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It's good to have the old James Cameron back after so long. Ignoring Titanic (as tricky as that sounds), it's been 15 years since his last action movie, so any movie that lets him play with robots and aliens and oversized machine guns is a reason to celebrate. Not the only reason, of course -- you want the movie to be watchable, right? Luckily, the movie is not only visually stunning (especially in 3D), it's actually a thrilling, if slightly familiar action tale. Not once did I roll my eyes or emit an audible groan at anything in the plot or dialogue, and I consider that a win in my book. Hell, I even got a little bit of rainforest in my eyes a couple of times, and I'm not one who's overly prone to crying... except during sentimental, uplifting, on-message sci-fi epics, of course.
By now, you probably know the plot: marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) goes to alien moon Pandora to drive an alien body for a joint corporate/scientific/military expedition and make nice with an alien race called the Na'vi, who live on top of a mother lode of a highly sought-after mineral. (I take it back -- I did roll my eyes when they called the mineral "unobtanium," because that's a stupid name. Was "gottacatchemallium" taken?) Why it's so valuable is kind of glossed over, as is the general state of Earth, which may not have plant life anymore. Regardless, Life on Earth is shitty enough for Sully, who lost the use of his legs in combat and then lost his twin brother in a mugging gone bad, to want to take the Pandora job, one his scientist bro had been training for for three years, and one that needed Sully's blood to work.
What follows is mostly Dances With Wolves on mescaline. Disdained by the scientists who wanted his brother and manipulated by the military who want to learn the Na'vi's weaknesses, Jake ends up getting adopted by the tribe when their sacred tree identifies him as a Na'vi of interest. He is taught how stupid he and the other fake Na'vi look while wearing clothes (it's true), and once the pants come off and he is truly accepted as one of them, it's a quick ride to realizing that the Na'vi are to be protected, especially his hottie cultural tour guide Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). By then, however, it's too late, since he's already told the military exactly how to destroy the giant, hollow tree they live in. So he has to rise up as a human rebel and a Na'vi hero to stop them.
To quote Top Secret!, "It all sounds like some bad movie!" But it really isn't. The story may seem familiar, but the movie tries to back up its new-age spiritualism with some science (well, science fiction), and the old military-industrial chestnut lovingly lifted from Aliens leads us to some devastating images of war. Sigourney Weaver doesn't phone it in as the scientist who embraces Jake once he proves himself to be useful, becoming a mother figure who protects both him and her program from outside influence. Stephen Lang is scary awesome as the scarred (and ripped) Colonel Quaritch, who would rather kill them all, and Giovanni Ribisi puts Aliens' Paul Reiser on notice as the sleazy corporate representative. Even Michelle Rodriguez and Joel Moore deliver solid performances as the sympathetic pilot and the Na'vi expert who finds himself eclipsed by Jake the Dumb Marine.
It's hard to judge the acting performances by the Na'vi themselves, but Zoe Saldana gives a pretty ferocious vocal performance as Neytiri, and the programmers put her through the full range of emotions, making her look like... well, a real person, which is the whole point of this exercise, right? The rest of the Na'vi are equally real, if more stock characters than anything else (the proud chief, the regal mother, the scornful rival), and the humans-as-Na'vi... well, as I said, they look silly in clothes. It's hard to judge Sigourney Weaver's performance when her alien is wearing a college athletics T-shirt, and hearing Jake smack-talk a hammer-headed jungle rhinoceros is just bizarre.
The creatures are definitely the most amazing thing about the visual effects. The hammerhead rhinos, a hard-shelled jungle cat, a pack of skinless wild dogs, 6-legged horses, the pterodactyl-like Banshees and the massive, flying leonopteryx are all spotlighted in the film, but even the bioluminescent flora, the retracting lichens and the tiny lizards that travel around by spinning their bioluminescent tails like helicopters are beautiful to see. The military hardware is nothing special -- even the exo-suits of armor are fairly generic -- but the depictions of war and battle are incredibly vivid and horrible. There's no gore, but there is death and destruction, and at one point, a six-legged horse runs by on fire.
