The Aviator - 90% Fresh!
12-07-04, 09:14 PM
#6
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt
Some calling it Scorsese's best.
12-07-04, 09:31 PM
#7
Originally Posted by William Fuld
Like who?
"This is Scorsese at his most breathtaking and cinema at its best." -Joshua Tyler
I misread it. Anyhow its getting good reviews aside from the recent threadcraps.
12-08-04, 12:31 AM
#9
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I meant to post a short review of this film when I saw it last week, but it slipped my mind.
Anyway, I am a huge Scorsese fan and was looking forward to this film (but nowhere near the extent I was awaiting Gangs of New York. Unfortunately, though I found it to be a good film (3/4 or a B) I didn't find it extraordinary or great by any stretch of the imagination.
It has many well acted scenes, but nothing electrifying (something that even Gangs managed at times). I find it hard to explain what I didn't like about the film, it simply never really drew me in. I'm not a huge Leo fan, but I must admit I was impressed with his performance, especially when Hughes' mental health takes a turn for the worse. John C. Reilly is also good in his small role, as is Willem Defoe in his walkon. It was also good to Alan Alda back on the screen with a fairly meaty role. Alec Baldwin was also a welcome addition to the cast. Cate Blanchett doesn't fair so well - within five seconds of her walking on screen she was grating on my nerves.
The best way I can sum up this film is that it goes through the motions of a great film but is simply missing that all important intangible quality. Ironically, it never really takes off and it doesn't even really have that Scorsese touch.
Just for some reference, how I would rate some other Scorsese films:
Gangs of New York, B+
Bringing Out the Dead, A+
Casino, A-
Goodfellas, A
Cape Fear, B
After Hours, A-
Raging Bull, A
Taxi Driver, A+
The King of Comedy, A
The Last Temptation of Christ, A
The Age of Innocence, A-
Kundun, B-
Mean Streets, B+
And my favorite films of the year so far:I heart Huckabees, Sideways, Before Sunset, Collateral
Anyway, I am a huge Scorsese fan and was looking forward to this film (but nowhere near the extent I was awaiting Gangs of New York. Unfortunately, though I found it to be a good film (3/4 or a B) I didn't find it extraordinary or great by any stretch of the imagination.
It has many well acted scenes, but nothing electrifying (something that even Gangs managed at times). I find it hard to explain what I didn't like about the film, it simply never really drew me in. I'm not a huge Leo fan, but I must admit I was impressed with his performance, especially when Hughes' mental health takes a turn for the worse. John C. Reilly is also good in his small role, as is Willem Defoe in his walkon. It was also good to Alan Alda back on the screen with a fairly meaty role. Alec Baldwin was also a welcome addition to the cast. Cate Blanchett doesn't fair so well - within five seconds of her walking on screen she was grating on my nerves.
The best way I can sum up this film is that it goes through the motions of a great film but is simply missing that all important intangible quality. Ironically, it never really takes off and it doesn't even really have that Scorsese touch.
Just for some reference, how I would rate some other Scorsese films:
Gangs of New York, B+
Bringing Out the Dead, A+
Casino, A-
Goodfellas, A
Cape Fear, B
After Hours, A-
Raging Bull, A
Taxi Driver, A+
The King of Comedy, A
The Last Temptation of Christ, A
The Age of Innocence, A-
Kundun, B-
Mean Streets, B+
And my favorite films of the year so far:I heart Huckabees, Sideways, Before Sunset, Collateral
12-08-04, 02:15 AM
#10
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I must admit the trailer really has me interested in this film. Hopefully it delivers.
12-08-04, 03:14 AM
#11
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The film was good, but for me, nothing spectacular. I am not a Leo fan, and although I think he did a good job, he really doesn't do anything for me as an actor. To me, his best performances are from "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" and "Basketball Diaries".
Everyone else in the film was good, except Cate Blanchette - I thought she was terrific. This is one actress who, I feel, always takes a role and does something with every character, but that is just imo.
