Monday, October 7, 2013

Fundy Does the movies: Gravity


I have just two words 
for the movie Gravity:  See it!



Source:  Wikipedia



For once the Ever-Patient Terry 
did not have to be dragged to a space drama.

He, who never goes to a movie 
without checking the reviews,
knew that Rotten Tomatoes 
gave it a whopping 98% rating.
The E-P was good to go!

I, who loves space dramas and
who never looks at a review
before seeing a movie,
was rearing to go!

Gravity did not disappoint!
It grabbed us in the opening seconds
and carried us on a thrilling ride
to the harrowing closing scene.
It was as if we had lived it.

For the first time ever,
Terry said, "I could see that movie again."

Briefly, the plot is this:
Three astronauts take a routine spacewalk
to service the Hubble Space Telescope.



Extra-vehicular Activity
Source:  Wikipedia


Houston Mission Control warns the astronauts
that a Russian anti-satellite test has caused 
a chain-reaction of destruction,
sending deadly orbital debris their way.
(Kessler syndrome).


NASA Debris Plot
of Current Orbital Debris
Source:  Wikipedia


They need to abort their Extra-vehicular activity 
and return to the space shuttle Explorer immediately.
The debris hits before they can, 
and only two astronauts survive the onslaught.

Dr. Ryan Stone is untethered 
and tumbling out of control in space.
Astronaut Matt Kowalski must retrieve Stone
with his thruster pack (MMU),
and together they must find a way 
to survive alone in space 
and cut off from communications with Mission Control.



Thruster Pack or Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU)
Source:  Wikipedia



While George Clooney gives a great performance 
as veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski,
Sandra Bullock makes the movie
with her outstanding performance
as medical engineer Ryan Stone.

I have followed the exploration of space
since I was a small child.
I would dearly love to orbit the Earth
and travel to the moon and beyond.
This movie made me feel like I was in space.
The stunning 3D images 
highlighted the fragile beauty of the Earth
and the dangerous beauty of black space.



Earth and Space
Source:  Wikimedia


  
I can hardly begin to imagine the technology
involved in making this movie look so real,
especially the way the actors moved in zero-gravity.

The work began with mapping out the entire movie 
using computer-generated animation.
This previsualization determined how the actors performed.

For some scenes, the actors swam through 
their movements underwater.

For others, they were suspended from wires
and filmed while puppeteers moved their bodies.

The filmmakers Emmanuel Lubezki and Tim Webber 
created a light box 
where the actors were suspended 
and moved as little as possible.
Meanwhile the set, the lighting, and the cameras
moved around the actors. 

In postproduction the live action and
computer-generated animation were combined,
the wires and other apparatus digitally removed,
and more special effects added.
The end result was so real,
I felt I was there too,
weightless in space and fighting for my life.
(Source:  NBC News Science)




Just see it!

28 comments:

  1. My Rare One wants to see this movie. I'm more on the fence, not being a Sandra Bullock fan.

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    1. Hi Debra! A surprise overnight visitor cut into my blogging replies, but now the dust has settled. I'm not a big Sandra Bullock fan either, but I thought that she was great in "Gravity." Maybe you'll give the movie a try. Terry is usually a pretty good sport about going to movies to humor me, but sometimes he just can't do it. Then off I go solo! Hope you're having a great week!

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    1. Hi Adam! I think it was great! Maybe you'll have a chance to catch it and do a review! Take care!

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  3. Looks like an exciting movie! Enjoyed the clip!

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    1. Hi Paul! That movie never let you relax from beginning to end ~ nonstop excitement! I'm glad that you enjoyed the clip. I'll be catching up on visiting people's blogs tomorrow. We had a surprise overnight visitor ~ Terry's sister. Late night & lots of fun! Hope you are having a good week!

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  4. Just watched your trailer and I'm so dizzzzzzzzyyyyyyy!!! LOL

    Very real looking for sure.

    GC ~~ and I'm probably the only person in the world, well....not my fave. Shhh don't tell anyone. Sandra Bullock always cracks me up though.

    Thanks for this, now I'm enlightening....

    off to watch DWTS ....

    later gater!!