This is not a movie for kids -- it has its fun moments, but the vivid horrors of war that happen in the latter half of the film, coupled with a whole lot of swearing and a two-hour, 41-minute runtime, make it a tough movie to sit through with a young'un, as cute as the giant cat-Smurfs are. And you're gonna want to sit through it, because Jim Cameron still knows how to make good movies, even if he has to borrow elements from his older good movies to do it.
Did you see Avatar? Post your comments and an idealized virtual image of yourself below.
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Television Without Pity • © 2012 Bravo Media LLC • A Division of NBCUniversal •
I have a new concept of what I call a "great film." I got here by observing how Citizen Cane was regarded from decade to decade. For thirty or forty years, Welles' film was the be-all, end-all of filmmaking. By the 1990s, I got the feeling that film instructors were just saying it without believing it. Now, I don't think many people are saying it. And there are a whole bunch of young people who would avoid the film entirely because its in black and white.
There is no doubt that Avatar is a great film. But for how long is the question. I think I know the answer, but I don't want to jinx Avatar.
Here's something that bugs me: When people criticize Jim Cameron's dialog for being laughably trite. These people have obviously never had to make sure a 160-minute film moves along at a good clip. They are also the people who figure why say something in six words, when you can drag it out to 26.
BTW, this watcha-macallit, information age? is making it very hard to avoid spoilers. This past week I stopped reading the newspaper because I did not want to know details about how the forest looks at night. I clicked away because a blogger wanted to talk about how powerful certain creatures were, diving into detail on that. Then there was the public radio reviewer who gave away THE ENDING! She thought she was being clever by hinting, but it totally gave the ending away. People talk about male egos, but it seems when women have egos, there is a snide, back-door cruelty to it.
Now that I have experienced the film, and am wondering how to re-experience it, I have gone to the bookstore and picked up books on Avatar artwork, Pandora ecology, and the new J.C. biography. I saw it with Real-3D, which is nice because the glasses are light and simple. I did notice that the foreground objects are the most in focus, but deeper into the 3D field, we lose focus a bit. Want to see it in IMAX 3D, and regular 2D as well (although Real 3D is subtle enough [as in "Real"] so I would not expect that much viewing contrast with 2D).
I am thrilled about this picture, and wish Jim Cameron the best the world of cinema has to offer.
Actually, "unobtainium" and "unattainium" are valid terms. They're used to refer to expensive, rare, or physically impossible materials needed to fulfil a particular design purpose for a given application. The properties vary depending on what you want to use it for.
There are other terms that sound just as stupid. "Handwavium" is for materials that, in principle, probably can't even be real.
...still. He probably should hav chosen something that doesn't sound quite so ridiculous, even if it is accurate.
The visuals are truly stunning. With all the hype I wasn't sure if I wanted to see it. Now I plan to see it again, and I've been calling people and telling them to go.
Saw it last night. The visuals are, indeed, absolutely breathtaking. Pandora as a foreign world is absolutely amazing. And the Na'vi are a great blend of humanoid/ape-like creatures in the way they move. Adding their massive sizes - which is only realized when they are seen next to humans - and they are interesting aliens.
My only issue with the movie was in how utterly predictable the plot was. Not that I didn't enjoy the story for the sake of mindless entertainment, but given this newly concepted world to play with, I was disappointed that we got Dances with Wolves in Space. I do highly recommend this as a theater experience. I have to wonder how the movie will translate to a 55" TV screen and a BlueRay disc a year from now. Will it still have that "Wow!" factor?
Simply amazing.
The 3D was so smooth that it I honestly forgot I was watching it in 3D after a while and I've never even been able to sit through a 3D movie prior to this.
The visual effects have to be seen to be believed. Description alone does them no justice.
As for the story, some might want to disparage it as Dances With Wolves in Space, but really, how many different stories are there to tell? There are a handful, with a handful more of variations of the themes. What matters is the telling and the quality of the execution. Some find the story trite? I found it thrilling and, frankly, I can't wait to see the movie again. Given the hype, I was afraid I was in for a giant let-down. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Again, simply amazing.
I saw Avatar today in IMAX and digital 3D. I have to agree that visually, this was an impressive and stunning film.
