Children of Men | Geekscape

Amazing ‘Gravity’ Featurette Dives Into The Film’s Spectacular Sound

by Derek KraneveldtOctober 7, 2013

Briefly: This video is well worth its ten minute running time.

The always-amazing team at SoundWorks Collection is at it again, and this time they’re taking on this weekend’s surprise hit, Alfonso Caurón’s Gravity.

You may still be revelling over the film’s breathtaking visuals, but did you notice just how spectacular the sound was? This new featurette explores just how Gravity‘s sound team was able to create such a soundscape, which was especially challenging, since the film is set in the silence of space.

Seriously, watch the featurette below, and if you haven’t, get out to your local theatre and see the film. Gravity is a movie that you need to see on the biggest, loudest 3D screen that you possibly can.

Already see the film? Let us know what you thought of it below!

Geekscape Movie Reviews: Gravity

by MCDaveOctober 4, 2013

I’ve always heard the rumblings. But after finally getting a chance to screen the upcoming sci-fi drama, Gravity, it goes without question that director Alfonso Cuarón is one of the most ambitious filmmakers on the planet … and perhaps beyond. It’s been 7 years since the Mexican-born director captivated audiences with his previous groundbreaking work, Children of Men. And if one thing’s for certain, it’s the fact that Cuarón constantly struggles to out-perform himself. Just takes the soon-to-be instant classic, Gravity, for example. Even renowned director James Cameron is calling it “the best space film ever done”. That’s high praises from someone who always strives to raise the bar himself. Enough said.

Dr. Ryan Stone (played by Sandra Bullock) is on her first space mission along with a team led by the aging astronaut, Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney), who is overseeing his final voyage. However, during a routine spacewalk, debris from a satellite comes crashing into their space shuttle killing the rest of Stone and Kowalsky’s team. Stranded in space with no contact from earth and a nearly depleted air supply, the pair of astronauts must work together to survive the ordeal.

There are countless aspects of Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity that deserve to be commended. With an uncut 13 minute opening scene that’s completely mind-blowing and inarguably impressive, the director’s latest work begins without a hitch. Then, once Gravity has hooked the audience with a tension-filled first act, Cuarón’s film whisks along effortlessly like an astronaut in zero-gravity all the way to an astounding conclusion. And if this newest sci-fi drama doesn’t sound pleasing enough, its triumphant visual effects are so mesmerizing that they can probably start handing over the Oscar statues for most of the technological categories already. Aesthetically brilliant and wonderfully paced, Gravity feels like the sure-fire Best Picture contender that many predicted.

While I thoroughly enjoyed Alfonso Cuarón’s long-awaited return, there are certain elements of the feature that irked me. First, there’s no question about it, George Clooney steals the show. So much, in fact, that it almost detracts from Sandra Bullock’s widely-lauded role. Although I’m a long-time fan of the Academy Award Winning actress, I didn’t “love” this performance. Once I recognized my complaint, I tried to break down the cause of the issue and I discovered that it stems from the movie’s dialogue. When it comes to comic relief, the verbal exchanges are spectacular. However, during the more dramatic moments, I found the screenplay’s dialogue to be elementary and trite. As a result, those pivotal onscreen scenes in which the audience is supposed to empathize with Bullock ultimately lack a “punch”. Therefore, Gravity never reaches the cosmic heights we’d all expect.

One thing is for sure, Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity offers filming techniques and space photography that is far beyond anything we’ve ever seen before. Thus, an unbridled appreciation is certainly in order. On the other hand, I freely acknowledge flaws in Cuarón’s latest work. After viewing Gravity in the light of other epic survival stories such as Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours, it’s clear that it doesn’t offer the same level of impact. But either way, Gravity is definitely a well-paced and gripping feature that deserves to be savored with a big-screen experience.

GRADE: 4/5

You can find plenty of other work from MCDAVE at his HOST SITE

Watch A New Featurette For ‘Gravity’

by Derek KraneveldtSeptember 23, 2013

Briefly: Alfonso Caurón’s Children of Men has remained one of the most impressive films that I have ever seen, ever since my first viewing back in 2006. From the fantastic performances, to the incredible sound design, and of course the breathtaking world and cinematography, Children of Men is a movie that I’ve introduced to dozens, all of which have walked away as amazed as I was all those years ago.

Now, Caurón’s back… and this time he’s taking his story to space.

Gravity hits theatres on October 4th, and has been one of my most anticipated films since I saw the first teaser trailer. Today, a new featurette for the film was released, which digs deeper into the lauded 3D effects that the film offers. Take a look at the featurette below, and let us know if you’ll be lining up for this one!

If you’re looking for more Gravity, be sure to read our resident critic’s review of the film!

