The Aviator

Martin Scorsese chronicles the long and winding life of movie, aviation, and nail-growing pioneer Howard Hughes in this bio-epic that nearly unfolds in real time. Leonardo DiCaprio headlines the elaborate period piece, Scorsese tackles the era with his usual attention to detail, and the two-disc edition rolls out a host of supplements to settle any post-flight jitters. For a frank history lesson on the man who changed commercial air travel, there's "Modern Marvels" and "The Role of Howard Hughes in Aviation History," which offers fascinating footage of Hughes triumphantly introducing his racer planes while perched atop their wings. "The Visual Effects" featurette gets all technical, explaining how the crew recreated the filming of Hell's Angels, the historic takeoff of the Spruce Goose, and the many discouraging crashes that plagued Hughes' career. Shifting from flying to fits, there's also tons of information on Hughes' crippling obsessive compulsive disorder in "The Affliction of Howard Hughes" and an OCD panel discussion with DiCaprio, Scorsese, and Hughes' widow. By the time you're done, you'll know more about the '40s than Larry King.