All Visuals, No Story.

Rating: Null/10 (8 March 2014)

Gravity, being hailed as a cinematic masterpiece and expected to be the "Greatest Space Movie of All Time" – quoted directly from the Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron. The audience and critic response however was hugely mixed. Although yes, some agree with Cuaron and did completely adore the new space epic, the others were massively disappointed. Unfortunately, I am one of the dissatisfied viewers.
Having seen the trailers and being amongst the massive hype for Gravity, of course I could not wait to see the movie on the big screen. In fact, I actually planned to skip the opening weekend and visit an even bigger screen, London's IMAX. Unfortunately, (for the time) I was gutted to have missed the screening, which resulted in me watching the 2D version. Now, yes I do suggest that I would have written a slightly more positive review if I had indeed watched the film in 3D, considering the new use of technologies won it an astonishing 7 Oscars. However, I did not. And in a way I am pleased, because the experience showed me how little the overestimated film had to offer other than the visuals.
I usually would give a film the benefit of the doubt and suggest that maybe if the enormous hysteria wasn't so enormous, then I wouldn't have had such high expectations and would therefore not be as disappointed. However, I don't believe this. Gravity lacked exciting narrative, character development and emotional involvement. Having enjoyed Cuaron's Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001) due to the deep character development and emotional manipulation, I expected more with Gravity. There was not one moment within the film that made me feel sorry or scared for Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), which is also surprising considering I respect Bullock as an actress. Awkwardly, I did not find myself wanting Stone to get out of any situations or even returning home. Other than one underdeveloped story she reluctantly tells Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) about losing her daughter, there is no reason we would want Stone to return home. Regarding both Bullock and Clooney as remarkable actors, the film and narrative did not do either of them justice. They were boring characters with no need or desire to get home safely.
Plot holes. There are many I could discuss but I will only mention a few. Bullock, for a lot of the screen time, is untethered, spinning and whirling around space. This is highly unlikely as NASA provide an emergency pack, which is programmed to automatically adjust, roll and pitch to stop the astronaut from spinning. It is routine that the jet pack will then be manually taken control of and used to return to the space vehicle. It is also known that there is no sound in space, which the audience is also reminded at the very start of the film. However, we hear the wrench actuating when used by Bullock in the very exposition.
Something that really infuriated me was the resolution. What could be more dissatisfying than seeing Bullock crawl to the surface of what looks like another abandoned land. There is nobody to help her, nothing to make us feel relief or happiness that she is back on Earth. The only positive is that is actually humorous watching Bullock learn how to walk again. Other than that, the ending is nothing but another boring and frustrating scene in a movie full of them.
I can't help but replay the moment where Bullock is barking to a Chinese man from inside her isolated space vessel. Barking. Like a Dog. I understand that Bullock is at the end of her tether and is convinced she is on her deathbed. However I do not think this is a valid enough reason. This is completely embarrassing for Bullock and the director. Alone and scared, Stone finds herself on her space radio and finds herself in contact with a man in China when trying to find help. He doesn't understand a word on English so Stone ends up finding comfort in the mans dog. Strange, I know. Bullock spends the next moments barking to the dog and to make things weirder, we then hear an uncomfortable cry from a baby. Although the majority of the films are completely predictable, this certainly was not. During this scene Bullock also curls up in the foetus-like stance and whirls round and round. This could not be more of an obvious symbolism.
All round, Gravity was predictable and highly overrated (in my opinion of course). Cuaron and his son spent an amazing 6 years paying so much time and effect perfecting the visuals and hiring two insanely famous actors to add bank-ability to their movie. However during this process, they completely forgot about the attention they needed to have been paying to the plot, dialogue and characters. No wonders there are doubts about the 1969 moon landing. Disappointing.