Nominated for 6 Golden Globes and 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, The Aviator wows audiences with its breadth of scenery and vivid realism. Director Martin Scorsese, known for a host of excellent films such as Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990), Casino (1995), and Gangs Of New York (2002) - not to mention the highly controversial The Last Temptation Of Christ (1988) - by no doubt turns out his best work since Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) sought to become a made man. The Aviator springs to life with nostalgic settings and a lavish tapestry of color and form, evoking all the enthusiasm indicative of Howard Hughes' unique lust for life. John Logan, known for such films as The Last Samurai (2003) and Gladiator (2000), presents a screenplay that provides some insight into the enigmatic Hughes and captures the mannerisms of those who shared that life with him. In short, the film is a masterpiece of visual imagery and first-rate cinematography few movie lovers can afford to miss…
The Aviator focuses on the early life (1930-1947) of America's most eccentric and bewildering billionaire playboy, Howard Hughes. Know for his seemingly erratic business dealings and fearless sense of adventure, Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) turned a small inherited fortune into an enormous corporate empire. And along the way, he captured the imagination of those around him with an attitude that embraced risk and life itself. Inheriting a majority interest in the Hughes Tool Company (founded by his father), Hughes embarks on a career in Hollywood where he produces a number of notable films including Hell's Angels, The Front Page, and Scarface. Hughes' obsessive dedication to perfection makes his stock rise in Hollywood and even helps launch the career of Jean Harlow…
But Howard Hughes is not just a one-trick pony, and his interest soon turns to the flourishing aviation industry where he becomes an integral part of TWA and pilots his own planes on a regular basis. His driving energy would lead Hughes to enter the defense industry, the electronics industry, Las Vegas casinos, and numerous other activities in the years ahead. But along the way, he deals with a cast of characters colorful in their own right. Romances with Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale) and Katherine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) provide insight into Hughes' personal life, while Noah Dietrich (John C. Reilly), Hughes' assistant and right-hand man, sacrifices much in his own life to enable Hughes to live out his latest visions and inspirations. When Hughes makes the bold move of constructing the Spruce Goose - the largest airplane ever built (and able to land on water no less) - Senator Ralph Owen Brewster (Alan Alda) accuses the billionaire of war-profiteering. Hughes takes on the Senator full-force and with all the zest that marked his previous ventures. Vowing that the Spruce Goose will fly, in the face of highly publicized claims that it will not, Hughes proves his critics wrong, and the Spruce Goose rises to the occasion…
Despite its loss to Million Dollar Baby at the Oscars, The Aviator can take pride in being nominated as one of the best films of the year (along with Finding Neverland, Ray, and Sideways). And the film is certainly deserving of that high honor. Few films better illustrate the beauty of America, or more importantly, the mountains that can be moved when a single individual lives his life with ambition, drive, inspiration, and a naked enthusiasm for all that life has to offer. Overall, The Aviator is among the best films of the past several years, and movie aficionados would be well-advised to watch every last minute with same enthusiasm of a young Howard Hughes…
Vhs To Dvd Review
Turning the television world flat on its head, The Flintstones became the first animated hit series in prime time history. Set in the Stone Age town of Bedrock, the show explored the lives of ancient cave dwellers through the lens of a modern lifestyle, with bird beaks acting as phonograph needles, elephant trunks as vacuum cleaners, and fireflies as light bulbs. With its measured use of top-grade humor and clever visuals, The Flintstones became an instant smash hit - spawning decades of syndicated re-runs, spin-offs, and thousands of derivative products?
Loosely modeled after the hit show The Honeymooners, The Flintstones follows the lives of burly loudmouth Fred Flintstone (who has a heart of gold) and his wife Wilma (who puts up with him). The couple lives next door to best friends Barney and Betty Rubble, and they have a dog (a dinosaur) named Dino to keep them company. Following in the footsteps of shows such as I Love Lucy, the show's characters are always inventing hair-brained schemes, attempting to cover up little white lies, or engaging in some other form of behavior bound to get them in trouble. The Flintstones also features numerous cameo appearances parodying famous personalities from the early-sixties? In the show's later years, each couple would add a child to the mix with Fred & Wilma having Pebbles (a little girl) and Barney & Betty adopting Bamm-Bamm (a little boy)?
The Flintstones DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere "The Flintstone Flyer" in which Fred pretends to be sick so he and Barney can get out of going to the opera with Wilma and Betty. Escaping in their Stone Age helicopter, the two go bowling, but it isn't long before Barney spills the beans on what they really did? Other notable episodes from Season 1 include "The Swimming Pool" in which Fred and Barney build a pool together only to have it strain their friendship, and "Hollyrock, Here I Come" in which Betty and Wilma win a trip to Hollyrock as a television game show prize?
Below is a list of episodes included on The Flintstones (Season 1) DVD:
Episode 1 (The Flintstone Flyer) Air Date: 09-30-1960
Episode 2 (Hot Lips Hannigan) Air Date: 10-07-1960
Episode 3 (The Swimming Pool) Air Date: 10-14-1960
Episode 4 (No Help Wanted) Air Date: 10-21-1960
Episode 5 (The Split Personality) Air Date: 10-28-1960
Episode 6 (The Monster from the Tar Pits) Air Date: 11-04-1960
Episode 7 (The Babysitters) Air Date: 11-11-1960
Episode 8 (At the Races) Air Date: 11-18-1960
Episode 9 (The Engagement Ring) Air Date: 11-25-1960
Episode 10 (Hollyrock, Here I Come) Air Date: 12-02-1960
Episode 11 (The Golf Champion) Air Date: 12-09-1960
Episode 12 (The Sweepstakes Ticket) Air Date: 12-16-1960
Episode 13 (The Drive-in) Air Date: 12-23-1960
Episode 14 (The Prowler) Air Date: 12-30-1960
Episode 15 (The Girls Night Out) Air Date: 01-06-1961
Episode 16 (Arthur Quarry's Dance Class) Air Date: 01-13-1961
Episode 17 (The Big Bank Robbery) Air Date: 01-20-1961
Episode 18 (The Snorkasaurus Hunter) Air Date: 01-27-1961
Episode 19 (The Hot Piano) Air Date: 02-03-1961
Episode 20 (The Hypnotist) Air Date: 02-10-1961
Episode 21 (Love Letters on the Rocks) Air Date: 02-17-1961
Episode 22 (The Tycoon) Air Date: 02-24-1961
Episode 23 (The Astra' Nuts) Air Date: 03-04-1961
Episode 24 (The Long, Long Weekend) Air Date: 03-10-1961
Episode 25 (In the Dough) Air Date: 03-17-1961
Episode 26 (The Good Scout) Air Date: 03-24-1961
Episode 27 (Rooms for Rent) Air Date: 03-31-1961
Episode 28 (Fred Flintstone: Before and After) Air Date: 04-07-1961
Barbeque Beef Brisket Recipe When ready to cook piece bag in a couple of places, place in roasting tin and cook in slow oven as for ?Oh So Tender? above
