Avatar
4/4
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Joel David Moore, Giovanni Ribisi, CCH Pounder, Laz Alonso, Wes Studi
The version being reviewed is the Unrated one (although the rating would not change). For the record, the theatrical cut is rated PG-13 for Intense Epic Battle Sequences and Warfare, Sensuality, Language and Some Smoking
It had been 12 years since James Cameron released his crown jewel, "Titanic" that he released his next film, "Avatar." Personally, I heard about the film on iMDb three years before it had been released. Although three years may seem too long to wait for any film without disappointment, Cameron makes the film worth it.
In the future, humans have ventured into space and have set up a mining colony on a planet called Pandora. In order to come to an agreement with the native Na'vi, a scientist named Grace Augustine (Weaver) has created "avatars," beings that humans can link into to become one of the Na'vi. But diplomacy is not working, and tensions are at an all-time high. Enter Jake Sully (Worthington) a military jarhead who is taking over for his brother who was murdered shortly before he was to go to Pandora. Jake becomes an entry into Na'vi society, something that the local colonel, a nasty piece of work named Quarich (Lang) is using to his advantage. A hitch develops in Quarich's plan: Jake switches sides and becomes sympathetic to the Na'vi and falls for Neytiri (Saldana), their future queen.
This is pure formula (with a $237 million dollar budget, there was no way 20th Century Fox would let even James Cameron take many risks), but it works because Cameron is a masterful storyteller. He gets us involved with the characters to an extent where formula becomes an asset.
The acting is effective, but this is one movie where storytelling and visual battles trump three-dimensional characters; we see the characters as individuals and that's all that matters. Sam Worthington, an Aussie import, does not possess a great range, but we are able to identify with him, and he's a good window into the story. Zoe Saldana, using technology to create a living breathing character, is also very good. Although the romantic subplot between Jake and Neytiri is a little underdeveloped, it works. Of the cast, Stephen Lang is the least talented actor. His dialogue delivery is horrible, but he does get us to wish for Quaritch to suffer the most painful of deaths, which is all that matters. Sigourney Weaver plays the tough-love Grace, and said in interviews that she is channeling director James Cameron. Michelle Rodriguez, Joel David Moore, and Giovanni Ribisi give solid supporting performances as well.
Like with "Titanic," James Cameron transports us to a new world (not to the extent of his previous feature...I think we'll see more of Pandora in the next two installments). His vivid creation of a new planet is the film's biggest selling point. We see the flora and the fauna (although most of the latter are clearly metaphors for creatures on Earth) and learn about the complex social structure of the Na'vi.
Cameron has a gift for crafting action scenes, be it the (many) battles between the Terminator and the T-100 in "Terminator 2" or the sinking of the Titanic. Here, the highlight is the massive battle between the Na'vi and the humans. It's clearly divided into three acts, and each one is more awe-inspiring than the last.
The real coup de grace for "Avatar" was the 3D. James Cameron spent years developing the technology and spent an enormous amount of time, energy and money perfecting it. It worked wonderfully, although not necessarily for the better. It took an already brilliant film to the next level, but it allowed studios a way to bamboozle the public into seeing a crappy conversion for the sake of a quick buck (an action that, I might add, Cameron has criticized tremendously).
"Avatar" is one of those movies that needs to be seen on as big of a screen as possible, but is still a marvel whatever its size.
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Joel David Moore, Giovanni Ribisi, CCH Pounder, Laz Alonso, Wes Studi
The version being reviewed is the Unrated one (although the rating would not change). For the record, the theatrical cut is rated PG-13 for Intense Epic Battle Sequences and Warfare, Sensuality, Language and Some Smoking
It had been 12 years since James Cameron released his crown jewel, "Titanic" that he released his next film, "Avatar." Personally, I heard about the film on iMDb three years before it had been released. Although three years may seem too long to wait for any film without disappointment, Cameron makes the film worth it.
In the future, humans have ventured into space and have set up a mining colony on a planet called Pandora. In order to come to an agreement with the native Na'vi, a scientist named Grace Augustine (Weaver) has created "avatars," beings that humans can link into to become one of the Na'vi. But diplomacy is not working, and tensions are at an all-time high. Enter Jake Sully (Worthington) a military jarhead who is taking over for his brother who was murdered shortly before he was to go to Pandora. Jake becomes an entry into Na'vi society, something that the local colonel, a nasty piece of work named Quarich (Lang) is using to his advantage. A hitch develops in Quarich's plan: Jake switches sides and becomes sympathetic to the Na'vi and falls for Neytiri (Saldana), their future queen.
This is pure formula (with a $237 million dollar budget, there was no way 20th Century Fox would let even James Cameron take many risks), but it works because Cameron is a masterful storyteller. He gets us involved with the characters to an extent where formula becomes an asset.
The acting is effective, but this is one movie where storytelling and visual battles trump three-dimensional characters; we see the characters as individuals and that's all that matters. Sam Worthington, an Aussie import, does not possess a great range, but we are able to identify with him, and he's a good window into the story. Zoe Saldana, using technology to create a living breathing character, is also very good. Although the romantic subplot between Jake and Neytiri is a little underdeveloped, it works. Of the cast, Stephen Lang is the least talented actor. His dialogue delivery is horrible, but he does get us to wish for Quaritch to suffer the most painful of deaths, which is all that matters. Sigourney Weaver plays the tough-love Grace, and said in interviews that she is channeling director James Cameron. Michelle Rodriguez, Joel David Moore, and Giovanni Ribisi give solid supporting performances as well.
Like with "Titanic," James Cameron transports us to a new world (not to the extent of his previous feature...I think we'll see more of Pandora in the next two installments). His vivid creation of a new planet is the film's biggest selling point. We see the flora and the fauna (although most of the latter are clearly metaphors for creatures on Earth) and learn about the complex social structure of the Na'vi.
Cameron has a gift for crafting action scenes, be it the (many) battles between the Terminator and the T-100 in "Terminator 2" or the sinking of the Titanic. Here, the highlight is the massive battle between the Na'vi and the humans. It's clearly divided into three acts, and each one is more awe-inspiring than the last.
The real coup de grace for "Avatar" was the 3D. James Cameron spent years developing the technology and spent an enormous amount of time, energy and money perfecting it. It worked wonderfully, although not necessarily for the better. It took an already brilliant film to the next level, but it allowed studios a way to bamboozle the public into seeing a crappy conversion for the sake of a quick buck (an action that, I might add, Cameron has criticized tremendously).
"Avatar" is one of those movies that needs to be seen on as big of a screen as possible, but is still a marvel whatever its size.
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