Avatar Review
Below is my review of the 2009 James Cameron film, Avatar. Please note: this review contains plot description and other 'spoilers'.
I don't get to the movies much anymore. It's not the ticket prices that have kept me away, it is the other movie-goers. I can't stand all the talking, cell phones, and general 'rustling' of candy wrappers...not to mention people with weak bladders getting up 3 times during a 90 minute flick. I'll wait for the DVD unless a film must be seen on the big screen. Avatar is one of those films. To date, Avatar has made a zillion dollars in box office worldwide, surpassing Cameron's own Titanic as the biggest grossing film. Well, sort of. In constant dollars, Gone With The Wind is still number one (as of the date of this post). So, I'm a little late in my review, but as I said, it takes a lot for me to venture into a movie theater these days.
Avatar is a visually revolutionary film. I saw the IMAX 3D version, and although the IMAX screen at the theater where I saw the film was much smaller than the other IMAX screens I have seen (Sony Theaters Lincoln Square New York, Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex, Liberty Science Center), it was still an awe inspiring visual experience. James Cameron's combination of live action and CGI characters is the best to date in a feature-length film. With that said, when the story switched between the 'real' scenes and the CGI action, the contrast was a bit jarring and distracting.
A friend of mine cautioned me about seeing Avatar in IMAX 3D. He said his eyes were 'seriously messed up' for a week afterward. I didn't care. James Cameron needed my $15, and nothing was going to stand in my way of supporting this struggling filmmaker. I had no issues with the 3D. Perhaps the smaller screen helped? I would like to see the movie in 'regular D' to judge the difference,because I'm not sure how much the 3D added to Avatar. In any event, there were no 3D gimmicks in the film. In fact, after a bit I didn't even notice, I just got lost in the stunning imagery and flawless motion of the CGI characters. Then there was the story...
The plot of Avatar could be pitched to a movie studio exec as "Dances with Wolves" meets "Pocahontas" in space. It is a basic 'good vs. evil' science fiction / fantasy/ fairy tale best suited to young teens. James Cameron is no dope. This is a blockbuster, and it cost a boat-load of cash to make. Cameron crammed all the elements for worldwide box-office success into Avatar: Action, adventure, romance, good guys, bad guys, and stunning visuals. While the themes are not entirely new, the story is original. Cameron has found huge success with his new and original characters, and he didn't need to 'reboot' (aka 'ruin') a beloved 40 year old movie franchise (like J.J. Abrams did with Star Trek) to do it.
While Avatar is an action movie with a strong romance plot, it also comments on imperialism and environmentalism very heavily. I was very disappointed that the evil characters were portrayed as Americans. Cameron could have very easily made the 'bad guys' an international Earth force consisting of characters of different races and languages, but he chose mostly white characters who spoke American English. Alternatively, the 'bad guys' could have come from a different alien world instead of Earth, but in the film it is plain to see that a group of future Americans have come to the peaceful planet of Pandora to plunder and kill. Uses of the phrases 'shock and awe' and 'fight terror with terror' only reinforce that it is American and Americans killing the beautiful heroes of the movie. I take issue with this because Avatar, despite its visual 3D, does not have multidimensional characters.
The Pandora natives are completely and one hundred percent good and pure. They are peaceful and at one with nature, while the imperialistic humans (Americans) are one hundred percent evil. War mongers and corporate fascists these Americans are. There is no subtlety to the characters, no substance. I have no issue with James Cameron making a statement about the environment and imperialism. The fact is that the United States, Europe, Japan, etc. have committed atrocities in the name of Imperialism in the past, and I'm not suggesting that history be swept under the rug, but to include such a complex theme in a simplistic 'good vs. evil' plot is offensive to me. Again, Cameron could have made the same social commentary with the villains being the United Nations instead of only Americans. Even better, it would have made more sense for the Imperialists to be fictional aliens from another world considering that the protagonists are completely fictional. Either scenario would have told Avatar's morality tale within the confines of the fantasy genre without vilifying the United States. I'm not sure if that was what James Cameron was trying to do, but it can't be undone now.
January 31st, 2010 - 09:46
Yeah, I saw it last night and I agree with many of your points. The “Evil White Guy” chestnut seems to be the safest way to get a political/social message across. OK, we suck. We prefer dirty dollars to a clean soul. We get it, we get it. That said…..
What I would have preferred to have seen is more of a balance in the motivations of the characters. Specifically, let’s take the Giovanna Ribisi guy. He portrays the typical corporate d-bag very well indeed. But what brought him to that point? What drove him to green light the destruction of the very pretty trees? I don’t buy that he is just “a bad guy”, people aren’t just bad. People do bad things because they are driven to do so by internal or external forces. Let’s see that a little bit. Maybe Ribisi’s guy is driven because of personal monetary gain? Maybe he needs the job so much and there are so few out there that he will do anything to keep it? Just fold a little bit of that into the mix and it makes for a much more interesting film.
The Military dude. Here’s my beef. In reality, soldiers and their generals do as their told and accomplish the missions they’re given. Period. That’s their job. So, to render the general guy as a hard-ass driven simply by the need to destroy is, again, silly and simplistic. He had a job to do and I would have preferred to have seen him struggle with the choices he faced between doing his job, what he was trained to do, and controlling the fear he clearly had for Pandora which fueled is drive to wipe them out. He just seemed too simple and over-the-top.
And what’s with movies ending with humans in giant mechanical exoskeletons these days? I just saw District 9, which disappointed me greatly, and it ended virtually the same way. Oh, and Aliens as well (another Cameron flick). Robocop……Star Wars…..
Anyway, are there any fat Nav’i on Panadora? Do they kill the chubby ones at birth? Really, the issue is not even raised in this very politically correct film. A culturally and physically homogenous world is as unhealthy as the fascistic world the mean white folks are from. Even the Ewoks varied in size and shape!
I can go on, but I think I would then be required to start my own blog. Let me just leave it that, like you, I enjoyed the visual experience. However, I was so irritated by the weak acting and major story flaws and trite dialogue that I ultimately was left flat. After I pulled of my 3D Wayfarer sunglasses I looked to Kristie and said, “I saw that.” And that was it. I just “saw” it. I didn’t feel it.
D
January 31st, 2010 - 15:31
I really liked District 9. I thought it was an original take on the ‘visitor’ theme with a good dose of dark comedy… The General in Avatar reminded me of Duke Nukem without the charm. Hopefully, things will get better with “Avatar II: Electric Boogaloo.”
January 31st, 2010 - 18:40
Aaahhh…it was weak,I was never interested though the part of the na’vi was played with gusto and verve and the general had a delightful cameo role!. I didn’t care for the evil ones being US Marines.You could make a case against this movie being anti-american without much effort though the media haven’t called him on that for some reason.
On the plus side,it was refreshing to see michelle rodriguez play against type as a street-wise,tough-talking latina! who knew she had such range!?. As far as movies about soldiers battling the blue man group who live on a Yes album cover,it was serviceable. As art..well…
January 31st, 2010 - 22:25
LOL! I never saw the Blue Man Group. Maybe they DID deserve to die! Do I sense a hint of sarcasm about Ms. Rodriguez? I thought the same thing, but you have to admit, in this role she flew a helicopter. Most of her other roles as a street-wise Latina were car-based.