Gravity

[pxib]

This is a hell of a trailer.

But can it make me watch Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as astronauts?

[Khaldun]

Weird bad timing in terms of the ISS guys having to do an emergency fix of an ammonia leak. But Cuaron has me sold in advance on anything he wants to do.

[Velorath]

But Cuaron has me sold in advance on anything he wants to do.

Pretty much. Children of Men built up a lot of goodwill with me.

[HaemishM]

I'll see it because of Children of Men, but the trailer reminds me of Open Water in Space.

[Tarami]

It seems a little infeasible as a story? In space, a mishap of that magnitude ought to equal fairly quick death. I'm not sure you can procrastinate that conclusion for very long without it becoming mind-numbingly contrived.

But, yeah, well, as previous speakers.

Edit:
I should have checked the cast list before posting. I apologize for thinking the movie might be something other than existential dialogue.

[sickrubik]

2 minute clip.

This may be my most anticipated movie of this year now. The score sounds amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4pcg7bXgmU

[MediumHigh]

How is Sandra Bullock is space the most anticipated movie this year...

[sickrubik]

How is Sandra Bullock is space the most anticipated movie this year...

Yes, clearly the reason I am looking forward to it is Sandra Bullock. You got me. I'll post a picture of my autographed poster from THE NET later today.

Edit: Of course, I then remembered that I have an autographed photo from Speed with her and Reeves signatures that I got as a gag gift.

*hangs head*

[jakonovski]

I don't think I can take any scifi movie with non-Chinese space explorers seriously anymore.

[sickrubik]

I don't think I can take any scifi movie with non-Chinese space explorers seriously anymore.

I think it's a "period piece", given it seems to be a US orbiter.

but, ouch. truth.

[pxib]

I think it's a "period piece", given it seems to be a US orbiter.

[spacegeek]
There's also a Russian Soyuz TM orbiter, but we can't tell specific dates from that since the newer ones only look different on the inside. The earliest the movie can take place is July 2009 since the big robot arm is the one from JEM, and the last space shuttle mission to the ISS was July of 2011 so it's actually a pretty narrow window. Bullock is in a Russian Orlan spacesuit, but those are pretty much the standard on the ISS since they're made in one piece so they're much faster than Clooney's American suit to get into and out of.

Speculative plot info:

Orlan suits can hold seven hours of air, and even if somebody can bring some extra oxygen the suit only filters our CO2 for nine hours, so she's going to pass out after a maximum of 10. There isn't physically time to, for example, launch a America-Fuck-Yeah shuttle mission to pick Bullock up... and this looks like the sort of movie that cares about realism. Regardless, the shuttle program has been quite effectively mothballed today and isn't going to launch anything even with months of prep time available: 2009 - 2011.
[/spacegeek]

[Surlyboi]

I'll watch that.

[01101010]

 

On a serious note... this looks interesting and terrifying.

[sickrubik]

Spoilering a couple screenshots on why I believe it involves a US orbiter. The suoz doesn't look like that.

[pxib]

I wasn't saying there wasn't a US orbiter - the most obvious scene of it for me was where it seems to be starting to reenter upside down - just that there's also clearly a Soyuz visible in the first trailer.

More speculation:

[sickrubik]

Your theory is pretty much mine. Sorry about the confusion, I thought you were saying it couldn't be a US orbiter.

[Yoru]

I'll go see this if and only if they end up using a MOOSE-equivalent to get home. That would be a rad scene.

[Velorath]

Beautifully shot movie, which is the main reason to see it (3D is worthwile here also). There's some token attempts at characterization, but for the most part the movie just goes from one event to the next with only a few real moments of downtime to catch your breath. At an hour and a half it doesn't overstay its welcome which was also nice.

[Tannhauser]

Jesus Christ, that looks fucking terrifying!  Definitely going to see this this weekend.

[Surlyboi]

Do NOT see it in IMAX 3D. You will toss your goddamn cookies. It's beautiful though and just amazing to watch.

[Ghambit]

(Just saw it)  Yah, I actually thrust my hands in front of my face once.  That's never happened; and all I watch is IMAX 3D.  
That being said, Bullock messed up this movie with her typecast grunting, whining, and crying routine.  I wanted CastAway in space, instead I got whiny woe-is-me melodrama.   Srysly, it would be nice for her character to be a truly strong one for once; a Ripley-like character instead of a sniveling girly girl.

Other then that it was pretty good.  I still liked Oblivion better though.

[rattran]

http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/10/poking-holes-in-the-gravity-trailer-with-nasas-help/

A deconstruction of sorts with NASA EVA Task Group manager Zeb Scoville.

I'm sure Gravity will be a fine movie, though, and it's easy to forgive the liberties it takes to tell a dramatic story, especially in light of the tremendous and obvious effort to get so many of the little details about manned space flight so right. If they have to give George Clooney a made-up backpack that lets him fly with Sandra Bullock from the Hubble to the ISS—well, so what? It looks cool, and it plays well on-screen. Or, to put it even more succinctly—in old western movies, no one ever shoots the horses out from under the charging mob of bandits to quickly end the fight and save the day. Why? Because if they shot the horses, there'd be no movie.

