Avatar

Avatar (2009)

So I can kind of be stubborn about things, especially when it comes to movies. All of my friends kept telling me that I just had to go and see Avatar when it was in the theaters because it was “right up my alley”. I really hate it when someone says that to me, unless of course I think it is someone that actually digs the same movies as I do. I sort of dismissed Avatar as a preachy bit of eye candy that would most likely look pretty but be boring as hell. But when I had the chance to request a copy for the site I went ahead and asked for one. I’m glad that I did.

The movie is set in the future and tells the story of marine named Jake who is given an opportunity to travel to a planet called Pandora. See the story here is that Jake’s brother was a scientist that was chosen for a special project where an avatar was grown using a combination of human and alien DNA. These avatars are supposed to be able to allow the humans interact better with the locals. But when Jake’s brother is killed he is chosen to replace him, since being a close genetic match allows him to use his brother’s avatar. Toss in the fact that Jake is in a wheelchair and can use the money to get his legs back with an expensive surgery and you have the set up for the film.

Now the rest of the story is very predictable and honestly kind of annoying and “preachy”. See the corporation that is running the operation and the military wants a resource that is under the giant tree where the local tribe of aliens lives. They are going to get it no matter the cost and could care less about the “savages” that live there. So basically you get a very black and white story where the company and military are evil and will kill for profit vs. the local tribes that hug the trees and the few “educated” humans that understand them. I understand that every director brings his or her own beliefs and feelings to a project. But in the case of Avatar James Cameron really seems to have an axe to grind, and if you don’t agree with his politics and beliefs this might take away from your enjoyment of the movie. Which is a damn shame because this is a brilliant film.

If you can get beyond the obvious shots being taken by the director at the corporations (which ironically funded this and his other epic film Titanic) and the military (which allows him the freedom to make politically charged movies like Avatar) there is an amazing movie to watch. Again I think that the story is a bit simplistic with the good guys being absolutely good and the bad guys being without merit or honor. But the movie is paced really well and keeps the action coming thru the 2 hour and 40 plus minute runtime. It isn’t very often that I can sit thru a movie that is pushing the 3-hour mark and not feel like it has “overstayed” it’s welcome. Every minute of this movie is used to develop either the story or the characters of Jake and the Na’vi (the aliens). So while I might think that parts are heavy handed and overly simplistic overall the movie is telling and interesting and entertaining story.

Now I can’t do a review without talking about the special effects in Avatar. Unless you have been under a rock for the last year you should have heard about the groundbreaking digital effects that Avatar boasts. This is something else that honestly put me off from watching the movie. Most of the time digital effects just don’t impress me that much. Especially when you are creating an entire world and characters from them. You know yet again I was wrong here. The digital effects responsible for creating the world of Pandora, the creatures that inhabit it, and the Na’vi characters is absolutely stunning. What I saw on screen was an incredible achievement. Somehow they managed to make a world that was both alien and realistic at the same time. It isn’t very often that a crusty cynical old movie viewer like myself gets surprised this much by a movie, but I was blown away by Avatar. I also have to recommend that if you have the proper setup that you pick up the Blu-Ray of the movie. The copy I reviewed for the site was the Blu-Ray release and it only makes the incredible special effects that much better and impressive.

In spite of some politics that might turn some viewers off I highly recommend Avatar. This really is a special movie and I’m glad to have it in my collection.

3 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer