid to ride with his mail run. When they crash in the mountains it is a test of personalities as well as survival. Reeve and Arquette are great. Although not as much fun as "High Road To China", it is still a great movie. Fans of Christopher Reeve should definitely get it. This is ninety-seven minutes of survival and relationships training. Reeve's and Arquette do such a good job in their roles of pilot and society girl that you will wonder why you hadn't heard of this movie before. I highly recommend it. The picture and sound quality are excellent. To bad it doesn't include any commentary or documentary. It is still worth adding to your DVD collection. One of my favorite Christopher Reeve movies. I had not heard of it before I saw it in a store. I bought it as a gamble and it paid off. Get it whether you are a fan of Reeve's, Arquette's, airplanes, survival shows, or just good movies.
Reeve and Arquette really shine........2002-04-20
The plot of this survival movie is adequate. But where the movie really shines is in the relationship between Reeve and Arquette and the changes they inspire in each other. If you are a Reeve or Arquette fan then this should be a must have. If you're not a fan you may well be after watching this film.
Customer Reviews:
Boeing and Lockheed founders aviation accomplishments.......2007-02-19
The video does a great job of sharing the accomplishments of William Boeing and Alan and Malcolm Longhead (founders of Lockheed). While made in 2005, the 95 minute video does not share much of the industry activities that in many cases shaped the priorities of these three aviation pioneers. For those seeking information about these three aviation pioneers this will be a great video. For those seeking video of events during aviation's golden years, you should also be delighted. For those as interested in the broader industries activities beyond Boeing and Lockheed, the video will leave you wanting more.
Description
Disc 1: THE DEPARTED Pure dynamite! The taut, terrific tale of two cops - one a lawman inside the mob, one a mob informant on the force. Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson and Mark Wahlberg star. 5 Academy Awards (2004): Best Supporting Actress/Cate Blanchett, Cinematography, Film Editing, Art Direction/Set Decoration, Costume Design Disc 2: THE AVIATOR An epic tale and an epic life -- the thrilling story of filmmaker, playboy, daredevil and aviation innovator Howard Hughes. Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, Alec Baldwin, John C. Reilly and Alan Alda star. Disc 3: GOODFELLAS The electrifying, fact-inspired tale of living - and dying - The Life. Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco and Paul Sorvino star. Academy Award® Winner (1990): Best Supporting Actor/Joe Pesci
Customer Reviews:
This is gonna be good!.......2007-06-28
First of all, if you're a die hard fan stop reading this now because no matter what you idiots are going to buy it anyway! Second of all, every body knows that this is just releasing the same discs again in a fancy collection box! Now let's analyze the films in this collection:
The Departed 4\5
Great movie great acting for the most part but not always great! Must own simply because it another Scorsese mob movie!
The Aviator 4\5
Great movie but not the best, Mean Streets would have been a better addition!
GoodFellas 6\5
Best of ALL!!! Joe Pesci is a god when it comes to tough guy roles!!!
It's more expensive but you should just get the Scorsese collection Vol.2 it's all of these with Mean Streets!!!
Amazon.com
Howard Hughes: The Real Aviator is powerful, razor-sharp storytelling, an unsettling documentary built around Hughes's own recollections written during his final years of bizarre reclusiveness. Using newsreel footage, smart visual effects, and interviews with wife Terry Moore, close friend Jack Real, and key aides and executives from Hughes's sundry enterprises, The Real Aviator tells the almost improbable tale of the strapping Texan who transformed, at age 19, his late father's successful Hughes Tool Company into a colossal enterprise for cutting-edge aircraft and Hollywood film production. A daring pilot and driven captain of industry, Hughes built the planes that allowed him to break every speed record imaginable, created Trans-World Airlines (TWA), and moved heaven and earth to invent his fantastic "flying boat" while under government contract--the latter, dubious achievement (along with a near-lethal plane crash) triggering his long descent into mental illness and horrifying isolation. An essential film about a mythic American figure. --Tom Keogh
Description
An award-winning new film exploring his extraordinary life on a DVD packed with special features!
Winner: "Grand Festival Award" for Best Documentary at the 2004 Berkeley Video & Film Festival.
In Howard Hughes: The Real Aviator, Howard Hughes tells his own story for the first time. Through his own words, taken from his actual memos, conversations and interviews, the man who broke aviation records, survived three plane crashes, built RKO Studios and TWA and changed the face of Las Vegas forever comes to life in this thoroughly engrossing film. This film digs deeper into his life and his impact on modern aviation than any other and it's loaded with fantastic extras!
DVD EXTRAS!
