6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Based on a novel by Ernest Gann and set in 1928, this movie features Christopher Reeve as Edgar Anscombe, a mail biplane pilot running a route between the states of Washington and Nevada, when he is obliged to accept Tillie Hansen as a passenger. After they take off, an accident occurs and although the dueling pair survive the crash, they are hard put to survive for long in the desolate mountains full of hungry wolves.
Starring: Christopher Reeve, Rosanna Arquette, Jack Warden, Sam Wanamaker, Scott WilsonDrama | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
BDInfo
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 1.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
After experiencing the critical and commercial disappointment of 1983’s “Superman III,” Christopher Reeve returns to the skies in 1985’s “The Aviator,” though he’s no longer in superhero mode. Trading blue and red tights for a leather jumpsuit, Reeve plays an emotionally and physically wounded pilot for the burgeoning air mail industry in this period piece, which pairs the star with Rosanna Arquette for maximum discomfort. The novelty of seeing Reeve in the air again wears off fairly fast, as “The Aviator” quickly reveals itself to be a leaden melodrama with mismatched stars and clunky screenwriting trying to marry mountainside survival activity with a postmortem analysis on wounded war pilots. The movie goes everywhere but up, failing to generate interest in the longevity of two annoying characters who insist on making a bad situation worse for themselves, with the production insisting it’s creating something of a romance when it’s actually inspiring a headache with this achingly insipid effort.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers an aged look at the visual achievements of "The Aviator," with fine detail difficult to locate, working with a softer view of period costuming and set decoration. Facial particulars aren't sharp, muting looks at make-up achievements on Reeve and stages of distress on Arquette. Mountain survival registers with passable distances. Colors are acceptable, offering snowy whites and decent greenery, and yellow airplanes offer some pop. Skintones are mostly natural, perhaps too pinkish at times. Delineation is acceptable, making evening encounters open for study. Source is in good shape, with no major stretches of damage.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix delivers the melodramatic sweep the production is trying to communicate, with scoring retaining sharp instrumentation and sonic bigness when necessary. Dialogue exchanges are clean, preserving the softness of rescue concerns and the loudness of survival challenges, without distorted highs. Sound effects are crisp, with cracking gunshots, howling wolves, and the full roar of airplane engines. Explosions also contribute some heft.
"The Aviator" supplies wolf attacks and hunting missions, and there's more physical catastrophe for Edgar and Tillie to deal with as they make an attempt to find help in the middle of nowhere. And yet, Miller summons zero excitement, more skilled at creating whiny, unpleasant characters than generating big thrills. Of course, there seem to be a few pieces of this puzzle missing, with the 90 minute run time suggesting liberal editing was employed to keep the movie sellable, but the overall clumsiness of scenes and performances is worse than an extended movie. Characters are short- sheeted, themes are cut short, and adventure feels small. "The Aviator" might've done just fine with George Miller, but with George T. Miller at the helm, potential for a soaring ride of combustible personalities, agonized backstories, and an even balance of plotting on land and in the air is never met.
1980
1990
1951
1956
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1935
1953
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1958
Warner Archive Collection
1958
Warner Archive Collection
1963
The Seven Curses of Lodac / St. George and the Seven Curses / St. George and the Dragon
1962
1991
1979
1940
1976
Warner Archive Collection
1984
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2019