The Aviator

Willow

for those who have seen it , worth a rent ? (when it comes out)
or is it mostly hype?

Thanks

Shizelbs

I thought it was great. I plan on buying it.

Willow

How the hell did this win 5 awards ( i think it was that amount)?

this was not a great movie what so ever they could have cut 1 hour and I would still have had the full effect.

AsSiMiLaTeD

I personally didn't like it much...but will admit it was probably a good movie...I just didn't like it.

I don't like these 'slice of life' movies too much...and I also don't like those artsy films all that much either...

I'm sure this movie was intelligent and all that stuff...I just didn't like it...

gmorris

I loved it. I don't know what 5 Academy Awards it won, but I don't care either. It was a great story.

The set designs & scenery was awesome. The crash scene was great and sounded super in 6.1.

It was a bit long (2 hours 40 minutes) but it never dragged. I'll admit it was a bit slow in the beginning, but most movies are that end up being almost 3 hours.

Being as I am only 27 years old, I knew nothing about Howard Hughes. I'd heard his name, and heard a thing or two about the "Spruce Goose", but that was it. I thought it was a great movie, very entertaining. That is what a movie is supposed to do, entertain.

Two swollen thumbs up from me.

Early B.

I thought it was a good movie, not great, but worth watching. Definitely a rental, I'd say. The actress that played Katie Hepburn did a great job. The actor who played HH was somewhat convincing, but there are plenty of other actors out there who could have done it better.

We enjoyed the extra feature which was a special they did on HH on the History Channel. I wasn't aware that he made so much of a technological impact in the aviation industry.

gregure

Originally posted by Early B.
The actress that played Katie Hepburn did a great job. The actor who played HH was somewhat convincing, but there are plenty of other actors out there who could have done it better.

You mean Cate Blanchett and Leonardo DiCaprio?
Follow movies much Early?

gmorris

Originally posted by gregure
You mean Cate Blanchett and Leonardo DiCaprio?
Follow movies much Early?

That DiCaprio fellow you speak of, has he been in any other movies?;)

But seriously, after watching it, I could not think of a single movie Cate Blanchett has been in. Know of any?

McLoki

From your friends at IMDB:

# The Aviator (2004) .... Katharine Hepburn
# The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) .... Jane Winslett-Richardson
# The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) .... Galadriel
# The Missing (2003/I) .... Maggie Gilkeson
# Coffee and Cigarettes (2003) .... Cate/Shelly (segment "Cousins")
# Veronica Guerin (2003) .... Veronica Guerin
# The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) .... Galadriel
# Heaven (2002) .... Philippa
# The Shipping News (2001) .... Petal Bear
# The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) .... Galadriel
# Bandits (2001) .... Kate Wheeler
# The Gift (2000) .... Annabelle 'Annie' Wilson
# The Man Who Cried (2000) .... Lola
# The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) .... Meredith Logue
# Pushing Tin (1999) .... Connie Falzone
# An Ideal Husband (1999) .... Lady Gertrude Chiltern
# Bangers (1999) .... Julie-Anne
# Elizabeth (1998) .... Elizabeth I
# Oscar and Lucinda (1997) .... Lucinda Leplastrier
# Thank God He Met Lizzie (1997) .... Lizzie
# Paradise Road (1997) .... Susan Macarthy
# Parklands (1996) .... Rosie
# "Bordertown" (1995) (mini) TV Series .... Bianca
# Police Rescue (1994) .... Vivian
# "Heartland" (1994) (mini) TV Series .... Elizabeth Ashton

Michael

Early B.

You mean Cate Blanchett and Leonardo DiCaprio?

Nah. Don't really care about the names of the actors. Most are not worth remembering. The only ones I can barely remember are Robert DeNiro, Denzel, and Gene Hackman. And Morgan Freeman. The actresses from other countries seem to be the best (don't ask me what their names are!). Cate is not from the US, is she? Yeah, and the one from Australia is great, too. And the one from South Africa.

Willow

South Africa Charlize Theron ?
Australia Nicole Kidman? or whats her name I think she was dating Heath Ledger ?

Back to the movie I wish they would have focused a bit more on what happens to him later.

Ron-P

Great movie, both my wife and I really enjoyed it.

I was surprised to see Gwen Stefani in it. Didn't even recognize her, it was my wife who called that one.

Willow

Who was Gwen playing ? didn't even noticed

gmorris

Originally posted by Willow
Who was Gwen playing ? didn't even noticed

She played the girl Hughes brought to the premier of **** Angles.

Jstas

Saw this last night. I really liked it for many reasons.

First off the, the story was fairly accurate. This could have almost been a documentary. What I liked about this is that it showed what a genius Huges REALLY was. The man had a mind like no one else I have ever seen. He could design an airplane in his head and had an almost encyclopedic mind for blueprints. He was a wiz at business and knew how to handle money to get the most out of it. He was an incredible man and it was a shame that he suffered from OCD which was the source of his demise.

The directing of the movie was top notch. The essence of the time that he lived I felt was captured very well. Scorcese has a knack for getting the movie to be in the time, not about the time the story takes place. That is important to the believability of the characters. A bad director can take good actors and make them look like crap with how the movie is shot. Not so with The Aviator.

