Gravity Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		5.0

Gravity Blu-ray Movie Review

Sorry, scalpers.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III April 27, 2024

Quietly replacing an almost ten year-old Blu-ray release that'll command sky-high prices on eBay for maybe another week, this keepcase edition reprint of Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity is still one of the format's very best packages. Originally dubbed the "Diamond Luxe Edition" and housed in sleek but frankly kind of annoying packaging, its main draws were an exclusive Dolby Atmos mix and new extras including a "Silent Space" version of the film, which removed the original score and other selected audio effects to offer a more realistic experience. (Inertia is still ignored in that one scene.) Essentially, this reprint is that exact same two-disc release in regular old packaging, which is fine by me.

I certainly enjoy Gravity for its technological achievements and unforgettable atmosphere, but not quite enough to propel it into higher territory like so many did during its theatrical run and home video debut. The winner of seven Academy Awards -- including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects -- this 2013 film is a visually stunning thriller and just about every dollar of its $100M budget can be seen on-screen. Roughly 80% of the total running time includes CG effects; that's even more than James Cameron's Avatar or its sequel, and these effects are mostly presented in a much more subtle and effective way. This is an very tense and nail-biting ride during the bulk of its 91-minute lifespan, and the end result feels about as economical as big budget, A-list blockbusters set in space can get. The story at its center might be too narrow to warrant such a weighty title (har har), but the obvious strengths of Gravity more than make up for a few weaknesses along the way.

The story focuses on Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Lieutenant Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), two astronauts trapped in low-earth orbit when their shuttle is demolished by speeding satellite debris. Low on oxygen, fuel, time, and the ability to grab onto just about everything on the first try, their last-ditch effort involves heading to the International and/or Chinese Space Stations to secure a ride home. Clock's ticking, though: the growing satellite debris comes back for another round of fun every 90 minutes, which leads to palpable amounts of tension as our situation grows more desperate. Not surprisingly, the visual effects serve Gravity's story well, playing up the dizzying spirals and stomach-churning thrills associated with space-walking minus the ship. Also contributing to the action is Steven Price's score, which alternates between jagged low notes, subtle ambient trickery, and a few comforting breathers.

Disregard that last sentence if you opt for the "Silent Space" version included here, which removes just about all of that pesky Oscar-winning music. It's a neat experiment that changes a few moments dramatically... but depending on how many times you've seen the "official version" (which director Alfonso Cuaron seems to prefer in his filmed introduction), the differences can be pretty jarring. Gravity features less music than you think...but only a few moments really benefit from its absence, such as the "fetal position" scene (below) and Stone's post-landing walk. Others don't fare as well: the initial debris strike isn't nearly as terrifying this way, and a few stray jumps between background noise and silence make other scenes feel unfinished… which they are, technically. Either way, it's nice to have both versions.

For a more complete overview as well as a more enthusiastic take on the main feature, please see Kenneth Brown's original review of the 2014 Blu-ray as well as Brian Orndorf's 2013 theatrical review.

Gravity Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For details about the 1080p transfer, please see Kenneth Brown's review of the Diamond Luxe Edition Blu-ray.

Gravity Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

If you'd like to know more about the stunning Dolby Atmos audio or the alternate "Silent Space" edition of the film (which unfortunately is still limited to Dolby Digital 5.1 audio), once again Ken's your man.

Gravity Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc set ships in a dual-hubbed keepcase with artwork that mirrors the Diamond Luxe Edition Blu-ray; no slipcover or Digital copy are included. The bonus features are spread across both discs and likewise mirror that older release. For a complete list, see the linked review or check out the menu interface on screenshots 6 and 7.

Gravity Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Normally I wouldn't bother to review what's basically "just a reprint"... but in the case of this resurrection of Gravity's long-OOP "Diamond Luxe Edition", I feel it's important to get the word out as WB didn't promote this fast-approaching release at all. (Whether or not it's a substitute for the long-delayed and possibly dead 4K edition remains to be seen.) Any way you slice it, this is still one of the format's best releases with rock-solid A/V merits (including a terrific Dolby Atmos mix) and a great pile of extras including the alternate "Silent Space" edition of the film. Highly Recommended to those who missed out the first time around, even if an all-inclusive UHD edition is what we all really wanted.