NASA Photo Shares Spectacular Images in Essence of Cosmos Premiere
Photos by NASA Goddard Photo
At last, the first episode of the 13-part, Neil deGrasse Tyson, remake of the show Cosmos premiered this week. Broadcasting to more than 70 nations, it was the biggest launch ever for a global TV series. And in essence of the Cosmos premiere, the NASA Goddard Photo and Video Flickr account shared 43 spectacular, and very real images of different parts of the Universe to get you excited.
As if the NASA's Flickr wasn't interesting enough, it had a recent spike in popularity when they similarly shared a photo set in light of the Gravity's Oscar nominations. It seems they've found a way to engage a new generation to get enthusiastic about the wonders of the our universe, and we like it.
Check out some of our favorites below, and view the whole set here.
[Via PetaPixel]
The 86th Academy Awards Winners
An Oscar is undoubtedly the biggest honor any filmmaker could receive for their hard work in creating a cinematic work. While I may hear amongst many of the people in my life just how much they don't care about the evening's victors, I treat my viewing of the Academy Awards almost like the average American treats the Super Bowl. Growing up in an extremely small town, a lot of the nominated films weren't accessible to me and my predictions really reflected my sheltered viewings. Now that I'm in actual civilization, I've been able to catch a lot of the films, and I must say that I have become quite a professional at guessing who will be taking home the big prize of the evening. Last Friday I wrote a post on my predictions for the major categories of the evening, and I am proud to say I was pretty much eight for eight with my guesses. Perhaps I should say 7.5 for reasons of my Best Picture award, but I highly doubt anyone cares too much about that. With that said, here are this year's winners...
The 86th Academy Awards Winners Predictions
The early months of any year are full of awards and recognitions for all of those filmmakers who worked hard in the previous year to produce a form of entertainment that will have the capability to transcend the decades. While a variety of these award nights seem to take precedence throughout these first few weeks of the year, they all seem to merely be leading up to the largest of filmmaking honor ceremonies: The Academy Awards. The night on which the golden Oscar is distributed seems to always be the hype, and these smaller ceremonies just add to the predictions that film fanatics everywhere are making for the late winter celebration. 2013 brought a lot of excitement for filmgoers around the world, and this Sunday could be the test of whether a viewer's favorite film executed just the right amount of excellence for the Academy to spread cheer. So, without further blabber on my part, here is what I think will be receiving each honor this weekend.
[Short Film] Aningaaq (Official Gravity Spin-Off)
With 2013 close to ending, I think it's safe to say that Gravity is still near the top of my favorite films of the year. One of the most pivotal scenes of the film is when Sandra Bullock's Dr. Stone finally makes contact with somebody, only for a language barrier to separate the two. The crux of the film spins out from the conversation she has with the person on the other end, but it hasn't been revealed who she made contact with... until now.
Aningaaq is an official short film spin-off of Gravity that illuminates who was on the other side of Dr. Stone's radio transmission. The titular Aningaaq is an inuit fisherman in Greenland that receives Stone's call. However, due to the aforementioned language barrier, they're unable to understand each other. There's a thematic parallel between Bullock's desperate tumble through space with Aningaaq's moral dilemma of having to sacrifice his dying dog.
The short, written and directed by Gravity director's son, was originally intended to be included as a special feature for Gravity's home release. However, reception was extremely high, convincing the filmmakers to submit it for an Academy Awards consideration. Its brief, touching look adds an extra layer to Gravity without altering much of the film's narrative. While I loved how the film kept its focus tight and centered on Stone's struggle, Aningaaq's little glimpse outside of the space conflict proves to be a welcome exception to my initial feelings.
Warner Bros. wanted to add flashback, mission control scenes to Gravity
Gravity's been getting a lot of attention since its release on Friday. Besides breaking the record for an October release, it's also been receiving a lot of praise from both critics and audiences. However, imagine how different the film would be had it gone the way distributor Warner Bros. originally envisioned.
