Upside Down (2012)

Kirsten Dunst in the sci fi movie Upside Down review

Movies offer a way to make dreams reality. Strange worlds which are thought up can become reality on the big screen. Christopher Nolan did it literally with Inception, showing trains travelling on roads and streets curling up. Upside Down kind of takes that last concept and creates a visually stunning world, or rather worlds as it shows twin planets, very close together.

This means that instead of the sky you will see another world (if you live at the northern part of the bottom planet). Such a concept needs its own rules of course and during the intro it is explained that each planet has its own gravity and that if an object is taking to the other world, the gravity of the originating planet will still effect it. So an object can fall up unless it is balanced out with something from the other world to weigh it down. The last rule is that objects from each world can’t touch each other too long or they will start burn up. It’s in this world the story of Adam and Eden takes place, which probably won’t surprise, is one of forbidden love.

Upside Down movie review

The two worlds are very opposite from each other, the upper world is rich and modern, the world below is a decaying one filled with ruins and black rain. During his youth Adam (Jim Sturges) often visits his aunt who lives close to a forbidden area. Of course Adam goes into it and on top of a mountain he sees Eden (Kirsten Dunst), who tells him they are not supposed to talk. They keep meeting however and eventually fall in love. They are discovered and seem separated forever until Adam finds out that she works for the only company which does business in both worlds. He decides to try to reunite with her by joining the company and get into her world.

The story isn’t something you haven’t experienced before (love is a popular theme in movies), but the concept of the twin worlds adds a lot of originality. The movie really manages to use it effectively. When I was a boy I sometimes dreamt of walking on the ceiling and this movie shows it (amongst many other things).

Upside Down movie review

It’s been a while since I saw a movie which mesmerized me with its visuals. There is one scene in which Adam uses the sea to escape to his own world and I’m already doubting if I’m going to see any other scene this year which will wow me as much. Even if the story isn’t the strongest point of the movie I do think that it is a movie you can’t miss. It is eye candy and the way the movie plays with gravity is a joy to watch.

34 thoughts on “Upside Down (2012)

  1. Nice one Nostra. I remember hearing about this a while ago but for the life of me I couldn’t remember the name of it. It looks superb and one that will be added to my list. Thanks man.

  2. I haven’t heard of this one, and it sounds interesting–if for nothing else but the visuals.

    Joining the chorus of comments, I’ll keep an eye out for this one when it appears here.

  3. I really want to see this one, the trailer looked amazing. I’m kinda surprised that not many people know about this movie, the leads are quite well known and this really looks impressive in terms of visuals.

  4. Oh my, I’m sooo jealous you’ve seen this one! I’ve been wanting to catch this as soon as I saw the trailer and I like Jim Sturgess! I don’t think it premiered here in MN so I’d have to catch this on rental. Glad you liked it.

  5. Great review, I had not heard anything about this one. Screen grabs look absolutely awesome. I was a bit disappointed when you outlined the plot, that it was the same old forbidden love plot. But sounds like it carries it ok.

  6. Hi, I just saw this movie for the first time a few days ago and it was remarkably done. a very nice imaginative take on gravity and social standing. I need some help though. there is a song that’s played after he meets her the first time at the cafe and he has to jump in the ocean because he’s starting to burn up. the next scene they are falling asleep and she’s dreaming of him. what is the song that is played there and who is it by? thank you. I hope you can help it’s really bothering me that I can’t find it.

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