Visually, Acoustically, and Cinematographically Superior

Rating: 10/10 (6 October 2013)

Essentially the whole movie takes place in space. The visuals are so breathtaking, it would be a worthwhile investment even if that was all the movie had to offer. The realism of their null- gravity environment is astonishing, and periodically throughout the film, I wondered how on earth (haha, pun) they managed to film it without actually being in space.
Cuaron also takes advantage of the characteristic eerie quiet of the vacuum of space. You often hear things from the perspective of the character in question, e.g. an enormous explosion produces only deep, dull tones as it resonates through metal that the astronaut is grasping. It's incredibly effective, and contributes to the high-tension atmosphere (haha, another pun) of the film.
But one of my favorite aspects of the film was the cinematography. Alfonso Cuarón is known for doing very long single takes where the scene follows the perspective of a single camera for the duration, rather than switching between multiple views, as is more typical in cinema. If you've seen Children of Men, one of Cuarón's other directorial works, you may recall the 378- second single-take scene in which the camera follows the main characters through an intricately crafted war-zone. It's exquisite. In Gravity, the first 17 minutes of the film are done in a single take. The result is an incredibly immersive experience that holds you in the unrelenting, dizzying, terrifying void of space.
In short, see this movie. Try to be aware of the acoustic and cinematographic nuances that subtly enhance the viewing experience. And if at all possible, I HIGHLY recommend that you see it in IMAX 3D. There are very few films that are actually improved by viewing in 3D, but this is undoubtedly one of them.
10/10