The Aeronauts (2019) User Reviews

Good Fairy tale

[theologos-13221 · 7/10 · 22 December 2019]

The movie is quite enjoyable as a fairy tale. It's supposed to be based on a true story, but to be politically correct Amazon has rewritten history and turned one of the two main characters to a women. It was two men, not a man and women. There is no need to rewrite history. I'd be annoyed if they make a movie about Amelia Earhart and turned her into a man. It's history. Just do the history.

I'd rated this a 9 if they hadn't lied by saying this is based on true events.

The acting is pretty good and the story line is good and it's fairly clean.

Worth a watch

[barkerwa · 8/10 · 22 December 2019]

If you want to watch a movie about the true events that "inspired" this movie, then go watch a documentary. If you want to watch a decent, family-friendly, period piece, with an interesting plot, then you may find this movie entertaining as I did.

I had no prior knowledge of the true events this movie is based on, but watching it piqued my interest to learn more.

Fun, Entertaining, fictitious.

[Mortis-1 · 7/10 · 23 December 2019]

While this does not hold to established history, it does show a fun view of what ballooning in the 1800's might have been like. An entertaining distraction for an evening.

You don't change the world simply by looking at it, you change it through the way you choose to live in it.

[TxMike · 23 December 2019]

I watched this on Amazon Prime streaming. While it was inspired by a real person, James Glaisher who set the early groundwork for understanding and predicting weather, the story told here is a highly fictionalized account of his 1862 ascent by balloon to perhaps 36,000 feet.

Felicity Jones as the fictional pilot and Eddie Redmayne as James Glaisher are both good. Being a scientist myself I was a bit put off by such things as climbing the exterior of the balloon at above 30,000 feet where the air temperature would be somewhere between -50 and -65F, and without gloves! What is depicted here is fantasy.

But what about the good? The production values are high and the action interesting. Plus how many have even heard of Glaisher and his pioneering meteorological studies at a time when other British scientists laughed at him? He was a very important scientist in the history of weather forecasting and contributed to changing the world.

So yeah, it has lots of things it can be legitimately criticized for but still it is an entertaining movie if you are in the right mood. I mostly enjoyed it.

Fun to watch on the big screen

[ArtistGrl · 7/10 · 12 September 2019]

Came to see this without too many expectations and was pleasantly surprised. The backstory wasn't very interesting and a bit slow to develop but the balloon scenes were beautifully rendered, thrilling and engaging. I literally clung to my seat during some of them. I liked how the film respected the scientific endeavor and the viewers by avoiding cliche romantic developments between its characters. Overall, an entertaining night, even if I won't remember it by tomorrow.

Entertaining but Far Fetched Family Film

[jadepietro · 7/10 · 22 December 2019]

GRADE: B-

THIS FILM IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

IN BRIEF: Fine CGI keep this contrived, entertaining, and all so untrue bio-pic stay earthbound.

JIM'S REVIEW: Tom Harper's The Aeronauts is a classy children's film. It is fine family fare about the early days of flight exploration, even though the actual story has been seriously altered from its original source. This revisionist "based on true events" lesson seems to be the unfortunate trend these days as writers playing fast and loose with historical accuracy. As biographies go, this is twaddle. As fantasy adventure, the film is fun.

The real event occurred on September 5, 1862 and would establish scientific data to help guide meteorologists to predict weather patterns. The journey involved two British scientists, James Glaisher and Henry Coxwell, and their balloon flight to test the unknown atmospheric conditions as they broke the world's altitude record during dangerous weather conditions. However, somewhere from page to film, Mr. Coxwell changed gender and became the purely fictitious Amelia Wren, a daredevil aviator, winningly played by Felicity Jones. Her co-pilot remained Mr. Glaisher and Eddie Redmayne is reunited with his co-star. Up, up and away we go!

The film resembles an rousing adventure film for children, an old-fashion Saturday matinee type with lots of peril for our brave heroes to encounter. Forget that our courageous twosome have forgotten to pack hats, scarves, or gloves...those omissions certainly defy logic, but more is the danger! Amelia is played as an independent modern woman, unafraid of society's restrictions or heights. She is women empowerment personified and little girls in the audience will identify with her struggle while her male counterpart as performed by Mr. Redmayne has been essentially neutered. Adults will just shrug at the heroic feats and enjoy the nonsense.

Ms. Jones and Mr. Redmayne are set adrift in a silly and simplified story, lost in the movie's own grandiose special effects. Whenever the film is airborne, the film is action-filled and riveting. The CGI is terrific viewing, Mark Eckersley's editing is concise, and George Steel's photography captures the wondrous beauty of the skies. However, when the movie flashbacks to their aeronauts' personal lives back on earth, the film remains grounded, unable to soar.

