Posted on December 21, 2009 - by OP40

Avatar: More of the same? Or renewed Brilliance?

Here’s a newsflash, “Avatar”, yeah, you’ve seen this movie before. You’ve seen every scene, every character, every situation, every consequence, every moment, every everything. One could say the movie is certified as “green” due to how much recycled material makes up the bulk of the movie’s content. But with that said, it is also safe to say that you have never SEEN a movie like this one. It truly is ground breaking visually, and for that, deserves a closer look.

Now, unlike what many people have said, the movie is not so groundbreaking that you will be “blown away”. Chances are most of us have already seen 3D movies and already know what to expect. In Avatar, there are few 3D tricks that stand out or seem out of place. Although I will say that Cameron’s choice of placing his characters in these very elevated locations, throughout the movie, at times does seem superfluous as one big 3D trick on its own. But we have seen so many advancements in cinema that it takes much to truly amaze. Cameron’s own “T2” and Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” did way more to amaze than does “Avatar”. Heck, “Titanic” also had more of a “wow” factor than this movie did.

To say Avatar “borrows” from other sci-fi flicks is another understatement. It recycles everything from “Aliens’” humanoid forklift/robot to Minority Report’s interactive, super responsive touch screens. But it does it on its own and fits well in the movie. Then again, it could be that both are examples of super cool futuristic porn that Cameron knew could make us feel right at home with his sci-fi romp.

Regarding the storyline, it’s pompous, arrogant, over-the-top, simplistic and overall very basic. Yet we accept it because the story is so out there that we care little past the gorgeous visuals Cameron sends our way. It’s a trade-off I think. And I for one am cool with it. Anyone who tries to sell this movie’s story as anything deeper than some politically inspired diatribe thinks you might be interested in some swamp land for purchase as well. It’s all about some made up sounding thing called “unobtanium” (i.e. unobtainable?), which I don’t know is a character nickname for this foreign mineral, but it’s surely a metaphor for oil, that evil thing we all kill for, yet can’t live without. I’d like to see Cameron make a movie without plastics, explosives or oil burning vehicles on his set. That in itself would be ground breaking on its own.

But politics aside, ‘Avatar’ is a must see movie, but only at a 3D showing. If anything to see the kinds of creatures and world’s Cameron creates in Pandora, the alien planet where the movie takes place. A world of lit walking surfaces similar to Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” video and plants that light up at night. All the while reminding us how bland our Earth really is. It’s a wonder why anyone wants to save such a boring planet. Nothing compared to Pandora really, especially with 6 legged mammals and ride-able flying creatures. It really is comical to see all these creatures Hollywood likes to create when given a powerful enough computer. Once again, our own world offers little competition to these way more wonderful worlds.

I could go on indefinitely with this movie, both pro and con, but overall it’s an enjoyable movie that you must see, again in 3D only. Leave the kids at home though, they will grow bored with this world of “Avatar”, only us grown-ups should be subjected to its colorful visuals, accompanied by its bland storyline.