Release Date: February 25, 2014
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 91 minutes

Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney) in command. But on a seemingly routine mission, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalski completely alone—tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the darkness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth…and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left.

But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.

Gravity is without question one of the most visually gripping films of the year. That’s truly what makes this film so phenomenal.

The story and characters are so minimalistic which is fitting for a film like this though most times I found myself quite frustrated with the actions of the main characters, Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) – particularly Stone and wish there had been just a bit more depth for these characters individually. I kept asking myself why Stone did what she did more times than I think the audience should have this question in their mind.

I was emotionally attached to these characters not because I really knew these characters but because I felt empathy for anyone stuck in such a dreadful life or death situation as they found themselves in. I wanted an equal balance here and didn’t get that. But I can’t discount what I did get that was a fabulous story of human survival, of life “told without words” as one of the film crew members said in the special features. It’s an emotional ride unlike any other. It’s not about Ryan Stone, it’s about what she’s a symbol of. Death and life and the struggle to keep going. The journey from defeat to fearlessness. That’s a story worth telling and here it is for us to soak in. It’s beautiful.

It’s all about the visuals though. It’s the visuals that kept me tuned in. I’m kicking myself for not seeing this movie in IMAX when it was still in theaters. What an experience that would have been. I would go so far as to say that this movie exhausts you by the end because you’re holding your breath so much of the time, unaware that you’re doing it but so physically present on the ride, on this thrilling, magnificent day in the life experience. What an unforgettable viewing experience. Gravity needs to be in your collection as soon as possible so make sure you get your copy today.

Bonus Features:

*Gravity Mission Control (Approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes) – There are 9 Behind the Scenes featurettes (each 8-16 minutes long, with the option to play individually or play all): “It Began With A Story,” “Initial Challenges,” Long Shots and Zero G,” “Previsualizing Gravity,” “The Hues of Space,” “Physical Weightlessness,” “Space Tech,” “Sandra and George: A Pair in Space,” “Final Animation,” and “Complete Silence.” I highly recommend watching every single featurette. It will take your appreciation and love for this film even higher. I loved hearing about the importance of having a female character in the first featurette. I loved seeing how so many aspects (lighting, timing, speed, movement, etc…) came together to be in sync for shot after shot after shot. I loved seeing all of the separate elements doing their job and watching those crafts coming together to create one masterpiece. Gravity Research. Physical training. Costumes. Set decoration. Animation. Editing. Sound. Everything. The crew behind this film is extraordinary. My goodness. The work they did to bring this story to life. I am truly blown away.

Appearing in this Feature:
Producer, David Heyman
Cast Members, George Clooney and Sandra Bullock
Director/Screenwriter, Alfonso Cuarón
Screenwriter, Jonás Cuarón
Visual Effects Supervisor, Tim Webber
Visual Effects Producer (Framestone), Richard Graham
Executive Producer, Nikki Penny
Compositing Supervisor (Framestone), Anthony Smith
Animation Supervisor (Framestone), Max Solomon
Visual Effects Producer (Framestone), Charles Howell
CG Lighting Supervisor (Framestone), Paul Beilby
Motion Control Robots (Bot & Dolly), Jeff Linnell
CG Sequence Supervisor (Framestone), Stuart Penn
Additional Compositing Supervisor (Framestone), Kyle McCulloch
Visual Effects Supervisor (Framestone), Richard McBride
Physical Trainer, Simone Ayesa
Stunt Coordinator, Franklin Henson
Movement Artists, Avye Leventis, Robin Guiver, and Mikey Brett
Special Effects Floor Supervisor, Alan Young
Production Designer, Andy Nicholson
Supervising Art Director, Mark Scruton
CG Modelling Supervisor (Framestone), Ben Lambert
HOD Modeller, Pierre Bohanna
Set Decorator, Rosie Goodwin
Costume Designer, Jany Temime
Editor, Mark Sanger
CG Supervisor (Framestone), Chris Lawrence
Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer, Glenn Freemantle
Re-recording Mixer/Sound Design Editor, Niv Adiri
Supervising Dialogue/ADR Editor, Nina Hartstone
Composer, Steven Price
Musician, Alasdair Malloy

