With all the hype, I felt it was time to get out the house and into the big theatre to see just what all the fuss was about.  I am so glad I did.

This is a stupendous film.  I have always appreciated small plot stories that focused more on characters than spectacular special effects and this one had both.  With a cast of two – not counting bodies or Mission Control’s voice – it was wonderfully focused on their actions.  But it also had astounding special effects – views of Earth from space, perspectives from within their spacesuit, catastrophic disasters.  The film opened quietly enough but I was already tense, waiting for the first disaster to strike and the tension never let up from there.  While it was true that the story hinged on one disaster after another and one miraculous recovery after another, there wouldn’t have been a story without them.  And the anticipation of seeing how each disaster would be overcome was, for me, absolutely fascinating.  I was riveted in my seat and grateful the film didn’t last more than 90 minutes; I don’t think I could’ve withstood more stress and tension than that.

We opted for the biggest screen possible – Cine Capri – rather than 3D.  And it was glorious on a wide screen.

~~ Catherine Book