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Gravity and Other Musings
Oct. 5th, 2013 11:59 pmNot quite ready for my big post on friendship or sentience yet. Instead, a few little odds and ends.
I watched Gravity today. It was really good, and the first real Oscar contender I've seen. I recommend everyone go see it.
First, this film goes by fast. It's damn near in real time (i.e. the 90 minute film almost covers a single window of 90 minutes). Not quite real time, but close. Also, the cinematography and special effects are top notch. The 3D is probably the best I've seen since Avatar. To the point where you forget you're watching a 3D movie - the 3D never drifts into Dr. Tongue mode and it's also never superfluous (as it is in a lot of after-principle-photography 3D conversions). It is simply immersive.
What really stands out though is Sandra Bullock's performance. She inhabits the role and manages to convey volumes simply with her breath or a look. Just what you want with a character that spends half the movie in a helmet.
The only real quibble is that a Kessler event as depicted in the movie might affect geosynchronous satellites or the ISS or Hubble, but it wouldn't affect all three as depicted. But hell, I read comic books, so I don't get to bitch about scientific accuracy.
Gravity is a very good movie right up until you realize that this is merely set in space, it's not about space. Then it becomes a great movie. Ultimately this story is grounded in humanity, and is therefore relevant for everyone, not just SF geeks. This is a feature it shares with Alfonso Cuarón's earlier film, Children of Men. That movie was about how hope can survive in a dystopia. Gravity is about rebirth through adversity.
I'm grateful for my friends, but I need a new movie buddy.
I'm having a spot of rum tonight before bed, mostly to loosen up the brain for writing, but also because my depression is lifting. One drink only though, because I don't want to accidentally blow this gain away by kicking myself in the brain chemistry. I think I've earned it this week. Still melancholy and nostalgic (for things that never were) though. I need to not dwell on that.
The wanderlust is affecting me again. I want to just quit my job, hit the road and see some sights. I'm not going to though. Instead I'm looking for somewhere off-continent to go see, possibly next year. 2016 will probably involve a trip to Indianapolis, so that means 2014/2015 for one of those big once-in-a-lifetime trips. I'm leaning towards Australia or New Zealand. Probably not both though, since each has more than enough to keep me occupied for a two week vacation.
Hmm. I suspect the last two paragraphs are more related than I was willing to admit.
I watched Gravity today. It was really good, and the first real Oscar contender I've seen. I recommend everyone go see it.
First, this film goes by fast. It's damn near in real time (i.e. the 90 minute film almost covers a single window of 90 minutes). Not quite real time, but close. Also, the cinematography and special effects are top notch. The 3D is probably the best I've seen since Avatar. To the point where you forget you're watching a 3D movie - the 3D never drifts into Dr. Tongue mode and it's also never superfluous (as it is in a lot of after-principle-photography 3D conversions). It is simply immersive.
What really stands out though is Sandra Bullock's performance. She inhabits the role and manages to convey volumes simply with her breath or a look. Just what you want with a character that spends half the movie in a helmet.
The only real quibble is that a Kessler event as depicted in the movie might affect geosynchronous satellites or the ISS or Hubble, but it wouldn't affect all three as depicted. But hell, I read comic books, so I don't get to bitch about scientific accuracy.
Gravity is a very good movie right up until you realize that this is merely set in space, it's not about space. Then it becomes a great movie. Ultimately this story is grounded in humanity, and is therefore relevant for everyone, not just SF geeks. This is a feature it shares with Alfonso Cuarón's earlier film, Children of Men. That movie was about how hope can survive in a dystopia. Gravity is about rebirth through adversity.
I'm grateful for my friends, but I need a new movie buddy.
I'm having a spot of rum tonight before bed, mostly to loosen up the brain for writing, but also because my depression is lifting. One drink only though, because I don't want to accidentally blow this gain away by kicking myself in the brain chemistry. I think I've earned it this week. Still melancholy and nostalgic (for things that never were) though. I need to not dwell on that.
The wanderlust is affecting me again. I want to just quit my job, hit the road and see some sights. I'm not going to though. Instead I'm looking for somewhere off-continent to go see, possibly next year. 2016 will probably involve a trip to Indianapolis, so that means 2014/2015 for one of those big once-in-a-lifetime trips. I'm leaning towards Australia or New Zealand. Probably not both though, since each has more than enough to keep me occupied for a two week vacation.
Hmm. I suspect the last two paragraphs are more related than I was willing to admit.
