This weekend, Sandra Bullock defies the laws of film-acting in Gravity, from esteemed director Alfonso Cuaron.

But, before rolling into any form of testimony towards what should be labeled a movie-going experience, there’s something I need to share: the congregation’s resident movie critic got a chance to read Gravity‘s screenplay and wasn’t moved by it. There wasn’t much to the story. The main plot centers on an astronaut — in this case, a medical engineer played by Bullock — stranded in the depths of space. Stating the obvious, a lot would have to depend on Bullock’s ability to carry the film. Sure, she’s opened romantic comedies successfully (The Proposal, Miss Congeniality), as well as some drama (The Blind Side, Speed), but…sci-fi?

This Sister just wasn’t sure she’d pull it off.

Then, of course, there’s the visual effects element. Having been bombarded with “eye candy” all summer, I wasn’t keen on watching yet another CGI film — and in 3D, nonetheless. Those tinted glasses just needed to go away. Shoo! And, despite an impressive resume (Children of Men, Y Tu Mama Tambien), I doubted Cauron would be able to achieve the necessary realism of space to completely engross an audience.

Comic-Con 2013 was when my mind began to change. I shivered with anxiety at the brief footage shown. I wanted more. Sandra Bullock’s often tense account of the film-making process was absolutely fascinating. Everyone should know the physical duress she went under in preparation for the role. She trained vigorously for 6-months and spent many hours suspended in a 9×9 cube, with the imminent danger of newly innovative scene-shooting machines (and even robots that were often needed to take control of the direction). A lot of instances included a camera racing towards the film actress at 25 mph, stopping on a dime only an inch from her face.

For a claustrophobic who’s “deathly afraid of flying,” this movie was damn near pushing her to the limit. “I just wanted my body to get to a place where my core could accomplish anything,” Bullock said during the Warner Bros. panel at this summer’s Con. ”I wanted the look of her to be as androgynous as I could get, because in the story she experienced such great loss in life that she just stopped doing anything that reminded her of what she was, which was a mother and woman.”

Not even Solitaire?

Now, if this were me, I wouldn’t have made it past 2-weeks. You kidding? I’m lucky if I get through my ellipticol work out – and that’s just an hour a day.

But that’s enough background, you get it. It took months.. no, strike that.. years is how long it took Alfonso Cuaron to prep and deliver this major achievement to the big screen. Parishioners, the payoff is nirvana. We’re talking full-on Holy Spirit up in this house. You will be ensnared from the moment Gravity’s bone-rattling introductory soundtrack blares throughout the theater. Make no mistake; it’s a definite omen of treacherous events which are about to unfold.

Not before moments of the calm and precious, of course.

Floating leisurely about the Hubble telescope, before everything unravels is astronaut Kowalski (George Clooney). It’s his last mission and Dr. Ryan Stone’s (Bullock) first. Because of the flawless 3D conversion and immaculate CGI, we’re automatically pulled into the environment they’re in. The Earth never looked more beautiful. The endlessness of space is totally captured. You’ll also feel the sounds of space, which is nothing. No explosion can ever be heard “out there,” so no sound effect could properly convey it. Cauron’s immersive experience also leads to several extended ultra-length sequences, all pretty admirable for a film just under an hour-and-a-half. And, nothing will touch your soul — or your stomach — like the state of total abandonment Stone felt while fighting for survival.

You’d think with all the technology at our disposal, there’d be a Home Depot around here or something.

Not since Avatar, would I recommend the extra ten to see a film in IMAX 3D. You’ll simply cheapen the overall experience not doing so. You won’t get to feel the anxiety, the fear, and the panic Bullock conveys to astounding perfection. Incidentally, her performance here is far more Oscar worthy than her portrayal of a gun-toting football mom from Texas.

As for George Clooney, he’s George Clooney in pretty much everything and I was okay with that. His charming charisma was needed to counteract Bullock’s despondent character, which had been through quite a bit before landing the job at NASA. I won’t spoil that bit of information, but I can tell you that Dr. Ryan didn’t go into her first day on the job on the with the widest smile. In fact, if Gravity weren’t the cemented title, I would have gone with “Dr. Ryan Can’t Catch A Break, “ because one bad thing happens after another in this poor woman’s life.

If nothing else, she’s a survivor. As a survivor, she’s got to have faith. And movie fans should have faith in Bullock’s performance and the fact there’s never been a cinematic earth-orbitting experience this thrilling. So, do yourself a favor and catch some Gravity this weekend. It’s a groundbreaking film that defies everything you’ve ever known before.

5 Bibles.

Warner Bros.’ Gravity opens in theaters today nationwide.