One of the most anticipated and heavily discussed movies since the first Star Wars prequel, James Cameron’s long awaited movie Avatar delivers an old story in a refreshing and exciting way. For all the hype and negativity about the film, it’s hard not to go into the seeing it without some sort of bias or preconceived notion of what the movie is going to be like. For me, I didn’t really buy into the negative comments however based on Cameron’s previous movie Titanic, I was concerned about the plot and dialogue being to sappy and cliché. This turned out to be mostly false, and while there are a few moments of sappiness and predictable plot developments, overall it was one of the best movie going experiences I’ve ever had. This is not to say that this is the best movie ever, or even this year but the engagement into the world of Pandora is unlike anything you have experienced at a movie before.
VISUAL FX/3D
This is the first movie I’ve seen where 3D is so integrated into the experience of the story that I didn’t feel like it was gimmick and was actually vital in the storytelling. The reason for this, is that in order for you to connect with the native Na’vi and their world of Pandora, you must see the beauty of their home and feel the how the lives of the Na’vi are interconnected with the surrounding animal and plant life of the land.
The visual effects are ground breaking, though it’s something you don’t notice immediately and may not fully comprehend. I truly understand now why James Cameron waited so long to make this movie. It simply could not have been made before. The technology necessary in order to capture and interpret the actors’ performances was not possible. Gollum in Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers was the precursor to this but this takes it to another level. The emotions that you could see in the CGI characters were real and you could see everything the actors were portaying through them. Like Jake Sully does with his Na’vi avatar, the actors in this movie are doing with these CGI representations. They are channeling their performances through these CGI characters. Every little emotion from the actors is fully represented on screen in their “avatars”, the Na’vi characters. Through this you get a real sense of investment in the characters and the world.
ACTING/CHARACTERS
All the acting in Avatar was really good, but the standout was Zoe Saldana as Neytiri. Through her performance you felt and saw who and what the Na’vi represented. It’s something that is even more remarkable when you think about how this performance was captured – in a large empty studio while wearing an entire suit and facial capture helmet. Sam Worthington also did a really good job as Jake Sully, the main protagonist in the film. There was definite chemistry between the two lead actors and even amongst all the characters/actors. Sigourney Weaver was perfect as Dr. Grace Augustine, the head scientist and leading expert on the Na’vi.
My only complaint is with the character of Trudy, the ex-Marine pilot played by Michelle Rodriguez. The character really didn’t have much depth and seemed to be used as a plot device to help move along the story. You don’t really understand the motivation for her actions nor do you really care.
DIRECTING/STORY
James Cameron, who has directed some of my favorite sci fi films of all time (Aliens, Terminator 2) has made another classic movie in the genre with Avatar. While the story is nothing new or novel, his execution and implementation of 3D and the CGI is completely original. He is able to bring out both fantastic performances from his actors and also complement these with a world so engaging that you feel like a real visitor of this alien world.
The story is being criticized for being a carbon copy of Dances With Wolves, and it’s a claim that is valid however to me, the way it was told was so novel that it didn’t really bother me. The world is setup in such a breathtaking and immersive way that it’s like seeing a story you’ve seen before but with a whole new perspective. There are a few moments of sappiness or “on the nose” dialogue that took me out for a brief second or two, but nothing close to the likes of Titanic. But very much like Titanic, Cameron saves the best action sequences for the ending and delivers on some never before seen visuals.
CONCLUSION
Overall, I highly recommend seeing this movie in the theatres and definitely in 3D. I’m not sure how you can capture the experience of it once it comes out on DVD/Blu Ray. The 3D is an integral part in immersing you in an alien world, and connecting with it is important in the storyline. If there is one film to see at the movie theatre, this is it. It’s not necessarily the best movie of the year, but it is the one you don’t want to miss.
So if you even have the tiniest interest in seeing this movie, you must go see this as soon as possible and expect to see something you’ve seen before in a way you’ve never seen before.
- Dennis
P.S. Me and Roth will be doing a Video Review that should be up soon as well
I give Avatar a
I've already seen it twice; love it. The story line isn't as complicated as others, but, for the amount of visuals going on alone, it's kind of a relief to be able to clearly follow the story line and not have to pay attention to too many things going on.
I'm completely sold, I was moved and when a moving scene was taking place, and I was excited and awestruck when they were going for the 'awe' scenes. I loved the characters, the way the story was told.. It was completely epic. It gives you everything, and everything is so well done. <33 *sigh*
All in all.. <.< I give it 10/10. I'm usually a prick, but, I loved this movie. I admit it's a bit camp, but it was the right way to go with this movie. Titanic was sort of like that too, with the kind of simplistic storyline, but completely captivating. James Cameron delivered, and the movie deserves all the hype its getting.. He's the King of the World for a reason, and he knows how to do Sci-Fi beautifully. This is what the cinema is for.
I'm definitely planning on seeing it again too, but probably not until after the new year. This time I want to see it in IMAX. Last night it was at the Arclight Dome which is an 86 foot wide screen, so that wasn't bad either, hahahha
Even though it did have a little sappiness it definitely wasn't what people made it sound like.