    Ron

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    1. Hi Ron! I hope things are going well with you, Jim, and SD! We had a surprise overnight visit from Terry's sister on Monday. We are looking forward to going up to Breckenridge to spend the long weekend with her. If I'm remembering correctly, your brother is coming for Canadian Thanksgiving. I hope you have a great time with him. My family has big complicated plans spread from Calgary to Ottawa to the Cove. As for GC ~ I don't get what the big deal is with him ~ I'm more Harrison Ford myself! And SB ~ well I was never a big fan of hers, but I think she was perfect for and in this role. DWTS ~ I was sad to see Bill Nye the Science Guy go. He was a favorite of mine because I was an elementary teacher who used his resources a lot. He was responsible for me making sure I had my kids experience Jimmy Hendrix playing our national anthem every year as part of our American history and government unit. I mean we were supposed to study "The Star-spangled Banner!" Bill Nye had a kid imitating JH in one of his science videos, and my students had no clue who JH was. So I took care of that. I could always work anything into the curriculum! LOL! Have a good one!

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  5. Heard it was great
    Will add it to my to be watched plate

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    1. Hey Pat! Here I am behind again ~ I'm almost scared to go look at your blog and see how productive you have been! I want to see "Gravity" again, but in 3D Imax this time! I hope you get to see the movie and enjoy it! Take care at your lair!

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  6. Thanks for the review. I was waiting to see how someone liked it before I went. Now I'll try to get there. Sounds like a real thrilling movie.

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    1. Hi Peggy! As you can see I'm a little behind here. It's been hectic around our place the last couple of days. I loved the movie! I hope you go and enjoy it. I'd love to hear what you think! Have a good one!

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  7. Hmmmm, so glad to read your review. I thought, based on seeing the previews, that it would be REALLY GOOD or extremely bad. I too love all things space so look forward to seeing it. The preview is so gripping!

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    1. Hey Audrey! sorry I'm late responding ~ lots going on the past few days! The movie is amazing ~ I have always wanted to go into space, and I felt like I was really there. The cinematography is ~ I can't even think of an adjective, but it will change the film industry. It was like when the first Star Wars movie hit the screens and brought movies to a new level. Yeah there were a few thinks that you could pick at, but for me they were overwhelmed by the stunning visuals and the feelings I had of being right there! Hope all is well with you, my friend! Take care!

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  8. Gosh-- will have to go see this for sure!!

    Dearest Louise- your lovely scarves have arrived and I'm so very grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. They will be so appreciated when they go to new homes.

    I'm working on the photos-- hope to post them in a couple of weeks.

    I love you for your generous heart--
    Vicki

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    1. Hi Vicki! As I have been explaining to others, I'm late responding to your lovely comment because a lot has been going on here the past few days. Thank you, thank you for your kind words. I really enjoyed making the scarves. I knit a lot of hope and love into them. And thank you for undertaking this huge, huge project. I know many people will benefit from all you have done to make this happen. Take care!

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  9. Thanks for the review! never know what to see! This helps a lot. We don't get to the movies much, so knowing ahead that it will be a 2 thumbs up is important!

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    1. Hi Monica! I hope all is well with you! I'm trying to get to more movies because I enjoy the big screen so much. My days and nights are so full that sometimes it's hard to make myself put aside the time. It's a wonderful movie. Take care!

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  10. I saw it Saturday and was absolutely blown away!! What an amazing and inspiring film. WOW.

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    1. Hi Keith! I'm so glad that you found the movie amazing and inspiring too! It just makes me want to go into space even more. You never know ~ look how old John Glenn was when he made it into space. I plan to see it again. I hope that your week is going well!

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  11. I have no TV, so I had not heard of this. Thank you for the review. It sounds terrifying, but being the Trekkie I am and growing up next to an air base, I may just have to chin up and go see this...

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    1. Hi SC! You are braver than I am ~ I'm not sure I could go TV-less! The movie was terrifying, yes; but it also was inspiring and a reminder that you can't give up, that if you keep on fighting, you just may make it through something very difficult against all odds. And even if you don't, the fight is better than giving up and lying down. I am such a Trekkie! My dad was sir force for some of my childhood ~ and I got to take a one-week course on space at the Air Force Academy (one of the highlights of my life!!!!!). Hope you're enjoying a great week!

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  12. ooh, I really like both of those actors and space/sci-fi too. Thanks for the recommendation - I think we might take you up on it. x

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    1. I hope you do, Julie! thanks for stopping by! Have a good one!

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  13. The movie stayed with me a long long time. Very well done & thanks for explaining how they did it.

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    1. Hi Francie! Thanks for the kind words. I want to go see "Gravity" again in 3D Imax ~ after we get back from our long weekend in the mountains. Have a great day!

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  14. I've been looking forward to this film for years. Have a lovely Thursday.

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    1. Hi Vanessa! Thank you for stopping by. I hope you enjoy the movie! Have a happy day!

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Thank you for your comments! I appreciate them very much.