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Rating: A
Neil Burger’s new sci-fi thriller, “Voyagers” fails to make any significant impact.
The start of the film explains how earth is growing hotter. Drought and disease have caused severe damage to the population. Scientists are looking for a new planet that can support human life, and they find one in 2063. They decide to send a group bioengineered teens into space in order to populate the new world that is hundreds of light years away. The trip will take them 86 years. Meaning their future grandkids will be the ones carrying out the end of the mission. The only adult on board is Richard (Colin Ferrell), who leads and counsels the kids as if they were his own. To prevent chaos and create order, the teens are given a “blue drink” that has essentially been drugging them, and inhibits them from feeling, really, anything. Two of the voyagers, Christopher (Tye Sheridan) and Zac (Fionn Whitehead), figure this out. Zac angrily stops taking the substance, then all hell breaks loose.
Suddenly, the movie turns into “Lord of the Flies” IN SPACE. It becomes so predictable and wild, that you just want to skip to the end. It’s not that the storyline is boring. In fact, at times it can be engaging; but it offers nothing new. The beginning makes you think this familiar tale will have a refreshing spin. But when it’s over, you’re left wondering if this really needed to be a movie?
Story wise, “Voyagers” is nothing special. But perhaps, the purpose was to showcase the talented, young actors. However, most of their impressive diverse cast were merely background noise. The film primarily focuses on Sheridan, Whitehead and Lily-Rose Depp, who plays Sela. Depp and Sheridan play off each other well and have great chemistry, but the film never dives too deep with its characters. We get to know everyone at a surface level, except for maybe Zac whose villain-like qualities gradually grow, the more jealous he gets of Christopher.
“Voyagers” is well shot. The cinematography by Enrique Chediak is beautiful. The music by Trevor Gureckis compliments the tone of the film, and provides the right amount of suspense.
Burger’s script is not bad, either, it just feels derivative. It’s disappointing when the premise of the film allowed for so much more. I mostly wish we explored the other world. The concept is realistic, and it would have been interesting to learn more about why they chose to create new life on this particular planet. Instead, “Voyagers” chooses to focus on the characters resenting their isolation, and their lack of “feeling”. They want to take advantage of getting to experience pain and all sorts of pleasure. This raises the question of whether or not they prefer a wild-life of “freedom”, or to go back to their routine, monotonous life that serves a greater purpose; one they won’t be alive to see come to fruition.
“Voyagers” may still be worth the watch for purely entertainment purposes. It’s plays out like a teen drama you’d watch on the CW. So if that’s your cup of tea, then this film is right up your alley. Otherwise, keep your expectations low, and be prepared for a rushed and underwhelming ending.
Rating: 2/5
Unlike most people, I had very low expectations going into Gravity. After all the rave reviews the movie was getting, I just didn’t get how this film was going to be that great. The previews don’t give you much, and most of my friends and family seemed to think of the film as comical. I mean there was actually a struggle to find a guest that would see the film with me! But I can finally say after watching the movie, my friend and I walked out completely understanding the hype while still trying to breath normally again.
First off, I highly recommend you see this film in 3D. In fact, I don’t even think it should be offered in 2D. You will miss out on the feeling and experience director, Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), had intended for the film. Your brain won’t have to follow a difficult plot, but you are still in for an intense thrill ride.
The story is simple: Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a medical engineer on her first shuttle mission with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney). But after an accident leaves them drifting in space, they must work together to survive. The simplicity in Gravity is only one of the things that makes this film so exceptional. Alfonso Cuarón has taken an original terrifying thought, and turned it into a captivating, 90-minute mission of endurance. The direction in this film is Oscar worthy! The fluid motion of the camera as it flows throughout the movie makes you feel as if you are floating. Visually the film is beautiful, and as you are enjoying the view from space you are still panicking about what is going to happen next.
For anyone who thought Sandra Bullock’s Oscar win for The Blind Side was not deserved, I don’t agree with you…and you should just watch Bullock’s performance in Gravity. She is really the sole actor of the film. George Clooney definitely serves a purpose and makes for some relaxing comic relief, but it seems like even he wants to let Bullock steal the show. The moment she appears on screen you might as well be tethered to that space suit with her. Whatever fear and anxiety her character is going through, the audience is feeling the exact same way. Watching her struggle made it physically harder to breathe. Personally, I have always known Sandra Bullock is a great actress; but this role definitely solidifies that. It’s still too soon to predict Oscar nominations, but I would say that she is a lock for the Best Actress nod along with many more nominations for the film in multiple categories.
The best way to sum up Gravity is “breath-taking!” The visual effects are the best I have seen in any film. If you were to tell me they shot the movie in space, I would probably believe it. For now I will assume that is what spaces looks like. I guess what makes this film stand apart from movies like Cast Away and 127 Hours is those films had some moments of down time. There were moments where, even though they were stranded, you knew you could relax for a bit because they had managed to make a livable routine in their misery. But as this film reminds you in the beginning, life in space is impossible. You can’t breathe, you can’t take a controlled step, and you could just get lost in space forever until you run out air.
Rated PG-13 for intense images.
Gravity hits theaters everywhere today!