Good concept, poorly executed.

Don't listen to the negative reviews

A different way of telling a story

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

This could have been a spirited, lofty film about the famous Amelia Earhart, who set many flying records in the first half of the last century. Unfortunately, what we get is a dry, rather matter-of-fact account of her adventures, textbook style. But that's not the only problem.The plot can't proceed five minutes, at most, without the appearance of George Putnam (Richard Gere), Earhart's love interest. Do the writers really think we are interested in Putnam? And the casting of Gere, an over-the-hill actor twenty years ago, distracts immensely from Amelia and her adventures.The plot plays out chronologically from the mid-1920s until Earhart's disappearance in 1937. During this phase of her life we see her earlier, shorter flights across the Atlantic to Great Britain, to Africa, and to Pakistan. About three-fourths of the way into the film, Earhart and her co-pilot, Fred Noonan (Christopher Eccleston), begin their fateful final flight around the globe.To the script's credit I learned a couple of things that I did not previously know. Earhart promoted products to finance her flying. And Fred Noonan had a drinking problem.The film contains beautiful outdoor photography. And I like the way some scenes transition from B&W to color, a subtle reminder of how long ago the Earhart story was. Except for the annoyingly intrusive Richard Gere, casting and acting are fine. Hilary Swank gives a really fine performance in the title role.I wish the script had been re-written to drastically downplay George Putnam. Either that or recast to an unknown actor, someone who would not overshadow Hilary Swank. Gere's presence almost, but not quite, ruins the entire film. Maybe someday we'll get a film about Amelia Earhart that is as inspiring as she was.

You take one of histories richest characters and flatten out her personality, giving you the film "Amelia". So much potential in making a new movie about the life of Amelia, this film could have been terrific given the new information about her ill-fated flight and the evolution of computerized effects, but sadly Swank and Company offer us a meandering portrait of a fascinating person that cannot decide if it wishes to be a triangular love story or an historical account of the life of Amelia Earhart. Very disappointing was my first reaction while I waited for something other than the measured, even and unemotional acting by Swank, along with Gere's lame attempt to portray the swarmy, manipulative Mr Putnam. The only drama in this two hour film is contained in the last 5 minutes as Amelia tries to communicate with the Navy ship which was to assist the round-the-world flight with navigation, as her fuel supply is running out. Even that part could have been played with more intensity. The older films on this rich character do justice to her life and accomplishments, this movie does not. Oh, BTW, Swanks teeth look like a refrigerator showroom baring testament to the work of a fine orthodontist.

she was swallowed by the sky or by the sealike me she had a dream to flyoh Amelia!it was just a false alarm (Joni Mitchell)Hilary Swank was ideally cast as the daring pilot for she is par excellence the actress of the "adventures " movie which may take place in France (the countess De La Motte in a very so-so costume drama or in her native country ("Billion dollars baby"in which she is unforgettable)Amelia's feats as a pilot are well depicted ,although the two male leads are wasted (in Ewan McGregor 's case it's disastrous).And there is another side of her life which is passed over in silence:she was a feminist activist and she fought for the women's rights ;if the screenplay devoted one or two scenes to her commitment,I have missed them.Richard Gere ,in spite of a thankless part,proves he can age gracefully.dreams Amelia,dreams and falsealarms ....(JM)

A solid, if sometimes stolid biopic of a remarkable woman who probably deserved a slightly stronger treatment than is delivered here.. "Amelia" is beautifully set and features as you would expect some excellent aerial photography but falls down somewhat in the dramatic stakes.Hilary Swank bears a strong physical resemblance to the title character, but for me doesn't quite convey the passion and drive which inspired Earhart's exploits. The dialogue also is occasionally too florid, particularly between Earhart and her husband, Putnam, played by a too-old Richard Gere giving us some more of that razzle-dazzle, always looking for the main chance. Euan McGregor however seems miscast as the other romantic interest, Gene Vidal, father of writer Gore as the screenplay seems determined to make us realise. Christopher Ecclestone is wasted in his relatively small part as Earhart's last navigator (she didn't die alone) and could conceivably have played the McGregor part to greater benefit.There is some interesting interpolation of vintage footage of Earhart herself and some neat transitions from black and white to colour to take us into the movie, but mostly the direction is unspectacular and episodic. The obvious comparison here is to Scorcese's "The Aviator", his biopic of Earhart's contemporary Howard Hughes. Yes, Hughes' eventful life gave Scorcese more to work with,but his film really grabbed you by the scruff of the neck and kept you on the edge of your seat, whereas this movie felt more like something you'd watch on the National Geographic channel.All that said, immediately after watching the film, I was inspired to read up on the aviator's life, but maybe that too is a sign that the movie hadn't quite done its job in encapsulating the life and times of its remarkable subject.My summary quote, by the way, is from Joni Mitchell's great song "Amelia" on her "Hejira" album.