wade's blog: '127 Hours' Takes Viewers On A 'Ride,' James Franco Says

'You're really going through it with the character in a way that's not like a lot of other movies,' he tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

James Franco
Photo: MTV News

Despite the reports of intense audience reactions to "127 Hours" — including fainting and nausea — star James Franco said the diverse range of emotions is part of a heightened movie-going experience due to director Danny Boyle's creative vision.

"127 Hours" is based on the harrowing true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston, who was pinned beneath a boulder in Utah and freed himself by amputating his own arm in 2003.

"This movie is great to watch with an audience," Franco said. "Because I think what Danny did, when I hear [him] talk about how [he] approached the movie, and what he was interested in was creating an experience," he said. "Aron wrote the book, and he documented everything that happened. You can read the book and understand to a certain extent what he went through, but movies are a different medium, and you can really deliver an experience in a different way."

With Boyle having focused the action in the film on a very specific part of Ralston's story — his time stuck in the canyon — Franco said the intensity is heightened. "When you watch this movie, it's like you're going on a ride and you're really going through it with the character in a way that's not like a lot of other movies," he said.

"It was an amazing challenge," Boyle said of the production. "I'd always wanted to make [this film]. I've always been fascinated by the idea of trapping someone. In a medium that's all about movement and change, constant vibration of images, I thought it would be wonderful to challenge that and see if we could make an action movie where the hero doesn't move."

Check out everything we've got on "127 Hours."

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