Gravity

Reviews from the Dark Side presents
    Gravity
Released 10/4/13, now in theaters

Sandra Bullock and George Clooney are astronauts who find themselves in one of the scariest life and death situations possible in Gravity, a sci-fi thriller that has gained wide critical approval.  The film is directed by the acclaimed Alfonso Cuaron (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban). 

Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) is a medical engineer on her first space mission aboard the shuttle, Explorer.  The expedition is led by veteran astronaut, Matthew Kowalski (Clooney), who is on his last mission before a well-deserved retirement.  While working on satellite equipment during a spacewalk, Mission Control (voice of Ed Harris) alerts the Explorer crew to incoming space debris generated from a Russian missile strike on a defunct satellite.  The large cloud of  high-speed debris hits the shuttle and crew just as the mission is aborted leaving only Stone and Kowalski alive and tethered to each other for dear life.  It's a race against time for the pair to reach the nearby International Space Station which has a shuttle they can use to get back to Earth.  But, their oxygen is running out and the deadly wave of debris will be back in an estimated 90 minutes.

Check being stranded in space as one of the most horrifying experiences in life along with death by fire and being buried alive.  Sandra Bullock's fear is almost palpable as she is tumbling end over end in the deep blackness. And, anyone who is even mildly claustrophobic may be disturbed by the tight spaces she has to squeeze through. Clooney adds a bit of humor as the grizzled veteran trying to keep the crew loose by telling wild personal stories.

The fear caused by the astronauts' plight is diametrically opposed to the grandiose beauty of viewing the Earth from space.  As Kowalski eloquently states, "You can't beat the view."  Which brings me to how magnificently the film's cinematography.  Much thought and effort was placed in Gravity's visuals.  Aside from the aforementioned views of Earth, the real-time and slow-motion shots of the debris' path of destruction are nothing short of spectacular.  And, there is a scene involving a fiery re-entry into to Earth's atmosphere that is notable as well.

Gravity is also one of the few movies made in 3D whose 3D effects are actually worth paying for.  This is what a 3D experience should be.  The studio spared no expense to make the effects great and it shows onscreen.

I've done nothing but heap praise on Gravity, so you would think this might be my third five-star review.  For all its visual accomplishments, I wasn't doing cartwheels after seeing it.  Again, it's visually stunning, but I wasn't particularly moved by the story.  It left me flat at times.  My reaction to Gravity reminds me of my reaction to another hugely-loved movie, Avatar.  The special effects and 3D are the stars and deserve all the credit.  Everything else?  Not so much.

Please don't misunderstand me.  Gravity is a good movie with outstanding special effects.  But, as far as anything else is concerned, don't believe the hype.

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

***1/2 stars


Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.