Starring: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
My Rating: 7.5/10
Runtime: 91mins
Synopsis: A space disaster and subsequent flying debris leaves two astronauts mid-orbit, cut off from communication and a long way from home.
People who have been to space talk about the change of perception when they view earth from above. Aside from witnessing awesome thunder storms, aurorae borealis’ and vast mountain ranges, what strikes space cadets above all is the realisation that earth is just another planet floating in infinite space. It puts things in perspective when we worry about trivial things and makes you consider how precious life is and how we should be preserving our planet rather than allowing corporations to destroy it. After all we are all one - we all come from the same star.
Gravity gives you this sense of awe and appreciation for life. Indeed, this is what the story is based upon - Ryan (Sandra Bullock), a mother who has lost a child, and thus her will to live, must fight to survive in adverse circumstances. The central question the film puts to us is - do we value life? Matt, George Clooney’s character, certainly does and the way in which his positivity rubs off on Ryan is a message to the masses; attitude makes all the difference.
Gravity is a film that you have to see in 3D. I don’t think you will get the same experience watching it on your laptop, so for that reason I’d encourage everybody to go and see it in the cinema. The imagery and special effects are magnificent and reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001, A Space Oddity. The soundtrack is epic and deservedly so as the spectacular backdrop of earth is forever present. At times, I did find myself wondering where the story would go. I felt as though the supernatural might come into play but the film remained in the drama genre. This must have been an incredibly tricky story to write and full credit must be given to Alfonso Cuarón (Y Tu Mamá También, Children of Men) for pulling it off.
Below the trailer is a link to a short documentary that I’d recommend watching before going to see Gravity. Sometimes you just have sit back and enjoy the wonderful technology of film, and, this doc may help you appreciate how far mankind has come.
- by Gavin Fitzgerald
https://vimeo.com/55073825# http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHMIfOecrlo
