    Why Gravity loses its pull   Perry Vlahos  It's called
science <i>fiction</i>: Sandra Bullock in <i>Gravity</i>.  It's
called science fiction: Sandra Bullock in Gravity.  With the
2014 Academy Awards presentations taking place next week, this
seems like a good time to look at science as depicted in movies,
both present and past.  I enjoy intelligent movies with
astronomical or space themes, such as Gravity, which is up for
10 Oscars this year including best direction and best picture.
At least one reviewer called it the best space movie since
1968's 2001: A Space Odyssey, the acknowledged clubhouse leader.
Wow!  Excitedly, I went to IMAX to see Gravity in 3D on the huge
screen. The opening tracking shot of astronauts working in Earth
orbit, which continued for about 18 minutes, was superb. By the
film's end however, I left disappointed.  Sci-fi masterpiece
<i>2001: A Space Odysset</i>.  Sci-fi masterpiece 2001: A Space
Odysset.  Sure, Gravity was beautifully shot; especially the
opening. The scripting was