While I can see the plot parallels with Dances With Wolves, it bears an even closer resemblance to an animated film from some time back called Ferngully, the Last Rainforest.
1. i agree the story had its pitfalls. why did they have to fall in love. though i was hoping during the mating they intertwine their pony tails but thats a whole other story
2.definitely this movie is way out there in terms of audio and visual effects. Bring on the oscars tho i doubt its best picture material but definitely best director!
Saw the movie for the second time today, this time in 3D. Thoroughly enjoyed the movie both times, but I was acutely aware of how they used so many "noble savage" cliches. Agree, Couch Tato - with all the bonding they did with other species with their hair, it would have been natural that a mate-for-life bonding would involve the same sort of thing.
I'll bet that even Linda Hamilton was blown away...
Did no one else find this to be appallingly racist? The naked savages use what is clearly a sexual organ ("don't play with it, you'll go blind") to bond with animals in the old stereotype of native bestiality. And then the same savages are in a state of child-like helplessness in the face of their enemies until the noble white man steps forward to lead them. I'd love to know what's going on in Cameron's head.
I said the same thing! I even texted my sister after and she agreed. We loved Fern Gully.
Ummm, no, not even once and this is coming for a person who has a very diverse cultural background. Get over it and enjoy the movie. It was beautiful, simply loved it and will definitely see it again.
i saw it with a friend 3 days ago and it literally blew my mind. i knew what i was expecting but got even more than i deserved. first off the animals are AMAZING!!!! and so is the story/plot, characters, scenery,and just about everything else. I got a surprise as the movie picked up as well, comedy. I found myself laughing right up to the point where he goes off on a hammerhead rhino. Then the drama and action set in and i felt like crying, it was interesting, new, a breath of fresh air, and so many other things. my friend and i loved it and we're thinking about seeing it again. this is not a see only on dvd movie, this is a see in theaters 3 times movie in IMAX, or atleast 3D, then buy a giant flat screen tv just so u can watch it whenever u want at home. :) he definitely hit this one out the park, i expect many, well-deserved awards in order!!
Im a mixture of african, french, native american, irish, spanish, and some unknown islander, so u must not understand the movie at all, if ur calling it raicist. what he showed was the reality of man's past mistakes, undoubtably white men mistakes of destroying people for resources like diamonds. yet he showed this in a vivid and out of this world way. why cant u just respect the movie for what it is??? i hate racist movies and scrutinize people for even thinking of such appalling things sometimes, but when i walked out of the theater i could only think of how awesome and amazing it was. just enjoy it for what it is, or else people are gonna blow things way out of poportion.
The 2nd lowest caliber of criticism uses terms such as racist, Neil. Rather than a term of engagement, it's an off-switch used to stifle debate about the intent of a work (of film, literature, graphic art, etc.). So you're clearly uncomfortable with something in the film, but the reflexive interpretation (Noble Savage redux, Karl May-inspired Indians, Native=Naiive) towards a negative spin does you no favors. The narrative implies a very sinister continuum of Human enterprise (exploitation) from one colonial phase (terran) to another (extra-terrestrial conquests) as well as the seeds of dissent and resistance. It's to Cameron's credit that science and technology (including cloning) are not portrayed as neutral but problematic - even as they "solve" one set of problems they create new ones, what a meta for this very film's additions to cinema's arsenal.
The implications of the living world, Pandora, as having surpassed human means of communication and experience while maintaining a recognizable humanoid culture has a long history within SciFi (see A.C. Clarke's novel, 2001 for the Consciousness project, Bradbury's Martian Chronicles). The few flaws in this work are technical and small, no small feat. It's clearly tied to the subtext of Aliens (do NOT trust Mil.Ind. complex to do the right thing) as well as the unfailing desire of some humans to change history. Art is one way to discuss this desire, as well as to portray war with unflinching, unromantic effect.
This is a site about movies not politics, Damien. Questioning racist themes starts a debate where art is concerned.
Nevertheless, you seem to have entirely failed to engage with my point. I have no doubt that what Cameron was trying to do was make a movie about the problems of militarism and technology and the importance of communion with nature, but what he's actually done is make a movie in which the natives are helpless in the face of a colonialist enemy until a Principled White Man steps forward to lead them.