• HUGHES CONQUERS HOLLYWOOD: From Playboy to Producer
The premiere of Hells Angels (the world's largest film premiere)
Original trailers for Hells Angels, Conqueror and Jet Fighter
• HUGHES TAKES ON THE U.S. GOVERNMENT: Rare and dramatic testimony directly from Hughes
• THE FLYING BOAT: WORLD'S LARGEST PLANE — Hughes' grandest achievement
• THE CONSTELLATION: The plane that changed passenger aviation
• HUGHES IN FLIGHT: Redigitized and spectacular aviation footage of Howard Hughes, "The Real Aviator"
• HUGHES AIRCRAFT HEADQUARTERS: Newly filmed footage of the famous headquarters in Culver City, California
• PHOTO GALLERY: Rare collection including Hughes' only known color photo
PLUS!! Never-before-disclosed revelations from those who knew him best
• TERRY MOORE: Hughes' wife and keeper of his legacy
• GEORGE FRANCOM: Member of the often referred to "Mormon Mafia" and Hughes' personal aide and link to the outside world until the day he died
• ROBERT MAHEU: Spearheaded Hughes' Vegas takeover; though they were in contact every day, they never met face-to-face
• JACK REAL: Hughes' lifelong, closest friend and only outside confidante
Customer Reviews:
MR. HUGHES A MAN WITH TALENT&W/LITTLE RESPECT........2007-02-21
I LOVED THIS DVD. I HAVE THE MOST RESPECT MR. HUGHES. HE WAS A MAN THAT WASN'T GIVEN THE RESPECT THAT HE TRUELLY DESERVED.HE WAS AND STILL IS THE REAL AVIATOR.HE LOVED FLYING.AND WATCHING THE DVD YOU WILL GET THE FEEL FOR THE PASSION JUST AS HE DID.HE WAS A HANDSOME, TALENTED MAN. THERE WILL NEVER BE ANYONE THAT CAN COMPARE TO THE MR. AMAZING HOWARD HUGHES. IF YOU ARE A FAN AND INTRESTED IN LEARNING MORE ON HUGHES THEN START HERE THEN WORK YOUR UP TO HIS BOOKS. STARTING WITH THE ONE WRITTEN BY MR.NOAH DIETRICH AND YOU'LL HAVE THE SAME PASSION AS HE DID FOR FLYING AND FOR MOVIES.. HOW COULD SOMEONE W/SO MUCH TALENT GET LESS THEN WHAT HE TRUELY DESERVES? BUY THIS DVD AND YOU'LL SEE EXCATLY WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.I AM A TRUE FAN OF HOWARD HUGHES.........
Fabulous footage; lousy presentation.......2007-01-06
On balance, a downer. With all this material, fantastic film footage from Hughes' heyday, it was very disappointing to listen to the fake "autobiographical" memoirs, which were both imaginary and poorly imagined. Besides being delivered in a voice and manner which in no way appeared to match the features, character or speech of the real man. The film, and the accompanying bits and pieces, are still interesting in spite of this, but one was constantly aware of how very much better the whole treatment could have been. There has to be a much better and more genuinely understanding account of Hughes' life out there somewhere. What does come across is that Hughes was a very likeable man, who came to an extremely tragic end.
No new info but still entertaining .......2005-07-06
Wasn't completely blown away by the documentary. IF you are a fan of his flying and ground breaking aircraft production, then the footage on this DVD is worth buying.
I agree with the other review, the narration w/ the texan accent and over use of old timers soundtrack makes the THE REAL AVIATOR not a classic or must have. If you are looking for tons of info about his death, vegas empire, etc then this DVD will not satify your appetite. The movie talks a lot about his life in aviation which made me buy it and watch it a lot.
Yeah, 5 stars, but it's not "Citizen Kane".......2005-04-11
This is a great documentary on the life of Howard Hughes. No lifespan can be fully covered in 110 minutes, so if you want every detail, I would suggest a book instead.
However, if you want the "big picture" - and Howard was big in more ways that one - then this is a great DVD. It briefly covers his boyhood and developing love for airplanes and flying, his movie-making business, world-record-setting flights for both speed and distance, and his business and military aircraft designs.
Interspersed with the first-person narration are interviews with personal friends, ex-wives and business partners. They seem genuinely moved at the memory of Howard, who turned out to be a reclusive, drug-addicted loner in the end.
No matter how strangely Howard lived his later years, he was a true aviation pioneer, made some very big contributions to the industry, and ended up giving his fortune to a medical/science fund.
On a side note, I actually stood on top of the flying boat (the "HK-1", called the "Hercules" but popularized as "the Spruce Goose" due to its wood construction) when it was on display in the dome at Long Beach. I knew the security person involved, and it was wholey unauthorized :-)
Disappointing Supplement to Howard Hughes' Story.......2005-03-14
Like many reviewers, my interest in Howard Hughes is ignited on account of Scorsese's engaging movie, "The Aviator", and I bought this DVD, along with Hell's Angels, from amazon.com, in a bid to heighten my knowledge base on the tragic mogul. However, this documentary was unduly disappointing. While it gave selected rare footages and interviews with Hughes' family/friend/business associates*, it was brief and did little to offer a well-rounded picture of Hughes' incredible life story. Conversely, Hell's Angels was good watching as it gave viewers a glimpse into Hughes' seriousness and dedication as a filmaker, like his insistence in doing his own stunts when no hired pilot would risk their lives for, amongst other technical details that went into making the movie an epic of its time.
