James Cameron’s latest blockbuster hit Avatar has everyone in a dither and has grossed more than US$1 billion dollars at the box office in just 15 days. Everyone is trying to predict nominations for the Oscars and how it looks eerily similar to the 1998 Oscars when Cameron’s Titanic swept up most of the awards leaving only a few behind to be picked up by the other nominees whom the critics were actually rooting for.
While the Oscar’s are a big insight into what a really good movie is supposed to be about, you can’t compete against an audience that has had their hearts and imaginations captured despite a plot that has been done to death or a song that will forever strike a chord with anyone who has gotten heartbroken.
Such is Avatar – while you’ve probably seen the plot and its devices played out in Cameron’s previous sci-fi flicks that include Aliens and Terminator, or for the fact any other end of the world – alien adversary-sci-fi movie, the execution and trimmings are what has everybody so excited to watch it.
Avatar’s story is a familiar one based on our race’s selfish and destructive behaviour. Having found a natural resource on the planet of Pandora that is worth millions, the military wants to simply get rid of the blue humanoids while a team of scientists want to study the population and make peace instead.
Having had Jake Sully’s (Sam Worthington) back story fleshed out in a matter of minutes – his phD certified twin brother died and his paraplegic self was able to replace him due to his similar DNA. A marine before he was confined to a wheelchair, he gets his own Na’vi avatar and ingratiates himself with the natives, especially with Zoe Saldana’s Neytiri. His struggle then commences as he has to choose between saving or betraying them.
While the movie tends to drag at certain moments, this low-profile cast gives a sterling performance and the special effects are nothing to sneeze at either.
Actors playing Pandora’s natives the Na’vi were shot in extensive black body suits with a camera attached to their head to capture every angle of their face; while the multiple cameras fitted within the vast expanse of the studio had every minute movement recorded to make the animations seamless and realistic. It did indeed make for some fantastic aesthetics and watching it in 3D, truly made everything come alive.
So the plot may just be a tad bland but the execution is top-notch, slightly overrated, yes, but definitely worth your money.
Yep: The great cast and kick-ass graphics
Oh: It was a little lengthy.
Verbatim: Jake Sully: Everything is backwards now, like out there is the true world and in here is the dream
Thumbs: 4 out of 5
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