The Aviator (2-Disc Full Screen Edition)

The Aviator (2-Disc Full Screen Edition)


Starring:Alan Alda, Alec Baldwin, Kate Beckinsale, Cate Blanchett, Frances Conroy, Willem Dafoe, Stanley DeSantis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kelli Garner, Edward Herrmann, Ian Holm, Danny Huston, Jude Law, John C. Reilly, Matt Ross, Adam Scott, Brent Spiner, Gwen Stefani, Kenneth Welsh
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com

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


DVD Features
In his commentary track, director Martin Scorsese offers his own impressions of Howard Hughes and rattles off his memories of experiencing Hughes's films. He mentions how he made Cate Blanchett watch every Katharine Hepburn film from the '30s on the big screen, and observes that Kate Beckinsale had "a real sense of the stature of a Hollywood goddess." But in general he doesn't talk much about the craft of making the film. That area is covered better by editor Thelma Schoonmaker, who also appears on the commentary track, and producer Michael Mann makes a few appearances (all were recorded separately). The picture is brilliant, but the 5.1 sound is not as aggressive in the rear speakers and subwoofer as one might expect, other than some nice surround effects in the Hell's Angels flying sequence.

The second disc collects almost three hours of features. There's one unnecessary deleted scene, and an 11-minute making-of featurette that's basically the cast and director heaping praise on each other. More interesting are the short featurettes on visual effects (including the XF-11 scene, of course), production design, costumes, hair and makeup, and score, and Loudon Wainwright discusses his and his children's musical performances. Historical perspective is provided by spotlights on Hughes's role in aviation and his obsessive-compulsive disorder, and a 43-minute Hughes documentary from the History Channel (part of the Modern Marvels series, it focuses on his mechanical innovations and spends less than a minute on his movies). More unusual are DiCaprio and Scorsese's appearance on an OCD panel, and a half-hour interview segment DiCaprio did with Alan Alda. --David Horiuchi

The Personalities of The Aviator

Click the links to explore more movies by these stars.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes
"Sometimes I truly fear that I... am losing my mind. And if I did it... it would be like flying blind."
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

The Aviator (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • A film that takes flight and soars above the rest...
  • A Great Work of Art
  • Come Fly with Hughes, Scorsese and Di Caprio (4.5 stars)
  • TWA - - The Way of the Future!!! All aboard!!!
  • Amazing movie!
 The Aviator (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Alan Alda , Alec Baldwin , Kate Beckinsale , Cate Blanchett , and Frances Conroy
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
BiographyBiography | By Theme | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
Period PiecePeriod Piece | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
Alda, AlanAlda, Alan | ( A ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Baldwin, AlecBaldwin, Alec | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Beckinsale, KateBeckinsale, Kate | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Blanchett, CateBlanchett, Cate | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Caprio, Leonardo DiCaprio, Leonardo Di | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Dafoe, WillemDafoe, Willem | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
DiCaprio, LeonardoDiCaprio, Leonardo | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Herrmann, EdwardHerrmann, Edward | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Holm, IanHolm, Ian | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Law, JudeLaw, Jude | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Reilly, John CReilly, John C | ( R ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Ross, MattRoss, Matt | ( R ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Scott, AdamScott, Adam | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Spiner, BrentSpiner, Brent | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Welsh, KennethWelsh, Kenneth | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
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Similar Items:
  1. Million Dollar Baby (Two-Disc Special Edition)
  2. Crash (Widescreen Edition)
  3. Ray (Widescreen Edition)
  4. National Treasure (Widescreen Edition)
  5. Good Night, and Good Luck (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00080ZG10
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Product 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.
Running Time: 170 min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

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


DVD Features
In his commentary track, director Martin Scorsese offers his own impressions of Howard Hughes and rattles off his memories of experiencing Hughes's films. He mentions how he made Cate Blanchett watch every Katharine Hepburn film from the '30s on the big screen, and observes that Kate Beckinsale had "a real sense of the stature of a Hollywood goddess." But in general he doesn't talk much about the craft of making the film. That area is covered better by editor Thelma Schoonmaker, who also appears on the commentary track, and producer Michael Mann makes a few appearances (all were recorded separately). The picture is brilliant, but the 5.1 sound is not as aggressive in the rear speakers and subwoofer as one might expect, other than some nice surround effects in the Hell's Angels flying sequence.

