Gravity managed to impress in its first week in wide release (at least in the United States). It’s an impressive piece of film, and if you are going to see it, I strongly urge you to do it in a theater, and pay extra for the 3-D and IMAX projection. They add to the film (a rarity for these technologies). The technical accomplishments of the filmmakers may not have extended to capturing accurate spatial dynamics, but likely you won’t notice it (unless you’re looking to find errors). The acting and story are usually as compelling as the visuals. Will it prompt new attention to the problems of space junk? That would be nice.
If you can’t get to see the film this weekend, there is another film with a similar story worth finding. Europa Report is new to DVD, after a short theatrical run and availability on video on demand services. In a realistic style meant to evoke a documentary and/or found footage, the movie tracks a privately funded space mission to Europa, a moon of Jupiter. The moon could harbor life, and that possibility drives some of the story. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I am hopeful that it explores some of the implications of private space exploration in a way that can be engaging without being fanciful. Once I get to see it, I’ll let you know.
Pasco Phronesis 