MOVIES: "Gravity" (Contains Spoilers)

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I was blessed to be able to take my teenage grandchildren to see Gravity tonight. The 3-d images were magnificent and the moral threads were inspiring. My grandchildren all thanked me. It was a splurge, but worth it!
 
WOW! I’ve just watched it!!! In Singapore by the way! Hahaha I find it interesting from the trailers! To avoid giving spoilers, I shall stop here! It’s a MUST-WATCH!!!
 
I was going to start a new thread to talk about this movie. This movie is sublime, there is no other way to put it. If this isn’t Oscar material, I don’t know what is. As has been mentioned, nothing like most movies these days. No swearing, no nudity, nothing offensive to God, openness to the supernatural, no clichés, here’s something to make up for my lack of eloquence forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2013/09/28/review-gravity-is-a-game-changing-masterpiece/

P.S.if you go to a movie theatre once a year, choosing this film is a no-brainer.
 
I am glad you folks enjoyed this movie. That seems to be the reaction of many.

I loved the symbolism. For example, when the debris dislodges Stone and sets her adrift beyond the contact of potential survivors, I found the image of her spinning beyond those who might help her to nicely anticipate how the viewer will learn that, emotionally, Stone has already detached herself from the contact of others.

Other symbols I found a bit too heavy handed, but these ambiguities I experienced pale in light of the overall feat that Gravity represents. Here’s a reaction I recently wrote about this film.
 
Robertanthony said:
I was going to start a new thread to talk about this movie. This movie is sublime, there is no other way to put it. If this isn’t Oscar material, I don’t know what is. As has been mentioned, nothing like most movies these days. No swearing, no nudity, nothing offensive to God, openness to the supernatural, no clichés, here’s something to make up for my lack of eloquence forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2013/09/28/review-gravity-is-a-game-changing-masterpiece/

P.S.if you go to a movie theatre once a year, choosing this film is a no-brainer.
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Actually there was some mild cussing, primarily the s---- word. And one instance of the Lord’s name used as an exclamation. But much less than a standard Hollywood film these days.

Otherwise I’d agree, it is an excellent movie. In fact this is one I’d see again on the big screen, and definitely buy when it comes out on Blu-ray.
 
It’s a masterpiece…

Someone should make one of those funny slogan T-Shirts: “Sandra Bullock made me cry!”

One of the greatest acting performances of the modern era.

The whole scene where Clooney “returns” to help her in her darkest moment was the scene that did it for me. I thought that scene was just plain inspired film-making.

Sandra Bullock made me cry!

The movie must be experienced in 3D on the big screen, this is finally one movie where you can clearly say the 3D effect actually helped tell the story and wasn’t just “a gimmick”. If you get the chance to see the Imax 3D version, I say you should take it. That would be a very special event for you I’m sure.

Clooney’s only other film that even comes close to this one is “The Perfect Storm”. These two films are two great companion pieces. He should be proud of having made both of these films. If you liked that film, then this one is an even better story of survival and overcoming the odds.

I could not think of a more appropriate “first 3D film” winner of the “Best Picture” Oscar.
 
colliric said:
It’s a masterpiece…

Someone should make one of those funny slogan T-Shirts: “Sandra Bullock made me cry!”

One of the greatest acting performances of the modern era.

The whole scene where Clooney “returns” to help her in her darkest moment was the scene that did it for me. I thought that scene was just plain inspired film-making.

Sandra Bullock made me cry!

The movie must be experienced in 3D on the big screen, this is finally one movie where you can clearly say the 3D effect actually helped tell the story and wasn’t just “a gimmick”. If you get the chance to see the Imax 3D version, I say you should take it. That would be a very special event for you I’m sure.

Clooney’s only other film that even comes close to this one is “The Perfect Storm”. These two films are two great companion pieces. He should be proud of having made both of these films. If you liked that film, then this one is an even better story of survival and overcoming the odds.

I could not think of a more appropriate “first 3D film” winner of the “Best Picture” Oscar.
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Glad you liked it that much. I did shed a tear or two watching the movie. This movie shows humanity in its most glorious and edifying aspects I think. Very inspiring. The cast was perfect.
 