Writer/director Alfonso Cuaron recently shared some of the WB executives' suggestions for the film during its production process in an interview with io9. The execs wanted the film to have flashback sequences to have the audience empathize more with Sandra Bullock's character, Dr. Ryan Stone, in order for them to truly cheer her on. Furthermore, the studio wanted the perspective to shift over to scenes from mission control and their frantic attempts at locating and rescuing Stone from space, complete with a romantic subplot between her and a mission control commander.
Luckily, the studio trusted Cuaron's vision for Gravity, which I praised for its singular focus. If you haven't seen Gravity yet, be sure you do so on a 3D IMAX screen. You won't regret it.
[io9, via The Playlist]
[RH Review] Gravity
3D in film is a gimmick. Who cares if a popcorn or booger looks like it's hurtling towards you? Because of its unnecessary nature, I've spent years actively hating and avoiding watching films in 3D. As I walked towards the theater for my screening of Gravity a few weeks ago, I was dismayed when I realized it would be shown in 3D. I let out an audible groan, I alerted my friend of the unfortunate circumstance facing us, and I gritted my teeth as the film began.
In that moment, I was sure that my protestations against 3D would be justified, enhanced even. As the credits rolled, however, I realized something: As Hollywood slowly realizes how unnecessary a gimmick 3D is and begins to move away from the fad, Gravity stands at the top as a prime example showcasing just how powerful and truly innovative the format can be. If you're too lazy to read the rest of my review, know this: Watch Gravity on a 3D IMAX screen, no ifs, ands, or buts.
http://youtu.be/H4coTNta-YA
Gravity
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: October 4, 2013
Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a biomedical engineer on her first trip to space to fix malfunctioning equipment on a sattelite. Her captain, Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), is an experienced astronaut on his final voyage in space. As he floats aimlessly in space to break a spacewalking record, Stone's inability to adjust to the lack of gravity leaves her nauseous and unable to work effectively. Despite the idyllic nature of space's nothingness, the crew is alerted to debris floating in their direction as the product of a Russian missile destroying space stations. Suddenly, Stone and Kowalski find themselves in danger as the shrapnel makes contact with their ship, killing the entire crew and leaving Stone hurtling through space.
As she begins to reflect on her life, Kowalski attempts to keep her calm as he rescues her. However, Stone's oxygen supply is dangerously low, and Kowalski's jet pack begins to lose thrust. When all seems lost, they miraculously make it back to a space station... but the threat is far from over.
At first glance, Gravity might seem limited in conflict; however, once the film begins, you realize that the inherent conflict of being alone in space is what drives the entire film. The entire film takes place within the confines of the first conflict until its resolution - that is to say that there are no flashbacks created as an attempt to contextualize the story or to create a false sense of empathy for Dr. Stone. All of the pertinent background information is shared through passing comments shared in conversations between Stone and Kowalski.
Furthermore, it's refreshing to have a film take place entirely in space with no aliens whatsoever. Instead, the main focus, as it should be, is solely on Dr. Stone and her attempt to return to Earth. By focusing on Bullock with no distractions (background ploys, shallow attempts at creating empathy, etc.) beyond the conflict at hand (i.e. (wo)Man vs. Nature (space)), Gravity is both a psychological thriller and a character study that exemplifies just how frightening it can be to be lost in space... as if we needed a film to understand the fear.
Alfonso Cuaron's known for his direction and focus on exceptional cinematography, and it shows in spades in Gravity. Despite the film being shot almost exclusively on a green screen, the camerawork in this film is spectacular. Regular Cuaron collaborator Emmanuel Lubezki's (Children of Men, The Tree of Life) camerawork plays just as much of an important role in the film as Bullock does. After all, this is the man who won a BAFTA for Cinematography in Children of Men. Don't let the heavy use of CGI fool you: Gravity is breathtaking in its cinematography.
