Galactic Goosebumps

Movie Review: Gravity

Gravity was a thrill ride! If they made it into a Realto movie, I wouldn’t be surprised! It’s easily one of the best movies this year!

I used to have dreams of going to space, but this movie is making me think twice about it. The movie is about Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), a doctor/equipment specialist but a neophyte astronaut, accompanied by Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), the veteran spaceman babysitting the team. During a mission in outer space, a freak astronomical accident destroys their “ship”, and suddenly the two are fighting desperately to survive and get back home. The whole movie was an intense struggle between man and nature! And every failed attempt to hold on to a loose cable, every struggling breath in an emptying O2 tank, every panned out shot of our characters within miles of nothingness, every flying debris traveling at bullet speeds, instilled in me a feeling of painful vulnerability/of insignificance/of utter weakness, against the cosmos. (Clearly, this movie really stressed me out!)

But on moments when the audience is given (short) breaks from the action, the movie takes the time to show how magnificently breath-taking it is to glimpse into outer space. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a movie that actually felt like it was one of those space documentaries you watch in planetariums. (Which made the drama all more realistic.) The effects made a stellar (pun intended) job visualizing a universe that was grand and majestic.

Sandra Bullock and George Clooney couldn’t have been better casted. (Just 2 characters and they were still able to bring the movie to life) There was a great use of sound. The audio goes turbulent on action sequences and goes dead silent at the perfect moment to deliver a strong feeling of loneliness in space. The cinematography was also notable. The wide shots were magical! And the way light and shadows were used accentuated the grandness of those shots.

Gravity is a duality in nature. While it showcases the blinding beauty of outer space, it also depicts the paralyzing terror of being in its mercy. It was done with great attention to detail and realism which makes it even more beautiful, and at the same time, more dreadful. Gravity is an amazing space drama you wouldn’t want to miss!

UPDATE:

I just found out that a spin off short was made from Gravity called Aningaaq. It was directed by the son of the director of Gravity, Jonas Cuaron. (How cool is that?) Watch it below. It's only a 5 minuter, but there's a familiar emotional gravity (pun intended) to it.

In the movie, i thought Stone was just getting delirious or that they weren't understanding each other but Ryan just kept talking. I didn't realize they were actually carrying a conversation.:))

Hearing the radio immediately brought me back to the Dr. Stone's desperation in space. But having seen the conversation from this point of view, it seems even more hopeless. That final minute when Ryan stopped talking gave an impression that she was GONE gone. The way she was talking about death and how no one would mourn or pray for him in the background while Aningaaq sang to his child was stirring. Again, a duality is presented, of life and death. The imagery is almost as powerful as Gravity's. Try watching it after you just watched Gravity!:)