Went to see this on Sunday afternoon – pretty good all-round – but I was surprised to spot at least three possible mistakes.
(Before this erupts into a furore, I’m just pointing out things that I, me, DazDaMan, perceive to be mistakes)
1) The markings on the XF-11 prototype should have been the WW2-style Star and Bar marking, but instead it has the red bar added (and this would only have been added in 1947, as far as I know);
2) Hughes communicating with the tower while the XF-11 crashed – without his headset (and possibly the throat-mike) on; and
3) The Spruce Goose taxiing near the end. As the plane turns to start its take-off run, it turns to starboard, and yet the port-side wing float is in the water. I always assumed that the starboard float should in fact be in the water, as this is the direction the plane is turning. (Not sure whether this is a GENUINE mistake here, but I’m including it anyway.)
Anyone else spot them?
By: italian harvard - 26th January 2005 at 22:38
ahahahahahahahah :D:D:D:D:D:D
By: Auster Fan - 26th January 2005 at 21:26
Janie, u r to good to be real!! 😀 😀 😀
Alex
She isn’t! She’s really Robert Weaver!!!
By: italian harvard - 26th January 2005 at 21:11
ANC: THE MANIFESTO
1. Be proud to be an Aviation Nerd.
2. Anoraks keep you warm and snug. They’re lovely.
3. Even non-Nerds have ‘G-INFO’ saved as a ‘Favourite’.
4. Memorising infinitesimally large amounts of aircraft data is spiritually enhancing.
5. Repeating infinitesimally large amounts of aircraft data to your non-aviating mates is excessively nerdy. This is compulsory.
6. Picking faults in perfectly good aircraft, flying displays, films, restorations etc when you have insufficient knowledge to pass comment is a skill to be cultivated at all times.
7. Insult helicopters. Don’t ever let anyone know you think they’re fab.
8. Wear hi-viz jackets. It means your safe and official.
9. Be anonymous on forums. It’s really cool!
Janie, u r to good to be real!! 😀 😀 😀
The only remark I have to make is about the #8 point: the jackets must be covered with pins and patches!
Now if some good lad would paint the logo too that would be great! Needless to say a pair of nerdish ray-bans with white tape in the middle and small wings would rock! 😀
Alex
By: ALBERT ROSS - 26th January 2005 at 20:48
Finally got to see this last night. Thought it was pretty accurate as a documentary, although I also spotted all the errors. However, it didn’t have the ‘wow’ factor for me and I thought there were too many computer-graphics in the aircraft scenes. Thought they exaggerated the height that the ‘Spruce Goose’ flew at also…thought it only skimmed the water, really.
Can’t see how it has been nominated for 11 Oscars, although I did enjoy Leonardo as Hughes.
By: Chipmunk Carol - 16th January 2005 at 19:21
How about creating the ANC?
***Aviation Nerds Club***we need to lay down a manifesto now Janie 😀 Alex
ANC: THE MANIFESTO
1. Be proud to be an Aviation Nerd.
2. Anoraks keep you warm and snug. They’re lovely.
3. Even non-Nerds have ‘G-INFO’ saved as a ‘Favourite’.
4. Memorising infinitesimally large amounts of aircraft data is spiritually enhancing.
5. Repeating infinitesimally large amounts of aircraft data to your non-aviating mates is excessively nerdy. This is compulsory.
6. Picking faults in perfectly good aircraft, flying displays, films, restorations etc when you have insufficient knowledge to pass comment is a skill to be cultivated at all times.
7. Insult helicopters. Don’t ever let anyone know you think they’re fab.
8. Wear hi-viz jackets. It means your safe and official.
9. Be anonymous on forums. It’s really cool!
By: PaulR - 16th January 2005 at 15:58
Daz must have contributed to Movie Mistakes! 😀
By: RobAnt - 16th January 2005 at 10:32
I simply enjoyed it – yes I noticed some of the common mistakes, but they didn’t matter one jot to me. I was actually pleased to see the scale SE5’s – I took the view that the cameraman simply didn’t get the angle quite right to make them look the right scale through foreshortening. (You know what I mean.)
By: Hatton - 16th January 2005 at 02:05
I had to explain later that it was Katherine Hepburn – not Audrey (were they related BTW???)
