The Usher's Review: 'Gravity' and it's mixed reception

Rating: 10/10 (3 November 2013)

Working as an usher for my local theater, I have the unique opportunity to hear the wide variety of opinions that movie-goers have towards each movie.
The way I see it, there are two main types of people who see "Gravity"; those who "get" it and love it sincerely, and those who don't and find it boring. Those who "get it" tend to have a deeper understanding of literary elements and can appreciate the movie's mastery of symbolism, suspense, and cinematography. Being aware of my personal bias, I would say that these people tend to come off as being more of the intellectual type, often expressing an interest in movies with more depth over action, such as "12 Years a Slave" and "Enough Said".
Meanwhile, those who don't "get it" tend to fall into a very different demographic. Being typically younger, these people comment on "Gravity" as boring, too slow paced, and not very interesting. I often find these people on their way to see "Bad Grandpa" or "Escape Plan" next, showing a preference for entertainment value in a movie over something with more depth.
This isn't to say that there are no shades of gray. Occasionally I run into people with unexpected opinions about "Gravity". In one particular instance, I spoke with a woman who had worked for Boeing for most of her life until she retired. While serving her popcorn, we chatted about many things, and I came under the impression that she would be the type of person to have enjoyed the movie, but when I asked her about it, her response was quick and concise, "It made me angry." She told me about how she couldn't get passed the scientific inconsistencies that were littered about the movie, completely distracting her from what she admits could of been a very enjoyable movie. I have to admit, she had a point.
Personally, I have to say that "Gravity" is perhaps one of the best movies of year. Being someone who can usually predict the course of events in a movie, I was kept guessing at the edge of my seat throughout almost the entire length of the story. I was moved to tears as Ryan (Sandra Bullock) reached into the deepest trenches of human despair and, through a glimmer of hope, pulled herself out of it. I was dizzy with suspense as she reenters the atmosphere and nearly drowns during her baptismal rebirth. Almost every detail of "Gravity" serves a symbolic purpose. For example the Marvin the Martian toy floating out of the wreckage, juxtaposed next to gruesome dead bodies, highlights the disparity between the playful fantasy idea of space and the terrible hostile reality of it. Overall, I give "Gravity" a 9.8 out of 10. An almost perfect piece of art that is only somewhat inaccurate in its attempt to reflect the reality of human life in space.