Oh wow, another space movie...

Rating: 3/10 (2 August 2014)

Medical engineer Ryan Stone works feverishly to repair her shuttle hundreds of miles from the Earth's atmosphere after a catastrophic collision with orbiting debris damages her likelihood of reentry and survival in Gravity.
Watching this movie you want to use terms like cool and awesome because, technically speaking, this movie is magnificent and awe-inspiring to watch. The purely generated images of the vast abyss of space, a cusp of Earth's surface and a gleaming sun astronomically farther away in the background is spectacularly beautiful (and I didn't see this in IMAX...). With limited knowledge of space and aeronautics, this is about as real as I can imagine, though I know experts disagree – I'm looking at you Neil deGrasse Tyson. Beyond the aesthetically pleasing set design, I find little else in this picture remarkable.
While beautiful, its artistry in scenery makes the film detached and voyeuristic. Gravity starts almost immediately with the collision and has very minimal character development initially. These factors led me to be unable to suspend disbelief and truly immerse myself in the story nor become invested in the main character's survival. Further, the plot is tired and worn out. Several movies of a similar plot precede Gravity - which is basically a disaster survival story in space (most notably 2001: A Space Odyssey and Apollo 13, among others).
I can't help but imagine the executives at Warner Bros. and how this film came to be: We need a hit film, a huge money maker, but something new, fresh! CGI, its all about that CGI, that's what sells movieswe've just got to take it to the next level! Yeah, but we've done just about everything on earth That's the problem! On Earthspace! Brilliant, and we will make it in Imax, get even more money for the tickets.
Yeah, but we have to get actors that get a huge draw in the box office.
Who is hot right now? Robert Downey Jr.? Angelina Jolie?
Nah, Jolie says she has something scheduled already.
Downey probably won't want to do it, he's too improvisational, won't be his style.
We could get Clooney? Everybody loves George.
But what about the girl? Who won best actress last year? Jennifer Lawrence? Too young. Meryl Streep? Too old. Natalie Portman? Not likable enough. How 'bout Sandra Bullock? Sandy will probably do it.
But who is going to take the risk of making this movie?
It could tank.
Well, he will have to be a relative unknown, but made a hit before, international, so hungry to break into mainstream Hollywood.
Alfonso Cuarón? I think he wanted to be an astronaut when he grew up. Isn't he shopping a script set in space?
And the rest is history
In all seriousness, the movie never connected with me, while visually brilliant, it is lacking in all other regards. If you are into special effects and the sheer technical breadth of the undertaking of that crew, whom I commend, then I suggest this movie.
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