Sandra Bullock plays Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone–tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth…and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.

Watch A Fantastic Full Trailer For Alfonso Caurón’s ‘Gravity’

by Derek KraneveldtSeptember 4, 2013

Now, Caurón’s back… and this time he’s taking his story to space.

Gravity hits theatres on October 4th, and has been one of my most anticipated films since I saw the first teaser trailer. Today, a full trailer for the film has been released, and as expected, it’s impressive as hell.

Watch the new trailer below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to Gravity.

Sandra Bullock plays Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone–tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth…and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.

Watch Three Amazing New Clips From Alfonso Caurón’s ‘Gravity’

by Derek KraneveldtJuly 25, 2013

Alfonso Caurón’s Children of Men has remained one of the most impressive films that I have ever seen, ever since my first viewing back in 2006. From the fantastic performances, to the incredible sound design, and of course the breathtaking world and cinematography, Children of Men is a movie that I’ve introduced to dozens, all of which have walked away as amazed as I was all those years ago.

Now, Caurón is back… and this time he’s taking his story to space.

Gravity hits theatres this October, and has been one of my most anticipated films since I saw the first teaser trailer. Now, three phenomenal new clips have been released for the film, and they absolutely blow away everything we’ve seen so far.

I won’t gush over the movie any further (at least not today… it’s getting late), so watch the clips below, and let us know what you think! Gravity hits theatres on October 4th!

Sandra Bullock plays Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone–tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth…and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.

Alfonso Caurón’s ‘Gravity’ Gets Its First Teaser Trailer

by Derek KraneveldtMay 9, 2013

Warner Bros. Pictures today released the anticipated first trailer for Alfonso Caurón’s Gravity. The trailer is short but sweet, showing portions of the accident that has our astronauts stranded. The trailer is beautifully composed, and filled with haunting classical music that, when paired with the visuals will likely send chills down your spine.

I loved Children of Men, and from what we’ve seen so far, Gravity looks to be a very worthy follow-up. Watch the trailer below, and let us know what you think! Gravity hits theatres on October 4th, 2013.

Sandra Bullock plays Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone–tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth…and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.

10 Geektastic Movies That NEED To Be TV Shows

by paulpresley93March 30, 2013

There has been a lot of shows lately that are adaptations, prequels or sequels to stand-alone films, which I personally think is great. Bates Motel is on A&E and Amazon just picked up the rights to a Zombieland pilot, both sure to set all of our nerd senses to tingling. All this got me thinking: there are so many other movies that could certainly benefit from being made into a television series, and here’s my list of the geekiest, most spectacular of the bunch. And yeah, I know a lot of these have already been adapted into animated series, but I’m talking big-budget, live-action primetime here folks.

10. Back to the Future

This was one of those that had an animated series that I’m not counting, but COME ON! Wouldn’t you love to see a modern day Marty McFly tagging along with Doc Brown across all different kinds of history? The possibilities are endless. This even has potential to be (dare I say it) the American Doctor Who! Imagine the two traveling through time solving mysteries or something while picking up companions and having cultural differences from the other people in the town. It’s basically Back to the Future Part III over and over again. It’s almost completely unnecessary to the overall plot of the series, but so much fun that you forgive it anyways.

9. Kick-Ass

This one is essentially a given once the film series stops being a thing. I mean, it’s already a comic book series, so the world for the television series is essentially already set up. I haven’t personally read comics (bad geek, I know) but I would assume that the makers of the movies would leave the series open enough for some additional materials. The movie has garnered a cult following with people who are probably too young to be watching it, and an MTV series would probably be the perfect vehicle to capitalize on this. Before all you purist naysayers immediately object to this being on MTV, think about the channel’s current programming. They create relatively consistent (and violent) original scripted shows, and this would catapult the Kick-Ass canon to further cult success. Food for thought.

8. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

Hey, you remember that Jude Law movie about robots attacking vintage New York you didn’t see? Well it was awesome. And if you cut down on some of the more unnecessary special effects, it could make for a brilliant, less-costly TV show. When you watch the movie you get the impression that there were meant to be sequels, but literally no one saw this movie so it was kind of impractical. But seriously. Cast two young show-runners in Law and Paltrow’s respective roles, my nominations being Dylan O’Brien (sidekick from Teen Wolf) and Ashley Benson (recently seen being a psycho slut in Spring Breakers), and there you go: ratings gold. There could be quirky one-liners, dramatic villains and sinfully cheesy season arcs, and everything would be perfect.

