Movie Review: Gravity

Gravity starring Sandra Bullock is a space movie. However, unlike other space movies, Star wars, Star Trek, and the Apollo movies, this movie takes place in the abyss of space right outside of Earth (and is also more realistic than lightsabers and 'beam me up, Scotty').

Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is on a simple assignment with Captain Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) and another fellow spaceman when the shuttle they're working on gets hit with debris from a satellite that exploded. With nothing but their wits, an increasingly fading oxygen supply, and a thin tether holding them together, they must find a way to get back to Earth while drifting aimlessly through space. 

Rated PG-13 for intense perilous sequences (there are many of these), some disturbing images (e.g. dead corpses floating through space and a man with a huge hole punched through his skull) and brief strong language (No F-words).

Cast:

Sandra Bullock did a very good job with this movie. If you've ever seen the movie Cast Away starring Tom Hanks, this was very similar (however, it was in space). Sometimes I find her to be a bit over dramatic, but in this movie she did a very good job balancing her over dramatise with good acting. She shone in this movie. 

The rest of the cast, there are only 7 people in the cast of this movie (more than half of those were just voices), were very good as well. George Clooney did an extremely good job of portraying the stern yet humorous captain of the mission. In the beginning, however, it did take me a while to figure out who was who. But after the first, 5-10 minutes, I figured it out. 

Plot:

This has an extremely simple plot, yet it was done so beautifully and creatively that you forget the movie is simply about a woman floating through space trying to get back to Earth. If you are planning on being an astronaut, this movie might have you second guessing yourself. I never wanted to be an astronaut and after watching this movie, I definitely do not want to go into space any time soon. 

Sandra Bullock as Dr. Ryan Stone
"My name is Ryan because my dad wanted a boy,"
She explains.

There is never a dull moment in this movie whether they are battling a fading supply of oxygen, debris hurtling towards them at speeds faster than a bullet, fires, losing each other, and no fuel it is constant drama and suspense. 

Special FX/Other:

I am truly amazed with this movie and the special FX. It feels like you are in space with them and I can't even begin to fathom how they even filmed this movie. The FX are stunning. However, there is a time or two when you look out from the helmet of Sandra Bullock and everything is spinning. It didn't make me really dizzy but I know that for my mom it made her a little dizzy. 

This movie is a truly grim reminder of what our astronauts risk when they go up into space. I commend them for their bravery and strength because I know I could never do what they do. This movie is definitely worth seeing if you have the time!

Score:

7.75/10