Gravity - An experience

I prefer to watch Hollywood movies in 2D. I felt like I have missed some details in 3D viewing especially the blockbusters which showcase apocalypse, destructions and super human powers. But now-a- days, creators opt for 3D even for stories such as ‘The Great Gatsby’. I felt there’s nothing special in Gatsby to be viewed in 3D so I torrented (sic) and watched it. But if there is a movie to be watched in 3D then it should be Gravity.

Now Trichy has two good theatres which play 3D films, Mina and Vijay Cinemas’ respectively. Mina plays English movies in Tamil and in Vijay we can watch the original version with subtitles just like in multiplexes in Metros. The only problem is Vijay cinemas’ has a relatively small screen than all the other theatres so we need to book our seats nearer to the screen.

Dr Ryan (played by Sandra Bullock) is a rookie and the veteran astronaut Matt (played by George Clooney) is fearless and witty. They are on a routine spacewalk but their Hubble shuttle is destroyed by the debris of an exploded Russian satellite, they are left alone in space with seemingly no way back to earth. Somehow Matt finds Ryan by moving towards her using the propelling jets in his suit. The duo reaches the international Space Station then after more debris strikes them, they are separated altogether and sent spinning out into space. Will either of them make it back to Earth at all? Well you would have to watch the film to find out but it is a story of suspense with some nail biting and goose bump moments.

The visual effects and 2D to 3D conversion is brilliant which shows us the exact reality of space, sunrise in earth seen from space. We feel as if we are in space ourselves as some scenes are filmed from the perspective of the inside of Dr Ryan Stone’s helmet. We can hear her breathing getting laboured as she loses oxygen and spins out of control. We can hear the fear in her voice as she realises she has to get back to earth somehow without any help. This only adds to the overall suspense the film generates. The Director has succeeded in making a superb film with not much of a storyline and only two actors as pivotal characters, which is a stunning. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, two Hollywood legends, both put in great performances in Gravity and Bullock especially must be commended on her gutsy and brave character portrayal.

Although the film had a slightly ‘Hollywood’ ending, I still stood there and bowed down when it ended and came away feeling I had seen a brilliant movie. I rate this movie above than Avatar and Life of Pie in the Visual treats section of Hollywood films.