GRAVITY - Apparently One Of The Best Films Ever Made!

[onyx39]

Just watched at home. An ok movie, but as stated above I am sure in 3D / Imax it would be a lot more, but to me, it was an "ok" movie.

[richtea78]

I have watched it at friends house now and to be honest it's an ok film is a good description at home but in the IMAX it was amazing.

I think it winning Oscars for the technical stuff is acceptable. It's not best film material but the technical game has been moved on by the production of this film IMO.

[Stu R]

am I at risk of a tar and feathering if I think this film sucked big fat balls?

Second viewing this weekend and I still think it's an overrated POS. I feel like I'm totally missing some sort of inside joke with this movie after all the hype, awards and so on.
Weak, totally predictable plot that hinges on the clichéd storm survivor woman who's overcome some sort of adversity going from one crisis to another. May as well have called her Ripley and been done with it. The soundtrack was awful - like a crescendo of fax machines being blended to artificially generate tension and jumpscares, totally undoing the good work that the more mellow, beautifully composed parts achieved. Way too intrusive to the point of being distracting. Yes it's nice that they did what firefly did years ago and gave the foley artists a day off because space is quiet, but the action music was enough to convince me I'd enjoy it more if it was muted.

Also, that dream scene. I've never seen such guff since titanic. Really, after that and the 10 minutes of fluff following it I would have given a limb just to see her open the window and die along with her stupid keanu reeves haircut.

In it's favour, it was beautifully CGI'd and lit. There's no doubt it is a remarkably pretty, technically brilliant film, for which it deseres whatever awards it got. Also, the opening scene sets it up brilliantly despite the awful dialogue. The rest though? I just don't get it. I'm glad so many people enjoyed it, but I'm oblivious as to how they did.

[El Guapo]

Stu R said:

I would have given a limb just to see her open the window and die along with her stupid keanu reeves haircut.

I was hoping for a crocodile to get her at the end.

[FourWheelDrift]

El Guapo said:

I was hoping for a crocodile to get her at the end.

Or she scrambles out of the water and up the beach only to be confronted with a wrecked Statue of Liberty poking out of the sand.

[Negative Creep]

I really enjoyed it. Looks incredible and I thought it captured the isolation and emptiness of space very well.

[BBS-LM]

The film was crap, and relied on CGI and 3D to make a point, if you look at the actual plot it goes like this, where in trouble, we need to get out of here, now we need to get over there, now we need to get this spaceship working, now we need to get to earth, FIN. FFS whoever cast sandra bullock in a lead role has just fk the start of any movie.

[Negative Creep]

BBS-LM said:

if you look at the actual plot it goes like this, where in trouble, we need to get out of here, now we need to get over there, now we need to get this spaceship working, now we need to get to earth, FIN

You could do that with any film you want. Shawshank Redemption - bloke goes to jail, meets another bloke, escapes. Star Wars - kid learns he has a special power, joins a rebellion and defeats an evil empire. Lord of the Rings - group of people look for a ring, have a big battle, find it. FIN.

[richtea78]

Lord of the Rings, the ring wasn't lost. They should have just ridden Eagles

[Stu R]

Negative Creep said:

I really enjoyed it. Looks incredible and I thought it captured the isolation and emptiness of space very well.

Not saying you're wrong or anything, opinions will differ - but to me, their being is space added nothing to the challenge because no matter what turn of events unfolded in front of them / her, it was never more than a short hop and a few minutes of artificial tension away from sanctuary / the next crisis.
I'd say even Red Dwarf did a better job of conveying isolation and emptiness of space. Compared to, Alien(s), BSG, Firefly et al it really fell down in that regard IMO.

[IainT]

El Guapo said:

The special effects were very well done but overall I was extremely disappointed by this film.

Had a 'free' rental on the Sky store so decided to use it on this... I'd have been annoyed had we actually paid for it.

I found the simple crudity of handling physics bloody annoying and the lack of any real depth to the Bullock character robbed the film of other value. At least she looked good in her undies.

I can usually overlook unrealistic stuff in movies but the detail they went to on the ISS interior, etc. was just ruined for me by trying to manufacture drama where it didn't exist.

[JustinP1]

BBS-LM said:

The film was crap, and relied on CGI and 3D to make a point...

And that indeed IS the point.

Up until now it has been fiendishly hard to recreate the point of view of someone in that position. They spent years working out how to do it, perfectly.

My experience, in the cinema, surround sound, and 3D was that I was totally immersed in a way that I have never been before. I'm a film buff and watched films all over the world, just for the experience, but in terms of immersion and being put 'there' I have never experienced anything like it on film.

