“Avatar isn’t just a great film, it’s a great cultural experience. You need to see this movie, in 3D, and in IMAX.”
I can’t recall any movie being more hyped up over the last decade than James Cameron’s Avatar, except for maybe the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Fitting, then, that this 3-D technological epic fits snugly within the upper echelon of geek films that is remembered and watched for generations. What can someone expect from a “game-changing” film with this much build-up? I walked into the theater wondering how this movie would let me down. I walked out wondering when I would get a chance to see it again. And again. And again.
The simple way to summarize the plot would be to say this: Space marine Jake Sully is asked to infiltrate alien race for evil empire. Marine falls in love with alien princess. Switches sides and fights for aliens against humans.
It’s a pretty basic plot-line, even for a Sci-Fi movie. Within the first 15 minutes of the movie — from the time Sully reaches the planet Pandora to the time he meets the princess Neytiri — the plot becomes blindingly apparent and predictable. In the case of this film, though, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Avatar was designed from the ground up to appeal to a mass audience, not just the niche group of fans that came along for the Star Trek ride earlier this year. And judging by the record-breaking pace at which it is smashing box-office sales records, it’s paying off.
It’s not a bad plot, and it’s not a great one. It flows smoothly from beginning to end, planned well to keep the viewer interested without much falter. Without the need to dissect every scene or conversation for any soulful or hidden meanings the three hours in length actually whizzed by fairly quickly, so much so that I was almost wondering if the film was shortened (until my watch noted that it was Midnight upon exiting the 9 PM viewing).
I initially thought the acting was sub-par, but later realized that the actors were merely playing the parts handed to them: stereotypical humans full of greed, sin, and hatred. While the writing was meant to make me dislike the grungy Colonel for his self-righteousness and hatred, I found his lack of believability as an ex-army officer as more of a reason. I personally would have liked a bit more realistic character development, not just a guy holding a coffee mug during a bombing raid. Michelle Rodriguez’ swarmy fighter pilot was an unnecessary character, and Selfridge — the waaaay-too-young-to-be director of operations for the empirical company — was overacted and underwhelming. Even Sully wasn’t that great (as a human).
At often times cliche, the human acting was trumped (magnificently and thankfully) by that of Neytiri. Played by Zoe Saldana, Neytiri had more believable human characteristics than many other Pocahontas-style natives in previous films… even though she was a giant blue cat-person. I genuinely felt like crying for her when she experiences her pain during a pivotal scene late in the film. It’s interesting to note that overacting for the humans was disheartening, but overacting for the Na’vi was welcome, thanks to their CGI nature.
No worrying about the plot allowed me to focus on what this film was actually created to do: show off the latest in marvelous 3-D video technology. I watched the movie in 3-D IMAX, and without hesitation I would implore you to see it that way as well, at least for the first time (and trust me, you’ll see it more than once). There is no single frame in this movie in which something amazing isn’t being shown. Avatar is quite possibly the most visually amazing film that has ever graced theatre screens.
It isn’t until the film moves into the jungles of Pandora that the 3D effect really becomes apparent and awe-inspiring (especially on an IMAX screen). From the spinning of lizard-bugs to the rubbery texture of the jungle beast skin, and from the intricate use of cascading light on water to embers of fire floating past the screen, there is no minimal use of beauty. And the use of color… incredible! Every moment that the visuals of Pandora are laid out in front of you is like watching a surreal painting come to life. The color is nearly overwhelming, but always welcoming and nurturing. The vibrancy of the ethereal images was like being on a terrific acid trip, yet somehow it was also completely believable. James Cameron created not a fictional world but one that is living, breathing, and a place that I want to come back to. I wonder if this is the feeling that early adventurers had when viewing the wilds of the Amazon for the first time.
The 3-D of Avatar is absolutely incredible. Watching glow-bugs zoom past the screen is one thing, but where this film advances the 3-D genre is by making me feel as if I was in the same environment that the actors, both real and digital, were in as well. I was no longer in an AMC theatre — I was on Pandora. Watching burning embers float past the screen while a fire raged in the background and blurry figures ran past enveloping smoke made me not only see but also feel as if I was connected to the scene and characters. At many moments I half-expected to turn next to me and see a cat-like Na’vi performing a ritualistic dance; had there been one I would have most certainly joined in.
The 3-D effects didn’t just stop at the jungle. In fact, the most incredible scenes of 3-D were those that showed the depth of the human face during close-ups. In one scene Sully is lying in a chamber that connects him to his avatar. The 3-D effect made his face appear hyper-real: I could not only see his skin, but also the depth of his nose, the creases in his lips, the wave of the hair on the back of his head, and even the facial stubble — I think I may have a new appreciation for my Gillette razor from now on.
Avatar is a film that will envelop any viewer. Upon leaving the theater, I wanted to turn around and walk back in to watch it again for another three hours. Watching this movie in 3D — seeing this film in 2D does not do it, or you, any justice — makes me long for the (hopefully soon) release of affordable 3D home viewing technology. My mind reminds me daily, “I will build a home theatre for this.” Avatar realizes to us that the next advancement in home theatre technology after HD is 3D.
I will be talking to my kids about this movie like my relatives have talked to me about Star Wars and Indiana Jones. An instant classic, for the glorious 3D and for the easy-to-swallow and memorable characters. I highly recommend seeing this film as one of the greatest of our generation. See it. See it in IMAX 3D. And then, see it again.
Likes
+ 3D. Three D. Three-dee. Get the picture?
+ Incredible environment development, lushness, life.
+ Easy-to-swallow plot allowed me to focus on the first two points.
Dislikes
– Forced character stereotypes.
– Michelle Rodriguez
– It was only 3 hours long. I could have sat through 6.
Disclaimer: The writer purchased his own tickets to see Avatar first in IMAX 3D then in standard 3D for the second viewing. The film was seen at two different AMC theatres.
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