- Joined
- Apr 1, 2005
- Messages
- 578
- Reaction score
- 42
Well, I saw the film this weekend and thought I would share my thoughts on the latest epic by James Cameron.
THE QUICK - The latest CGI meets "Dances With Wolves". It won't be a memorable film for me in terms of story but the visuals set a new standard for everything that follows. This film is worth a view if only for the visuals (in 3D).
PLOT SUMMARY - Our hero, Jake Solly, a former marine who has lost the use of his legs in combat, has replaced his dead brother in an effort to use his "Avatar" (a genetically grown alien which combines human an Na'bi DNA) to learn about the local population on an alien world called Pandora. His goal is to influence the locals to leave their home so that a very valuable (on Earth) mineral can be strip mined from beneath their land. In the process, Jake goes native as he learns more about them and ultimately helps the Na'bi defeat the evil corporate types and return Pandora to "the people".
THE GOOD - Visually, this film is quite simply stunning in its scope. Cameron and his team have created an alien environment from the ground up and remade the Amazon on steroids. For this, I have to say "thank you" to everyone involved. The variety of wildlife, flora and people (the Na'bi) restores my faith that at least someone in Hollywood is still capable of creating something new. Cameron has also (for the first time as far as I can tell) seamlessly integrated live action and the 3D world of cinema in a perfect way. If this film does not win all of the technical Oscars this coming year then that award is obsolete and useless.
THE BAD - Unless you are a tree hugger or an anti-corporate / anti-capitalist type, the visuals is where the magic of this film ends. There is nothing new in the story of this sci-fi epic. As I stated earlier, this film's plot is basically an updated version of "Dances With Wolves". Had this film been released before the Costner blockbuster, I wouldn't be writing this part of my review but it didn't so let me simply sum it up... "civilized" man (broken and battered) needs to start over, winds up at a distant post, meets the "noble savage", learns the savage's ways, becomes one of them and ultimately helps the "noble savage" defeat the "civilized" man. Actually, now that I think about it, were I to place Avatar and Dances With Wolves beside each other for comparison of story and related plot devices, I would prefer Dances With Wolves. It really is that simple. Don't get me wrong, Cameron's use of sci-fi tech and the brilliant visuals are up to his usual first rate standards but even this rock solid portion of Cameron's skill set cannot overcome the tired and well known cowboy and indian theme. In fairness, this isn't the first film to use the classic literary tale as plot but it ultimately falls flat (IMO). It also doesn't help that this plot is easy to spot, early on in the film. While the visuals easily draw the viewer into the movie, the plot does not.
THE UGLY - This film is so heavy handed in its (unhidden) messages about corporate greed, protecting natural resources and (IMO) thinly veiled anti-war sentiment that the viewer should expect constant (virtual) slaps in the face. I was unaware of Cameron's personal / political views and really don't care but the media critics were absolute correct on this accord. It's too bad because in my opinion, these heavy handed messages only further drag down the already tired plot.
THE VERDICT - Were it not for the BAD and UGLY portions mentioned previously, I would easily and readily give this film a 9.5 out of 10. But, since I did mention the BAD and UGLY, my final score drops to a 6.5. This film is worth going to see (for the visuals) but I won't see it again (gee wiz effects only work once) and it won't be on my Blu-Ray list since I don't have a 3D TV. I'd also add that even if I did have a 3D home theater, you have to see the 3D version of this film on the big screen to really appreciate what you are looking at.
Your mileage may vary.
Regards,
Ltstanfo
THE QUICK - The latest CGI meets "Dances With Wolves". It won't be a memorable film for me in terms of story but the visuals set a new standard for everything that follows. This film is worth a view if only for the visuals (in 3D).
PLOT SUMMARY - Our hero, Jake Solly, a former marine who has lost the use of his legs in combat, has replaced his dead brother in an effort to use his "Avatar" (a genetically grown alien which combines human an Na'bi DNA) to learn about the local population on an alien world called Pandora. His goal is to influence the locals to leave their home so that a very valuable (on Earth) mineral can be strip mined from beneath their land. In the process, Jake goes native as he learns more about them and ultimately helps the Na'bi defeat the evil corporate types and return Pandora to "the people".
THE GOOD - Visually, this film is quite simply stunning in its scope. Cameron and his team have created an alien environment from the ground up and remade the Amazon on steroids. For this, I have to say "thank you" to everyone involved. The variety of wildlife, flora and people (the Na'bi) restores my faith that at least someone in Hollywood is still capable of creating something new. Cameron has also (for the first time as far as I can tell) seamlessly integrated live action and the 3D world of cinema in a perfect way. If this film does not win all of the technical Oscars this coming year then that award is obsolete and useless.
THE BAD - Unless you are a tree hugger or an anti-corporate / anti-capitalist type, the visuals is where the magic of this film ends. There is nothing new in the story of this sci-fi epic. As I stated earlier, this film's plot is basically an updated version of "Dances With Wolves". Had this film been released before the Costner blockbuster, I wouldn't be writing this part of my review but it didn't so let me simply sum it up... "civilized" man (broken and battered) needs to start over, winds up at a distant post, meets the "noble savage", learns the savage's ways, becomes one of them and ultimately helps the "noble savage" defeat the "civilized" man. Actually, now that I think about it, were I to place Avatar and Dances With Wolves beside each other for comparison of story and related plot devices, I would prefer Dances With Wolves. It really is that simple. Don't get me wrong, Cameron's use of sci-fi tech and the brilliant visuals are up to his usual first rate standards but even this rock solid portion of Cameron's skill set cannot overcome the tired and well known cowboy and indian theme. In fairness, this isn't the first film to use the classic literary tale as plot but it ultimately falls flat (IMO). It also doesn't help that this plot is easy to spot, early on in the film. While the visuals easily draw the viewer into the movie, the plot does not.
THE UGLY - This film is so heavy handed in its (unhidden) messages about corporate greed, protecting natural resources and (IMO) thinly veiled anti-war sentiment that the viewer should expect constant (virtual) slaps in the face. I was unaware of Cameron's personal / political views and really don't care but the media critics were absolute correct on this accord. It's too bad because in my opinion, these heavy handed messages only further drag down the already tired plot.
THE VERDICT - Were it not for the BAD and UGLY portions mentioned previously, I would easily and readily give this film a 9.5 out of 10. But, since I did mention the BAD and UGLY, my final score drops to a 6.5. This film is worth going to see (for the visuals) but I won't see it again (gee wiz effects only work once) and it won't be on my Blu-Ray list since I don't have a 3D TV. I'd also add that even if I did have a 3D home theater, you have to see the 3D version of this film on the big screen to really appreciate what you are looking at.
Your mileage may vary.
Regards,
Ltstanfo
