Buzz Aldrin: ‘Gravity’ Was Spot On, Except …

Gravity, Alfonso Cuarón’s uber-hyped space drama, opens tomorrow. But before you rush off to the theaters to see it, why not listen to one more individual sing its praises? This guy ought to know what makes a good space film, too. Since, you know, he was actually there.

Retired astronaut and American hero Buzz Aldrin wrote a review of Gravity for THR in which he said what pretty much everyone is saying: The movie is awesome. He just has a little bit more authority to say so as the second man on the moon.

“I was so extravagantly impressed by the portrayal of the reality of zero gravity. Going through the space station was done just the way that I’ve seen people do it in reality. The spinning is going to happen — maybe not quite that vigorous — but certainly we’ve been fortunate that people haven’t been in those situations yet. I think it reminds us that there really are hazards in the space business, especially in activities outside the spacecraft.”

There are just two minor things the film fudged. One, the Earth is not HD-glorious in space. Two, astronauts aren’t that funny.

“We were probably not as lighthearted as Clooney and Sandra Bullock. We didn’t tell too many jokes when people were in some position of jeopardy outside the spacecraft, but I think that’s the humanity coming through in the characters. This movie gave great clarity to looking down and seeing the features of Earth … but there weren’t enough clouds, and maybe there was too precise a delineation from space.”

Still, Aldrin definitely recommends you see Gravity, even though he is admittedly a little biased.

“We’re in a very precarious position of losing all the advancements we’ve made in space that we did 40 years ago, 50 years ago. From my perspective, this movie couldn’t have come at a better time to really stimulate the public. I was very, very impressed with it.”

Gravity has received nearly universal acclaim, with a 98 percent positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie has been praised for its overall scientific accuracy and realism. Filmmaker James Cameron was especially effusive with his praise, saying: “I think it’s the best space photography ever done, I think it’s the best space film ever done, and it’s the movie I’ve been hungry to see for an awful long time.”