This is supported by the aforementioned exceptional use of 3D. Given the nature of space where the basic concept of direction is essentially deemed useless, there's no telling which way is up. With every rotation of a satellite, every roll Dr. Stone takes in her free fall, every piece of scattered debris is exacerbated and accentuated by the extra depth that 3D allows. Never before have I contemplated what an extra dimension could do for a film.
What's used and exploited as a gimmick and cash cow by lesser directors has been used to actually bring purposeful depth to Gravity, both figuratively and literally. The entirety of space simply would not have been the same had I seen Gravity on a normal screen. You'll want to shell out the extra $10 for 3D, possibly even more on an IMAX screen, because every inch, every centimeter, every pixel of the screen plays an important role in this film. Who would have known that mise en scene would be so important for a film where complete emptiness takes up the majority of the screen?
Gravity is literally breathtaking. As Dr. Stone desperately gasped for air as her oxygen tank quickly emptied out, I, too, took deep breaths alongside her. Was it because I truly felt for her? Was it because the 3D made me feel as if she were right in front of me, just out of arm's reach? Was it because of the theater's sound system emphasizing every small sound effect? Perhaps all of this played a role, yet it's because of everything I've mentioned up to this point that I urge every single one of you to watch Gravity. Films like this are the reasons why theaters exist, why Hollywood is the titan of industry that it is, why people like me spend hours of our lives writing and analyzing every second of every film we have ever seen and will ever see.
I truly believe 3D films will fade away by the end of 2014. If so, let Gravity be the medium's crowning achievement. If, for some reason, 3D overstays its welcome (as if it hasn't already), let Gravity be the film that demonstrated just how powerful and awe-inspiring the format truly can be.
Score: 9 out of 10
[Trailer 2] Gravity
http://youtu.be/H4coTNta-YA
The first trailer for Gravity captivated me with its depiction of the main conflict in the film: two astronauts, played by George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, are left stranded in space after an accident destroys their space shuttle. This new trailer expands on the shuttle's destruction in a tense and hectic 90-second long clip.
However, what's most impressive of the new trailer is that it's all one long take with no edits. Cuaron's a fan of the single take (re: Children of Men), and it's nice to see the art of the single take continued in Gravity. Despite the fact that the scene is almost completely computer generated, Cuaron still gets props for incorporating a full 90-second clip with no cuts. Would it have carried more weight had it not all been digitally rendered? Of course, but it matches the film's aesthetic well.
Gravity will be dropping into theaters on October 4th.
[Trailer] Gravity
http://youtu.be/ufsrgE0BYf0
Alfonso Cuaron is one of those directors who, I feel, hasn't really received the proper dues he should from audiences. Sure, Y Tu Mama Tambien won a handful of awards and nominated for an Oscar, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban pushed the Harry Potter film franchise towards a more mature vision (let alone a decidedly creative turn that sometimes clashed with the previous two films in the series), and Children of Men is arguably one of the most underrated sci-fi films to come out of the past decade. Still, Cuaron isn't as well-known as some of his contemporaries for reasons unexplained.
Hopefully, that will change this October when his next film, Gravity, hits theaters. In the first trailer, which you can watch below, two astronauts played by film favorites George Clooney and Sandra Bullock embark on a mission to space. Ironically, what is Dr. Ryan Stone's (Sandra Bullock) first shuttle mission is intended to be Matt Kowalsky's (George Clooney) last. During a routine spacewalk, their shuttle inexplicably explodes, stranding the two out in space with no means of communication.
Frankly, I'm extremely excited for Gravity. It's shaping out to be a cerebral thriller that is more focused on human survival instincts rather than some supernatural entity, let alone a distinct antagonist/enemy. It'll be interesting to see how general audiences react to the film, especially considering the combination of two Hollywood-friendly faces with Clooney and Bullock with Cuaron's vision. Let the speculation begin!