*Shot Breakdowns (36 minutes) – There are 5 shot breakdowns (each 6-8 minutes, with the option to play individually or play all: “Behind the Visor,” “Fire in the International Space Station,” “Dr. Stone’s Rebirth,” “The Sound of Action in Space,” and “Splashdown.” I can’t say that I was interested in the first featurette but it is worth watching for a fun fact involving the film crew actually in one of the final shots of the film. The “Fire” breakdown however was really quite exciting to watch. I also loved get a look inside an early pre-production meeting and the recording studio and most importantly, watching the “Splashdown” breakdown which really was a fabulous story breakdown and will make you appreciate the film even more. Fabulous breakdowns. Fabulous.

Appearing in this Feature:
Director/Screenwriter, Alfonso Cuarón
Visual Effects Supervisor, Tim Webber
CG Lighting Supervisor (Framestone), Paul Beilby
Animation Supervisor (Framestone), Max Solomon
Re-recording Mixer/Sound Design Editor, Niv Adiri
Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer, Glenn Freemantle
Composer, Steven Price
Special Effects Supervisor, Manex Efrem
Stunt Coordinator, Franklin Henson
Lighting Supervisor Additional Unit, Ashley Palin
CG Supervisor (Framestone), Chris Lawrence
Compositing Supervisor (Framestone), Anthony Smith
CG Effects Supervisor (Framestone), Alexis Wajsbrot
Producer, David Heyman
Movement Coach, Francesca Jaynes
Cast Member, Sandra Bullock
Visual Effects (Rising Sun Pictures), Tony Clark
Visual Effects (Rising Sun Pictures), Ian Cope
HOD Modeller, Pierre Bohanna
Production Designer, Andy Nicholson
Stunt Coordinator, Franklin Henson
Screenwriter, Jonás Cuarón

*Documentary: Collision Point: The Race to Clean Up Space (Narrated by Ed Harris) (21 minutes) – This is a wonderful documentary, so wonderful that I wouldn’t be surprised if this documentary started to make its way into science classrooms. This documentary covers so much about the cause and effect of space debris including understanding orbits and orbital debris, the speed of collision in space – which is fascinating, The Kessler Syndrome, collision avoidance also known as “Cola,” the largest debris intercept in recent times involving the Chinese, Outer Space Treaty, and what the average person can do to support the space program. This is a fabulous feature, one I suggest every person who owns this movie on Blu-ray or DVD watch.

Appearing in this Feature:
Director/Screenwriter, Alfonso Cuarón
Former NASA Senior Scientist for Orbital Debris Research, Don Kessler
Principal Engineer for Center for Orbital Reentry Debris Studies at The Aerospace Corporation, Dr. William Ailor
“Packing for Mars” Author, Mary Roach
Retired NASA Astronaut, Dr. Dan T. Barry
Senior Engineering Specialist for Mission Analysis and Operations Dept. at The Aerospace Corporation, Dr. Roger C. Thompson
Technical Director at Integrity Applications Incorporated, Darren McKnight
Associate Principal Director for System Analysis & Simulation Subd. at The Aerospace Corporation, Ted Muelhaupt
Senior Aerospace Engineer and Lecturer at University of Southampton, Dr. Hugh Lewis

*Aningaaq – A short film by Jonás Cuarón (10 minutes – Including the Introduction) – This short film comes with the option to play or play with a 3 minute introduction from Director/Screenwriter, Alfonso Cuarón and Screenwriter, Jonás Cuarón. At first, the introduction seems unnecessary but the last minute and a half in, the essential information is shared, setting the groundwork for this short film perfectly. Still, after viewing both the introduction and short film, I’d say skip the introduction. The short film needs no introduction. It is just as visually stunning as Gravity and packs quite the emotional punch. Watch it.

Own Gravity on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and 2-disc DVD Special Edition today.