Admiral's Advice: The Gravity Of The Situation: Ducks & Trees: Child's Play

@CTFCofficial Cheltenham Expects----- Newly promoted sides deserve respect; but not too much! Be the Boss. COYR

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Last Monday afternoon, on a damp, wet, day, D. and I went to the cinema to see the film "Gravity."

At the start of the film, white lettering over a black screen, proclaims the words:

At 372 Miles Above The Earth.

There Is Nothing To Carry Sound.

No Air Pressure.

No Oxygen.

Life In Space Is Impossible.

Dr. Ryan Stone ( Sandra Bullock) a Mission Specialist is accompanied on a space-walk by veteran Astronaut, Mark Kowalski ( George Clooney). Ryan repairing damage to the Explorer is hit by high speed debris from a Russian satellite. This damages the Explorer and worse than that, detaches Stone and flings her into deep space

Eventually Kowalski rescues her and they both make it back to the Space Shuttle, only to find that it is damaged beyond use and furthermore all crew are dead.

The adventure continues---------

Positives

1 The film shot in 3D brings an immersive feel to the film.

2 The voices of the two actors add to the spatial feel of the piece, by using Dolby Surround Sound cleverly.

3 The nature of zero-gravity, in which ordinary objects ( screwdrivers, pens, paper etc. ) float away is well shot and enriches the 3D experience.

4 Strong play from the two actors, obviously very comfortable with each other.

5 A satisfactory ending.

Negatives

1 If space, is dead, which it is, why is the film bombarded by an electronic sound-track from Steven Price? I wanted to experience, apart from talking to one another through their head-sets, the silence of space. I found all other sounds intrusive and distracting.

2 Strangely I felt no feeling of being miles in the sky; little sense of vertigo.

3 I thought at times, the film was rather emotionally dead. I appreciate that space people are trained for stressful situations; but I could have done with a greater sense of dread. You almost, at times felt that survival was not an issue; even when their oxygen was clearly running out. George Clooney, is famous for being laid-back, but somehow laid-back and dying didn't exactly chime with me.

Conclusion

Overall the film remains a good, absorbing watch. The pace never lets up and it lasts a sensible 90+ minutes.

I give it ***1/2.

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Ducks near Tewkesbury enjoying a waddle.

Trees with many of their leaves fallen away on parade on the ' Honeybourne Railway Path, ' in Cheltenham.

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In September I mentioned the author Lee Child and his main character Jack Reacher.

Since that time principally, using the library, I have now read 11 out of his 18 Reacher books.

I have to say I have enjoyed them all.

The book above is Child's latest. I luckily was able to borrow it for a week.

Here are two "Reacher-isms: " from the book.

( Fighting two opponents Reacher leaving his hands at the back. )

" So (the two opponents) Guys in that situation see nothing but the upper body, the upper body and the head, and the face, like irresistible targets of opportunity, damage just waiting to be done, unanswerable shots just begging to be made, and their stances open wide, and their fists come up high, and their chins jut forward, and their eyes go narrow and wild with glee as they squint in at the gut or the ribs or the nose or wherever it is they plan to land their first joyous blow. They see nothing else at all.

Like the feet.---- ." ( P. 209)


( Escaping from men hunting you.)

"Reacher was distinctive in any context ( 6' 5" and 250lbs ) because of his height, so the first thing he looked for was a bench. He forced himself to walk slow and easy, with his hands in his pockets, without a care in the world, because a running man attracted the eye a hundred times faster than a walking man. Another old evolutionary legacy. Predator and prey, motion and stillness. And he didn't look back, either. He made no furtive glances. He kept his gaze straight and level, and he walked towards what he saw. Full dark was coming down fast, but the Mall was still busy.---------------Reacher saw a bench in the gloom twenty yards away---- He strolled on towards it, slow and relaxed and then he paused as if deciding, and he sat down, and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. He looked down." ( P.126 ) 
Good stuff. Try and enjoy.

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Well have yourself a good week, the last whole one of November. Better get on with those presents then.

Finally here is a rather good painting of Pete Townsend, with the Late Keith Moon on drums. It is painted by Rolling Stone Mr. Ronnie Wood. ( A four figure sum will purchase. )

I spotted it in a gallery in Cheltenham yesterday, which also featured works by Bob Dylan.

Cheerio,

Ck.