The acting was top notch and Cate Blanchett was a believeable Hepburn. Hell, there was a couple of times that I could almost see Hepburn's actual face on Blanchett's body. The supporting cast was a few lesser known stars that totally shined in this flick including Matt Ross and John C. Reilly. Alan Alda did an excellent job of portraying Sen. Brewster on his witch hunt. But by far, the best acting of the movie was DiCaprio. For all the crap he takes for being so young and the Hollywood playboy or for whatever chick-flick movie that the women swoon over or for whatever cockamamey political view he has, he is an excellent actor and he showed a breadth of talent that he hasn't shown since "What's Eating Gilbert Grape".

For those who are not familiar with the Howard huges story and how instrumental he was in progressing aviation in the 30's, 40's and 50's, the movie can seem boring or unfulfilling. If you did see it and didn't care for it, look into some research on Hughes and watch it again. It might change your mind about who Huhges really was and not the nittering looney that he left this earth as.


Overall, this is a must-see at least once. For most it is not one to own but it is worth at least one viewing.

stereo55

Agreed .... good for a once around and rental . Not my type of movie for a purchase though .

gmorris

Very well put Jstas, and I agree completely.

Shizelbs

Originally posted by gmorris
Very well put Jstas, and I agree completely.

Ditto.

I look at it this way, if you are a fan of cinematography and the art of film, this is a must watch.

Frank Z

Very disappointed in the movie as a whole. Yes there big names and impressive actors/actresses, Alan Alada really pulled off his role well.
Martin Scorsese is a better director than this piece of "Art." There was so much more to Hughes life that wasn't included and to end the film that way he did was a cheap way out. True it's difficult to compress a mans life into 120 minutes or even 240 minutes, but the final stages of his life were as interesting as the first. He was a genuis that many people today simply know nothing about.

Jstas

I don't think Scocese's intention wasn't to show his downfall but rather to show the part of his life that so few know anything about it. Face it, mention Howard Hughes and what do people say? "That guy was a nutjob with that crackpot "Spruce Goose" idea!" Nevermind the fact that you can't expect your average slack-jawed American to know anything about thier nation's history let alone any history at all.

Yeah, the second half of his life was pretty interesting too but not very flattering. It also shows how little we know of mental disorders like OCD. I think the over all message here was to show people that this Hughes guy was a pretty great guy and in the end nothing more than a victim of circumstances and not a raving looney. Just a brilliant guy with a disability.

Early B.

I understand Frank's point. The ending wasn't very good.

After I watched the movie, I saw the special feature of Hughes' life presented by the History Channel. I learned a lot about Hughes and was surprised by the impact he made on the aviation industry, but the movie really didn't portray just how great a man he really was. The movie seemed to support the stereotypical view of Hughes. However, I bet it's a tough thing for a writer and director to do -- to come up with an entertaining story about someone's life. Hughes' impact on the aviation industry might be a great documentary, but a boring movie.

miner

Originally posted by gmorris
She played the girl Hughes brought to the premier of **** Angles.

Jean harlow

Toxis

finally watched this last night, pleasantly surprised by Leo's performance. Overall, I really enjoyed it and will probably will end up buying this one. I'm impressed. My g/f loved the old movies from back then so she knew who all these people/actresses were.

TroyD

I thought it sucked. Period.


BDT

danger boy

Originally posted by McLoki
From your friends at IMDB:

# The Aviator (2004) .... Katharine Hepburn
# The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) .... Jane Winslett-Richardson
# The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) .... Galadriel
# The Missing (2003/I) .... Maggie Gilkeson
# Coffee and Cigarettes (2003) .... Cate/Shelly (segment "Cousins")
# Veronica Guerin (2003) .... Veronica Guerin
# The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) .... Galadriel
# Heaven (2002) .... Philippa
# The Shipping News (2001) .... Petal Bear
# The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) .... Galadriel
# Bandits (2001) .... Kate Wheeler
# The Gift (2000) .... Annabelle 'Annie' Wilson
# The Man Who Cried (2000) .... Lola
# The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) .... Meredith Logue
# Pushing Tin (1999) .... Connie Falzone
# An Ideal Husband (1999) .... Lady Gertrude Chiltern
# Bangers (1999) .... Julie-Anne
# Elizabeth (1998) .... Elizabeth I
# Oscar and Lucinda (1997) .... Lucinda Leplastrier
# Thank God He Met Lizzie (1997) .... Lizzie
# Paradise Road (1997) .... Susan Macarthy
# Parklands (1996) .... Rosie
# "Bordertown" (1995) (mini) TV Series .... Bianca
# Police Rescue (1994) .... Vivian
# "Heartland" (1994) (mini) TV Series .... Elizabeth Ashton

Michael

mostly small time movies huh?

danger boy

I thought it was above average.. good directing yes.. good acting by a handful of people true.. but win 5 awards... i got a problem with that.

In his early years.. HH was quite an amazing person.. and was quite the aviation pioneer.


it did not win best movie of the year.. that went to Million Dollar Baby. Which i agree deserved all the awards it got. (comes out on DVD 07/12/05)

bobman1235

I know this is an old thread / movie, but I finally got around to see it (gotta love the Blockbuster queue, so many movies I've wanted to see finally come around to my house). LOVED this movie. I don't even really know why. I just thought it was engrossing. I usually hate DiCaprio, but thought he did a really good job. All the female leads were amazing. Just a fascinating and well-done story.