No they were not related
Glad you enjoyed your day. Happy Birthday!
I saw the film in Leeds the day it came out but im going again tomorrow because the print I saw was horrendous in Leeds, one of the reels was drained of green and the projector was slightly out of focus too. Couldn’t believe it.
By: Flanker_man - 15th January 2005 at 23:21
Her birthday or yours??? :diablo:
Mine!!!
And – 58 before you ask………………. 🙁
Just back from seeing it – loved it, though it was a wee bit too long.
Spotted all the things mentioned here – even my daughter (who has no interest in aviation whatsoever despite her upbringing) spotted the missing canopy on the Racer in the close-ups.
She also wondered why Hughes kept calling Audrey Hepburn ‘Kate’ !!!
I had to explain later that it was Katherine Hepburn – not Audrey (were they related BTW???)
One thing not mentioned on this NG was the use of scale replica SE-5A’s in the Hell’s Angels scenes.
You could see the non-scale exhausts – and the non-scale pilots !!!
Not a bad night out though – The Aviator, followed by a meal in a Thai restaurant.
Ken (another year older)
By: A225HVY - 13th January 2005 at 20:07
As for the “does it matter, it’s only a film” comment – of course it does! We’re die-hard pedants, anoraks, nerds! Well I am, at least.
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
A225HVY
By: italian harvard - 13th January 2005 at 14:39
DiCaprio’s height changes throughout the film.
Also, when he and Cate are walking away from the floatplane (Sikorsky?), the aircraft was downsized so that it would fit in the shot.
As for the “does it matter, it’s only a film” comment – of course it does! We’re die-hard pedants, anoraks, nerds! Well I am, at least.
How about creating the ANC?
we need to lay down a manifesto now Janie 😀
Alex
By: Alistair - 13th January 2005 at 14:14
DiCaprio’s height changes throughout the film.
Also, when he and Cate are walking away from the floatplane (Sikorsky?), the aircraft was downsized so that it would fit in the shot.
As for the “does it matter, it’s only a film” comment – of course it does! We’re die-hard pedants, anoraks, nerds! Well I am, at least.
Sikorsky S 38, I believe.
(Which is technically a flying boat, rather than a floatplane, but that’s a bit too pedantic… 😉 )
Alistair
By: stewart1a - 13th January 2005 at 13:57
i thought the film was a great film and explained his life well but the XF-11 accident looked to fake for my liking.
By: Chipmunk Carol - 13th January 2005 at 13:37
DiCaprio’s height changes throughout the film.
Also, when he and Cate are walking away from the floatplane (Sikorsky?), the aircraft was downsized so that it would fit in the shot.
As for the “does it matter, it’s only a film” comment – of course it does! We’re die-hard pedants, anoraks, nerds! Well I am, at least.
By: ALBERT ROSS - 13th January 2005 at 12:24
You should get out more ! :diablo:
My daughter is taking me to see it on Saturday – as a birthday treat!!
Ken
Her birthday or yours??? :diablo:
By: DazDaMan - 13th January 2005 at 09:36
Could have been worse – could have been Jim Carrey! 😮
By: turbo_NZ - 13th January 2005 at 09:18
Good call, Alex !!
TNZ
By: italian harvard - 13th January 2005 at 07:58
uhm, I dunno guys, under a resemblance point of view I think the best actor would have been Colin Farrell, give it a good hairbrush, small moustaches and there u have a perfect Huges.. I think we discussed this topic already, I remember having already said this..
Now spot the differences 😀
By: Skyraider3D - 13th January 2005 at 00:29
I was sceptical at first but I think he pretty much nailed it as best as he could.
Exactly! I’ve not seen it yet (but will soon!) but regarding DiCaprio… In general I really don’t like him in movies, but I feel this movie role fits him just perfectly! 😀
By: turbo_NZ - 12th January 2005 at 23:28
The Aviator hasn’t quite got to NZ yet, but will definitely go and see it when it does.
Flight of the P has just arrived so will see that this weekend.
Maybe they all might have mistakes but at least there are aircraft films being made, gotta be better than that cr*ppy Ocean’s 12 I just saw..:(
TNZ
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January 12, 2005 at 12:33 pm