For those not immersed in the subcultures of Star Trek and Star Wars, the science fiction movie genre can often seem like a hodgepodge of aliens, cheesy special effects, and nerdy principal characters. But over the years, science fiction movies have evolved from quirky films for sci-fi enthusiasts to mesmerizing motion pictures with universal appeal. The term “special effects” now means spectacular visual displays and computer-generated effects seamlessly integrated into the movie; not a few cheesy explosions. Gravity is, in short, a representation of this modern science fiction.
As Sandra Bullock and George Clooney experience getting lost in space, the darkness of the movie theater becomes the darkness of space. The movie opens with Bullock and Clooney making a routine mission to fix a spacecraft. Bullock, an endearingly nervous NASA medical engineer and Clooney, an irritating veteran astronaut, are working on fixing a problem with one of the devices onboard. Everything is going as per routine, as Bullock’s character Dr. Ryan Stone continues to fix the device while struggling to keep her lunch down, and Clooney’s character Matt Kowalsky chatters on about his life. But just as the astronauts are about to complete their mission a cautionary message is sent in from mission control. Before the astronauts even have time to react they are flung far out into space in a dizzying tailspin.
As soon as the astronauts become unhinged from the spacecraft, they immediately face danger as they are only able to change their path in space slightly. In a perfect representation of Murphy’s Law, everything that can go wrong, goes wrong. The astronauts face obstacle after obstacle and soon their chances of survival seem bleak. As the duo try to survive, the audience learns about the true nature of both Matt Kowalski and Dr. Ryan Stone. As the principal character, Dr. Ryan Stone, faces a life or death situation the audience gets a glimpse into her tragic past and her life on Earth. As Stone realizes that the end could be very near she is forced to reevaluate her life and her decisions in an touching, emotional scene rarely seen in science fiction movies.
Gravity completely changes the movie-viewing experience. The space between the movie-viewer and the screen disappears, and from scene one the immersion begins. In Gravity the audience is allowed to feel what Dr. Ryan Stone feels; the overwhelming terror of being completely and totally lost. With stunning views of Earth, amazing effects, and a literally jaw-dropping plot, Gravity leaves the audience with a feeling of awe that only few movies can.