The second disc collects almost three hours of features. There's one unnecessary deleted scene, and an 11-minute making-of featurette that's basically the cast and director heaping praise on each other. More interesting are the short featurettes on visual effects (including the XF-11 scene, of course), production design, costumes, hair and makeup, and score, and Loudon Wainwright discusses his and his children's musical performances. Historical perspective is provided by spotlights on Hughes's role in aviation and his obsessive-compulsive disorder, and a 43-minute Hughes documentary from the History Channel (part of the Modern Marvels series, it focuses on his mechanical innovations and spends less than a minute on his movies). More unusual are DiCaprio and Scorsese's appearance on an OCD panel, and a half-hour interview segment DiCaprio did with Alan Alda. --David Horiuchi

The Personalities of The Aviator

Click the links to explore more movies by these stars.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes
"Sometimes I truly fear that I... am losing my mind. And if I did it... it would be like flying blind."
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

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars A Great Work of Art.......2007-05-02

One of the greatest compliments to any film, IMHO, is when it can be called a great work of art. And this one is just that, a great work of art. Leonardo DiCaprio was great, as usual, in this film. I've read, in some places, that the film took a few liberties with facts about Hughes, but it's still a great film. It also highlights the rather unknown facts of Hughes' excentricities, OCD, which can be devastating for some, and greatly misunderstood by those around them. But the art and craftwork that went into creating the period are just fantastic.

5 out of 5 stars Come Fly with Hughes, Scorsese and Di Caprio (4.5 stars).......2007-04-25

"The Aviator" carries more similarities with earlier Martin Scorsese's masterpiece -- "The Raging Bull" -- than might be obvious at first viewing. Both the aviator and film producer Howard Hughes (Leonardo di Caprio) and the boxing pro champ Jake LaMotta (Robert de Niro in the 1980 movie) achieved much in their lives, but were prevented to reach even higher heights -- partly due to their own mistakes, partly due to circumstances that were against them. But the most striking similarity between the two films lies in the way Scorsese masterfully injected them with understated compassion with the characters -- Interestingly, even the names of the two Scorsese's favorite actors are similarly Italian.

There are some differences, too. While Jake LaMotta's demons are an integral part of the film and its events, Howard Hughes' mental illness does not really carry the film forward and is the main reason why "The Aviator" feels a little too long. But not too long, rest assured. You can devour it, time flies with it -- so irresistibly watchable this is. Also due to the stellar cast headed by di Caprio. And the word to Cate Blanchett -- when Katharine Hepburn, so far the only actress (or actor, for that matter) who owns 4 acting Oscars, passed away at 96 in 2003, it could not occur to many that in just a year there will be such a great incarnation of HERSELF on film.

Blanchett earned the Oscar of her own for this role and the film got four more statues, but the most prestigious ones went to Clint Eastwood's sombre and more intimate "Million Dollar Baby". Indeed, "The Aviator" has not as high emotional resonance as some other big prize winners and as such does not stay with you for days after you see it, but solely for its sheer, classy filmmaking craft it easily ranks among the best works of the century so far.

