Gravity (2013)

The ANU film group solicited short reviews for the semester 2, 2013 programme. I requested to review Gravity(2013), as I thought I'd have the chance to see it before I'd need to submit the review... I didn't... I had to write this review as if I'd viewed and enjoyed the film, when there were nothing but teaser-trailers out. Even the plot was a mystery, but I could at least Google the names of the two lead characters!

Although this film gained significant attention with its spectacular trailer, it was something of an opaque enigma. While it let you become intimately familiar with every little scintillating fragment of shuttle debris, you didn’t get much of an insight into the plot. However, it’s really pretty-much right up there before your eyes: A group of astronauts try to return to Earth after their shuttle from The International Space Station is destroyed by space junk. Sure, it’s slightly anachronistic, given that The Space Shuttle is no more, but look at that view!.

Sandra Bullock stars as Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer on her first mission

George Clooney plays retiring veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Mike Wazowski?), on his last mission commanding the shuttle home from the ISS. With no shuttle, no hope of rescue and no communications with Earth, doom is inevitable... or is it?!

The film was directed, co-written and co-produced and directed by Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), so the pacing and style are tight.

Some of the visual effects and special effects crews worked on Gladiator and The Dark Knight, which really shows in the awe-inspiring vistas of earth and vividly complicated destruction scenes.

Although it could be said to be a reimagining of Apollo 13 (But... you know... less factually based), it’s a visually stunning movie and a gripping thriller.