Gravity

[jmc]

I don't think RDJ would have done very well with it IMO. He is seen as such a goofball at times and comes off as it. Especially imagining some of the "funnier" lines of Gravity I think may have broken the situation and fear that you felt during all those scenes. I think Clooney brought some of the charm/slight humor, but in reality had this calm stoic like presence. I think that worked better then RDJ's over whelming charisma.

I think Clooney brings a little more subtlety than what RDJ does in terms of humour. RDJ can be great but I can't help but feel he would have over did it.

 

[Solidus]

I think Clooney brings a little more subtlety than what RDJ does in terms of humour. RDJ can be great but I can't help but feel he would have over did it.

I agree. It would have taken away from the tension of the film. Clooney brought a calmness that was needed at all times. He would make funny jokes, but like you said it would not be over the top with him. He always kept a focus/calmness that Stone needed. RDJ it would have just been too funny and taken away from the seriousness of the situation.

 

[Sparky9292]

10/10 Movie. Simply perfect. I do have some questions for those who have seen the movie:

Spoiler

1. How the heck did Ryan know which button to press in the Chinese ship? She had one bad guess, then perfect. That's such blind luck.
2. Was Matt dead when she tried to call him once inside the Russian station? Or was he simply refusing to answer her because she would try to rescue him? I think he had more oxygen than she did, and it was only about 3 minutes since her last chat with him.
3. When Ryan took off her spacesuit, she just had the t-shirt and shorts. Is that all they wear in real life? I thought they had multiple layers.

 

[Solidus]

10/10 Movie. Simply perfect. I do have some questions for those who have seen the movie:

Spoiler

1. How the heck did Ryan know which button to press in the Chinese ship? She had one bad guess, then perfect. That's such blind luck.
2. Was Matt dead when she tried to call him once inside the Russian station? Or was he simply refusing to answer her because she would try to rescue him? I think he had more oxygen than she did, and it was only about 3 minutes since her last chat with him.
3. When Ryan took off her spacesuit, she just had the t-shirt and shorts. Is that all they wear in real life? I thought they had multiple layers.

Spoiler

1. Because the process/button design is very close to the same (which I guess it really is) and Matt did tell her this. The button layout is similar on the Chinese ship as it was to the ISS.
2. We will never know. Probably dead, but he could have been quiet just so she would not go out after him.
3. Apparently NASA says that is correct, and they do wear very little under those things. But the suits themselves are quite impressive so they don't need much more.

 

[mclay18]

TOLDJA says the Gravity has broken the October opening weekend record -- $55 million -- thanks to the stellar WOM and 3D surcharges.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/10/gravity-opens-to-1-4m-in-thursfri-late-shows/

Looks like $200M domestic is within reach...

 

[terry78]

So will all the "I hate 3D" lobbyists now admit that it can be put to good use?

 

[baerrtt]

Agreed.

Also without Bullock, Jolie aside of course, in the lead role I doubt this would be doing well as it looks like it pretty much already has at the box office with any of the other candidates unfortunately.

It's the CAST AWAY and to a lesser extent I AM LEGEND syndrome where starpower definitely does matter when you're pitching a film to audiences where one actor is onscreen during the whole running time and in particular when the character they're playing is in jeopardy.

 

[terry78]

It wouldn't have made as much as it did without somebody like Bullock though. The other actresses mentioned are good, but Bullock has a built in fanbase of people by default.

 

[addison81]

Someone voted this a 1? I respect everyone is entitled to their opinion but wow.

 

[MrMaooz]

It wouldn't shock me if this gets an Inception style BO run.

 

[roach]

So will all the "I hate 3D" lobbyists now admit that it can be put to good use?

well to be fair of the 3D movies I've seen other than Avatar...this movie used it the best.

 

[baerrtt]

It wouldn't have made as much as it did without somebody like Bullock though. The other actresses mentioned are good, but Bullock has a built in fanbase of people by default.

I'm not denying that. If anything I now respect WB knew what they were doing in insisting on a genuinely bankable name.

 

[mclay18]

It wouldn't shock me if this gets an Inception style BO run.

I think the multiple will be better than Inception's. That one was nearly 5x its opening weekend, and had a better spot (summer).