Mr. Harper directs skillfully. Yet his screenplay, co-authored by Jack Thorne, takes too many liberties with its subject. Even though the dialog between the two actors is well delivered and quite poetic in its wordplay, the plot is banal and extremely contrived.

The Aeronauts hovers and rarely takes flight, although it is well-crafted and always entertaining...especially for the younger set.

I Enjoyed It

[slightlymad22 · 7/10 · 21 November 2019]

I just got out of Aeronauts

I was having some lunch with my son, when we decided to go see a movie, I'd not even heard of this movie, let alone seen a trailer (I seemed to miss this thread) or read any reviews, so I went in 100% cold, except knowing it starred Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones.

I'll just say this, if I had watched the trailer, I would have not have gone. As I spent the majority of my time, gripping the arm of my chair, or shaking with vertigo!! Ever since I suffered a brain injury a few years ago, I'm awful with heights.

I was surprised to see it was made by Amazon Studios. I have to say this is the kind of adventure tale that isn't made well that often anymore. When it focuses on its main plot, it's an effective movie of two people who did the impossible, when it shows flashbacks, it gets a little flat.

I have a bit of a soft spot for Redmayne, I find him really likeable and I enjoyed Jones in Rogue One and The Theory Of Everything, they do have good chemistry, even though there is no romantic relationship, here. Himish Patel (Yesterday) was solid supporting too.

With great cinematography and a truly engaging performance from its female lead, this one surprised me, and if you have a chance to see it in theaters before its eventual Amazon release, you should take it.

Acrophobia

[ramblingvagabond · 8/10 · 4 January 2020]

Acrophobia. I have this. If you also suffer from this condition, it will turn this into a horror movie. It will be worse than The Exorcist or Jaws. I mean, why do they have to climb all over the basket and lean over the sides and not tie themselves in? If it were me, we would all have on harnesses and be tied securely in.

This movie is exciting, and a little bit historical. I love adventure movies, and historical adventures, and Victoriana, so this was right up my alley. I don't know how true the events are, I don't know if the woman really did the things she did in this movie, but it was thrilling to watch, nonetheless.

But for the love of God and all things holy, PLEASE, stop leaning over the side of the basket, and harness yourselves in!!

"INSPIRED" by a TRUE event

[skipknight · 7/10 · 31 December 2019]

THIS IS A MOVIE. IT It is INSPIRED by a true event, not BASED on a true event. This is not a documentary, if you are looking for that, you are on the wrong channel.

The event did take place, the scientist was there, he was OLDER than the actor who portrayed him. There was a different pilot. The movie has based theirs on several female balloonist of the period. The most likely candidate had a career between 1805 with her husband, and solo after his death in 1809 until her death in 1819. She was very much like the character portrayed in the MOVIE. You can read about her in Smithsonian Magazine. Sophie Blanchard - The High Flying French Woman.

The MOVIE appears to have the science correct. The flight was record breaking. It used Hydrogen gas for the balloon. They did not take off from London, for fear of landing in the river. Apparently the movie kept the time correctly with the original flight.

There are a lot of people who have an issue with a FEMALE PILOT in the balloon. There were female pilots. You won't find them on Twitter, you have to dig a little deeper. But they were out there, pioneers of ballooning. Two hundred years later is it still hard for some of us men to accept that. Now that is what is hard to believe.

Fem-Aeronaut :An aspiring true story ? or re-imagined with a "fictional women hero" ,Erasing a heroes story, one mans life story.

[allanmichael30 · 5/10 · 19 March 2020]

This film was worth watching, but would challenge even the best director to capture such an inspiring story.However the true hero has been removed from this story. Why does this film not do justice to the true story, why is it full of hot air. The direction this film takes is good but, it starts of a little slow. This was such a triumphant moment in history discovering temperatures and humidity in upper atmosphere whilst breaking the world record. The question is why create Amelia Wren in The Aeronauts, she was "fictional", a character invented by screenwriter Jack Thorne. She is based on Henry Tracey Coxwell (a man), who saved Glaisher's life after the meteorologist passed out on their record-breaking ascent into the sky. Two men made history only for a complete idiot to omit their story, are we going to make a movies where women were first on moon just to sell tickets.

Movies are movies. Let them be what they are

[glen-248 · 10/10 · 4 January 2020]

It is only based on real events. Even documentaries do not tell the whole story. Films based on books skip tons of pages because films are films. Note to the critical reviews: even when u tell stories at dinner I am sure you change things and skip things and add things. It is a movie and I loved it. Fantastic scenery and thrilling. Highly recommend it as a movie nit as a history lesson

Inspired by true events

[clairewilliams-29348 · 7/10 · 31 July 2020]

Firstly, this film is INSPIRED by true events. Nowhere does it claim to be following an exact story event by event. Just putting that out there because a lot of reviews are honing in on inaccuracy etc etc.