I'm saying: Steve Biko would have slapped Cameron's face, because despite Cameron's attempt to show us the strength and value of native cultures, it's clear he's still working from an assumption of white superiority. It's paternalistic rather than oppressive, but it's still racism.
But you are still not getting it. He did show us the strenth and value of native cultures. they all rose up together and through their connection to nature they were able to defeat them. Sully was the only one on their side who knew about the military's plan, so of course he would help them win in the end, but if it werent for their great connection to their mother goddess Eywa, the animals they love and protect, and their strong sense of self they would of never defeated them. They didnt have amazing technology with guns and bombs, so showing them atfirst helpless is the reality of it. if way more technologically advanced aliens tried to take over our world and none of our weapons could hurt them, then we would be afraid and scared also. he did a great job of showing this without making them look like children. and if it weren't for the natives, Sully would've never seen how beautiful pandora is and decided against his consciousness to be more than a marine. Cameron showed this without putting Sully as the great and almighty white man, which i really dont care for. for in the end, if u didnt notice, it was Eywa who sent all of the creatures to help and in the end saved them all, not sully.
But he did show us the strength and value of native cultures. Sully was the only one who knew about the attack and had military training and an understanding of how to best help the natives. so of course he would have to help in the end. But, if it werent for the Na'vi's connection to the animals, their mother goddess Eywa, and their strong sense of self than they would of all died. Of course the Na'vi would be scared at first seeing as they were no where near as technologically advanced as the humans were, but isnt that just realistic? If way more technologically advanced aliens took over earth and none of our weapons could effect them, wouldnt we be scared?? he showed their fear without making them look like children, they were simply stunned. For in the end, if u didnt kno, it was Eywa who came to their aid not Sully, and defeated them. she sent all of the creatures to their defense and kept the balance in tow not Sully. i dont like movies that show the almighty white man, that gets on my nerves. so i can say that cameron did a good job.
Ulitmately, Neil, the very ability for this paternalistic white man to survive, let alone lead, depended on the teaching and wisdom of the native people. The white man didn't lead becuase he was white. He lead because he was 'chosen' by the jellyfish things falling from the glow tree. I see your point. Possibly the so-called racism that you see could have been nullified by simply casting a non-white actor as Jake without making any other changes to the story, dialogue or plot.
Indeed, he showed us the strength and value of native cultures - and then showed how much they needed leadership from a civilised man. The whole film is just a rehash of that old quote: "They are the finest soldiers in the world... when led by white officers"
Changing the ethnicity of the actor would have helped, but not as much as you think. It's not about race per se, it's about colonised and colonial, primitive and advanced. The point is that the Na'Vi couldn't win own their own, they needed an outsider to rescue them, and I'm annoyed by the sentiment.
It's roughly equivalent to ending Alien by having Ripley find a big strong man to take care of her - it completely undermines the character (or in the case of Avatar, the race) and undoes all the good work that's been done up to that point.
Name me one good reason that the story couldn't have ended with Sully simply joining the Na'Vi as a humble foot soldier and watching with awe as they unleashed the power of their bond with nature? Instead, as always, it's the American who gets to be the Big Damn Hero.
It's a subtle, insidious, and no doubt completely accidental racism, and I wouldn't have bothered to flag it up if it weren't for the fact that Cameron was so obviously trying to deliver the opposite message. I guess one can't escape one's prejudices, no matter how hard one tries to fight against them.
but you cant raelly justify saying that that saying is right/correct, because the only reason he knew what he knew was because of the natives teachings thanks to Neytiri, and of course this story needed a hero so he couldnt just be a 'footsoldier' in the end could he? he was chosen, but not because he was white, but because he needed them and also had something to offer. and the truth is no matter sully didnt save them, Eywa did, who is thier mother goddess and protector who was the real hero. Sully was just along for the ride, in a way, Eywa needed to make sure someone would warn them who knew of the attack, understand their ways, and have a good heart. Sully was actually the one in the end who needed saving, if it werent for Neytiri finally killing that marine guy with her bow and arrow than sully would be dead. there are few movies out there that portray natives in an intelligent way without demeaning them. people will always think prejudice of movies that have a male white hero no matter what, because that is how it always used to be and it was wrong. i wouldve liked a black man as the main role such as Tyrese Gibson, but i was still happy right after i saw it which was my first reaction, which is always your most truthful.
