Two IMAX movies in a weekend

I started the holidays by taking the boys to see 'Gravity' in 3D and 'Catching Fire' at the IMAX. As a passionate movie lover I adore the idea of the IMAX so we were all really excited. 'Catching Fire' was the film that caused the most anticipation because we have all read the trilogy.The books are now infamous so I won't go too into the plot but if you haven't read them then I definitely encourage you to! I hadn't read a young adult book in a long, long time due to uni and, seeing the Twilight hysteria, I didn't think I'd find something to hook me (sorry to Twilight fans but I have all Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles and love scary horror films so twinkling vamps aren't quite my thing!) Anyway, I really enjoyed 'The Hunger Games' trilogy and I think the current trend of dystopian books crowding the young adult market is both positive and interesting.

'Gravity' is a film I noticed was extremely popular amongst critics and cinephiles on twitter so I was intrigued to see what the fuss was about. It is obviously a technically excellent film. A hubble/shuttle is hit by space debris killing one person and sending another two, played by George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, spinning off into the abyss of space. They have to find a safe way to re-enter the earth's atmosphere, if they fail then they face certain death hurtling through space. The film's long shots are really effective - especially the opening sequence where the audience is treated to a shot of the hubble filmed against a curve of earth, with the truly awesome universe filling the rest of the giant screen and the sun rising over the planet, creating a powerful white light on the horizon. Due to the emphasis on the visual spectacle and technical wonderment the narrative, characterisation and length is minimal. What we do learn is that the main protagonist, Dr. Ryan Stone, a medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, has lost her little girl in a tragic accident and is still grieving terribly. Clooney plays his usual character of a charming story-teller, here the anecdotes detract from the stark isolation. This isolation reflects the void within Dr. Stone and, as she fights to stay alive, overcoming the pain of losing her daughter becomes an equally powerful struggle.
The cinematography is incredibly important and Emmanual Lubezki does everything absolutely amazingly. Both the director, Alfonso Cuaron, and the cinematographer made one of my favourite films, 'Y Tu Mama Tambien' (go get it right now if you haven't seen it!!) so I really wanted to love 'Gravity' but it didn't grab me passionately - although, I do admire it. However, I am not familiar with space films, nor do I actively seek them out, hence my lack of passion and I can't compare it with other films of the genre. 'Gravity' impressed me with it's technical excellence but because that is where the merits lie, I'm not sure it will be a brilliant film for most people watching on a television screen. I think film viewers watching 'Gravity' at home may be disappointed with such a sparse narrative but the withdrawn nature of the plot serves to centralise the universe and Dr. Stone's personal struggle rather than detract with meaningless drivel simply to please those who require it. If viewers can appreciate that fact then they will appreciate the minimalism.

About

After a couple of years of yearning for my own blog (and changing my mind on the name a hundred times!) I'm finally typing out my very first post: my 'about' page. This blog will be an off-the-cuff collection of all my favourite things, daily stuff and random thoughts. Sometimes I will attempt a more structured post, probably talking about subjects to do with my degree (and passions) in English Literature and Film Studies. However, most of my posts will be done though a stream-of-consciousness (rambling!) personal voice... (as my energy levels can dip considerably I don't want to commit myself to anything as in-depth/well-written as I may once have wanted).

Me? My name is Hayley Cameron and I'm 32 years old. I have two beautiful, clever and hilarious sons called Joshua (14) and Jamie (12) and a gorgeous, kind fiance. I live in Glasgow but I'm originally from North Yorkshire, I moved to Scotland when I was nine because I was raised by my wonderful Gran who was Scottish and wanted to come home. We lived in a tiny fishing village called Auchmithie. A year later my Mum, brothers and baby sister moved up from England and lived a few doors away from my Gran and I, two years later another sister was born to complete the hoard!  I moved to Dundee when I was seventeen to start a job as a trainee youth worker. A year later I had Joshua and left my job. When my son was a year old I returned to college to study Theatre Arts. However, three-quarters through this I fell pregnant with Jamie, so I left my course. When Jamie was a year old I returned to college to do an Access course in Arts and Humanities and very proudly attained three 'A' grade highers!

This enabled me to start my degree. During my second year, when he was five years old, Joshua was diagnosed with non-hodgekins lymphoma cancer. We spent a year in Edinburgh sick children's hospital whilst he received treatment. Luckily, he was given the all clear at the end of 2005 and I was able to resume and finish my degree. Since then I have moved to Glasgow to be with my fiance and in the hope of getting a job (any job!). Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with mouth and throat cancer (in my tonsil and other areas) so my health has not been wonderful. After radiotherapy, chemo and a neck dissection to remove a swelling in my neck, the docs said there's nothing more they can do and have given me a year - that was last Tuesday - BUT this blog will not be about this tragedy per se. It WILL be about the things that make me happy and the things I do with my family. So, any readers out there will be in for a positive experience if you stick with the blog!

I'm drawn to all things mysterious, magical and beautiful and I admire maverick people who embrace ideas that require us to think differently. Therefore, anything that makes me think, feel awed, engrosses my senses or laugh will probably be shared :-) (I'm a taurean through and through for anyone who knows their astrology!) The daily happenings that are more mundane will also be shared but hopefully readers will know the madcap magic that is held in domesticity!

Thanks for reading!! I hope you enjoy my blog. Love, Hayley X