This film is a charming story, with breathtaking scenery and heart stopping moments. Take it for what it is and give it a go. It's worth a watch.

True Events?

[fleck05IMDB · 2/10 · 22 December 2019]

Two men made this flight, not a man and a woman. Women made a lot of incredible contributions, but this wasn't one of them. There are many true stories about amazing women waiting to be told without changing the person's sex. It's like Hollywood doesn't believe there are stories about women worth telling, so they switch msle characters to female. Apple made a series about the space race with women inserted where there were all men. I suppose this gets kudos in Hollywood, and the independent film circuit, but most viewers of historical movies get excited and take their friends when it's the actual story of what took place. Filmakers have so much hubris they think their version of history is better than what actually happened. Filmakers are obviously free to make any story they want, but if you claim to be telling a true story try using a little truth.

Intense and Technically Impressive

[amirmustafaa · 24 December 2019]

The Aeronauts is a very tense and technically brilliant film. Some of the visuals this movie manages to pull off were incredible and the visual effects, stunts, and camera work were so good, I didn't doubt for a second that the characters were in that balloon and one second away from falling to their death. Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones also have a very natural chemistry, and while the scenes that take place outside of the balloon were formulaic, they weren't completely insufferable. As far as historical accuracy goes, if I wanted historical accuracy I would read a Wikipedia article. I watch movies for thrills and entertainment, and this move delivers a lot of thrills.

Great script

[Padreviews · 7/10 · 4 November 2019]

As long you nothing about the real story you'll enjoy this and see it for what it is - a visual masterpiece which would be amazing in IMAX .

History was made by Glaisher and his male co pilot reaching roughly the height of Everest - the achievements of Victorians in their primitive pioneering equipment has to be admired

For drama and film fans the fictional female co pilot works really well and adds to the story who cares if it's not accurate - is Shakespeare historical ? Not it's drama based on history .

Felicity Jones is the star of the show both in her acting and the character she plays .

Greenwich looks great as the obvious location to base most of the film in and the drama in the basket could easily transfer to stage .

The film deserves credit for costume , setting and make up .

It's a film like a piece of classical music it takes a while to get into but builds up to a great crescendo always backed up by a great script

Pad.A 7/10

Pretty good but so inaccurate it hurts my soul

[volpevole-97012 · 6/10 · 14 June 2020]

Ok so I guess having a lady in the movie is more "marketable" than 2 guys 1 balloon, but come on, what about Henry Tracey Coxwell? Nothing? Not a single word? Ok then... have my 6, bro

I don't know about the historical correctness of this, and FYI this is not a biography,, so the movie was really enjoyable ..

[Aktham_Tashtush · 7/10 · 26 December 2019]

I see a lot of 1 star reviewers here so bothered about the historical correctness and which they probably have the right to be ... but FOR ME ... I couldn't care less who flew the balloon, if it was a man, a woman or a damn dog ,, I don't see why it matters when judging an " Action, Adventure" movie,, This is not a biography .. so the movie is thrilling and emotional ,

The script was quick and connected ,, no holes of dullness ,, each and every scene matters,, putting flashbacks here and there was nice .. The cast was genius ... Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne duo was spot on ,, didn't get cheap romantic like many other movies of the same genre.

For a young director, Tom Harper did an amazing job here,, the visual effects , I can't even imagine .. they were perfected to the point were you actually start to feel the ups and downs of the gas balloon with them.

So final say,, I suggest you watch the movie like you don't know anything about the history and all,, just watch it like you watch Jumanji minus of course the comedy 😂 and you will enjoy it like I did.

Good film, bad history.

[2004Daniel · 7/10 · 31 December 2019]

They've added this character, Amelia Wren, and whilst she isn't like a bad character, she's completely made up, and replaced the actual hero who was Henry Coxwell. Feminism propaganda? Maybe not however it was needless, and then romance between James Glaisher and Ameila Wren was implied at the end which is adding to the fiction in this film which was meant to be based on a true story.

Having said all that, if I take off my history specs and put on my film specs on, there are more positives to look at.

The film switches between past and present. The past looking at how they got to the balloon in the first place, and the present is the journey on the balloon, and the emotional and physical battles they face.

All in all it was an alright effort, definitely entertaining and engaging, and Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones did very well. I'd say worth a watch but if you're a bit touchy with the correctness of the history then I'd give it a miss.

Ah, the hateful patriarchs are out in force on this one. Don't listen to them.