Oscar? Masterpiece? Really? I saw it at a nice theater in 3D, and don’t get what’s the big deal. Yes, the special effects are great, and it’s a “clean” film. But very light on plot, character, and message. If you’re just going for an “experience,” okay, get your fix. But not worth the big bucks to me.
 
I think a conversation about ways in which “Gravity” will compete for Oscars is legitimate. I am almost certain it will receive a nod for “Best Cinematography” (or whatever the award is which identifies directors of photography). There very easily could be a best actress nomination for Sandra Bullock and it wouldn’t surprise me if there was a best picture or best director nomination for Cuaron.

Having said - and I enjoyed Gravity - but “masterpiece” is a stretch. Visually it is quite a feat, but in terms of other categories, like writing, Gravity is one cliche after another. One example: Kowalski references the possibility of breaking the record of a rival for total time spacewalking and the implication is that this is going to be the last mission of Kowalski. In terms of predictability, it does not get more obvious than this as to what lies in store for him (hint: It is going to be his last mission, but not for the reason he thinks…).

I had other issues as well which I mention not to be overly critical, because I liked Gravity, but because “masterpiece”, unless one is only referring to the visual feat of Gravity, is a stretch.

Here is my reaction to Gravity: Gravity.
 
Ad_Orientem said:
Oscar? Masterpiece? Really? I saw it at a nice theater in 3D, and don’t get what’s the big deal. Yes, the special effects are great, and it’s a “clean” film. But very light on plot, character, and message. If you’re just going for an “experience,” okay, get your fix. But not worth the big bucks to me.
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Ok then, name a few recent movies that you think are masterpieces or Oscar material.
Kelly_Wilson said:
I think a conversation about ways in which “Gravity” will compete for Oscars is legitimate. I am almost certain it will receive a nod for “Best Cinematography” (or whatever the award is which identifies directors of photography). There very easily could be a best actress nomination for Sandra Bullock and it wouldn’t surprise me if there was a best picture or best director nomination for Cuaron.

Having said - and I enjoyed Gravity - but “masterpiece” is a stretch. Visually it is quite a feat, but in terms of other categories, like writing, Gravity is one cliche after another. One example: **Kowalski references the possibility of breaking the record of a rival for total time spacewalking and the implication is that this is going to be the last mission of Kowalski. **In terms of predictability, it does not get more obvious than this as to what lies in store for him (hint: It is going to be his last mission, but not for the reason he thinks…).

I had other issues as well which I mention not to be overly critical, because I liked Gravity, but because “masterpiece”, unless one is only referring to the visual feat of Gravity, is a stretch.

Here is my reaction to Gravity: Gravity.
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First you should have mentioned “spoiler” before you mentioned the bold part. Perhaps it’s just me, but you seem to be connecting nonexistent dots here. Perhaps Clooney’s character was obsessed with this record but in a sort of comical way, his constant referring to it was to me an expression of his exuberant, humorous personality. Again, list a few recent movies that you deem to be masterpieces. Perhaps you’re more into Bergman’s movies, perhaps abstract art is more your thing, but realize your artistic tastes may only be shared by a very limited segment of the population. There’s nothing wrong with being on the lower part on the right hand-side of the IQ bell-shaped curve, even though loneliness is almost unavoidable. What you say/think will not resonate with most people.
 
Hi Robert Anthony,

My comment had to do with clichés and I raise the example of the death of Kowalski as simply one such cliché; the cliché being the “I’m on my last day here” sort of character. The moment he hinted (or directly stated *) that this would be his last chance to break his rival’s record, was the moment I realized he was going to die. That does not make me an impressive viewer. His death was easy to predict because he is a cliché; introducing the component of it being his last mission connected the dots for me. Having him die so quickly does not subvert the cliché enough to warrant it, in my opinion.

As an aside – and I will get to your “masterpiece” question – but my larger point is that when considering whether Gravity is a masterpiece, the stunning visual feat that it represents is not the only criteria one must take into account. One must consider writing and acting and a whole host of other considerations. Don’t get me wrong: I really liked Gravity. It really is a stunning visual feat but the writing, for one, is weak. As for what I am saying not resonating with most people … well … that doesn’t matter. I’m not talking about popular appeal and I didn’t think you were either. I thought we were talking about the quality of the film and whether that warrants the designation “masterpiece”.