When you are immersed, and part of the film in such a way then the experience is different - you are there, as oppose to being a bystander.


For me, the simile is this, and it runs through this thread.

Those that saw it on the big screen, in 3D and surround sound were taken on an immersive ride, just like a roller coaster.

Those who watched it at home, are commenting on the experience of roller coaster ride from their experience watching a video of it on Youtube. The experience is simply not the same, and of course the decreased level of immersion means that you have the chance to notice and consider that the roller coaster might need a lick of paint, or you can see the local industrial estate from the top, and critiquing the experience accordingly.

[IainT]

JustinP1 said:

Those that saw it on the big screen, in 3D and surround sound were taken on an immersive ride, just like a roller coaster.

I guess the 3D bit might add something for those fortunate enough that it works for them!

[toppstuff]

JustinP1 said:

BBS-LM said:

The film was crap, and relied on CGI and 3D to make a point...

And that indeed IS the point.

Up until now it has been fiendishly hard to recreate the point of view of someone in that position. They spent years working out how to do it, perfectly.

My experience, in the cinema, surround sound, and 3D was that I was totally immersed in a way that I have never been before. I'm a film buff and watched films all over the world, just for the experience, but in terms of immersion and being put 'there' I have never experienced anything like it on film.

When you are immersed, and part of the film in such a way then the experience is different - you are there, as oppose to being a bystander.


For me, the simile is this, and it runs through this thread.

Those that saw it on the big screen, in 3D and surround sound were taken on an immersive ride, just like a roller coaster.

Those who watched it at home, are commenting on the experience of roller coaster ride from their experience watching a video of it on Youtube. The experience is simply not the same, and of course the decreased level of immersion means that you have the chance to notice and consider that the roller coaster might need a lick of paint, or you can see the local industrial estate from the top, and critiquing the experience accordingly.

Agree with that, completely. It is a special and important film. But on the small screen it loses much of its appeal.

[TonyHetherington]

JustinP1 said:

in terms of immersion and being put 'there' I have never experienced anything like it on film.

Interesting you say that - I came out of the film utterly worn out as, quite unlike any other, I was complete immersed and 'invested' in the film. The first time any such thing has happened, for me!

[Negative Creep]

Stu R said:

Negative Creep said:

I really enjoyed it. Looks incredible and I thought it captured the isolation and emptiness of space very well.

Not saying you're wrong or anything, opinions will differ - but to me, their being is space added nothing to the challenge because no matter what turn of events unfolded in front of them / her, it was never more than a short hop and a few minutes of artificial tension away from sanctuary / the next crisis.
I'd say even Red Dwarf did a better job of conveying isolation and emptiness of space. Compared to, Alien(s), BSG, Firefly et al it really fell down in that regard IMO.

Red Dwarf and Alien did indeed deal with the isolation factor very well, although as much as I love Firefly I don't think that was ever a factor. In Gravity however there was no one or nothing around to help, even someone to talk to on the end of a radio. Since it's based on current technology we also know that sending up a rescue team would be out of the question, even with home always in sight, and there are no cryo pods or androids to save the day.

[croyde]

Well I watched on bluray last night. Just a 42ins plasma and sound going through my 1985 stereo separates.

Still thought it looked and sounded bloody amazing. It was my 3rd viewing and I expected to be disappointed but I wasn't.

It was funny watching my 11 year old boy seeing it for the first time. Jaw dropped and literally on the edge of the sofa.

[marcosgt]

IainT said:

JustinP1 said:

Those that saw it on the big screen, in 3D and surround sound were taken on an immersive ride, just like a roller coaster.

I guess the 3D bit might add something for those fortunate enough that it works for them!

Nearly everyone you mean?

M.

[r11co]

IMO it was a commercial exercise - an attempt to break 3-D cinema out of the 'kids animated movie' rut that it has landed itself firmly in.

Was it done successfully? I think yes, but it also underlines the limited appeal of 3-D in a grown-up context.

Take away that aspect and the film absolutely does not stand up.

Edited by r11co on Tuesday 18th March 17:26

[IainT]

marcosgt said:

IainT said:

JustinP1 said:

Those that saw it on the big screen, in 3D and surround sound were taken on an immersive ride, just like a roller coaster.

I guess the 3D bit might add something for those fortunate enough that it works for them!

Nearly everyone you mean?

Those it works for - I made no mention nor implication as to numbers....

The only inference you can draw is it doesn't work for me sadly.