[typewriter-91737 · 9/10 · 21 December 2019]

Yes, we get that this movie is not 100% historically accurate. Yes, we get that Henry Coxwell has been omitted. So sorry. Yes, we get that Amelia Wren is an amalgamation of at least two noteworthy nineteenth-century female aeronauts. Yes, we get that a bunch of dudes are hurt that this movie isn't entirely true.

Get over it.

It's fun, it manages to show how important this moment was while also recognizing that several under-noted women also played a role in nineteenth-century aeronautics, and so we get the entire picture of an era in a short film. It's inclusive, because history is not so clean as the white-male centrists want to believe. It's an amalgam. It tries to capture many events in a two-hour movie, and that's okay, because the women are too often ignored.

And it's a fun, well done movie with some fine acting. I'm all for it.

Give it a watch and just enjoy it.

Lacking a gust and some untruths

[ricbardking · 6/10 · 21 March 2020]

Visually a great film. Lots to Like from the costumes to the period setting. What it lacked was a real deep story, not forgetting to mention the women is fictional as is the Indian actor. So I would say based on some factual events. Sometimes films that flick back and forth between the present and the past to build the narrative can become tedious and this grated on My enjoyment of the film in the end. As a purely semi fictional film I would recommend a watch if you just want to see something different. A good watch but don't expect to be blown away.

When based on a true story... isn't

[incertusveritas · 1/10 · 21 September 2022]

We live in a very peculiar time in human history, where reality, history and truth itself seems to be completely open to personal interpretation and always based on a very personal set of beliefs no matter how misguided they might be.

This movie is exactly what's wrong with our current society, changing history itself just to fit present narratives.

It's a dangerous path to take, it's extreme and it will create conflicts. Truth will always be true and selling lies as truths will only make you a coward. The world wasn't built by cowards, it was built by people who searched for the truth even at the cost of their own lives.

The real story of James Glaisher was a fascinating one, risking his life along with his friend and fellow scientist Henry Coxwell who for some reason wasn't even mentioned in this movie. We owe both men a debt of gratitude as their invaluable research paved the way to weather forecasting, something we all take for granted these days.

It's an insulting movie for real history buffs who are grossly misled by a "based on true events" tagline. Soon children will learn fantasy at schools, maybe George Washington will be sold as a woman, Georgette perhaps? She will also be African American and a lesbian... just to please the crowds.

Weird reviews

[Ark7754 · 8/10 · 22 December 2019]

Yes ok the film is "inspired" by true events. I think it was a good call having the woman.

Two men in a balloon complaining about it being cold? Really that's what you'd like to see?

It's a film..it needs something to extend the story folks

The historical record has what actually happened. Many films that are based on events have various inaccuracies. Well I liked this film..it was different.

Though I think the Felicity is hot also so that was a plus for me anyway. The effects were cool and the last third was savage!

Enjoyed the ride

[prberg2 · 7/10 · 4 January 2020]

I enjoyed this movie. I just wish it was in more theaters so more people could see it.

Was pretty thrilling and kept me on the edge of my seat. Good acting and some really cool shots. Some shots did feel a bit fake.. but I guess it would have been tough to actually film the movie up in balloons at 20,000 feet.

Probably not as impressive on a small screen.. but a fun ride and movie that I enjoyed.

Why is politics destroying art?

[sgc-39080 · 2/10 · 28 February 2020]

This film could be great but the director has decided that the feats of the real people are less important than pleasing the PC brigade. All too common these days. Very sad...

Absurd Historical Lies and CGI

[drednm · 21 December 2019]

In a truly bizarre twist, the makers of The Aeronauts (2019) decided to tell the story about an 1862 hot-air balloon flight by scientsts James Glaisher and Henry Coxwell by dumping Coxwell and replacing him with a fictional female character. The resulting rewrite of history makes no sense at all and reduces what might have been an interesting story to rubbish. What we're left with is a bowdlerized historical event rendered in CGI to the max. Eddie Redmayne plays the real-life James Glaisher while Felicity Jones plays the fictional Amelia Rennes. The Victoran-Era story that we're left with is preposterous.

To add insult to injury, Jones' character is one of the most annoying females I've seen in a film in a long time ... well since BOOKSMART. Totally out of character for the Victorian Era, this shrieking harpy is loud and pushy and rude. Redmayne pretty much walks through his part. His parents, played by Tom Courtenay and Anne Reid, are way too old for their roles.

Another gripe is the racial parade of Blacks and Asians all done up in the Victorian finery. So there's another PC push that is not historically accurate, plus Redmayne's friend/assistant is Indian. Victorian England was not that culturally fluid.

Probably 90% of the film is dominated by CGI and green screen technologies that always seem to have that flat, unnatural look. And isn't it amazing how Jones can hang on to icy, frozen ropes and dangle in mid air. Total bosh!