Right away I’m going to tell you that my biggest challenge in writing this review of “Avatar” is to keep my gushing to a minimum. A task that is going to be almost impossible. “Avatar” blew doors off that I didn’t even know I had on the car.
I saw “Avatar” last night at my local IMAX in maximum impact 3D. Your experiences in other 3D or 2D presentations may differ. I went two hours early and was second in line (drat!). I thought I knew what I was in for. You’ll think you are prepared. You are not prepared. “Avatar” is a brand new movie going experience. It is shock and awe. It is not the technological and story telling evolution I was expecting. Instead, it is a revolution. Go ahead and roll your eyes. I was a little cynical too. How could this movie possibly exceed the almost ridiculous expectations piled on top of it? I’ll tell you how. James Cameron is an insane genius.
James Cameron says that “Avatar” is the movie he has wanted to see since he was a kid. Watching “Avatar”, you can tell that this movie is the movie he has wanted to create from that day too. There’s a slice of all of Cameron’s previous works in “Avatar”. You’ve got tough chicks, bad ass space marines, sweet bioluminescence and some full frontal, hardcore, Disney style feelgood. James Cameron is a sentimental guy and I love it. Cynical, ironic movies suck. I’ve heard reviews say the storyline and some dialogue borders or sails across the line into cheese. These people can bite me. The emotions expressed in this movie are strong I’ll grant you. It’s unfiltered, like real life. When faced with this stuff in a movie you have to ask yourself. Am I being talked down to? Do I believe that the director and writer (both Jim) believe in the temperature and purpose of the feelings being expressed by the characters? I do believe Jim feels it. Next, are the emotions being expressed an honest and accurate depiction of what people in those exact situations would really be feeling? I’d say that is definitely the case.
The story of “Avatar” is kind of a combination of “Dances With Wolves”, “The Lion King” and pick your favorite Sci-fi military epic. About the “Dances With Wolves” bit. If I have any criticism at all of “Avatar” it’s that the Na’Vi couldn’t possibly be closer in feel and cultural identity to that of the American Indian. It’s not even remotely subtle. Though obviously the blue skinned, largish, cat people of Pandora don’t look like American Indians, they sure feel and act the part, at least as far as the limited and maybe wrong representations I’ve experienced in say “Dances With Wolves” for instance. When the Na’Vi did their war whoops, I kind of winced honestly. As alien and wonderful as Pandora is, I think that James could have worked a little harder in making the Na’Vi a little more culturally unique. James has said he wanted the Na’Vi to be immediately likable and identifiable. He might have tried a little too hard.
Now, about the effort that our man James has made. I’ve written about the wonderful things that obsession to vision in a movie or artwork can bring before and James is now the new poster boy for single minded perfectionism. “Avatar”, at least in 3D, is the most beautiful movie ever made. The level of detail in every frame is insane. The only comparison you can find is in real life. However, as you might have heard, Pandora is not a real place, it’s an alien jungle moon and completely computer generated. It looks completely real. “Avatar” could be a National Geographic special. Ok, I’m starting to gush. I could simply not believe what I was seeing shot to shot. I didn’t think it was technically possible. “Avatar” in 2D is going to be, I’m sure, nifty entertainment. 3D “Avatar”, especially IMAX 3D, has ruined me forever. I can’t imagine a better movie viewing experience. James Cameron’s 3D is 3D as it was dreamt of being. It places you physically in the movie. The natural world of Pandora, it’s epic plants and animals and the unbelievably vivid action scenes are right in your face. It makes the previous phrase “You are there”, completely meaningless.
You’ve heard the basic story of “Avatar” by now. A former Marine with a spinal injury, Jake Sully, (The great action hero Sam Worthington) gets a free ride to Pandora after his twin brother, a scientist, dies before getting to go to Pandora where he was trained to be a virtual driver of a vat grown Na’Vi, especially engineered to be driven by a particular person, with whom the freshly cooked ten foot tall Na’Vi physically resembles. Jake arrives after a five year voyage, plugs in with the help of Dr.Grace Augustine played by Sigourney Weaver, who is just one of the many strong female characters that rock in “Avatar”. After Jake gets his sea legs he’s into the jungle where he gets separated from his fellow humans and other human driven Na’Vi by some jaw dropping indigenous nasties. He’s soon picked up by his future bride, the Na’Vi Neytiri, played by Zoe Saldana. Jake basically lets “Dances With Wolves” lead him from there. He learns to hunt, walk in the trees, ride a small dragon thing and fights to get the respect of the tribe and to regain the respect for himself. Of course we have some bad guys on hand led by the criminally under used actor Stephan Lang, who are on the planet in the first place to dig up a juicy mineral that will power a dying Earth. The local Na’Vi tribe, now part time home to Jake, has a massive deposit of this mineral right under their feet. The tribe is either got to move or Colonel Miles Quaritch (Lang) is going to move them with environmentally unfriendly methods involving massive application of mechanized and aerial firepower.
The rest of the story goes as you might expect. Despite it’s predictability, the story thrills and the last quarter of the movie is a teary, eye blasted experience. So obviously I loved “Avatar” and you need to go see it. Bring a friend. Bring a friend then go again and bring a different friend. I predict some heavy repeat business. My wife, who accompanied me, said that despite the pew pew and testosterone, the movie had some excellent chick flick moments. I noticed these and as a fella, they did not terrify me as they usually do. James Cameron has worked a miracle here in many ways. So how does anyone beat this movie is the question? Unless someone gives James a billion dollars to make a “Blade Runner” sequel in 3D, “Avatar” is simply going to reign as champion for a long, long time. I suspect Oscar nominators are going to have to give this movie a nod of well earned respect. As an overall movie going experience “Avatar” is the most impactful movie presentation I have personally witnessed and by itself makes the case to someday buy a 3D television to be able to once again experience James Cameron’s effort in the manner in which he intended it be experienced.
James Cameron (director) / James Cameron (screenplay)
CAST: Sam Worthington … Jake Sully
Zoe Saldana … Neytiri
Sigourney Weaver … Dr. Grace Augustine
Stephen Lang … Colonel Miles Quaritch
Joel Moore … Norm Spellman (as Joel David Moore)
Giovanni Ribisi … Parker Selfridge
Michelle Rodriguez … Trudy Chacon
Laz Alonso … Tsu’tey
Wes Studi … Eytukan