To your masterpiece question, the only film I have seen in recent times that I would consider to approach that description would be “The Tree of Life”. There are plenty of other very good pictures and some are probably perfect (“No Country for Old Men” comes to mind) but another feature of the masterpiece consideration is the ambition of the picture. Does it set out to be one and can we evaluate what we are given based on that ambition?

My reaction to Gravity can be read here and my reaction to Cuaron’s previous picture, entitled Children of Men, can be read here.*
 
Kelly_Wilson said:
Hi Robert Anthony,

My comment had to do with clichés and I raise the example of the death of Kowalski as simply one such cliché; the cliché being the “I’m on my last day here” sort of character. The moment he hinted (or directly stated *) that this would be his last chance to break his rival’s record, was the moment I realized he was going to die. That does not make me an impressive viewer. His death was easy to predict because he is a cliché; introducing the component of it being his last mission connected the dots for me. Having him die so quickly does not subvert the cliché enough to warrant it, in my opinion.

As an aside – and I will get to your “masterpiece” question – but my larger point is that when considering whether Gravity is a masterpiece, the stunning visual feat that it represents is not the only criteria one must take into account. One must consider writing and acting and a whole host of other considerations. Don’t get me wrong: I really liked Gravity. It really is a stunning visual feat but the writing, for one, is weak. As for what I am saying not resonating with most people … well … that doesn’t matter. I’m not talking about popular appeal and I didn’t think you were either. I thought we were talking about the quality of the film and whether that warrants the designation “masterpiece”.

To your masterpiece question, the only film I have seen in recent times that I would consider to approach that description would be “The Tree of Life”. There are plenty of other very good pictures and some are probably perfect (“No Country for Old Men” comes to mind) but another feature of the masterpiece consideration is the ambition of the picture. Does it set out to be one and can we evaluate what we are given based on that ambition?

My reaction to Gravity can be read here* and my reaction to Cuaron’s previous picture, entitled Children of Men, can be read here.

Spoilers much? :mad::mad::mad:
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Hi VeritasLuxMea,

In general, people are sharing their experience of this movie. More specifically, there is a discussion about whether this film constitutes a masterpiece.

Have you seen the film and, if you have, do you have insight surrounding either the more general topic or the more specific one?
 
*** Spoiler Alert*** Do not read if you have not seen the movie!!!

Gravity is a masterpiece, in the vein of Moby Dick. As Moby Dick is not just a story about a man’s hunt for a rare white whale, Gravity is not just a story about fighting to survive a disaster in space.

Remember first of course that every single thing on screen, every single sound we hear in a movie was carefully chosen and purposefully put there by the director to subtly reveal its theme.

Gravity celebrates the “gift of life”, and the God who gave it to us. The jaw-dropping scenes of space – the vastness of the stars contrasted with the smallness of Sandra Bullock’s character as she tumbles away and out of sight of Clooney’s character show God’s power. The aurora borealis dancing over the beautiful earth – the reality, the pure majestic awe of the creation on display in this movie like in no other before it serve to show the greatness of our Creator. The complete harshness, emptiness, and loneliness of space we see in the movie serve as a backdrop to show us the wonder of the garden of Eden God gave us that we call ‘earth’.

And then we get to the allegory in the movie, the symbolism that serves to subtly reveal this theme. Ryan (Bullock) is spiritually dead, just going through the motions of her daily routines. She is empty, without hope, without love, she is “dead” ever since the tragedy years earlier. When she is not working, she just gets in her car and drives – because she was driving when she heard the tragic news of the so simple stupid accident. And she has never stopped driving – she has never moved passed that moment. She died at that moment when she heard the news. (Later Clooney tells her to ‘Let go.’)

Bullock represents all of those who are spiritually dead; all of us who have let the downside of life ‘kill’ us. Clooney represents those who see all of life, its ups and downs, as wonderful. Told he will not break the Russian rival’s space-walking record, he shrugs it off. His last words to Bullock spoken when he knows he is going to die: ‘You should see the sun over the Ganges.’ He loves life, all of it. All of this makes one think of Jesus’ words that tell us to not worry about tomorrow for it will take care of itself, to live for today with its joys and failures and sadness – this is enough, He advises each of us:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span…Your heavenly Father knows that you need them…Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” (Matt 6:25-34)
The whole act of trying to survive the disaster transforms the ‘dead’ Bullock. We see her literally and symbolically born again, of fire (Holy Spirit) and water.

