"Avatar" in 3D

Ben’s review of Avatar

After twelve years, James Cameron provides his newest feature length motion picture with Avatar. The first reservation that occurs with a movie such as Avatar is the amount of hype involved. There was a barrage of interviews, internet vignettes, product endorsements, and even a 60 Minutes piece all dedicated to celebrating Jim Cameron and his directing ability. Additionally, there has been quite a bit made about the new CGI and 3D technology being used and of course the usual statements such as “this is like nothing you have ever seen” made by the cast and crew of the movie. This kind of media blitz and self-aggrandizement usually leads to a let-down, ranging from medium (Wolverine) to colossal (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull). So this is why I was beyond thrilled when Avatar not only lived up to the hype but went above and beyond.
Avatar falls into the same category as several 70mm movies such as Lawrence of Arabia or 2001: A Space Odyssey, in that it is a visual spectacle. This is truly a movie that needs to be seen in a theatre and it needs to be seen in 3D. The viewer honestly forgets that they are watching CGI created landscapes and individuals. The aliens in this movie actually look, talk, and act like living, breathing, thinking, talking creatures. And the 3D is cool. There are not labored attempts overwhelm the viewer with objects flying toward them or John Candy trying to serve you pancakes (search youtube for Dr. Tongues 3D House of Slave Chicks). The landscape and aerial fight scenes are perfectly suited for 3D and make the extra $3 a ticket worth it.
But visual spectacle aside, is there a story to accompany all of the eye candy? Yes, and while the plot is tad bit predictable, this story of a realization of the greater good is served up in a new and interesting package. Sam Worthington, who stole the spotlight from Christian Bale earlier this year in Terminator: Salvation, plays Jake Sully, a paraplegic marine who is chosen for the Avatar program because of his DNA match to his recently deceased brother. The Avatar program clones alien DNA matches that with a human counter-part. The human then operates this clone through neuro-transmission process. Before you check out because of the sci-fi babble, there is coherent plot in the middle of all of this. Jake steps in for his brother because the military and the company funding the program, promised to fund an operation that can return Jake the use of his legs. The company is mining a unique ore that can be used in super conductors, however this ore can only be found on a planet inhabited by the aliens. The company and the marines need Jake to use his clone to convince the aliens to move out of their native area so this ore can be mined. Jake is able to befriend the aliens and soon realizes the flawed logic in moving these aliens out of their native habitat so a corporation can mine an ore. Yes you can make the Native American-rainforest analogy, however the story is fascinating and well presented. Moved along by the narration of its main character, Avatar runs almost 3 hours but you hardly notice because the pace of this movie is constant.
See this movie in an theatre and see it in 3D. You will be glad that you did.



Elisa's Review


My husband started talking about this movie weeks before I suffered through this cinematic nightmare. I felt tricked. How did I get talked into seeing another Sci-Fi movie? Especially, a Sci-Fi movie directed by "Titantic" James Cameron?
Many have people asked, if I liked the movie. And, I have an answer NO! The movie is a 3D combination of "Star Wars" meets "The Smurfs."

"Avatar" takes places on a fictional planet many light years into the future (Star Wars). The fictional planet, Pandora (NO creativity points for the name) is inhabited by natives, known as the Na'vi. Sidenote-during an HBO preview/behind the scenes special on "Avatar" it is revealed the Na'vi language spoken by the natives was "developed" by Cameron and some language specialist. Is this really necessary for a Sci-Fi film? Couldn't they just say they spoke a different language and magically understand what was being said through the magic of science-fiction?

The human race, pigs that were are, are mining a special ore found on Pandora. Due to some fancy science, and the evolution of cloning beyond Dolly the sheep, humans can transform into the Na'vi and are expected to assimilate into their culture--all for the ultimate goal of "conquer and destroy." Now,the really strange Sci-Fi part of this is, the humans stay in a device that looks like a cat-scan machine while their brains assimilate with a man-made Na'Vi body.


Did I mention the Na'vi are blue? (Smurfs) They live in the forests of Pandora (Smurfs), and have a great respect for nature (Smurfs.) It is discovered by the lead scientist played by Sigorney Weaver (what would a Sci-Fi movie be without her?) the Na'vi are somehow connected to the trees in the forest (again, Smurfs. Remember, The Great Oak?), and draw their strength and knowledge from the spirits living in the tree.

When it is revealed the humans want to destroy the planet for their own use and exploitation, the Na'vi try to fight back but are ultimately chased from their forest homes. At it's best, "Avatar" is a story of good vs. evil, cowboys vs. Indians, and Gargamel vs. Papa Smurf.

If you have to suffer through it because you watched too much HGTV or watched "The Devil Wears Prada" on DVD one too many times, at least pay to see it in 3D. The effects are somewhat interesting and make the experience a little novel.