4. Gravity's Space Ghost To The Rescue - Gravity
Alfonso Cuarón's first film since 2006's fantastic Children of Men, Gravity certainly didn't disappoint. The stunning visuals and solid performances ensured its critical acclaim. The film follows Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), on her first mission aboard the Space Shuttle Explorer. She is accompanied by Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) a space faring veteran commanding his last mission. If the end of the previous sentence doesn't instantly throw up some warning signs you need to watch more films. Suffice to say it doesn't all go peachy as the solar system decides it doesn't like them and starts throwing orbiting debris their way, beginning a desperate tale of survival in the dark of space. As they approach the International Space Station, Stone becomes tangled but manages to grab onto a strap on Kowalski's suit, keeping him from floating away. To ensure Stone's survival, Kowalski cuts the strap and allows himself to drift apart from her so that she is able to reach to the ISS and survive. Stone enters the Soyuz capsule to escape back to Earth, but finds herself deprived of oxygen: it looks like her number is up until Kowalski suddenly reappears and scolds her for giving up. Through his help, she manages to reach the more functional Tiangong shuttle, and uses it to return home. The problem with this? Kowalski wasn't there with her in the capsule - it was in her imagination. Despite clinging to reality as closely as possible when it came to the laws of physics, the narrative decision was made to bring in Clooney as some sort of Space Ghost to save the day. I understand the need for emotional moments in any genre of film, but if Dr. Stone was capable enough to get out of the predicament by herself, why personify it as Kowalski and turn it into 100% cheese?