Review: Living In The Age Of Airplanes

Pretty disappointing the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia isn't screening it. I'll be in NY next week, but not sure it's worth schlepping out to Queens. Probaby will end up waiting until it's on NatGeo on cable or streaming.

The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum actually had a special complimentary, invite-only screening this morning in their IMAX theatre in DC as well.

"I had the best Thai curry of my life in Prague."

Do tell. 🙂

@ Lisa -- From my conversations with National Geographic there will be more theaters showing the film in the coming months, they just can't be announced yet. I'd recommend ringing the Franklin Institute and asking if they have it on their future schedule.

@ Stuart -- Fun! Were you able to attend? What did you think?

I think, for most of us here, the only disappointing aspect of the movie will be the short run time: 47 minutes.

It looks amazing! The cinematography looks absolutely stunning!

@ Kurt -- Hah! To further add to the irony, it was at the Mandarin Oriental, at a restaurant which was originally intended to feature a more sophisticated interpretation of Czech cuisine. Somewhere along the way they hired a Sri Lankan Chef, who morphed the menu into this weird Asian-Czech blend that somehow still works.

Prices were outrageous for Prague (and for Thai food in general), but far less than we'd pay at a similar venue in California. Everything was delicious.

@ Todd -- Word. Personally I could watch planes on approach at SXM all day, but if you're not making a film specifically for AVGeeks, it probably makes sense to limit the time somewhat.

It's coming to my teensy, tiny town of Hutch! Yay!! I'm so excited! I just now called them and they said it will probably play for a month. I'll be in CX F on May 1, but I'll get home on May 5th and can watch it. Can't wait! Thanks so much for the heads-up!

I'll be in DC on April 10th and just saw it's playing at the National Air & Space museum! So excited! Thanks for the heads up Tiffany!!! 🙂

Kinda cool, but at the same time seems incredibly wasteful. I often cringe at the "amenity kits" filled with products people will never use, and endless pairs of pajamas that people brag about from first class flights, but this just seems like a massive amount of jet fuel wasted for no reason

Last time I checked, it was scheduled for Seattle yet, now I see that it is!! This makes me happy. 🙂

A shame it isn't showing in the UK anytime soon. Initially it said it would be released worldwide but no sign of it yet... 🙁

@ chris -- Well, granted, I have no idea what a film studio generally spends on a premiere of a documentary, but I don't know this is any more expensive. Emirates and the film are getting a ton of additional press from the outside the box approach, and I'm sure someone crunched the numbers and decided it was a good investment.

@ Robert D -- We actually talked with a representative from the Pacific Science Center at the event. They were a later addition, but seem really excited about hosting the film!

@ takke -- The intention is definitely to have a worldwide release eventually, let me see if I can get a guesstimated date for the UK.

Ah, pearls before swine. You guys completely miss the point. You seem to think that airplanes are all about THE DESTINATION (or what kind of champagne you're served on the way, even what kind of bowl the nuts come in, for cryin' out loud). How very, very sad for you!

Sure, being able to comfortably and quickly get yourself to the other side of the world is great - a miracle, even - and it changes you. Being immersed in another culture (something that doesn't happen at 5-star resorts, you know…). All good - I like that stuff, too.

But the true beauty of flight, the miracle that can touch you, is not something you experience by taking a frikking SHOWER at 30,000 feet (sheesh, what a sad, misguided, waste of a life). The miracle of flight - the joy, the real experience worth living - is being at the controls, being one with the plane and the sky and the air and the whole world around you to infinity - going where you want to go, seeing what you want to see, what you can only see, when you take yourself there, up in the sky. It's utterly beautiful, it's amazing, and it's wonderful, in ways I can't begin to describe.

For a hint at what I'm talking about, you should check out the other films by this same film-maker. "One Six Right" is a good start. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sH_crB9xTc

Damn, I REALLY need to go flying this weekend!!

(…and Harrison, hope you're feeling better and back in the air soon - you're a good man!!!)

Even though you're a troll for saying it that way and I think being in comfort while flying compounds the magic, watching that clip along with the positive portion of your comments has me convinced. I think I'll become a pilot. Thanks!

@ Justin -- That's a beautiful description, though I never said I think airplanes are all about the destination. If that were the case we might never have evolved beyond steam trains and ocean liners.

Having an appreciation for the tremendous impact aviation has on our society doesn't make me less impressed by flight itself! While I'm not a pilot, I grew up behind the right-hand yoke. We live in an incredible time, and regardless of how we're able to experience them as individuals, airplanes make our lives pretty spectacular, I think.

I saw it today in Washington. Very well done. Very pretty iMax film version of "you're in a chair in the sky"- please don't take it for granted!

They did gloss over sea freight and container ships. But it was an aviation movie so they had to.

Here 's hoping for some more release dates outside NA sometime soon, or even better an online option!