Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Gravity (2013)

Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Writers:  Alfonso Cuaron, Jonas Cuaron
Cast:       Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris

A medical engineer and an astronaut have to work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.

The accident happens when a Russian missile accidentally hits one of its satellites and its debris hit other satellites creating a chain reaction with space debris cascading. This is a very real possibility and is known as 'Kessler Syndrome'. If it happens it will make it impossible to launch satellites and space exploration missions for decades. 

In the film after the first debris hit they have 90 minutes before it rotates back and hit them again. They have to get to a Chinese station to get a pod to get back to Earth. The film is visually and technically amazing with a very basic disaster story at its core. Don't know how much the 3D added to the whole thing unless I see it in 2D and the glasses are fucking annoying. However when the second time debris hit, 3D added something. George Clooney plays the typical George Clooney character. The film has been universally praised with people comparing it to 2001 and all that. In that sense it was a bit disappointing for me. Expositions really felt like expositions which is never a good thing. Cuaron should have given a bit more allowance for the intelligence of the audience. I also felt the whole dead child back-story for Ryan's character was not necessary and I didn't care much for her character either as the film went on.

All said and done it is still a stunning film and a great visual achievement unlike a certain film like 'Avatar' which I had to cringe my way through because of the cheesiness of the story. Should be watched on a big screen.

Rating: 4/5

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