Better Late than Never

More than 3 months late...but I finally saw Gravity. In 3-D.

Wow.

I knew this movie received great reviews (97% on RT!), so I went into the theater with some reservations. But it lived up to the hype (which is a rarity for me with movies nowadays.)

First off, this film deserves to be seen in 3-D. Bottom line. Dish out the extra 3 or 4 bucks that you would have spent on alcohol this weekend. It enhances an already visually gorgeous movie. Also, this is 3-D done right. The last movie I saw in 3-D was Toy Story 3. While I loved TS3, there was no reason to see it in 3-D. Waste of money. Not the case with Gravity.

The special effects are stunning. I've never been into space (no, seriously, I haven't), but I imagine this is pretty damn close. Alfonso Cuarón's directing and choice to frequently use first-person camera angles only heightens the stress, anxiety & terror you feel when sitting in the theater.



Sandra Bullock and George Clooney both put on solid performances. Bullock is fantastic. She portrays a doctor on her first mission (I think....regardless, it's clear she's still green) into space. When things go bad, we see her character overcome several obstacles, both external and internal, through determination, smarts and a strong will-to-live. She gets alot of screen time to herself in this one and doesn't disappoint.

Clooney is great comic relief in an otherwise tense movie. He plays a witty, charming astronaut who's about to retire, yet is the strong, calming presence when shit hits the fan. Of course, because it's Clooney we're talking about, he effortlessly pulls off the role (it's not Man Crush Monday yet, is it? #MCM).

The storyline is a tad bit lacking and predictable. Some of the overriding themes throughout the movie also make it feel a bit too cheesy and sappy at times, such as the "surviving-against-all-odds" theme or religious parallels.

But, honestly, you're not watching Gravity for a groundbreaking or original story. You can find that in one of the other 2014 Best Picture nominees. You're watching to be blown away by amazing visual and technical effects - and in that aspect, Gravity will rock your world. (Did you really think I'd go this whole post without some sort of pun?)