The Aviator DVD: Review By Brian

You can't help but to be drawn towards such an immaculate setup. Martin Scorsese directs Leonardo Di Caprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly, Alan Alda and Alec Baldwin in a big screen version of Howard Hughes life. How could anything go wrong?

Through some very keen epic story-telling and a cast that looked like they were born to play the roles they stepped into, the Howard Hughes story was brought to life onscreen. The billionaire playboy who fancied movie stars at night and epic movie storytelling, alongside aviation by day, Howard Hughes was finally realized by the world through the genius of Leonardo DiCaprio's skin. The result? a grand montage of Hughes' life that not only dazzles the mind but inspires the heart, and follows what it really means to have a dream, and never let go.

Robbed of the Best Director and Best Picture Oscars at this year's Academy Awards ceremony, The Aviator triumphed as film not only as one of the year's top contending dramatic pieces but as a personal achievement for director Martin Scorsese. So much so that when speculation started to run rampant around Oscar time, many believed this would be Martin Scorsese's long-awaited crowning jewel, one which he had won many times over with now legendary films like Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino...the list goes on.

Well, the fateful day came and went and The Aviator took home 5 Oscars, including Cate Blanchett's win of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar, but sadly the Best Picture and Best Director wins went to the ho-hum Million Dollar Baby, leaving Scorsese Oscar-less once again.

Maybe Oscar isn't for you, Mr. Scorsese. It's not your fault the Academy doesn't have a clue. But then again, was your film really what it could have been? Your story might have well been one of the big nominees in year packed with unoriginality and quick Hollywood ploys for the all powerful entertainment buck, but does your film really stand up to more recent dramatic classics like Braveheart, A Beautiful Mind, or . Probably not. Like Ray, Troy and many other these past few years, there was just something missing. Not enough of that movie magic. But, hey, at least you're not in Oliver Stone's shoes.

Martin Scorsese Commentary

Not only do we get Martin Scorsese on this commentary, we also get the musings of film editor Thelma Schoonmaker and producer Michael Mann. With cuts back and forth to one-on-one interviews with the crew, the three give up some worthwhile details about the film and it's production. I usually tend to get bored with most commentaries pretty quick but this commentary had me holding for quite a while. Michael Mann and Martin Scorsese reveal various facts about the film that tend to serve directly to my inner fanboy. Great stuff here, I mean, where else are you going to find these two on the same commentary track?

Deleted Scene

There is one deleted scene entitled "Howard Tells Ava About His Car Accident" on the disc. It spans a little over a minute and reveals that Howard Hughes killed someone with his car on accident years before the sequence occurred. Nothing much to excited about, but interesting nonetheless.

Featurettes and Doc*mentaries

Tons of 5-10 minutes features and doc*mentaries are also contained within which reveal a inside look at the film's production, the goal of the work, and the real life Howard Hughes and his extraordinary life as a Hollywood heavyweight, a ladies man, and of course, an aviator. Many production elements are included within these features as well which go deep inside the creation of various special effects elements, costumes, production design, and much more. All bases are covered, very, very well.

The featurettes and docs also explore Obsessive Compulse Disorder, which was a big focal point of Howard Hughes life. A panel discussion with Leonardo and Scorsese is included. Hats off to the studio for including such educational information on the disc.

I would have to say that the shining gem in this field of special features is the "n Evening With Leonardo DiCaprio and Alan Alda" featurette. The two actors sit in a forum and recalect many aspects of the film and the research they did for the film. Truly intriguing and wonderful to see them in such a relaxed space.

Just as well, the only real way to get a 5 star special features rating with any of my reviews you have to include a composing doc*mentary. As it turns out, this special edition The Aviator includes a masterful little doc*mentary on composer Howard Shore's work on the creation of the film's soundtrack. Discussions of music choices, inspiration and the like provide for some magical content. A great treat for soundtrack lovers.

The only thing I didn't like about this setup of specials was the way that the disc functioned. 5 menus guide you through the various special features, but say if you wanted to check something out within the last menu, you'd have to wade through the first four menus first before being able to access. A nuisance, and something that I feel could have been thought out a little better. Much better to serve a main list of 5 menus on the first page, then do sub pages from within. Oh well, I guess we'll see what happens on the HDDVD version!

A tiny bit less wide then it's original theatrical release, the DVD is presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The picture is immaculate. Deep, rich colors thrive from scenes providing the necessary canvas for Scorese to tell Hughes' story.

Compression artifacts are basically invisible as the film was contained on one disc, saving the special features content for a second disc, thus ensuring the highest bitrate possible for the film and a pristine transfer.

While watching on my Sony 55" Grand WEGA, I was truly impressed by the sequence of the film that takes the audience into the clouds with Hughes as he films the dogfight in his film Hell's Angels. I recommend watching this one on the biggest monitor you can. It's sure to take you on a wild ride.

Listening in Dolby Surround 5.1, the soundtrack is on par with the video. Clean, crisp, clear, high end placed well, mixed with the sub lows, all mixed for the maximum impact of ambiance, dialogue and score. A great soundtrack that compliments the video track in every way it should.

A standard clamshell case with the poster artwork adorning the cover. Mention of the Academy Awards wins on the front, with a logo spanning the top portion, embroidered in a metallic aluminum. A bit better then average, but still stands to hold it's own in your library of epics.

I immediately fell in love with The Aviator when I saw the film in theaters. Beautiful cinematography, elegant refined acting, and a drama filled with real human emotion attached to an extraordinary human being, an element that the film industry had been severely lacking at the time. Well, as history loves to set itself up for repeat business the home entertainment industry is no different.

In a sea of new releases hitting DVD shelves every single day, we're bombarded with heaps of TV on DVD and the like. This is exactly where The Aviator shines through as a beacon of hope. While it might not be the almighty answer to your undying need for substance in a film, one thing is for certain, you'll actually care about The Aviator.