AMB Reviews

Amelia: 8.5/10 Stars

Release Date: October 23, 2009

Content Advisory: Rated PG for some sensuality, language, thematic elements, and smoking. The main couple kisses and cuddles while clothed on a bed. Sex is implied, as well as an affair (nothing shown). Various people smoke, as well as drink (some to drunkenness). Thematic elements include women trying to gain equality. A plane loses its wheels during take-off. Several intense scenes while up in the air.

Review:

Amelia Earhart is one of my heroes (heroines?). This movie re-confirmed that...

In Short:

"Amelia" tells the incredible true story of the first woman pilot to make it across the Atlantic... Amelia Earhart. This documents her life, from her first flight, to her first solo flight, to her love life with George Putnam and Gene Vidal, to her attempt to fly around the world. This is all told with complete realism, and acted solidly by Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, and Ewan McGregor. I left the theater longing for more, feeling like the ending needed more, which is probably what they were aiming at. Just as Amelia's life was left on very loose terms, so is this movie, making it all the more realistic. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous and though critics have been giving this very average reviews, I am going to be the oddball to say that Amelia truly soars.

In Full:

Amelia Earhart is best known for being the first woman pilot to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. But how did she start off? Though this movie doesn't give too much background info on her childhood, it does tell us a bit about why she wants to fly: for the fun of it. She gets the help of George Putnam, and together, they find her a plane and a crew to give her safe passage across the Atlantic. But Amelia is not one for sitting back and watching on the sidelines... she wants to fly solo. This movie shows her life as a lover, a celebrity icon, and a pilot. She helped influence women for generations and generations to come, as she fought for equality and refused to let her thoughts be silenced. "Amelia" is an energetic, beautiful, and soaring film that gives you insight to one amazing woman.

And what better person to play that amazing woman, than Hilary Swank, who actually resembles the famous pilot quite a bit. Swank puts her all in the performance, and I had a hard time recognizing her. When she puts on those boots and aviator goggles, Swank is no longer Hilary... she is Amelia Earhart, and she doesn't let us forget it. Richard Gere joined the cast as her husband, George Putnam, and though he wasn't given all that much to do, he shines with what he is given. Then there is Ewan McGregor as Gene, the competition for Amelia. I will say that I've seen Ewan put on a better performance, but it's very clear that he's trying here, and he accomplishes his job decently. That being said, Swank is still the one who shines here.

The scenery in this film was lush and beautiful. Throughout, we get glimpses of Amelia's plane soaring over crisp blue oceans or exotic and green forests. All of it made me want to get in that cockpit and experience it all for myself. Everything was so life-like, which in this case, was all for the better. The visuals were also quite marvelous. Though I heard it was quite hard for the studio to find a plane similar to that of Amelia Earhart's, it most certainly paid off. Everything about this film seemed like it was really the 1930's. Pretty much on every visual level here... this film succeeded.

If I was to find something not to successful about the film, it would be its length. This movie clocks in at almost 2 hours, and though I was entertained throughout, I felt that there were some scenes they could've trimmed or cut out completely to make the movie move along at a faster pace. I still left the theater wanting more, but more so because it ended on such a loose note, rather than because it was too short. It felt a bit too long in my opinion, even though the film as a whole was great. I just felt that several parts were too long.

"Amelia" is a true story, which made it all the more inspiring to me. This film made me want to go out and try and conquer the world (not actually, but you get my point). Amelia Earhart makes you feel like you can accomplish the impossible and achieve all of your goals. And you can... Amelia showed us that. Even though her life's end is a mystery, and she never did achieve her biggest goal, she showed us that when you work at something, remarkable things can happen. She is an influence and inspiration to both sexes, and will continue to be for many years and generations to come. "Amelia" helps capture her go-getting attitude, her larger-than-life charisma, and her optimistic charm. Here's one that dearly hopes this remarkable film beats the dreadful "Saw VI" (which is also released this week).