Technically breathtaking, but a bit melodramatic

Rating: 7/10 (24 November 2013)

Technically, this film is a breathtaking example of 21st century cinema. It is a showcase of modern day cinematographic technology. The seamless combination of flesh-and-blood actors with computer generated images is perfect. I was amazed when the camera moved closer and closer to the visor of an astronaut's helmet, even seemed to move into the helmet, showing the face in extreme close-up, and then turned, showing the audience what the astronaut sees when she looks out into space.
Although making the film has undoubtedly been a tour-de-force, it never feels that way. The story comes first, and the technology is used to make the story possible. It's not the other way round, as is sometimes the case in other films. As a technological achievement, this film is a masterpiece.
But it is not an unforgettable film. When you don't take into account the amazing technology, you're left with a rather mainstream story with an irritatingly moralizing message about never giving up and keeping hope against all odds.
Essentially, this is a classic adventure film. A group of brave astronauts is hit by bad luck. Their space station is destroyed, most of them are killed, but one woman survives. After countless adventures, each of which could have killed her, she succeeds in returning safely to earth. The problem is not the scientific accuracy of these adventures. After all, this is film. And film is about the suspension of disbelief. The problem is that the story sometimes tends to be too melodramatic. When the surviving astronaut tells her colleague, who is presumed dead, to give a message to her deceased daughter ('tell her I found her red shoe'), you know this is Hollywood.
As an adventure film, 'Gravity' works quite well. The action is fast-paced, going from one life- threatening situation to the other. In combination with the superb computer generated images, this is a very enjoyable movie. At least, if you're prepared to cope with some Hollywood moralizing and a predictable happy end.