*Nicodemus said to him, “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?”

Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit [Fire]. (John 3:4-5)*

We see Bullock in the womb curled up like a fetus (right after she removes her spacesuit upon entering the Soyuz – note the brief scene, with the airlock symbolizing the womb, her fetal position the child in the womb). The re-entry is her baptism by fire, her swim in the water her baptism in water, her shedding of the spacesuit under water the shedding of her old self, her first gulp of air as she pops up out of the water symbolizing a newborn’s first breath. Her first stumbling steps that of a newborn.

We see Bullock’s character reborn with hope and a zest for life, she echoes Clooney when she says ‘either I am going to survive and have one helluva story to tell, or I am going to burn up, but either way, it’s been one helluva ride!’ the ride of course, is the journey through life.

Note the theme of “The Wonder of Life is God’s Great Gift to Us” coming to the surface briefly as Bullock mentions prayer and dying. But it comes right at us when the camera briefly zooms in on the holy card of Christ inside the Russian spacecraft, and again on the Buddha statue in the identical Chinese spacecraft.

Gravity is a masterpiece because it uses a driving, compelling surface story to succinctly tell us a profound truth - life with all its ups and downs are a beautiful gift from God to each of us. And so, fittingly, newly born Bullock’s last words in the movie are to God: she says, “Thank you” and takes her first toddling steps in the plush garden of Eden, the new earth - as seen through her new eyes as she looks at it as if for the first time, scooping some dirt in her hand, a transfigured person, born again with a zest for life.

This movie is, in a word, perfect, a sheer joyous celebration of the wonder of life, and the wonder of God.

God bless you.

P.S. I saw it in real 3D, and then wanted to see it in IMAX 3D so I did. (I don’t usually go to movies, but this one I saw twice already, it’s that good!) This is one movie that justifies the price of 3D and even IMAX 3D if you have an IMAX theater nearby.

Don’t wait too long because it will leave the theaters and won’t be the same on blu-ray on the TV.

There is a lot more symbolism in the movie that reveals the theme, but this post would get too long!
 
phil19034 said:
wordonfire.org/trackback/faa6e5b6-b93d-4b81-99a1-4d5611bccd53/Gravity–A-Commentary-by-Fr–Barron-(spoiler-alert).aspx

Commentary by Father Barron in Chicago. He loved the movie too and the religious awakening Sandra’s character had.
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Yep. People will be pondering this movie for years - it is deep. Like Fr. Barron, I was surprised too by the spirituality underlying the movie - I did not expect it, had not heard of that aspect, and most movies today are shallow.

My previous post was long - I did not say much about Clooney’s key role in the movie.

SPOILER ALERT**********
Clooney helps to transform Sandra, to give her hope and new thirst for life, and he dies so that she might live, so Clooney’s character is very Christ-like. There is that scene where the two of them are stretched out from the Russian station, she held by the parachute straps on her leg, he held by her hand on his tether and the camera pans back and we see the whole scene before us - the craft to the left, her towards the middle, Clooney to the right, held together in the vastness of space by ever so fragile cords. She holds his tether in desperation, but Clooney detaches himself so she might live, and she begs him not to detach but he does and he tells her ‘you’re going to make it’. And as he drifts away he gives her guidance on how to live - on how to get inside the Russian space station. And once inside, she is in the ‘womb’ and enters the fetal position, as mentioned in the previous post.

We can see here as they are tethered together how in moments of crisis most of us cling to God and beg Him to be with us to help us through those times. Through Christ we are born again - we will ‘make it’.

Later, when she has lost all hope and resigns herself to her fate, and prays a final prayer the only way she knows how since she never prayed before, Clooney suddenly appears to her again and gives her more guidance that helps her to live, literally and figuratively (spiritually). So Clooney can be seen as a transformative character who helps the hopeless Sandra to live anew, who gave his life so she might live - his is a Christ-like figure.

Another simple moment in the movie: Clooney keeps updating the situation to Houston, even though they never respond. She says something like why do you keep talking, nobody can hear you, or nobody is listening, and he says. ‘we don’t know that.’

This brief dialogue serves as a commentary about talking to, praying to God

The movie is spiritually rich. The more I think about it, the more I ‘see’!

