Gravity: i'ts 127 Hours in space

I used to like Sandra Bullock in Speed. I tend to forget all the other movies she starred in. I had no much recollection of George Clooney in the silver screen either. I just recall how he actually killed the initial Batman movies series which Tim Burton started. So, both the 2 big names did not entice me to watch Gravity. It was the high online review ratings which prompted me to buy the tickets to enter the cinema.



The whole movie is a visual feast. Forget about the human actresses or actor. You can only see the 2 names. That is all. No extras. The visual of space, earth view from space, the details of space station... all these are really breathtaking, and I bet it looks better in 3D. The story is rather simple. Something went wrong in a mission in space which left only 2 survivors struggling to find their way back on earth. No prize in guessing that the 2 survivors are Bullock and Clooney. So, they hop to the international space station, then to the Chinese Tiangong station and finally (no spoiler, everyone would have guess the ending) back to earth.

It is all about human will to survive against all odds. It is still a survival movie, and this time, it is against all odds to return home to earth. Of course, there are some character development in Bullock's character, which cause her to come to the verge of giving up. Clooney is an interesting character but too bad, his screen time is a bit limited (without giving away any spoiler). In the end, it is watching Sandra Bullock surviving in space. Sandra Bullock climb the space station. Sandra Bullock trying to work the space shuttle. Kind of watching I am Legend with Will Smith inside at times. Well, that may be a bit unfair comparison, since I am Legend have dogs and zombies. Probably this felt like watching the award winning 127 Hours and spend the whole 2 hours watching James Franco.


Do not get me wrong, Bullock's acting here is rather commendable. Her anguish, hopelessness, and finally struggle with fate is believable. Just that, at the end, her character is not probably develop to someone likable so much so that I do not care at the end, since I knew that she WOULD come back to earth in the ending. It felt more like a universal story of human will to survive rather than a personal tale to inspire. Still a good movie for those who enjoy 127 Hours- type of inspiring tale, but for the majority, this may not be the cup of tea.

ratings: 3 half poink!
comments: the first 15 minutes is remarkable since it is a one take screening with no break in the frames. Although this may really really felt like 127 Hours, but this is where they differ. 127 Hours inspire so much because it is a REAL story.