Several years ago I posted about Avatar and how I'd never seen anything like it. I'm pleased to say that feat has just been replicated, only this time I have no complaints over naked blue aliens making me feel like a capitalist swine pig who abuses minorities for fun and profit.
This movie is relatively simple in plot and dialogue, but rich in visuals and visceral emotion. It comes off as more of a study in core emotions such as fear, grief, pain, hope, and courage. There is beautiful symbolism in the simple essential nature of life and how fragile it is.
Without spoiling the film, I'd also say there are some interesting spiritual messages about prayer, faith, sacrifice and hope.
Sandra Bullock and George Clooney did a fantastic job. They definitely help you feel the terror and emotion of the moment, but not in an overly dramatic fashion. I would imagine that is a hard balance to strike in front of a green screen and of course the director deserves props for getting that out of them.
What really impressed me the most in this film was the camera work. Its like a fish in water that can swim anywhere around the astronauts or their ships and even seamlessly get inside their heads for a first-person perspective. Dealing with 360 degrees of freedom, planning out those shots must have been tedious (I heard it took 4 years to make this film) but it comes off graceful and really enjoyable to watch.
Finally a word about IMAX and 3D. Owning a 3D projector at home I think I'm qualified to comment on this. There are two key aspects of this technology.
- Depth perception of the image - This is what most people don't consider with 3D. It allows you see spatial relationships as if you were there with your own eyes.
- Pop-out Effects - This is what most people think of and is difficult to do well without it being a cheesey distraction.
Let me assure you, its not just a gimmick in this show. It took forever to make was developed for 3D viewing. Having your field of vision full with depth perception makes the experience remarkable and elements of shrapnel flying at you are not just for gee-whiz effect, its part of the story. Additionally the droplets of blood, tears, etc are all beautifully captured with this technique.
Simply put, this is a film that should be experienced at least once on a big screen. Avatar, Jurassic Park, Star Wars/Trek, 2001: A Space Odyssey are a few that come to mind. Easily the best movie of 2013 thus far and likely to stay that way.
