I have discovered a new joy: going to the movies by myself. Surrounded by talkative colleagues at work, and a demanding toddler at home, sitting in a cinema alone lets me escape all of the noise of my chaotically wonderful life for a few hours. On Saturday, while Adrian was at home parenting Hayden, I was sitting in a theatre: no longer a career-loving parent, I was an astronaut on my first mission aboard the space shuttle Endeavour.
The movie Gravity gave me one of the most immersive and cinematic experiences I have ever witnessed. While I normally actively avoid 3D movies, I was very glad that I watched this one with the extra dimension. I was so engrossed in the film I actually threw my hands up in front of my face a few times to protect myself from flying debris. Gravity is set amongst the harsh beauty of space, and there were moments when I truly felt that I was floating along side the Hubble telescope.
While the science wasn’t 100% perfect and the main character sometimes seemed a little dim-witted and religious, the beauty of the space technology and the sphere we call Earth were truly breathtaking. Combined with heart-racing drama that barely stopped for the 91 minutes of the movie, I completely forgot that I was safely sitting down. The movie was much too anxiety-inducing and exhausting to be called enjoyable, but it brought an extraordinary transformative experience to the big screen. Highly recommended, especially in 3D or IMAX.