5 out of 5 stars TWA - - The Way of the Future!!! All aboard!!!.......2007-04-23

Wow.... just got done watch the Aviator, and that is one word I can absolutely describe the movie. The picture/scenes, for a minute I thought I was watching HD, but it was only 420p. I had to rub my eyes because I thought I was robbing HD :). Anyways, this movie by far, on a scale of 1 to 10. This movie is hmmm let me think a second, forget it, it breaks the SCALE! I couldn't believe my eyes through out the whole movie. Leo playing Howard, and here I thought he did an amazing job (which he did) in Blood Diamonds, but WOW!! Leo did an unbelievable acting job. At times, I was like, this is Howard Hughes!! Wow! The determination of Howard. The passion of Howard. The unwilling to give up on his Goal! Leo definitely brought out in Howard! It was shear entertainment! RENT ATLEAST! Just get to know Howard through Leo! But not be everything accurate of Howard, but you get the gist. I bought it and it was well spent, for $4? Come on! I just robbed someone! It was a great bargain!! I would give this movie 10 stars, 20 stars, no amount of stars would justify how great this movie was overall. I am impressed with the man that is called "Mr. Howard." The rest of the cast was just as good.... but Leo, wow, I felt like it was a one man show and it was him trying to let me to get to know who Mr. Howard was. And his eccentrics, felt so sorry for him especially at the end all naked with a bunch of tissue warzone. It undoubtablely (if thats even a word) the movie one have to watch. Great Job, Leo, might of not won an Oscar, but you definitely deserve an ovation of a great performance! RENT THIS MOVIE! OR BUY IT! Either way . . . you WIN!!!! :)

5 out of 5 stars Amazing movie!.......2007-04-11

I knew nothing about Howard Hughes before watching the movie, and I think this movie did a good job of introducing me to this historical figure. DiCaprio did an amazing job, his acting talents never cease to amaze me! Wonderful movie!
The Aviator (2-Disc Full Screen Edition)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • A film that takes flight and soars above the rest...
  • A Great Work of Art
  • Come Fly with Hughes, Scorsese and Di Caprio (4.5 stars)
  • TWA - - The Way of the Future!!! All aboard!!!
  • Amazing movie!
 The Aviator (2-Disc Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Alan Alda , Alec Baldwin , Kate Beckinsale , Cate Blanchett , and Frances Conroy
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
BiographyBiography | By Theme | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
Period PiecePeriod Piece | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
Alda, AlanAlda, Alan | ( A ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Baldwin, AlecBaldwin, Alec | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Beckinsale, KateBeckinsale, Kate | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Blanchett, CateBlanchett, Cate | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Caprio, Leonardo DiCaprio, Leonardo Di | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Dafoe, WillemDafoe, Willem | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
DiCaprio, LeonardoDiCaprio, Leonardo | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Herrmann, EdwardHerrmann, Edward | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Holm, IanHolm, Ian | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Law, JudeLaw, Jude | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Reilly, John CReilly, John C | ( R ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Ross, MattRoss, Matt | ( R ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Scott, AdamScott, Adam | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Spiner, BrentSpiner, Brent | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Welsh, KennethWelsh, Kenneth | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
DramaDrama | Warner Home Video | Studio Specials | Stores | DVD | Video
All TitlesAll Titles | Warner Home Video | Studio Specials | Stores | DVD | Video
DVDs Under $15DVDs Under $15 | Warner Home Video | Studio Specials | Stores | DVD | Video
Used DVDsUsed DVDs | Stores | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
( A )( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:
  1. Million Dollar Baby (Two-Disc Special Edition)
  2. Crash (Widescreen Edition)
  3. Ray (Widescreen Edition)
  4. National Treasure (Widescreen Edition)
  5. Good Night, and Good Luck (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00080ZG1A
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Amazon.com

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


DVD Features
In his commentary track, director Martin Scorsese offers his own impressions of Howard Hughes and rattles off his memories of experiencing Hughes's films. He mentions how he made Cate Blanchett watch every Katharine Hepburn film from the '30s on the big screen, and observes that Kate Beckinsale had "a real sense of the stature of a Hollywood goddess." But in general he doesn't talk much about the craft of making the film. That area is covered better by editor Thelma Schoonmaker, who also appears on the commentary track, and producer Michael Mann makes a few appearances (all were recorded separately). The picture is brilliant, but the 5.1 sound is not as aggressive in the rear speakers and subwoofer as one might expect, other than some nice surround effects in the Hell's Angels flying sequence.

