AVATAR is James Cameron epic return to the science fiction genre; it focuses on an epic conflict on Pandora, an inhabited Earth-sized moon of Polyphemus, one of three fictional gas giants. On Pandora, human colonists and the indigenous inhabitants of Pandora, the Na’vi, engage in a war over the planet’s resources. James Cameron promoted this film by saying it would change the way we see films, I can’t say it will change the way we see films on the scope he was thinking but I do see it revolutionize computer generated imagery in films forever. It has set a bench mark like no other film before.
Avatar follows Jake Sully (Sam Worhtington) who has lost the use of his legs and travels to the world of Pandora, where him and a small team of scientist who are played by Sigourney Weaver and Joel David Moore, have develop a way to transfer their minds into these Avatars that are a hybrid of human and the Na’vi. Through these Avatars they meet and learn from the natives of the planet, who they are trying to get to relocate. Through out there ventures in the world of Pandora they discover a truth about the people they thought to be savages, sides are changed and a war begins.
When looking at the film I can honestly say this is “Ferngully” on a much bigger scope and there’s nothing wrong with reliving a great story but what makes this a experience is that Cameron thought of everything. The language used by the Na’vi and their belief system, even the creature of the world have all been brought to life with such detail. Even the human side is believable, in the sense you can see such weapons becoming reality in the near future including these walking tanks. All these things are brought to life by the attention to storytelling and the immersion of the narrative.
Minor Spoiler Alert: There’s an instance where Dr. Grace (Sigourney Weaver) is hurt and is brought to the na’vi’s with the hopes of healing her. Hundreds of the natives gather around a sacred tree that glows in the most beautiful way you can imagine and can only be comparable to the jelly fish of the deep. They start a ritual that is so extraordinary that it brought tears to my eyes; this is the kind of depth moviegoers like myself have been looking for. A narrative that brings a fantasy culture to life and sucks you in. The decade long wait for James Cameron’s return was worth the wait.
Cameron delayed production to wait until the technology necessary to create Avatar was advanced enough. The wait was to be able to create photo-realistic computer-generated characters and there’s no doubt he succeeded. The characters are perfectly rendered in such a way; the pours on their skin and the veins underneath is unprecedented. The lush forest and incredible but yet beautiful night scenes are at times mistaken to be real. I can go on for hours about this film and how every aspect of it is on a level that can’t be explained but can only be seen.
Closing Comment: Just go see it, it’s an experience that can only be seen in theaters. As wrong as it is to say this, if you saw the film in a regular screening, go back and watch it again in IMAX. If there’s no IMAX in your area it’s called a train, a car, whatever it is you use to travel but IMAX is the only way to truly experience this wonder that only comes around once every few years. On a scale of 1 to 5 it’s a 10.
Avatar is a awesome movie experience. Note: I said experience, not movie. The plot was a bit thin and rehashed, but the actual 3d feel and beauty of the world definately makes up for it. Can’t wait to see what James Cameron will come up with next!
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Avatar could possibly be the best movie ever! I have seen it 3 times already. Twice in the theaters and once online because I loved it so much. The movie is so deep.
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Thank you for this well-written review
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Awesome review, covered many of the questions I had in mind. Any idea what you will be reviewing next?
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