When I first saw the trailer for Gravity, I thought it looked stunning. At the same time, I also thought it looked like it might be incredibly boring. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney stranded in space? With no aliens or laser guns? I had the feeling this would be the outer space version of Open Water*.
*Note: I have never seen Open Water, but I have always pictured it as the ocean version of what I thought Gravity would be.
I wanted Gravity to be a suspenseful thriller. Luckily, if it turned out to be boring, I was in the right theater. I caught Gravity at my new favorite movie theater, the AMC on Broadway and 84th. If the movie was a snoozer, at least I’d be snoozing in an oh comfy recliner for the next two hours. Win-win!
SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!
Unfortunately for nap time, Gravity is a really good thriller. It’s a classic man-versus-nature story, even though most of the dangers from nature are man made. The premise for Gravity is very simple: an accident causes a chain reaction of satellites to explode, sending deadly shrapnel at 50,000 mph at our stranded astronauts . They need to get to the International Space Station for a ride home before being eviscerated by said shrapnel or running out of air. I wasn’t sure how the story was going to sustain itself for the length of the movie, but it did. I was on the edge of my seat, which is quite an accomplishment for a movie when the viewer is in a recliner.
Besides being a great thriller, Gravity is visually stunning. I wanted to see Gravity on the IMAX in 3D, but waited too long. It’s been booted off every IMAX in the New York City area thanks to Ender’s Game and Thor: The Dark World. Still, Gravity looks great in 3D. I highly recommend seeing it in 3D and seeing it on the big screen. I think you’ll be missing out on something if you just wait to catch it on DVD.
When Gravity comes out on DVD, I will definitely be buying it, mainly that for the first time in a long time, I really want to watch the making-of special features. The making-of specials are usually boring back-slapping on the part of the producers, cast and crew, but I am utterly fascinated to see how this movie was made. I could easily spend an hour listening to director Alfonso Cuarón talk about how he chose his shots.
If you haven’t seen Gravity yet, go see it! And see it in 3D! You won’t regret it!
I was very surprised how much I liked this movie, because coming in I was a little skeptical with a movie that basically only has two actors in it, but the visual effects, and the story make up for any preconceived notions you might have going in. I only wish I had seen this in 3D because I’m sure it was even better in that format. Now we have all seen real space, and as far as fake space goes, this was pretty dam good. There are a ton of special effects that tie in with a story about of the human will to live make for a very good movie in my opinion. Sandra Bullock is ok with me. She has made some good movies but she has also made some atomic bombs. George Clooney is what really roped me into this movie. He is definitely in my top 5 favorite actors and he does not disappoint here. This is a highly suspenseful, deeply moving, edge of your seat movie that if is still out in the theaters is a must see on the big screen.