As many reviewers would attest, the best way to learn about Hughes would be to peruse the best biographies out there, notably "Howard Hughes: His Life & Madness" by Donald L. Barlett and "Howard Hughes: The Untold Story" by Peter Harry Brown. These two books probably provided key background information to the screenplay of the exceptional cinematic depiction of Hughes' life. The difference is that "His Life & Madness" focussed more on Hughes' business dealings whilst "The Untold Story" zeroed in on his private persona & escapades, but both of which are well-researched page-turners, filling any gaping voids in our pursuit to complete the study of Hughes' life, feats and loves.
*The books may steer readers to the conclusion that certain interviewees may have been "convenient" with the truth. I shan't mention any names here but it was implicated that at least one of the so-called close aides/family of Hughes interviewed for the purpose of this DVD successfully got a slice of his empire/wealth by years of skilful, pre-meditated plotting. Curious? Read the books and be your own sleuth!
Product Description
Features never before seen archival film and photographs, memebers of the Flight and Engineer Crews, exclusive restoration footage and special, behind-the-scenes access inside the Flying Boat.
EXTRA FEATURES-
1. Flying Boat Tour
2. Photo History Slideshow
3. Time Lapse of Disassembly and Reassembly
4. James MAcNamara's 1947 Radio Broadcast
Customer Reviews:
Everything I Wanted to Know, and More.......2007-08-25
The Hughes flying boat, popularly known as the Spruce Goose, has been shrouded in mystery for decades before finally going on public display. This video has LOTS of information, including original footage of the only flight, from inside the cockpit and outside, construction details, and footage of Howard Hughes himself.. The story is very thoroughly presented, right up to the the most recent move to the museum in Oregon. With all the video, and a very extensive gallery of stills, this DVD may well contain virtually everything that exists on this unique aircraft. I'm well satisfied!
Product Description
Wings Over Water tells the whole story of the critical role naval aviation played in making the US a world power. Combining newly found archival footage from some of the biggest battles with lively interviews with veterans who were there, Wings Over Water conveys more than the facts: it is an emotional, powerful, heart rending story that still affects us today.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2005-08-12
I was waiting for this to come out on DVD. I first recorded this when it was presented on PBS more than 10 years ago. I watched the tape so many times that it wore out.
An excellent documentary of the history of US Naval Aviation. It spans the beginnings from WWI era biplanes landing on the first carriers through the modern day. But most of the time is devoted to when the Americans and Japanese were locking horns during WWII. Very well told.
Product Description
Disc 1 - Movie & Commentary by Martin Scorsese
Disc 2 - Special Features - Additional Scene.
DVD:
- The Big Hit
- The Cannonball Run
- The Cassandra Crossing
- The Cat - Gogen Yamaguchi, 10th Dan
- The Caveman's Valentine
- The Illusionist (Widescreen Edition)
- The Incredible Hulk Returns / The Trial of the Incredible Hulk
- The Incredible Hulk: The Complete Second Season
- The Light at the Edge of the World
- The Mod Squad: The First Season Vol 1
DVD
DVD
Million Dollar Baby (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Ray (Widescreen Edition)
Catch Me If You Can (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Features)
Gangs of New York (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Sideways (Widescreen Edition)
From Hollywood's legendary Cocoanut Grove to the pioneering conquest of the wild blue yonder, Martin Scorsese's The Aviator celebrates old-school filmmaking at its finest. We say "old school" only because Scorsese's love of golden-age Hollywood is evident in his approach to his subject--Howard Hughes in his prime (played by Leonardo DiCaprio in his)--and especially in his technical mastery of the medium reflecting his love for classical filmmaking of the studio era. Even when he's using state-of-the-art digital trickery for the film's exciting flight scenes (including one of the most spectacular crashes ever filmed), Scorsese's meticulous attention to art direction and costume design suggests an impassioned pursuit of craftsmanship from a bygone era; every frame seems to glow with gilded detail. And while DiCaprio bears little physical resemblance to Hughes during the film's 20-year span (late 1920s to late '40s), he efficiently captures the eccentric millionaire's golden-boy essence, and his tragic descent into obsessive-compulsive seclusion. Bolstered by Cate Blanchett's uncannily accurate portrayal of Katharine Hepburn as Hughes' most beloved lover, The Aviator is easily Scorsese's most accessible film, inviting mainstream popularity without compromising Scorsese's artistic reputation. As compelling crowd-pleasers go, it's a class act from start to finish. --Jeff Shannon
