Gravity and the weight of expectation

On Monday I went to the cinema for the second time this year (the last thing I saw was the first part of the hobbit, complete disappointment, but that's a  different blog and alpha papa, a fun romp but nothing special). We saw gravity after hearing a huge amount of hype for it over the previous month, ever since it was released in America. But how did it live up to it?

I had tried to avoid too much of the build up. I didn't hear any spoilers, just that I should go see it. I kind of knew it was a disaster movie, but that was about it.

Let's start with the things that were brilliant about it. Visually it was phenomenal. This is over film that it really is worth going to see on a big screen and in 3D. The only other 3D film I've seen was Alice in wonderland and this used it significantly better. It used it very well and the zero gravity effects were done very well. The other part that really stood out to me was the soundtrack. This is anaaspext that I rarely praise, but here it is well deserved.The use of silence is very powerful and very applicable. Sound doesn't travel in space. And the chances are the engines would be off so they wouldn't make any noise even if it could be heard. Attention to detail like this was very good throughout.

Next we come to the things that were not so good.  I feel bad slamming this film because ultimately I did enjoy it and found myself invested in the characters and storyline.  Howeverthe plot itself wasn't great.  Once you accepted that it was a disaster movie that was all that you needed to know.  Someone stranded in space then had to find a way back to earth. There's not much more that could happen.  My other main criticism is that George Clooney only seems to play one character.  It seemed that it worked here but it could have been a lot more. Sandra bullock was good enough, but I think talk of an Oscar is a bit premature when you think of performances that have gone unrewarded.  I'm looking at you Di caprio.

I thoroughly enjoyed the film and an glad that I went to see it.  Watching it in cinema is likely to be a huge improvement on watching it at home on the TV.  But I don't think I'll buy the dvd when it comes out.  It didn't fully live up to the hype.  The plot just wasn't as good as the visual. Otherwise it would be as out of the world as it's setting.

the wrong side of the law

So I started watching the wire today. Firstly, three episodes in it is fantastic. It looks like it is going to be an amazing series and all the good things I've heard about it are well deserved. but the concept of it got me thinking.

I don't think this classes as a spoiler but the wire is about the drugs scene in Baltimore as seen from both sides of the law. I've just finished sopranos (also a very, very good show) which is about the Mafia in new H Jersey. Similarly, breaking bad has just finished to huge acclaim and that was, to the best of my understanding, about crystal meth. I've not seen it yet, but it is very high on my list of things to watch.

Like i said the combination of these three for me thinking. What is it about illegal activities that we find so intriguing as a viewing public. Whyare we so fascinated with the law and breaking it?

Honestly, I'm not sure what the answer to this is. I guess it's because it'sthe unknown and the forbidden.  People like things that are bad for Erm. We see it in what we do what we eat and many aspects of our lives. It's why there are things that are universally accepted as guilty pleasures. And why we don't care about them.

It's not just in TV. Look at the top films and you will always find things that are outside the law. Mafia. Drugs. Murder. The godfather. Trainspotting, pulp fiction. Great films about things that most people are completely distant for. I'm guessing it's escapism of some form, but people are always after some way to look at a different life from their own.

This happens to me as much as anyone i'm sure. I find them really absorbing and always want to watch more. But does it bother me?  Hell no!