Closest thing to going to space

Rating: 7/10 (8 December 2013)

I know 3D films are, for the most part, not all that great, but I'm sure that if you can watch this in 3D you will not regret it. If you can get yourself to an IMAX all the better.
The special effects are pretty much flawless, the only minor detail that broke the illusion for me was that Sandra's hair wasn't all floaty like when someone is underwater. This was the only thing that stopped me believing they'd managed to simulate zero g's somehow, it's really that convincing.
Watching this is kind of like being in one of those simulators at a theme park, except the seats aren't moving, the special effects budget is thousands of times higher, and it's directed by a top notch movie maker. Sound fun?
The cinematography is beautiful, some of the scenes - the opening for example, are just spellbinding. Lava lamps on steroids.
Movies recently have started to feel more and more like video games. Many great games have wonderful cinematographic sequences that switch to and from first-person perspective, infinite zooms and the freedom that comes with filming a virtual world with a virtual camera in a movie style. It seems that sfx are now powerful and real enough for this style of film-making to be used effectively in live action cinema.
Sweeping views that culminate in an in-helmet first-person view, complete with HUD made me feel like any minute now I'd be given control over the protagonist. This doesn't come off cheesy if it sounds that way - it adds to the immersion.
I'm not a big fan of Sandra Bullock, I can't really put my finger on why, just one of those things I suppose. I like the movie Speed, and miss congeniality was a good laugh but generally I don't really enjoy her on screen. Despite this I thought she did a really good job and if you feel the same way about her as I do, don't let that stop you from seeing this movie. The story itself is simple but strong enough, and there is a high level of tension that is sustained very well throughout the movie. Even if the format of the tension is a little bit wash-rinse, repeat. And god-damn it Sandra, your life is in danger could you please be a little bit more careful when you grasp onto one of those rungs?! yup; stressful.
A friend of mine remarked to me that they thought Sandra's backstory is a bit unnecessary, and I had to agree. The whole bit about her child doesn't really add anything to the movie other than a bit of a pity party that makes it all feel a bit wet. The situation she gets into is so incredibly desperate as it is, the idea of her not really wanting to live anymore anyway doesn't really hold water, pretty much anybody could lose the fight in those circumstances and we don't need a contrived history to explain her wanting to just give up.
I could be wrong about this but I think that while movies have always had a big influence on the way games are made, there is now some feedback into the loop with games influencing the style of movie-making, if only by having no limitation on camera position and movement and the way they offer a scene to the viewer in the knowledge that they are anticipating to "become" one of the protagonists.