The second disc collects almost three hours of features. There's one unnecessary deleted scene, and an 11-minute making-of featurette that's basically the cast and director heaping praise on each other. More interesting are the short featurettes on visual effects (including the XF-11 scene, of course), production design, costumes, hair and makeup, and score, and Loudon Wainwright discusses his and his children's musical performances. Historical perspective is provided by spotlights on Hughes's role in aviation and his obsessive-compulsive disorder, and a 43-minute Hughes documentary from the History Channel (part of the Modern Marvels series, it focuses on his mechanical innovations and spends less than a minute on his movies). More unusual are DiCaprio and Scorsese's appearance on an OCD panel, and a half-hour interview segment DiCaprio did with Alan Alda. --David Horiuchi

The Personalities of The Aviator

Click the links to explore more movies by these stars.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes
"Sometimes I truly fear that I... am losing my mind. And if I did it... it would be like flying blind."
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:

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars A Great Work of Art.......2007-05-02

One of the greatest compliments to any film, IMHO, is when it can be called a great work of art. And this one is just that, a great work of art. Leonardo DiCaprio was great, as usual, in this film. I've read, in some places, that the film took a few liberties with facts about Hughes, but it's still a great film. It also highlights the rather unknown facts of Hughes' excentricities, OCD, which can be devastating for some, and greatly misunderstood by those around them. But the art and craftwork that went into creating the period are just fantastic.

5 out of 5 stars Come Fly with Hughes, Scorsese and Di Caprio (4.5 stars).......2007-04-25

"The Aviator" carries more similarities with earlier Martin Scorsese's masterpiece -- "The Raging Bull" -- than might be obvious at first viewing. Both the aviator and film producer Howard Hughes (Leonardo di Caprio) and the boxing pro champ Jake LaMotta (Robert de Niro in the 1980 movie) achieved much in their lives, but were prevented to reach even higher heights -- partly due to their own mistakes, partly due to circumstances that were against them. But the most striking similarity between the two films lies in the way Scorsese masterfully injected them with understated compassion with the characters -- Interestingly, even the names of the two Scorsese's favorite actors are similarly Italian.

There are some differences, too. While Jake LaMotta's demons are an integral part of the film and its events, Howard Hughes' mental illness does not really carry the film forward and is the main reason why "The Aviator" feels a little too long. But not too long, rest assured. You can devour it, time flies with it -- so irresistibly watchable this is. Also due to the stellar cast headed by di Caprio. And the word to Cate Blanchett -- when Katharine Hepburn, so far the only actress (or actor, for that matter) who owns 4 acting Oscars, passed away at 96 in 2003, it could not occur to many that in just a year there will be such a great incarnation of HERSELF on film.

Blanchett earned the Oscar of her own for this role and the film got four more statues, but the most prestigious ones went to Clint Eastwood's sombre and more intimate "Million Dollar Baby". Indeed, "The Aviator" has not as high emotional resonance as some other big prize winners and as such does not stay with you for days after you see it, but solely for its sheer, classy filmmaking craft it easily ranks among the best works of the century so far.

5 out of 5 stars TWA - - The Way of the Future!!! All aboard!!!.......2007-04-23

Wow.... just got done watch the Aviator, and that is one word I can absolutely describe the movie. The picture/scenes, for a minute I thought I was watching HD, but it was only 420p. I had to rub my eyes because I thought I was robbing HD :). Anyways, this movie by far, on a scale of 1 to 10. This movie is hmmm let me think a second, forget it, it breaks the SCALE! I couldn't believe my eyes through out the whole movie. Leo playing Howard, and here I thought he did an amazing job (which he did) in Blood Diamonds, but WOW!! Leo did an unbelievable acting job. At times, I was like, this is Howard Hughes!! Wow! The determination of Howard. The passion of Howard. The unwilling to give up on his Goal! Leo definitely brought out in Howard! It was shear entertainment! RENT ATLEAST! Just get to know Howard through Leo! But not be everything accurate of Howard, but you get the gist. I bought it and it was well spent, for $4? Come on! I just robbed someone! It was a great bargain!! I would give this movie 10 stars, 20 stars, no amount of stars would justify how great this movie was overall. I am impressed with the man that is called "Mr. Howard." The rest of the cast was just as good.... but Leo, wow, I felt like it was a one man show and it was him trying to let me to get to know who Mr. Howard was. And his eccentrics, felt so sorry for him especially at the end all naked with a bunch of tissue warzone. It undoubtablely (if thats even a word) the movie one have to watch. Great Job, Leo, might of not won an Oscar, but you definitely deserve an ovation of a great performance! RENT THIS MOVIE! OR BUY IT! Either way . . . you WIN!!!! :)

