We've all had one of those days where it feels like nothing seems to be going right. But such trivial problems are nothing compared to what a bad day for an astronaut would be like. This is basic premise of Gravity, a breathtaking thriller about mankind's survival against impossible odds.

Warning: Minor Spoilers Ahead



The film stars Sandra Bullock as Dr. Ryan Stone, a medical engineer undergoing her first shuttle mission. She is joined by veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), whose cocky character serves as comedic relief during those tense moments (which are aplenty in this movie).



It doesn't take long for disaster to strike, leaving the shuttle completely destroyed with Stone and Kowalski as the only remaining survivors. Cut off from mission control, the two hatch an ingenious escape plan which involves hopping on board a neighboring international space station to get back to Earth before their oxygen runs out.



Bullock's character is a bit of an enigma. She starts off as your typical 'damsel in distress' with Clooney serving as her 'knight in shining armor'. Except instead of a knight, you get a guy in a puffy spacesuit riding a jet pack.



It's only once Clooney makes the ultimate sacrifice that Bullock's character decides to get her act together. She goes from barely being able to use a tether to putting out space fires and piloting her way back to safety.




It's little wonder why director Alfonso Cuarón is being praised by his peers in the film community. Not only does he do a spectacular job in transporting the audience into the vastness of outer space, he also manages to portray the hopelessness of feeling completely abandoned and alone.



And the only way to watch it all unfold would have to be in glorious 3D, because the level of technical detail and accuracy in the scenes is amazing. The use of extended sequences without cuts also helps to enhance the sense of place and realism. As for the gorgeous visuals of Earth, these serve as a welcoming distraction during those less-action packed moments. However, all the spinning camera work might not appeal to viewers suffering from vertigo.



Given that this film could possibly be one of the finest portrayals of space travel in cinema history, we think feeling a little disorientated would be a small price to pay in order to feel like an astronaut for 90 minutes.



Warner Bros. Pictures Gravity  releases in 3D and IMAX 3D on October 3rd in Malaysian cinemas.