Gravity

[Octoberist]

Yeah I feel like when someone doesn't like a movie like this, give credit where credit is due when, especially towards the visuals.

 

[Warhammer]

I am the biggest opponent of 3D ever, but holy s***. The 3D of this movie made it feel like an event. It was the best use of 3D I've ever witnessed. This film was terrific.

 

[flickchick85]

I'll never understand why some people use the phrase "simple story" as if it's something that automatically detracts from greatness. Most of my favorite films of all-time have simple stories, from No Country for Old Men to Lost in Translation to Children of Men. I'd even go so far as to say that the best stories ARE the simple ones. But regardless, with film, the simplicity of the story isn't what's important; it's how it's executed. And this simple tale is executed amazingly well, imo.

 

[green]

Great film.
Pretty much loved it. Visually amazing and a unique piece of film making to be sure. While I enjoyed and appreciated Bullocks performance, Im going to be honest and say I think I would have preferred Jolie in the role.

 

[Brother Jack]

I'll never understand why some people use the phrase "simple story" as if it's something that automatically detracts from greatness. Most of my favorite films of all-time have simple stories, from No Country for Old Men to Lost in Translation to Children of Men. I'd even go so far as to say that the best stories ARE the simple ones. But regardless, with film, the simplicity of the story isn't what's important; it's how it's executed. And this simple tale is executed amazingly well, imo.

Indeed. The size of the story is irrelevant to how effective and well told it is. One may prefer bigger narratives but that's all it is: preference.

 

[jacobed]

This not lackluster filmmaking, not even close. It's a dumb thing to say. Lackluster characters yeah ill agree with that but you don't really need them to be 3 dimensional for you to want them to survive. Also Aldrin is a fame ****e, he'll say anything to get in the news

 

[def28]

Dug it, didn't love it. Visually I thought it was an astonishing and beautiful film. I'm sure I'll be in the minority, but I thought it was a bit too manipulative on the dramatics.

Also went in with overhype, everyone around me was claiming this as one of the best films ever so that put expectations in my head.

7.5/10

On another note. I want a Deadspace film. t:

 

[redhawk23]

Man, I was really impressed by Bullock in this film, especially towards the end when she finally makes some strides towards accepting her situation both in space and in life in general and making strides towards moving forward.

 

[redhawk23]

Saw it. Yes, the story was pretty straightforward and clichéd. The performances were solid. What makes this film what it is, too me, is the technical achievement.
"...lackluster film making..."
I get not really liking the movie, but that is some amazing hyperbole.
I've gotta go with a strong 8, leaning towards 8.5.

The story may be simple but what exactly was cliched about it?

 

[redhawk23]

I know Kubrick has been quoted as saying he was looking for a way to change the very nature of how stories are told and as a goal that's a laudable one. Innovation needs to be there. The problem as I see it is that he changed the form so much that the movie stopped being a movie and more of a moving painting that you'd hang in a museum. And while that may be art, it isn't a movie. A movie requires story, characters, etc. At least that's what's expected from virtually every movie that's ever been made. Somehow, 2001 gets an exception from this and I don't get it at all. Now, to be clear I think Kubrick is one of the best directors of all time but I don't think he was a very good writer.

Except the surface level story is extremely simple and present in 2001.

Proto-humans have their minds altered giving way to technology use.

In 2001 we reach the peak of our technological prowess, creating AI and becoming a space fairing species. We set off a beacon on the moon which signals us to head for the moons of Jupiter.

Bowman is drawn in by the same alien intelligence that once manipulated our ancestors and is transformed into the next stage of humanity.


None of that is reading into the material, that is literally what happens on screen.

It is the story of the whole species not of individuals. Bowman doesn't matter any more than the any of the individual apes at the beginning. Thios may not be attuned to your tastes or certain forms of drama but the film does tell a story.

That basic story provides a framework for a lot of the other more interpretive things, like humanity's relationship to technology (the bone club smash cut edit to a weapons platform, the fact that the most recognizably human character in the film is a computer, etc)

 

[Octoberist]

I'll never understand why some people use the phrase "simple story" as if it's something that automatically detracts from greatness. Most of my favorite films of all-time have simple stories, from No Country for Old Men to Lost in Translation to Children of Men. I'd even go so far as to say that the best stories ARE the simple ones. But regardless, with film, the simplicity of the story isn't what's important; it's how it's executed. And this simple tale is executed amazingly well, imo.

Amen.

Different opinions don't bother me. It's just the attitude that rattle my cages. Some people (name starts with an 'M') are so dismissive and self-righteous that there's no wiggle room for anything else in their argument.

 

[redhawk23]

I was not disappointed by this film at all. People that hedge their bets by just praising the film as a "technical" achievement really do the film a disservice. The film may not plumb the dramatic depths or back stories of the characters but it certainly uses its time economically and you do get a sense of the two leads as people even without resorting to hackneyed flashbacks. Much of this also has to do with the great work from Clooney and Bullock. Clooney is so well-cast. He may not be doing much that is different from what he always does but there is something about him that I absolutely buy as an experienced astronaut. Its not much swagger or whatever so much as he just seems perfectly comfortable in his own skin, making him a good foil for Bullock's character.

 

[redhawk23]

Also Aldrin is a fame ****e, he'll say anything to get in the news

What's this about? Did you read Aldrin's comments? Its not as if he was ripping the film or anything .

 

[redhawk23]

Just saw the best comparison for this film: Its "To Build a Fire" in space.

 

[Liam_H]

As someone has said before Clooney seems like a real life Buzz Lightyear in this movie.

 

[Kane52630]

Well he did went to infinity and beyond.

 

[superhero]

I saw it at the I max. it was really good in 3d. I highly recommend it.

 

[ThreadPool]

The story may be simple but what exactly was cliched about it?

Just the whole, "This is my first mission" "This is my last mission" thing.
It's a bit been there done that.
Still a really good movie in my eyes. When you can take classic tropes like that and make everything else surrounding them so great that I forget about said tropes, you've done something great.

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

Pressuring my wife to go see this with me tonight, I really can't wait to experience it.

 

[redhawk23]

Just the whole, "This is my first mission" "This is my last mission" thing.
It's a bit been there done that.
Still a really good movie in my eyes. When you can take classic tropes like that and make everything else surrounding them so great that I forget about said tropes, you've done something great.

Yeah, I can see that I guess.

 

[ThreadPool]

One thing that bugs me about some of the criticisms is the whole, "Clooney is just playing Danny Ocean."
To me, that has to be based on expecting that. Ocean was never so borderline corny as Kowalski. Corny not being a bad thing though. It made his character endearing.

 

[mclay18]

Hmmm... the first Monday gross of this movie is a little worse in terms of Sunday-to-Monday drops (Taken 2 dropped 55%, while Gravity dropped 60%). However, I can see this holding better than Taken 2 -- probably as good as Oz: The Great & Powerful did during its first week -- and the drops being less than 45% on subsequent weekends.

 

[Liam_H]

You might also have to look at their competition respectively. Taken 2 had the 2nd worse monday drop out of its top 10. While Gravity has the 2nd best out of its top 10.

 

[mclay18]

You might also have to look at their competition respectively. Taken 2 had the 2nd worse monday drop out of its top 10. While Gravity has the 2nd best out of its top 10.

True. It'll probably add another $17M ($7M Tues, and $5M on Wed and Thurs) by this Friday. It'll definitely cross the $100M domestic threshold by Saturday or Sunday.

 

[lime]

Amazing movie!