The Aviator [Blu-ray]

Great product!

I am lucky to have originally watched my first showing of "Aviator" back in 2005 through a movie theater in San Diego California (I use to live in California when I was still in the military). Aviator is a captivating movie that highlights Leonardo DiCaprio's performance as Howard Hughes. The film captures Howard Hughes rise in wealth and fame during his lifetime through his work in aviation and the Hollywood film industry. There are multiple popular celebrities that featured in this film such as: Cate Blanchett, John Reilly,Kate Beckinsale, Alan Alda, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law, Gwen Stefani, Ian Holm, Danny Huston, and Brent Spiner. I admit that I purchased this dvd due to being a fan of DiCaprio's acting and noticed the great bonuses which include:Disc One:Feature commentary by director Martin Scorcese, Editor Thelma Schoonmaker, and Producer Michael Mann, an image of Leonardo DiCaprio pictured with Kate BeckinsaleDisc Two (many multiple features such as):Deleted Scene: Howard tells Ava about the car accident. A Life Without Limits: The Making Of The Aviator. The Role of Howard Hughes in Aviator history. There is also the image of Leonardo DiCaprio walking through a beach wearing a suit.Modern Marvel Feature: A History channel documentary on Howard Hughes. A feature titled "The Affliction of Howard Hughes: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. OCD panel discussion with director Martin Scorcese, Leonardo DiCaprio, and feature of widow Terry Moore. An Evening with Leonardo DiCaprio and Alan Alda. The Visual effects of "Aviator" and Constructing the Aviator (the work of Dante Ferretti.More disco two bonus features: Leonardo DiCaprio pictured with Gwen Stefani (in a scene from the movie) and another image of Kate Beckinsale. Costuming the Aviator: the work of Sandy Powell, and The Age of Glamour: The Hair and Makeup Of the Aviator. Scoring the Aviator: The Work of Howard Shore,The Wainwright Family-Loudon, Rufus, and Martha, The Aviator Soundtrack Spot and Still Gallery featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and many of the other celebrities in Aviator.

'The Aviator' is a sweeping epic of a movie chronicling the earlier years of multi-millionaire and aviation genius Howard Hughes. Hughes was more than just a simply playboy millionaire, he was a risk-taker and a brilliantly gifted mind, but also a soul tortured by Obsessive-Compulsive disorders.The movie starts with Hughes's movie project, 'Hell's Angel's', the most expensive movie of its time. Hughes was into the movie business along with the aircraft business, which would explain his affairs with the hottest leading women of the time, Katherine Hepburn, Ava Gardner, and Jean Harlow. But Howard couldn't hang onto women, he wasn't just a A Type personality, he was A++++ Type.Hughes was both a dreamer and a mover-and-shaker. The movie follows his life from his days producing movies to his contracts with the government for Constellation aircraft, his tragic crash, and the building and first flight of the Hercules (the infamous Spruce Goose). There wasn't anything that could stop Howard Hughes except his own disorders, OCD's that he frequently succumbed to and suffered from.While many have mentioned the length of the movie, 170 minutes, time flew by for me as I watched it. 'The Aviator' doesn't have the feel of a long movie because I found it so interesting. There are no lags or drags in the storyline.Worthy of mention is the absolutely spectacular performance by Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes. His performance is on the money and down to a T. The casting is superb, with Cate Blanchett as Katherine Hepburn, Kate Beckinsale as Ava Gardner, Alan Alda as Senator Ralph Owen Brewster, Ian Holm as Professor Fitz, Alec Baldwin as Juan Trippe, William Dafoe as Roland Sweet, Brent Spiner as Robert Gross, Jude Law as Errol Flynn, and Gwen Stefani as Jean Harlow. Topping off the star-studded cast is director and epic film master Martin Scorsese.The only downside would be a couple of editing mistakes and the fact that I could have watched more. A short piece on his tragic ending would have been a better follow up than ending the movie the way it did. 'The Aviator' is an interesting and beautiful journey through the triumphant and troubled life of one of America's most romantic figures. Don't miss the extras on the second CD, which hold a great deal of information on the real Howard Hughes. The two CD set is worth every penny. Enjoy!