I have to say, I had serious misgivings about this movie. Mr. Otter saw it when it came out, and liked it well enough to buy it. He went on and on about how amazing Leonardo Di Caprio was and how good it was. Sure, I said, but not interested.

Well, it was the New Year's Day Videofest (theme: Flying) and Mr. Otter insisted on this movie being in the mix. OMG, I said several times, it's three hours long, and it's LEONARDO DI CAPRIO, ew.

And of course, it was the second movie we picked. So me, Mr. Otter, Ottersis, Spider Jerusalem, the Squirrel Lady and Maid-of-Awesome settled down to watch it (although M-o-A was actually playing a computer game...she's too young to have even HEARD of Howard Hughes, so we forgave her...)

And we watched it. And you know what? Mr. Otter was ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. (Don't let it go to your head, hubs...)

Yes, Di Caprio is annoying. But he was REALLY GOOD in this. He managed to be handsome and suave, brilliant and in charge and at the same time a frothing-at-the-mouth genuine certified wacko, all at once and often within the same three minutes.

My memories of Howard Hughes, not being one with the 'airplanes are wonderful' gene, are of the recluse millionaire hiding in a room and just being incredibly wierd.

And of cousre that was the end of his life...but this movie lets you see the rest of the things he was (see above) and is well made, interesting, fun to watch and was a GREAT movie.

Forget that it's Di Caprio. Rent it and enjoy it, it's a great movie.

Oh, and if you're ever in Portland, OR, the actual Spruce Goose is at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, about an hour outside town in McMinnville. The whole museum is worth an afternoon, it's amazing.

Amusing side story: For three days before New Year's, Ottersis and I were in Portland, visiting Otterbro and the Mermaid. And we were talking to the Mermaid, and discussing the upcoming New Year's Day Moviefest, and the Mermaid said, are you watching Hell's Angels with Jean Harlow, and told us her favorite scene...and it sounded great.

Hm, I thought, I'll put it on our netflix queue.

Then the next day, someone else, maybe Spider Jerusalem (who was visiting) mentioned it.

Then we drew The Aviator as the second movie of the New Year's Day Videofest...and the FIRST HOUR of this three hour movie...is about Howard Hughes filming...HELL'S ANGELS.

So I guess we'll have to watch it soon...stay tuned.