Serving Larchmont Village, Hancock Park, and the Greater Wilshire neighborhoods of Los Angeles since 2011.

Head into Orbit at a Local Theatre

Watching this film in 3D really does make the experience. (Photo a composite and not shot on site during movie - too exciting for that!)
Watching this film in 3D really does make the experience. (Photo a composite and not shot on site during movie.)

My husband and I snuck off to the late night opening of “Gravity” at the newly renovated IMAX 3D Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard last night. One and a half hours later, my muscles tight from clutching the seat and my breath short from trying to inhale enough for our heroine in space, I just have to say – GO.  This movie is where special effects and dramatic story meet on the same perfect plane, or should I say in the delicious third dimension?

I’m not generally a fan of 3D film, feeling that its pop-out quality gets kind of cartoony and takes away from the glorious cinematic visuals of a regular film format that lets us take in the entire scene almost as you would a painting. But living through “Gravity” is an entirely  different story – the 3D aspect makes one feel as if you are actually floating up there in space, the hatch door just beyond your reach, the giant globe of earth beaming huge in front of you – yet so far away.

The ceiling of the newly renovated Chinese Theatre still inspires awe.
The ceiling of the newly renovated Chinese Theatre still inspires awe and looks a bit like it’s floating in space too.

It’s a bare bones story with just enough character to make you root for our female astronaut lost in space, marvel at the guts any astronaut must have to venture there, and the technology  (somewhat arcane and seemingly outdated) that supports them in orbit.

The visuals are almost beyond belief – and make this a film one should see on the wide, wide screen and if possible in 3D. Given that two great theaters – the newly renovated TCL Chinese Theatre and the Arclight’s Dome Theatre are only a couple miles north of our neighborhood, there’s almost no excuse for not taking the opportunity to orbit – free floating and far reaching – with “Gravity.” With a casual warning – you may get a bit dizzy.

Larchmont Buzz: Chinese Theatre Gets an IMAX Makeover

LA Times: Gravity has powerful pull thanks to Sandra Bulluck, 3D

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Julie Grist
Julie Grist
Julie co-founded the Larchmont Buzz with fellow buzzer Mary Hawley in 2011 and served as Editor, Publisher and writer for the hive for many years until the sale of the Buzz in August 2015. She is still circling the hive as an occasional writer.

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