Gravity

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Entertainment: +4

Content: +2

Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris. Sci-Fi thriller. Written by Alfonso Cuaron, Jonas Cuaron. Directed by Alfonso Cuaron.

FILM SYNOPSIS: A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.

PREVIEW REVIEW: Astounding! Lots of twists and turns occur in this beautifully photographed lost-in-space action thriller. Having been given a post-converted 3D edition, seeing it in IMAX is a visceral experience unlike anything since 2001: A Space Odyssey. But the film has other elements going for it beyond its technical wizardry. Written by father and son Alfonso and Jonas Cuaron, the story’s premise is really about the sanctity of life.

Now, maybe I’m reading more into it than the writers intended, but its thoughtful moments about life and death cannot be denied. Understand, this film doesn’t proselytize, but it does contain ethereal questions below the surface of its action sequences.

When you think about it, why do we struggle to maintain life? Even we Christians, who believe in Heaven, where we will live with God and be reunited with loved ones, even we do whatever possible to cling to this vale of tears. There’s an importance to life on Earth we don’t really conceive. It isn’t just a fear of the unknown after death that causes us to hold on. There’s a subconscious pull toward this present life. It’s a built-in factor.

One could say this film is pro-life. But to suggest that would signal alarm in the motion picture industry, where they’re still trying to manufacture a good movie about abortion.

Other films that suggest the importance of life:

Tree of Life
Juno
Waitress
After Earth

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: Warner Bros.

Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.

Crude Language: None

Obscene Language: The female lead utters several uses of the s-word and a few others.

Profanity: George manages to profane Christ’s name one time – hey, it wouldn’t be a George Clooney movie if the actor didn’t profane God’s name in some manner. What a shame.

Violence: The spacecraft and crew are hit by flying shrapnel; though not graphic, several crew members are killed by this debris; no space aliens attacking, but the action – the struggle to survive in outer space is intense throughout.

Sex: None

Nudity: No nudity, but when Sandra’s character gets out of her spacesuit while floating in the capsule, she goes all Barberella on us, bobbing about in her underwear; the actress must be congratulated, her form is in top form.

Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: None

Drugs:

Other: None

Running Time: 90 minutes
Intended Audience: Teens and Up

Click HERE for a PRINTER-FRIENDLY version of this review.