"Mix "Fern Gully," and "Dances with Wolves" together, add a dash of "The Matrix," and you have "Avatar!""
- Rated PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking.
- Who's going to like it: Just about everyone who loves to go to the movies.
- Who's going to like it: Just about everyone who loves to go to the movies.
"Avatar" must be seen to be believed.
Going into "Avatar" I had not watched a single trailer for the film. I wanted to go in with a fresh slate, not knowing what to expect. Sure I’d heard the rumors that Cameron had created a film that revolutionized 3D and CG animation, but to what extent I didn’t know. I’m glad I went in with this fresh perspective. It made it all that more enjoyable.
The year is 2154. Humans have decimated their planet from deforestation and war. They have found a nearby moon (in space standards) called Pandora. Pandora is a lush wilderness environment, which is rich in minerals that the Earth needs and will pay big money for.
Humans have set up a base on the planet and are mining the precious ore from the ground. They slash and burn everything in site, hoping to find more and more mineral deposits.
Pandora has a native species of humanoids. The Na’vi are bipedal, about 11 feet tall, and have bright blue skin. They live in the forest and aren’t too happy with the human intrusion. They have a connection to the forest and nature, which oddly enough they call “Mother.”
The humans are led by corporate thug Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi ). Selfridge has brought along an army of Marines to help him in his quest to excavate the minerals “safely.” Col. Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) is the overzealous leader of the Marines who briefs them about how every living thing on Pandora is blood-thirsty and waiting to devour. Believe him, he’s got the scars to prove it.
The Marines in the film a bit too caricatured. Yes, we get it they would rather kill something than study it. But, they are all some level of meathead hick in order to drive the point home.
Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) arrives as part of a mission to learn more about the Na’vi. Led by a scientist named Grace (Sigourney Weaver) Humans have created avatars of the Na’vi using human and Na’vi DNA. You must be genetically matched to your avatar in order to control them. Sort of like the “Matrix,” humans are “hooked” into their avatar by way of an electronic connection. This connection allows the people to move the avatars around freely without being encumbered by breathing masks, which are needed because the atmosphere is not breathable to humans.
What follows is a film that is one part “Dancing with Wolves,” and another part “Fern Gully.” The entire film is dressed up in some of the most grand and awe-inspiring CGI ever created. This CGI makes it look like the recent motion capture film “A Christmas Carol” with Jim Carrey, was animated 10 years ago with outdated technology. It has some strong anti-war and environmental issues buried within it.
Cameron has created a world on Pandora that rivals the depth and detail of anything in “Star Wars.” Everything has been so meticulously designed and cared for that you can see where all 300 million dollars of the film’s budget went.
Cameron’s story, which he’s been reportedly working on for years, is trite and predictable at times, but when it’s accompanied by such beautiful visuals it’s hard to find much fault here. The Na’vi are beautiful creatures and Cameron gives them a heart and soul. At times you’ll forget you’re watching CG.
When I reviewed “9” I said “Let us put ‘story’ and ‘plot’ aside for something so astoundingly stunning that it defies the imagination.” This perfectly describes “Avatar.” You must see it to believe it. It’s astonishing, it really is.
Going into "Avatar" I had not watched a single trailer for the film. I wanted to go in with a fresh slate, not knowing what to expect. Sure I’d heard the rumors that Cameron had created a film that revolutionized 3D and CG animation, but to what extent I didn’t know. I’m glad I went in with this fresh perspective. It made it all that more enjoyable.
The year is 2154. Humans have decimated their planet from deforestation and war. They have found a nearby moon (in space standards) called Pandora. Pandora is a lush wilderness environment, which is rich in minerals that the Earth needs and will pay big money for.
Humans have set up a base on the planet and are mining the precious ore from the ground. They slash and burn everything in site, hoping to find more and more mineral deposits.
Pandora has a native species of humanoids. The Na’vi are bipedal, about 11 feet tall, and have bright blue skin. They live in the forest and aren’t too happy with the human intrusion. They have a connection to the forest and nature, which oddly enough they call “Mother.”
The humans are led by corporate thug Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi ). Selfridge has brought along an army of Marines to help him in his quest to excavate the minerals “safely.” Col. Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) is the overzealous leader of the Marines who briefs them about how every living thing on Pandora is blood-thirsty and waiting to devour. Believe him, he’s got the scars to prove it.
The Marines in the film a bit too caricatured. Yes, we get it they would rather kill something than study it. But, they are all some level of meathead hick in order to drive the point home.
Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) arrives as part of a mission to learn more about the Na’vi. Led by a scientist named Grace (Sigourney Weaver) Humans have created avatars of the Na’vi using human and Na’vi DNA. You must be genetically matched to your avatar in order to control them. Sort of like the “Matrix,” humans are “hooked” into their avatar by way of an electronic connection. This connection allows the people to move the avatars around freely without being encumbered by breathing masks, which are needed because the atmosphere is not breathable to humans.
What follows is a film that is one part “Dancing with Wolves,” and another part “Fern Gully.” The entire film is dressed up in some of the most grand and awe-inspiring CGI ever created. This CGI makes it look like the recent motion capture film “A Christmas Carol” with Jim Carrey, was animated 10 years ago with outdated technology. It has some strong anti-war and environmental issues buried within it.
Cameron has created a world on Pandora that rivals the depth and detail of anything in “Star Wars.” Everything has been so meticulously designed and cared for that you can see where all 300 million dollars of the film’s budget went.
Cameron’s story, which he’s been reportedly working on for years, is trite and predictable at times, but when it’s accompanied by such beautiful visuals it’s hard to find much fault here. The Na’vi are beautiful creatures and Cameron gives them a heart and soul. At times you’ll forget you’re watching CG.
When I reviewed “9” I said “Let us put ‘story’ and ‘plot’ aside for something so astoundingly stunning that it defies the imagination.” This perfectly describes “Avatar.” You must see it to believe it. It’s astonishing, it really is.
(4 1/2 out of 5)
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