Are you people kidding me? The storyline is excruciatingly generic and predictable without a single original thought in it. You would think in 10 years they could have come up with a better story but of course the movie has to ensure maximum marketability all over the world, so no room for that. (http://www.smallbytes.net/~bobkat/waterstone.html#anchor17804675 David Foster Wallace’s thoughts on Terminator 2 are completely applicable to Avatar, if not exponentiated) Give the masses $300 million of shiny glass pearls and they will be happy. Hence to hear intelligent people describe the story as a “slightly familiar action tale” or original in any way I can only explain as cognitive dissonance.
Then I frankly don’t see how one can not agree with Neil that the film is shockingly condescending and consequently racist towards the indigenous culture, which is depicted in the utmost Margaret-Mead noble-savage simplification and doesn’t get any more true no matter how often Hollywood repeats it.
Lastly: “One presumes that Cameron missed the irony in making a preachy, anti-technology movie using the most technologically advanced tools available.” Joshua Tyler, CinemaBlend.com
first of all, everyone needs to chill. it was a good action movie and that was the only reason i went to see it, also for the amazing CG effects. it wouldnt of been interesting if the main character wasnt new to the Na'vi lifestyle and culture. it had to be a story of finding something new and out of this world. if the movie had a main character who knew all about the Na'vi and was Na'vi than where's the adventure???? and sure he made a movie with the latest technology but its not like he made weapons and crap. he used computers and programs. this is the new age, deal with it.
I watched the film last night. I have to admit it did somewhat piss me off. It seemed like "here we go again". Native needs understanding and sympathetic white man with a grand total of 3 months training in their culture to lead them to victory thereby "saving" them. Because obviously the natives are incapable of saving themselves. The effects were, however, amazing.
I saw Avatar in 3D. Yes, it's visually stunning and Cameron put together an interesting world. However, I kept thinking how much better it could have been if he worked with another writer who could have developed a less simplistic plot. I was definitely a party of one in the theater. The friend I went with considers it one of the best movies she's ever seen -- made for some awkward discussion afterward. Although I wasn't filled with rage like I was after Dances With Wolves, I can certainly see the parallels.
The first thing my wife said walking out of the theater was "why do we have to kill everything?". This movie, like Dances With Wolves represents the white man EXACTLY as we are. Some of us are shoot first, ask questions later. Others are Love The Planet Above All Else. I dont particularly care if the story was simplistic. I've seen movies with twice as much dialog that dont look half as great. Sometimes the "pretty" is enough. The 3D was hard for me (the glasses didn't quite fit over my own) and I thought only 3-4 scenes really benifited from the effect.
I love it and would see it again and welcome a sequel.
if every editor wrote like you believe me the world would be a better place! this was an excellent read expecting more!
if every editor wrote like you believe me the world would be a better place! this was an excellent read expecting more!
Thanks for posting this. Would be intrested to read more or possibly please contact me by email thank you!
Thanks for posting this. Would be intrested to read more or possibly please contact me by email thank you!
if every editor wrote like you believe me the world would be a better place! this was an excellent read expecting more!
if every editor wrote like you believe me the world would be a better place! this was an excellent read expecting more!
Thanks for posting this. Would be intrested to read more or possibly please contact me by email thank you!
if every editor wrote like you believe me the world would be a better place! this was an excellent read expecting more!
if every editor wrote like you believe me the world would be a better place! this was an excellent read expecting more!
I so agree that this movie copied Dances With Wolves in Fern Gully with a touch of Brave Heart...no original thought to this story..too bad because the 3D was amazing...wish there was a fresh story line with the effects..
Anyone know if thesea is fragging these zoas ?
While there, he sampled classic Neapolitan pizza and found it much better than Sewell’s Mexican offerings.
Cheese, the crowning ingredient, was not added until 1889, when the Royal Palace commissioned the Neapolitan pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito to create a pizza in honor of the visiting Queen Margherita.