Everyone else in the film was good, except Cate Blanchette - I thought she was terrific. This is one actress who, I feel, always takes a role and does something with every character, but that is just imo.
12-08-04, 09:05 AM
#13
Moderator
What is a good achievement for Scorsese is a great achievement for 99% of the filmmakers out there. That said, I truly hope this movie is great. I so want Scorsese to take home the Best Director Oscar this year.
12-08-04, 10:50 AM
#14
DVD Talk Gold Edition
I really wish Scorsese well although I wonder if we will ever see the "spark" from him again. GoNY was a disapointment for me, the production design was impressive and Daniel Day-Lewis's performance was exceptional but the film's plot was just all over the place. At one point I heard him say in an interview that it took one year to edit. Now of course I'm no filmmaker but my reaction to that was: if it takes a year to edit a movie, even a long one, it sounds as if you didn't have a very clear idea of how it was going to look when you started. It seemed a jumble of scenes and not a coherent movie.
I will see The Aviator and hope that it is great. Even with its flaws GoNY had some rewards, and as mentioned even sub par Scorsese is better than most other things out there.
I will see The Aviator and hope that it is great. Even with its flaws GoNY had some rewards, and as mentioned even sub par Scorsese is better than most other things out there.
12-14-04, 07:57 PM
#17
DVD Talk Legend
It's still doing okay at 83%, and once it opens wide it could either go way up or way down. Interesting that there's nothing really getting solid reviews across the board this year like ROTK did last year (I think it was like 94% or something).
Richard Corliss of Time Magazine didn't give a clear indicator as to whether he liked it or not. He clearly loved DiCaprio's performance and a lot of the movie's shots, but he said it was basically a "gorgeous plane on auto-pilot."
Richard Corliss of Time Magazine didn't give a clear indicator as to whether he liked it or not. He clearly loved DiCaprio's performance and a lot of the movie's shots, but he said it was basically a "gorgeous plane on auto-pilot."
12-15-04, 03:31 PM
#19
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Originally Posted by sabre
when does the aviator open up across the country
http://www.miramax.com/aviator/
12-15-04, 07:31 PM
#20
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Dr. DVD
Interesting that there's nothing really getting solid reviews across the board this year like ROTK did last year (I think it was like 94% or something).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sideways/
And those who are giving it a "Thumbs Up", are giving it the highest accolades... which makes the 97% even more impressive.
12-15-04, 09:47 PM
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Hmmm...might have to give "Sideways" a matinee tomorrow afternoon. I would like to think this movie could win Best Picture, but I think it just lacks the Hollywood hutzpah to do so. "Aviator" is exactly the kind of thing the academy loves to shower with Oscars.
12-16-04, 04:29 AM
#22
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Dr. DVD
I would like to think this movie could win Best Picture, but I think it just lacks the Hollywood hutzpah to do so. "Aviator" is exactly the kind of thing the academy loves to shower with Oscars.
Which is why I never put any value on the Oscars - as I think the voters really have limited knowledge in cinema, and are easily swayed by marketing and their relationships with those involved in making the films.
12-16-04, 12:55 PM
#23
DVD Talk Legend
Just how limited is the release this weekend? N.Y. and L.A. only? I know neither Knoxville nor Nashville are getting it this weekend. I do have the movies "Sideways" and "Kinsey" available to me though, so I might check out one of them.
12-18-04, 08:34 PM
#24
DVD Talk Legend
Like others have said, the movie is good, but it kind of lacked direction. I found it to be a little too long as well. There were definetly some good acting performances pretty much across the board, with Blanchet doing the best in my opinion. And Beckinsale was absolutely gorgeous as Ava Gardner.
12-18-04, 09:54 PM
#25
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I saw The Aviator yesterday and i just thought it was o.k. It seems about 30 mins too long. The film just kind went nowhere, a couple people left the theater during the film. All the acting was top notch, but the film felt like it was just there? afterwards we were all talking and everyone pretty much said the same thing, that was movie was just o.k.