I have to tip my hat!

Rating: 8/10 (29 April 2015)

Due to all the hype surrounding this movie, I decided to stay away from it. I like to go into a movie with my head clear and my expectations low. I dislike movies that are "oscar bait" Some of them try way too hard, and I end up being very disappointed. The wait ended up being longer than I expected. Every time I'd go to watch it, something would come up. Gravity is a case of style over substance. The story engrosses you until the end, but It's not gonna be remembered for the story. The tension and suspense are so high, it manages to make you forget that the story isn't anything special. There are some moments that truly startled me. It also takes advantage of an ideal setting. I'm not huge on films set in space. Some of them move way too slowly. That being said, being trapped alone in space is one of the most terrifying things imaginable. It's an easy recipe for success, making the viewer constantly uncomfortable with all the tension. Near the beginning of the movie, Ryan (Bullock) is asked what she likes most about being in space. She replies "The silence! I could get used to it" foreshadowing what will happen. The visual effects are as good as advertised as well. The performances are top-notch. Sandra Bullock has always been a favorite of mine, but she's really become a fantastic actress. She owns every single scene she's in. Her plight was a fascinating story to watch unfold. Despite that I had to suspend disbelief by how much bad luck she was in, it added to the suspense. She conveyed all her emotions perfectly, and she showed the right amount of vulnerability and courage. In my opinion, Clooney is highly overrated. He certainly adds presence here though. His smart-ass persona made things livelier with some timely humor. There is also a big twist about him, which I didn't see coming at all. It also made me doubt if it would end happily or not, which is rather impressive, considering it isn't easy to keep me guessing.
When the end credits rolled, I was mostly pleased. It's SLIGHTLY overpraised, but admittedly an impressive achievement. I was rather surprised how short this movie was. I thought it was a good decision though. This movie taught me to appreciate life, and to never give up. It's a great spectacle that everyone has to see at least once. Try and ignore they hype, you'll be better off that way.
8.7/10