Gravity Review

Space, the final frontier. I imagine since the dawn of man we have looked up at the night sky and wondered, what's out there? In 1961 Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to be put into space, eight years later Apollo 11 was launched into space which brought three American astronauts to the moon. As far as space travel goes we've made leaps and bounds in very little time, we even have a giant space station that can sustain life for quite a while. While we may be a long way off from actually colonizing space we very well may be able to accomplish that one day; but so far we've only scratched the surface. The problem is we can't control space like we can Earth. In space there is no oxygen, temperatures fluctuate 200 above zero and 150 below, there isn't even anything to carry sound; life in space is impossible. Gravity is written and directed by Alfonso Cuaron and follows the story of Dr. Ryan Stone, a research scientist and doctor on her first spacewalk, and Matt Kowalski, a seasoned veteran on his last trip into space, while they are up in space doing some work on the Hubble Telescope. While working the team gets a call from Houston, they say that a large amount of debris that has already taken out several satellites and stopped most communication throughout the world is headed their way and they need to abort immediately. Unfortunately it's too little too late and their ship is hit, scattering the crew. Stone is sent flying out into space with no way to get back, panicked she cries for help which only depletes her oxygen. On her own in the most hostile environment known to man, she is forced to hold on to the little bit of hope she has left and pray that somebody saves her. This is one of the most incredible movies I've seen in the past few years. Visually it is one of the most beautiful films of all time. It might have the best 3D and CGI I've ever seen in a movie, surpassing films like Avatar, Life of Pi, and Pacific Rim. This will win the Academy Award best visual effects and for best cinematography; Gravity really is a visual masterpiece. Another very impressive aspect would be the superb acting, the movie stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney who both do a great job; Bullock has a serious chance at another Oscar this year. There are a few other people featured in the movie but really it's all about Bullock and Clooney. I'd also like to mention the fantastic soundtrack, which might also win an Oscar. As incredible as the movie is it does have some minor flaws. The movie is very well written but Alfonso did try to put in some sappy moments and I felt a few kind of fell flat. The movie is filled with pulse pounding moments that had me on the edge of my seat, but there were a few slow parts; fortunately none of those moments last too long before we get back to the action. Gravity is an astonishing film from start to finish, this is an amazing story pulled out of the head of a true genius. I was born in a time where special effects were common in movies so I never got to see one of the landmark films in visual effects and design in the theater; but this will probably be the closest I come to know how the first people who saw 2001: A Space Odyssey felt. Gravity is an incredible experience that will be featured at every upcoming award show, it's one of the best movies of the year and a must see.

5/5 Stars