7. Starship Troopers

I’m honestly surprised that SyFy Channel hasn’t jumped on this sooner. There was apparently an animated series devoted to the giant bug killing universe, but IMDb only lists 14 episodes, so that barely counts. But seriously, can you imagine a shit-tastic cable series with D-list former soap opera stars slaying poorly made CGI bugs? Wait. Let it sink in for a bit more. Thaaaat’s right. Now we’re on the same page. There were tons of straight to DVD sequels that have helped to expand this universe to something other than “the one where Neil Patrick Harris is a metaphor for Naziism” and has created a lot of “hate watch” fandom. Starship Troopers is one of the quintessential college “let’s get drunk to this” movies and a TV show would simply make all of our alcoholic endeavors so much richer.

6. Men in Black

Yeah. There was an animated one of this too. Deal. While I am admittedly not a huge fan of the series, I would watch the shit out of it if it was a TV show. It seems like a premise that would serve much better as a serial anyways. My main problem with Men in Black is that the villains are never given enough time to have much emotional impact, and even if they were are too comical to really be taken seriously. I think that the MiB world would benefit strongly from a series pretty similar to Buffy, where characters are given time to grow and each season introduces a “big bad” who is the main villain throughout most of the series. If your nerd senses aren’t tingling from that description then you may want to get them checked.

5. Being John Malkovich

This one is admittedly a little out of left field, but hear me out! So in the original film, John Cusack finds a portal that has the ability to transport one into the mind of John Malkovich. Pretty weird idea that doesn’t seem like it would work in a movie much less a TV show, right? Wrong. So in this writer’s view for the show, the portal is re-opened for whatever reason, preferably NOT by Charlie Sheen as referenced in the end of the film, only to discover that it can be manipulated to enter any celebrities mind. Get a good team of writers on board and you’ve got a brilliant series that is cancelled mid-season and establishes a cult following. BOOM. You’re welcome, Fox.

4. Children of Men

I mean… it’s essentially already an AMC show. Let’s get real. Conflicted male protagonist with secrets (ahem, Mad Men) whose sole goal is to protect incompetent and sometimes pregnant women with hopes of saving the world (ahem, Walking Dead). That aside I do think that the film would make for an interesting mini-series, if not a full blown series. There are a lot of really interesting political things brought up, and the series could follow the beginning of the infertility problem with the population (if you haven’t seen it it’s about a society of people that can’t have babies) and further the movie’s somewhat cliffhanger of an ending. A low tech sci-fi show about dystopian societies are right up basic cable’s alley, and can you say Emmy material???

3. Alien

The primary reaction to this one is probably “How the fuck do you make that into a series?” Oh trust me my friends, its very possible. Through various sequels, prequels and whatever the hell you would consider Alien vs. Predator, the Alien saga has built up quite an impressive universe for itself, not to mention a killer fan base. There are a lot of questions about the nature of The Company that were left unanswered by Prometheus, which was too preoccupied with being a stand-alone film to actually give the fans what they wanted, and a TV series is the perfect way to do that. If we are all insistent on not taking Prometheus back and pretending it didn’t exist, it can take up immediately after that film and be concerned with the more political sides of the Alien saga, while still having some aspects of sci-fi terror to keep things interesting. Seeing that HBO has a thing for stylized, dry (if a little boring at time *ahem Game of Thrones*) fantasy works, this would be a perfect addition to their line-up.

2. Who Framed Roger Rabbit

If this was a series, childhood Paul would literally die of happiness. The real people/cartoon mix may be a little too difficult on the CGI count to be able to actually be a TV series but you have to admit it would be intriguing. I could work really well as a half hour sitcom if the raunchiness was amped up a bit from the original film. And by a bit I mean to like Family Guy levels. Yeah, the original was a kids movie and this would go against the original spirit of the film and blah blah blah but imagine the awesomeness of a PG-13 Roger Rabbit series? The movie was already pretty dark and a series would be the perfect thing to not only further the film’s cult following, but also to make the best damned animated/live-action cross over television series there is!

1. Blade Runner

This. Really though. This. Just let this sink in for a while. Blade Runner has one of the most cinematically unexplored sci-fi universes, which confounds me because it’s fascinating. I guess there really wasn’t a desire to make a sequel, because the storyline of the film is pretty neatly wrapped up. There are so many great characters and such a rich history in the world, and it could be a very Battlestar Galactica-esque series, which I’m not just saying because I’m hoping for an Edward James Olmos cameo. It would probably work best if it were a prequel series to the film, telling the story of how the replicants came to be, their rise to prominence and their sub-sequential fall from glory. And the best part is, there would be almost complete creative control because the film is based on a short story that doesn’t give much more information than the film does. So in other words, this is my favorite show that isn’t actually a show yet.

That pretty neatly wraps up my list. Here’s hoping a few of these come to fruition before I die. And here’s hoping that Zombieland pilot doesn’t suck balls. Stay nerdy my friends. Stay nerdy.