5 out of 5 stars Amazing movie!.......2007-04-11

I knew nothing about Howard Hughes before watching the movie, and I think this movie did a good job of introducing me to this historical figure. DiCaprio did an amazing job, his acting talents never cease to amaze me! Wonderful movie!
The Aviator's Wife
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Magical Cinema
  • Typical Rohmer fare
  • Fear of Intimacy
  • Gift for an aviator
  • Rohmer knows relationships
 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
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ASIN: 1572525398
Release Date: 1999-06-15

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars 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.

4 out of 5 stars 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.

4 out of 5 stars 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."

4 out of 5 stars Gift for an aviator.......2007-01-05

This was actually purchased for my father who had it on his wish list.
He is an old Air Force guy and wanted it since he believed that it was more about flying.
In reality it's a story about relationships and human nature.
His wife appreciated the movie more than he did so all was not lost.
The lesson here is to read the reviews when possible to help make an informed decision.

4 out of 5 stars Rohmer knows relationships.......2004-08-30

In this bittersweet tale of disconnections and possibilities perhaps we have the essence of the art of Eric Rohmer. If you have only one Rohmer film to see, perhaps you ought to make it this one because it is so very, very French, so interestingly talkative (one of Rohmer's trademarks) and so very, very Rohmer.

The Aviator's wife, incidentally does not appear except in a photograph, but that is all to the point. Everything is a bit off stage in this intriguing drama: love especially is a bit off stage. And yet how all the participants yearn.

Marie Riviere stars as Anne who is in love with the aviator. We catch her just as she learns that he no longer wants her. He tells her that his wife is pregnant and so he must return to her. Meanwhile, she is being pestered by Francois (Philippe Marlaud) who is in love with her. However he is a little too young and "clinging." Truly she is not interested. It is a disconnection as far as she is concerned.

The heart of the film occurs when Francois is following the aviator and the blond woman. Francois is obsessive and jealous. He follows because...it isn't clear and he really doesn't know why except that this is the man that Anne loves. As it happens while he is following them he runs into a pretty fifteen-year-old (Lucie, played fetchingly by Anne-Laure Meury) who imagines that he is following her. She turns it into a game, and again we have a disconnection. She is fun and cute and full of life, but he cannot really see her because he pines for Anne. Meanwhile Anne of course is pining for the aviator.

Rohmer's intriguing little joke is about the aviator's wife. Who is she and what is she like? We can only imagine. And this is right. The woman imagines what the other woman is like, but never really knows unless she meets her.

Maire Riviere is only passably pretty, but she has gorgeous limbs and beautiful skin and a hypnotic way about her, which Rohmer accentuates in the next to the last scene in her apartment with Francois. We follow the talk between the two, of disconnection and off center possibilities, of friends and lovers with whom things are tantalizingly not exactly right and yet not tragically wrong. As we follow this talk we see that Anne's heart is breaking or has broken--and all the while we see her skin as Francois does. She wants to be touched, but not by him. And then she allows him to touch her, but only in comforting gestures, redirecting his hands away from amorous intent. And then she goes out with a man in whom she really has no interest.

Such is life, one might say. Rohmer certainly thinks so.

One thing I love about Rohmer's films is that you cannot predict where they will go. Another thing is his incredible attention to authentic detail about how people talk and how they feel without cliche and without any compromise with reality--Rohmer's reality of course, which I find is very much like the reality that I have experienced.

