Rating of
3.5/4
An I-MAX Wonder
MovieMike - wrote on 10/18/13
The singular point where the I-MAX film format, 3D visual technology, and the film 'Gravity', all converge is arguably the zenith of modern film making. Director, Alfonso Cuaron, takes full advantage of the I-max format right from the opening long-shot; an awe inspiring view of planet Earth as seen from the space shuttle's orbit. His use of 3D effects is also judiciously applied - you never feel like a scene was set up just to deliver a particular three dimensional thrill. In fact, they appear so subtlety; you become immersed, and not so surprised by their presence.
Because the story is lined up with the current public exposure to space exploration and the related technology, 'Gravity' has a near documentary feel to it; as opposed to a lot of recent sci-fi offerings that rely heavily on special effects of mass destruction or other-worldly invaders. I'm no astro-physicist, so I don't know if the science applied here is spot-on, but it certainly feels right and that is all that is important with a film like this.
Sandra Bullock delivers an Oscar-worthy performance here as the lead in a very small cast. She takes us along the
emotional rollercoaster that her character experiences as events unfold. While some may find parts of the film a bit
slow, I was so engrossed; the 91 minutes flew by all too quickly for me. If I were to quibble, I do think the film
has a couple lapses, such as the root cause of the disaster that befalls Bullock and her crew mates. Saying the
Russians caused it seems so lame and dated in this day in age. Hey, here's a thought: how about we actually have a
screw up of our own making be the cause for a change?
The upshot here is that this film really should be seen in I-MAX. I will probably take a look at it at some point in
2D, just out of curiosity. For the most part, all of the scenes take place in the boundless expanse that is space and
I-MAX is the only format I know of that truly gives a viewer a sense of that.
