Living in the Age of Airplanes (2015) Reviews

• Beautiful but lacking detail

  PipedupMovies2015-06-29

  This film is quite obviously a labour of love so it's hard to knock it. Beautifully shot, wonderfully scored (by James Horner who was a pilot) and narrated with great feeling by Harrison Ford (who is a pilot as well), there is no doubting the commitment of everyone involved and it is hard not to get swept away with the stunning photography. That said, the film has its flaws. Although it serves as a timely reminder of how far humanity has come in the last 100 years and how awesome (in the true sense of the word, not in the cheap way the word is used by millenials nowadays) airplanes are, it is very light on detail. Suffice to say that the Wright brothers don't even get a mention. Nor are there any interviews with engineers, airplane manufacturers or historians. Too much of the film is spent showing us beautiful destinations you can go to by plane (tourist spots) instead of showing us planes and their engines while telling us minutiae about them. The second issue is that the film is told through the rosiest of rosy tinted glasses. There is no mention of airplanes' use in warfare (from the First World War to 9/11), for example. Nor is there any mention of the dangers or downsides of airplanes, which is quite ironic seeing how Harrison Ford had to crash-land his private plane earlier this year and James Horner sadly died while piloting a plane a few days ago. This film is therefore competent and beautiful to look at (especially on the big screen, which I had the pleasure of doing) but it's not sufficiently sophisticated. It serves as a great reflection on the airplane but not so much an education. I personally didn't learn anything that I didn't now about airplanes and I'm not a big airplane enthusiast. Children will no doubt love it and have their interest in airplanes sparked but anyone looking for a meaty and informative documentary about airplanes will have to look elsewhere.

• An inspirational film that relates to anyone who has seen an airplane

  home-952972015-04-22

  Think of your childhood, did you ever have the dream of being a pilot? Were you fascinated the first time you rode in an airplane? Have you ever pondered what the airplane means and what it has done for modern society? If you have even slightly wondered about any of these questions, you should see this film. This film tells a great story of the history of mankind. It is also an inspiration for the next generation of aviation enthusiasts. If you visit the Air and Space Museum, this is a must see. You will like it! The film is in IMAX and the shots of the sky, the water, the monuments, and the flight are spectacular.

• Beautiful images but disappointing if you expect to see airplanes

  jeje-none2016-09-11

  This was quite a deception. I expected a documentary about airplanes, why they're magical, and some technology and technical stuff. You'll get none of this. What you get is some contemplative aerial views of why travellng around the world is great. It surely is great, even though showing the Trevi fountain surrounded by tourists is not the best way to depict it. Some good points though. The first part does a fantastic job of reminding us how lucky we are to live in the early days of fast travel and how much the entire world has changed in the blink of an eye. Harrison Ford does a great job at narrating all of this. Airplanes lovers will be left out in the cold.

• Beauty and awe

  jtlaflam2015-04-28

  Awesome and captivating, my whole family loved seeing this IMAX film! Now, my son wants to be a pilot! It was filled with beauty, inspiration, education, fresh perspective, and was a bit of a tear jerker. Perfect for the big IMAX screen. I felt like I traveled the world in less than an hour! Now, there are so many new places I want to go! I loved all the night scenes, and seeing so many cool, remote places. The visuals and music made it a solid 10. Then, there's Harrison's calm and familiar voice. Go see it! We can't wait to see it again!

• Disappointing - Is this an airplane movie?

  jcooper-337052016-12-17

  Where are the airplanes? I get that airplanes have an impact on flower delivery - but this movie really should have more about the actual Airplane. Especially considering this went to IMAX.....big waste by the producers...You could have made such a better movie that would have appealed to a wider audience - but you've narrowed yourself down to the K- 5 audience. Shame. When you promote a movie as much as this one - and you promote to the Aeronautical community - at least provide some footage that would make them happy - Total fail by the producers.....Please try again - and make it more suited for Plane Fans.