God bless you.
 
beehumble said:
*** Spoiler Alert*** Do not read if you have not seen the movie!!!

Gravity is a masterpiece, in the vein of Moby Dick. As Moby Dick is not just a story about a man’s hunt for a rare white whale, Gravity is not just a story about fighting to survive a disaster in space.

Remember first of course that every single thing on screen, every single sound we hear in a movie was carefully chosen and purposefully put there by the director to subtly reveal its theme.

Gravity celebrates the “gift of life”, and the God who gave it to us. The jaw-dropping scenes of space – the vastness of the stars contrasted with the smallness of Sandra Bullock’s character as she tumbles away and out of sight of Clooney’s character show God’s power. The aurora borealis dancing over the beautiful earth – the reality, the pure majestic awe of the creation on display in this movie like in no other before it serve to show the greatness of our Creator. The complete harshness, emptiness, and loneliness of space we see in the movie serve as a backdrop to show us the wonder of the garden of Eden God gave us that we call ‘earth’.

And then we get to the allegory in the movie, the symbolism that serves to subtly reveal this theme. Ryan (Bullock) is spiritually dead, just going through the motions of her daily routines. She is empty, without hope, without love, she is “dead” ever since the tragedy years earlier. When she is not working, she just gets in her car and drives – because she was driving when she heard the tragic news of the so simple stupid accident. And she has never stopped driving – she has never moved passed that moment. She died at that moment when she heard the news. (Later Clooney tells her to ‘Let go.’)

Bullock represents all of those who are spiritually dead; all of us who have let the downside of life ‘kill’ us. Clooney represents those who see all of life, its ups and downs, as wonderful. Told he will not break the Russian rival’s space-walking record, he shrugs it off. His last words to Bullock spoken when he knows he is going to die: ‘You should see the sun over the Ganges.’ He loves life, all of it. All of this makes one think of Jesus’ words that tell us to not worry about tomorrow for it will take care of itself, to live for today with its joys and failures and sadness – this is enough, He advises each of us:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span…Your heavenly Father knows that you need them…Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” (Matt 6:25-34)
The whole act of trying to survive the disaster transforms the ‘dead’ Bullock. We see her literally and symbolically born again, of fire (Holy Spirit) and water.

*Nicodemus said to him, “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?”

Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit [Fire]. (John 3:4-5)*

We see Bullock in the womb curled up like a fetus (right after she removes her spacesuit upon entering the Soyuz – note the brief scene, with the airlock symbolizing the womb, her fetal position the child in the womb). The re-entry is her baptism by fire, her swim in the water her baptism in water, her shedding of the spacesuit under water the shedding of her old self, her first gulp of air as she pops up out of the water symbolizing a newborn’s first breath. Her first stumbling steps that of a newborn.

We see Bullock’s character reborn with hope and a zest for life, she echoes Clooney when she says ‘either I am going to survive and have one helluva story to tell, or I am going to burn up, but either way, it’s been one helluva ride!’ the ride of course, is the journey through life.

Note the theme of “The Wonder of Life is God’s Great Gift to Us” coming to the surface briefly as Bullock mentions prayer and dying. But it comes right at us when the camera briefly zooms in on the holy card of Christ inside the Russian spacecraft, and again on the Buddha statue in the identical Chinese spacecraft.

Gravity is a masterpiece because it uses a driving, compelling surface story to succinctly tell us a profound truth - life with all its ups and downs are a beautiful gift from God to each of us. And so, fittingly, newly born Bullock’s last words in the movie are to God: she says, “Thank you” and takes her first toddling steps in the plush garden of Eden, the new earth - as seen through her new eyes as she looks at it as if for the first time, scooping some dirt in her hand, a transfigured person, born again with a zest for life.

This movie is, in a word, perfect, a sheer joyous celebration of the wonder of life, and the wonder of God.

God bless you.

P.S. I saw it in real 3D, and then wanted to see it in IMAX 3D so I did. (I don’t usually go to movies, but this one I saw twice already, it’s that good!) This is one movie that justifies the price of 3D and even IMAX 3D if you have an IMAX theater nearby.

Don’t wait too long because it will leave the theaters and won’t be the same on blu-ray on the TV.

There is a lot more symbolism in the movie that reveals the theme, but this post would get too long!
Click to expand...
👍
 
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