Never reviewed a movie before. Let's give it a try.
Just a warning, you might find spoilers or something. I'll try not to reveal anything major, but... yeah.
The movie opens to reveal a team of three astronauts up in space, working on the Hubble Telescope. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) are working on a panel when they're alerted that a nuclear missile strike from Russia has started a chain reaction and a large debris storm is heading towards them. Large chunks of satellite crash through the shuttle they're operating from, killing the other astronaut and heavily damaging the ship. The shuttle arm Stone is attached to detaches and begins tumbling, sending her drifting out into space, causing her to panic and use up a large amount of her oxygen.
Kowalski reunites with her after a moment, and after setting their watches for an hour and a half (the amount of time it takes for the debris to rotate around the Earth and return), they begin to travel towards a Russian space station. With barely any thruster power left in his pack, Kowalski makes a final burst and they crash into the station. Parachute cords from the escape pod catch Stone's foot, but she has to let Kowalski go to avoid losing her grip on the station. All alone and out of oxygen, she just barely makes it in in time.
From then on, all alone, almost everything able to go wrong does, from an internal fire to no fuel left in the escape pod. I think the story is very suspenseful, great, and crafty. She uses anything she can to survive.
The actors (well, mostly actor) play the roles really well. Even though Clooney isn't in the majority of the movie, he does a great job as the authoritative figure in the situation, keeping his mission partner calm. Bullock has a lot of emotional scenes and does those amazingly. She pulls off a wide range from anxiety and terror, to anger and a bit of insanity. The majority of the movie is her, and she does great.
The sound is great as well. I went for the full package and went to see it with Dolby Atmos (which is apparently the most advanced theatrical stereo system ever created), and the volume ranged from almost-deafening pulsing roars of the explosions to the absolute silence of an airlock seal. The sound effects are realistic, they change to match the scenes and difference between inside and outside the suit/station/pod, and the music helps add to the intense moments. Overall, amazing.
The video style is interesting at times but does work. With shots ranging from 5 seconds to two minutes, a few scenes do get a bit boring after a long time watching them. A certain scene where you go from the outside of Bullock's helmet to the inside is seamless. Lots of amazing shots, even though a few may get a bit lengthy.
The 3D is stunning. Unlike Toy Story 3, the 3D for Gravity is used to the fullest. With the Earth as a far-off backdrop and the astronauts fighting to stay alive, the 3D is the best it can be. Definitely worth it.
The movie's rated PG-13, which I think is fair. You probably shouldn't bring your 5-year old sibling along because they want to become an astronaut when thry grow up. Along with the graphic scene of a chunk of the third astronaut's face missing, there are several profanities and really intense scenes they might not be able to handle.
Overall I'd give Gravity a 10/10. Aside from the long camera shots, the movie was great. It had great emotion and a suspenseful story. I wouldn't call it horror, but it certainly was scary at times. If you like space and drama, this movie is for you.
If not, you could, you know, go watch Downton Abbey or something. I dunno. Pretty sure no one gets lost in space on there.
Spoilers? :l I thought that meant you might hint at something on accident. You literally just summarized the whole movie. :c
Oh well, I'll still probably see it.
fabo888
06 Oct 2013 21:28
In reply to TheWildwoodDance
Actually, I summarized up to the part where she's by herself in very extreme detail, and then sort of hinted at what happened after that. Sort of like a game demo where you play up to wherever but then have to buy the game for the rest. ;D