[Ghambit]

Let it be known that even though I liked Oblivion better (twas just more up my alley at a time when I preferred more mindless movies), Gravity is pretty much essential viewing.  It is a cinema masterpiece no doubt.  Look at it like that movie you've just gotta see when you catch the artsy indy flick bug every now and then.

Yes, it will win some Oscars.  It's a shoe-in for an FX Oscar and the talk is Bullock will get at least a nomination.  Clooney was a master in this as well, and pretty much made the movie even in that short a time.

Before you go realize this;  The only setpieces used in the entire movie were the insides of the shinzu and soyuz.  The rest is CGI.

[calapine]

I am not sure "Not as good as Oblivion thus essential viewing" is a good way to phrase it. Oblivion was a pretty weak film

[sickrubik]

Let it be known that even though I liked Oblivion better (twas just more up my alley at a time when I preferred more mindless movies), Gravity is pretty much essential viewing.  It is a cinema masterpiece no doubt.  Look at it like that movie you've just gotta see when you catch the artsy indy flick bug every now and then.

Yes, it will win some Oscars.  It's a shoe-in for an FX Oscar and the talk is Bullock will get at least a nomination.  Clooney was a master in this as well, and pretty much made the movie even in that short a time.

Before you go realize this;  The only setpieces used in the entire movie were the insides of the shinzu and soyuz.  The rest is CGI.

You mean they didn't actually go into space?

[Ironwood]

Boom.

[Ghambit]

Welp, if it was a Favreau film he'd have built an entire shuttle, ISS interior, all the space suits, etc.  This flick is half a foray into new digital filming tech.  Most of the actors' time is spent on a bike inside an LED-cube and yet it looks more photoreal then if they'd used setpieces.

I am not sure "Not as good as Oblivion thus essential viewing" is a good way to phrase it. Oblivion was a pretty weak film

I figured that'd be confusing.  Lemme put it this way... Gravity is a better piece of cinema; probably the best sci-fi film of the year (including IM3, ST, etc.)  It's like saying 2001 was the best sci-fi film of all time, yet you might not appreciate it more then Star Wars.

If you're in the mood for proper high culture cinema sci-fi, then you'll love it.  If you want a fantastical action-diversion, you'll merely like it, but will appreciate it nonetheless.

I said I liked Oblivion better relative to the moment that I saw Oblivion (it was the type of movie I wanted to see at the time).  If I were to see both now, yes, Gravity would be better.

[Velorath]

Why do you even keep bringing up Oblivion?

[Ghambit]

Good question.  I dunno actually. 

[Velorath]

Also:

That being said, Bullock messed up this movie with her typecast grunting, whining, and crying routine.  I wanted CastAway in space, instead I got whiny woe-is-me melodrama.   Srysly, it would be nice for her character to be a truly strong one for once; a Ripley-like character instead of a sniveling girly girl.

The audience is supposed to feel the terror of the situation. You aren't going to get that if her character is confident, experienced, and knows exactly what to do in every situation. Instead you have a character who is out in space for the first time who is understandably terrified when shit starts going wrong, but who manages to keep pushing herself even at the point where she is very close to just giving up. I'd hardly call the character a sniveling girly girl, as regardless of how much training one receives prior to going up in space, I think most people would freak the fuck out in that situation.

[Ruvaldt]

I loved this and I thought Bullock was fine.  I didn't see anything whiny or melodramatic in her fight for survival.  Saw it in IMAX 3d and was blown away.

I would liken the experience to an amusement park ride.  It's good as a movie, but that doesn't tell the whole story.  It's just as much an experience as it is a film.

[lamaros]

For me it overstated the 'existentialist shit' a little much to be great, but it was very good and I enjoyed it. Clooney was perfect.

[Tannhauser]

Very good movie but I DID like Oblivion better!  *raises shields*  This was more of a spectacle movie, like 2001.  It didn't have strong characterizations either but is considered a classic.  Gorgeous film and Sandy B did fine.  I was so glad there wasn't hardly any sound in space.  The hyper-realism really sold the whole story as the plucky astronauts fight to stay alive. I have some minor, nerd-like quibbles with the movie and I did get slightly bored at one point, but money well spent and I wish I'd seen it at an IMAX.  Oh and Clooney played himself again.

Plus Buzz Aldrin liked the film and I'm scared to disagree with him.

[murdoc]

Ignore Surlyboi, go see this on an IMAX screen. Best application of 3D in any movie.

Loved this. Very well done from beginning to end and a gorgeous movie.

[naum]

Just got home from seeing this (saw it in 3D) and it was awesome. Even in lieu of Sandra Bullock character whininess. I'm sure the nerds will nitpick all the inconceivability but it was entertaining and the 3D had me rocking in the seat at times.