The older demographic turning out for this makes me think this will have Argo-style legs. So a 6x-7x multiplier wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Octoberist]

Like what I said before, despite their lagging on their DC properties, WB is probably one of the smartest and boldest mainstream studio we got.

 

[MrMaooz]

Paramount is pretty good too, IMO.

 

[Octoberist]

I think the reality is that studios are finally 'learning'. Kinda.

Look at how TV shows is destroying movies due to their storytelling. I know it's a different format but for the style of storytelling is kinda similar to the films of the 70's. Groundbreaking stuff that isn't afraid of taking some risks here and there. Look at Breaking Bad for example. If you make a good product, hopefully people will follow.

I know that with art and commerce have a difficult relationship but sometimes it's worth thinking outside of the box sometimes. It'll lead to a brighter future because I believe if you make a good movie, especially that's genre or more mainstream, it'll only encourage quality from other filmmakers.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

I rarely give films a perfect score but uhhh... Gravity is more than deserving. I saw this twice last night in IMAX, and I remain speechless. The soundtrack, the visuals/cinematography, CGI, physics, performances, allegories, etc etc etc were astounding and awe-spiring.

I waited for Cuaron to make another film for years but the wait was well worth it. This movie was masterfully constructed.

 

[Marvin]

I think the multiple will be better than Inception's. That one was nearly 5x its opening weekend, and had a better spot (summer).

The older demographic turning out for this makes me think this will have Argo-style legs. So a 6x-7x multiplier wouldn't surprise me.

I don't think the story has enough going on for that to happen. Even Avengers had various plot threads, that kinda stuff lends better to multiple viewings. Further, James Cameron has the first quarter lull to sail through, Next couple of months seem kinda busy.

Never know though, the modern audience is sort of a slave to word of mouth and being a part of something.

 

[samsnee]

Finally saw this, and I agree that it is not like Open Water at all. While Stone came off slightly annoying in the beginning, it's fair to say it was her first mission and most people would freak out.

The score was really effective, particularly in the scene where she talks about finding her daughter's red shoe. Some of thr criticism has been about lack of character development, but if you compare how she handled the last scene where she is floating in space to her first, she definitely learned how yo keep her cool. Length time was perfect too.

 

[Visceral]

Good movie, definitely shows cursons directing ability. 9/10.

Not the second coming like people say.

And the debris shower wouldn't cover the entire sky like that.

 

[roach]

And the debris shower wouldn't cover the entire sky like that.

why do you say this?

 

[kedrell]

So will all the "I hate 3D" lobbyists now admit that it can be put to good use?

Yes it can be but that doesn't negate the problem of 99.9% of the time it adds nothing significant to a film. All IMO of course. I didn't even care for the 3-D much in Avatar. It really just didn't do much for me. This is about the only film I can think of where it was used to it's fullest effect and thus was worth putting in the film. 1 film out of how many dozens or hundreds? That's a bad ratio.

 

[jonathancrane]

I saw the film on Friday night and was blown away by it. If it does not win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, I am boycotting the Academy for life. Dead serious.

 

[kedrell]

It wouldn't have made as much as it did without somebody like Bullock though. The other actresses mentioned are good, but Bullock has a built in fanbase of people by default.

Bullock(while I've never seen anything like an amazing, stellar performance out of her until now) has the same thing that somebody like Tom Hanks has. They are extremely likeable with their natural charisma. Main difference being that Hanks has had the benefit of working with much more top tier talent on a far more consistent basis than Bullock. Hopefully this is a new chapter in Bullock's career and she picks better film with more consistency from now on. She's been ok for the most par up till now but this is the first time I've seen her do something great. And I want more greatness from her because she IS just so likeable, dammit!

 

[jonathancrane]

Bullock(while I've never seen anything like an amazing, stellar performance out of her until now) has the same thing that somebody like Tom Hanks has. They are extremely likeable with their natural charisma. Main difference being that Hanks has had the benefit of working with much more top tier talent on a far more consistent basis than Bullock. Hopefully this is a new chapter in Bullock's career and she picks better film with more consistency from now on. She's been ok for the most par up till now but this is the first time I've seen her do something great. And I want more greatness from her because she IS just so likeable, dammit!

Well said.