See this for Eric Rohmer whose entre into the world of cinema is substantial, original, and wonderfully evocative of what it is like to live in the modern world with an emphasis on personal relationships and love.
The American Aviator - The Howard Hughes Story
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Real Deal
 The American Aviator - The Howard Hughes Story
Starring: Howard Hughes-American Aviator
Manufacturer: Edi Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0006HBLIW
Release Date: 2005-08-24

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Real Deal.......2004-12-31

For those interested in the life of Howard Hughes, this is a better deal.

It is an unvarnished, straight documentary which tells Hughes' story without bells and whistles.

AND, as a real "easter egg," you get the entire released version of "The Outlaw" at no extra charge. See for yourself what all the fuss was about! (Hint: not really too much, at least by today's standards.)

The historian used here for credibility and gravitas is a little overly dramatic or sarcastic, but the narrator is great. The footage, though not as plentiful as in the other Hughes DVD for sale today, is very well-inserted and presented without distracting frills.

ENjoy!
The Aviator
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • "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
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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:

3 out of 5 stars "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.

3 out of 5 stars 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.

4 out of 5 stars 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.

4 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.
Wings Over Water
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent
 Wings Over Water
Starring: David Hoffman
Director: David Hoffman
Manufacturer: Varied Directions
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007UOB80
Release Date: 2004-10-08

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:

5 out of 5 stars 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.
The Aviator - 2 Disc Widescreen Edition
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		The Aviator - 2 Disc Widescreen Edition

    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

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    ASIN: B000FJGDS4

    Product Description

    Disc 1 - Movie & Commentary by Martin Scorsese Disc 2 - Special Features - Additional Scene.
    Howard Hughes - The Real Aviator
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • MR. HUGHES A MAN WITH TALENT&W/LITTLE RESPECT.
    • Fabulous footage; lousy presentation
    • No new info but still entertaining
    • Yeah, 5 stars, but it's not "Citizen Kane"
    • Disappointing Supplement to Howard Hughes' Story
    		 Howard Hughes - The Real Aviator
    Starring: Howard R. Hughes
    Manufacturer: Shout Factory
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

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    Similar Items:
    1. Howard Hughes' Hell's Angels
    2. Howard Hughes - The Man and The Madness
    3. Howard Hughes - His Life, Loves and Films
    4. The Passions of Howard Hughes
    5. The Aviator (Two-Disc Special Edition)

    ASIN: B00064AF64
    Release Date: 2004-11-16

    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:

    5 out of 5 stars 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.........

    2 out of 5 stars 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.

    3 out of 5 stars 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.

    5 out of 5 stars 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 :-)

    2 out of 5 stars 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!
    Charlie Rose with Martin Scorsese & Cate Blanchett; Jim Kelly. (December 16, 2004)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Charlie Rose with Martin Scorsese & Cate Blanchett; Jim Kelly. (December 16, 2004)

      Manufacturer: "Charlie Rose, Inc."
      ProductGroup: DVD
      Binding: DVD

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      ASIN: B000GAKUKY
      Release Date: 2006-08-10

      Description

      Director Martin Scorsese and actor Cate Blanchett discuss their new film, The Aviator, about billionaire aviation pioneer Howard Hughes. The film's six Golden Globe nominations include nominations for Blanchett and Scorsese. Also, Jim Kelly, Managing Editor of Time magazine talks to Charlie Rose about the selection process for the annual Person of the Year issue.
      Charlie Rose with Leonardo DiCaprio (February 4, 2005)
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Charlie Rose with Leonardo DiCaprio (February 4, 2005)

        Manufacturer: "Charlie Rose, Inc."
        ProductGroup: DVD
        Binding: DVD

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        ASIN: B000GAKUBI
        Release Date: 2006-08-10

        Description

        An hour-long conversation with Leonardo DiCaprio, just nominated for an Academy Award for best actor for his performance in "The Aviator."

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