Gravity (BD) [Blu-ray]

Sandra Bullock and George Clooney were excellent.The story was believable.The photography was believable and excellent and beautiful and harrowing.This movie is not to be missed.WOW!(Movie won: Seven Academy Awards & quite a few other awards - all well-deserved!)

I have never done a review of a film quite like "Gravity." It would be hard to place it into any one recognized film genre. This is a story of survival that may be similar to those you have heard of, such as Aron Ralston's story in the film "127 Hours." But this is placed way above our own familiar environment, in a setting usually reserved for aliens and futuristic galaxy travel: the vast emptiness of space. Words cannot fully justify the extent of this experience, though I will try my best. But this is really something you have to see for yourself.Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a medical engineer, currently on her first mission in space aboard the space shuttle Explorer. Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), a longtime astronaut, is her commander. While attempting to fix a telescope, they are suddenly warned by Houston of an impending crisis: a Russian satellite was blown up, and its debris has spread into other surrounding satellites, all of which is now heading in their direction. No sooner do we hear their warning when, like a speeding bullet, the crew and ship is suddenly torn into by an intense hurricane of smashing satellite-parts, from which only Stone and Kowalski emerge unscathed. And, to make matters worse, the satellite connecting the astronauts to Earth has also been destroyed, leaving them alone in the dark. Think of "Apollo 13," but with no Houston to guide them home.As the film's opening lines state: in space, there is no sound, no light, and no gravity. If separated from your spacecraft, as Stone soon is, you will continue to drift endlessly, unless something manages to stop you. So, after being knocked out of reach from the ship, Stone continues to spin out of control. And director Alfonso Cuarón, with no regard for nausea-induced audience members, takes us right along with her. On one side, we see nothing but desperately empty blackness; on the other, an illumination of the bright orb of our own blue planet, which is now drifting farther and farther away.Throughout the length of "Gravity," there is really no single moment (maybe one) that the camera remains stationary. We either drift along with our two principle cast members, see POV shots through their space helmets, or travel in circling arcs, perceiving them as tiny dots in the distance. In Cuarón's last project "Children of Men," there is a long tracking shot towards the end of the film, in which we see the characters wander through a hectic war-zone. In "Gravity," the extended camera shots are used to similar effect, though, as mentioned, the atmosphere is soundless here. So, as the giant arm of a satellite swings around and smashes into the side of a space shuttle, there are no explosive bangs or crashes. The intensity of these moments comes only through the reactions from Kowalski or Stone: heavy breathing, upset voices, or the labored screams of a person desperately fighting for their life. And, at all times, it is intensified by the electronic spirals of Steven Price's form-fitting musical score.Not since "Life of Pi" or "Avatar" has digital technology so seamlessly fit a movie. Yet unlike these two previous films, the CGI in "Gravity" is not meant to create an alien or dream-like effect. Instead, it serves to create as realistic a world as possible. A tiny droplet of water seeps from Stone's eye, and sails gently out in front of her. A pen floats gracefully around her head, as pieces of satellites soar through the air outside the space module, reflecting on the glinting sun, which has just started to peak its face from around the corner. As harrowing as much of this movie is, this is also, at times, a poetic experience."Gravity" is, essentially, an allegory of the many cycles of human life. There is birth, struggle, companionship, loss, and, through it all, the will to survive. At one moment, Stone is shown floating in a fetal position when first coming inside a space module, her arms wrapped around her legs, as if still inside the mother's womb. This one shot shows Stone's renewed strength of survival after the start of her ordeal. She will soon emerge from this experience, reborn and ready to fight for her life rather than lay down and accept this as the end. It is the influence of Kowalski's calm confidence at the start that finally convinces Stone that she must survive, and that she must take control, despite her losses in her life back on Earth. With the exception of the first twenty minutes with Clooney, this really is a one-man (woman) show, and Bullock manages to carry the full weight of "Gravity." This is the type of performance that deserves Academy recognition, which would make it the second nomination for Bullock in only the last couple of years.At once a virtual roller-coaster simulator ride, "Gravity" is also the most visually splendid film of 2013. And it's unlikely that another film will come close. It is a dizzying, entertaining, terrifying adventure.

I had the pleasure of seeing this film during its theatrical release in 3D and have wondered just how well it would hold up on home video. After viewing it on my computer, I can say without question that this is one of the best movie experiences I've ever had, even when reduced to a smaller screen with no 3D. I had no trouble with the streaming from Amazon and the picture was in clear HD all the way.Sandra Bullock delivers the performance of her career as an astronaut caught in a disaster with seemingly no hope of rescue. George Clooney is also quite good as the commander of the mission who along with Bullock, must leave their destroyed shuttle in order to reach the International Space Station.This film clocks in at under 90 minutes (not including credits) and it does not let you go for a minute. Even during the quiet times, there is the relentless pressure that is constantly being cranked up as Bullock and Clooney must race the clock to get back to Earth. Alfonso Cuaron co-wrote and directed this film and like many of his previous works, he manages to create a marvelous world that we inhabit with these wonderful characters. When you consider that we only see two people alive (a third astronaut is shown, but we never see his face...entirely...) for nearly 90 minutes, it is quite remarkable just how much faith is placed in the actors. Yet with two pros like Bullock and Clooney, this is really a piece of cake for them as they effortlessly carry the film. If anything, this film really shows just how few actors can pull something this like off so easily.The world of Gravity is one that is both familiar and yet non-existent. We have not flown space shuttles for a few years, yet according to the STS mission in the film it is set in roughly 2014/2015. The Chinese station that is mentioned does exist, but is not nearly as complete as depicted. So, Gravity takes place in an alternate world that we can certainly relate. This may be due to the fact that the script had been first written several years ago, but only now was Cuaron able to make it a reality.The CGI is naturally compelling and excitingly rendered, but the core of Gravity is that at its heart it is an experimental film. The opening shot lasts for over 12 minutes, unbroken and completely mesmerizing as we are introduced to these characters. We also switch points of view from being far away from the action to actually seeing what's happening through Bullock's eyes. Bullock herself wears little in terms of makeup and for the first time her true age does show through, but that is an asset and not a detriment to the actress who delivers a powerful, heartfelt and incisive performance that makes you really wonder why she was not even on the short list of actresses for this role. Plus, without giving anything away, the final sequence in the film is yet another "experimental" effect that is really quite profound when you understand what the director had in mind.I realize that some people will not like this movie and I can understand why with all the hype about how it cannot live up to those expectations. It didn't help that I read a critic's review comparing Bullock's performance to that of Rene Marie Falconetti in "The Passion of Joan of Arc" which is arguably the greatest performance ever filmed. No, Bullock is not THAT good, but it's wonderful to see the emotions cascade across her face. And even the tacked-on bit of background to Bullock's character about her daughter manages to pay off later in the film. There is hardly a false note or any sense of a wasted shot, Cuaron does the seemingly impossible by directing a film that includes everything that is needed and not one thing more.I cannot say if this is the best film of 2013 since I have not seen all the nominees. However, this film is a true game-changer in terms of just how to create an action/disaster film. I have little doubt that big-budget CGI films that are in the planning stages are taking lessons from how to create a true thrill ride from this movie. To me, Gravity is more than just a great thrill ride however, I actually felt like I had never seen a film before while I was gripping the arms of my chair, a very rare feeling indeed.