Dennis
It appears to be almost unanimous. I'd planned on going regardless of the reviews, but from what you're saying, I'm even more excited. I don't really care if it's a rehashed story, I'm going to be entertained. And isn't that what movies are supposed to be about; entertainment? Good review, Dennis.
Yeah, most of the negative stuff people said was exagerrated, I definitely say its a must see. Let me know what you think after you see it!
Dennis
Saw it again tonight and this time with a public audience instead of the first time when I saw it with local critics and industry people in the Bay Area. The audience reaction and how so many really got into what they were watching made me enjoy this film even more. I actually reached out with my hands to try and touch something I was seeing more than a few times as did some of those around me.
IMAX 3D is definitely the ideal format to see this. Not the best film I've seen this year and not even the best but it definitely was an experience that will stay with me for years. Not many of those type of films for me.
Yes experience is fantastic and first of its kind in movie history. I'm definitely going to see it again. I wonder how many times I'll eventually see it in the theatre because if you think about it, you'll never be able to recreate it at home when it comes out on DVD/Blu Ray.
Dennis
I'm in London, and I knew something was up when I phoned the IMAX cinema to book three seats last week….and was told that almost all seats were already sold out until January 11th! The best they could do was the odd, single ticket at bizarre times like 3.20am. Its unprecedented for them to show a film a such times, let alone still only be able to give individual tickets then. I went to see it on the 16th at one of the limited preview screenings at a cinema near me.In 3D. It was my late birthday present to myself. I took my 20 year old with me, and a friend who is a photographer-director.
We were all mesmerised by it.
The 3D put us IN the film. The CGI/sfx was not intrusive, but gave us a truly alien environment. It was like a lucid dream. Awesome.
Cameron got his usual brilliant performances from the key actors, and Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana and Stephen Lang deserve to be major stars. I wanted more of CCH Pounder (who played Neytiri's mother) and Wes Studi (her father) and Laz Alonso (who played a Na'vi prince). I came out of the film wondering when I could see it again. And already desperate for the DVD, because I wanted to see the LONGER version, with the bits that had ended up on the cutting room floor.
Yes, the story was not original. It owes some of its inspiration to 'Dances with Wolves' Pocahontas' and their predecessors. But it didn't commit the sins of those films, because the Na'vi were NOT, in the end, 'noble savages'. Their own, organically based, enviro-technology (hey, I invented a word!) was more advanced than ours. Their lack of material accoutrements fooled the humans into thinking them primitive. Cameron deviated from the usual line, so it wasn't-as I'd feared it would be- eurocentric, using natives as accessories to Jake's journey.
I'm also a big fan of CCH Pounder from her role in The Shield. It's interesting that the movie was over 2 and half hours long yet everyone one I talked to never thought it was too long and some wanted it to be even longer.
Dennis
I loved the glimpse of Na'vi culture-which seemed to have taken parts of Native American AND African tribal cultures as its inspiration. The language developed for the film by a professor of linguistics was impressive.
Yes, he was making heavy handed points about colonialism and militarism, but then,as a descendant of Africans enslaved and forcibly transported to the West, I was hardly going to object to that.
This film did have weaknesses. My son worked out Jake's fate within the first 45 minutes or so. More risks could have been taken with story, plot, dialogue. Some characters were underwritten.Script input from the Nolans, or (given how long this film has been in development) the late,great prizewinning African American playwright, August Wilson, could have added some key -much needed-philosophical elements (without being talky or slowing things down) that would have made Avatar brilliant, instead of merely stunning, outstanding and awesome.
And yes, there was trademark James Cameron all out action. But I wanted even MORE, godammit!
But then- us scifi fans are notorious for being picky!
(sorry this was so long!)
No problem, we always want to hear what people's opinions are, and the more detailed the better.
Yeah the story was predictable but the way it was told was totally new. There's only been a few times (Lord Of The Rings for example) where I have been so engrossed in a world that almost felt real.
Dennis
>…Script input from the Nolans..< sorry, I meant to put 'writers of calibre like the Nolans or Wilson'. I didnt mean to come across like I was dictating who Cameron should have used!
Kind of off topic, but does anyone know the budget for Avatar? I tried hunting around for it, but nothing's concrete. I heard 200million to 500million. Anyone know for sure?
$230,000,000 US dollar according to IMDb.
I don't know about you, but I saw every penny on the screen.
Dennis
I was prepared to hate this movie based on the reviews but I loved it. I was afraid it would be another Van Helsing – all special effects and no real story. The plot was cliché but who cares? Every single romantic comedy ever made has the same identical plot but that doesn’t keep people from watching them. My main regret is that I saw the 3 D version. I wish I had gone to see the non 3 D first because during the first third of the movie I was physically unable to focus properly on the action. The cinematography was just stunning and really didn’t need 3 D. The acting was far better than critics led us to believe. Major science nitpick – the aliens were too human. The consistent alien biology seen in the animal aliens was total ignored in the people. Overall I give it an A and plan to see it again – non 3D. I came out of the movie thinking that finally we can do real science fiction now!
I really like the Avatar 3D movie, particularly the story line, not solely it brings a totally new feelings however eye opening ideas of humanity. I heard the New Avatar 2 is comming soon, cannot wait to see it again…!