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Amazing graphics and action sequences and the overall pace of the movie make it worth the trip to the theater to see, despite the pedestrian story (and GCI love scene).
The scale of this movie is terrific, everything is BIG and along with the action, is overwhelming enough that I did not even have time to think about the ordinary/predictable script. I do not think that has happened to me before (at least for this long during the film).
Sigourney Weaver is good as well and the rest does not matter.
In short go see it.
I wish I had seen it at the IMAX theater, I think it would have been worth it.
btw the 3D was good but the overall look of the film was a bit dark, I wonder if anyone else sees that at their screening.
thanks
Phil
Follow Ups:
Big hassle. Waiting past the weekend to avoid the crowd, but there was still a crowd. Lined up an hour ahead of time for a good seat.
Well worth it. Spectacular visuals. The story is fine. Hard as it is to believe, there was no lull in 2 hours, 40 minutes. The IMAX screen seems like it would be too big to take in, but after it starts it seems just the right size. The geography, flora and fauna of Pandora are beautiful in ways that really do seem to set a new standard.
The single minded military villain was a little too single minded, almost a parody of the genre. But that's a nit in what was a memorable one-of-a-kind movie experience.
After all of the hype can any film live up to expectations? Well, YES. While one could always nit-pick this film's derivative elements and find direct similarities with other well known screen productions, the themes in Avatar are universal, as are most cautionary tales told through historical allegory.
While Cameron's story is familiar, good stories that expose a tendency towards nationalistic greed, race hatred and cultural disfranchisement deserve to be told, retold and embellished in a lot of different ways. One of the side benefits is that, in spite of the unearthly beauty of Avatar's distant world effects, the film is very much grounded in our own American history.
What we have in Avatar is an allegorical tale depicting the cruelty of those who seek fortune through conquest and perceived technical superiority. The ironic symbolism of mistreating indigenous tribes (debasing their native culture, religion & lifestyle) through forced relocation and indoctrination can't be missed (similarities with the Trail of Tears and indian campaigns of the 19th century; indian school christian indoctrination, etc.). Into this are mixed thematic elements from Dances With Wolves and Cameron's Aliens and even the Abyss in an awe-inspiring landscape heavily influenced by Roger Dean artistry.
Avatar is a beautifully crafted film with solid historical grounding transposed to the SF medium (I caught a screening of the 3D version, so my assessment is based upon that rather than 2D or IMAX). While James Cameron's balls-to-the-wall screenwriting style may seem a bit heavy handed in places (replete with scene chewing antagonist stereotypes, less than subtle dialogue and often predictable motivations) Avatar is never less than a passionate, well made, highly entertaining film-going experience.
Highly recommended. Also, this is a film that should turn out to be a demo quality BD. I'd subjectively rate Avatar ****/***** (four of five stars).
Cheers,
AuPh
A yes soundtrack was missing, that was my toughts afte seing the floating mountains is Roger Dean all over Pandora.
The special effects were fantastic but I wasn't particularly happy with the plot and it's complete indictment of human nature. E.g. the natives apparently had no idea about the offensive capabilities of the humans so the "carrot and stick" approach had no chance of working.... what happened to the intimidation tactics ? the "natives" should have had far more "respect" for human military capabilities prior to the attack on the giant tree.
The "campaign" to attack the planet's "brain" was also less than convincing. Once the decision was made to wipe it out, it should have been done with standoff weapons; but than again, I guess you would not have had such a spectacular battle sequence without a little personal involvement.
A huge effort was made to make it look semi-plausible "technologically" but the "technical" holes still seemed a bit much (e.g. Anti-grav rocks in the sky ????).
I also have to wonder how it would work in 2D on Blu-ray ? I imagine it'll be a while before I have a 3-D capable display and player.....
Because the whole experience was so spectacular - I might even go to see it again at the iMax - I wouldn't like to start picking holes in the plot as it would be possible to do this with virtually every film ever made.
That being said, the one glaring illogical aspect of the film was that the main avatar was a trained marine, and whereas you would have expected the natives to attack the humans with bows and arrows, you would also have expected a marine to have devised another strategy based on his knowledeg of the weaponry and perhaps some weaknesses, as obviously, bows and arrows against guns/machines is futile.
When he led the natives into a slaughter I did kind of think he must have left his brain in his real body.
Today is a gift - that's why it's called the Present.
Best Regards,
Chris Redmond.
The experience was spectacular- plot be damned. Really. It's like the blues. Same three chords. Execution is what matters. So if this plot was similar to any number of others, if the dialogue was clunky, that's not the point. The point was to get lost in a visionary world. The execution was incredibly successful. I will probably see it again on IMAX 3D. The uniqueness of this movie is not the plot, nor is that what will be remembered.
except last time I tried to plan this; IMAX abruptly changed movies.
Yep, took my ex's son to see it on Saturday after booking it over a month in advance in order to get the two best seats at the iMax.
This really is a film which demands the big screen and I'd say which also demands 3D. The only other film I'd watched with the new clear (non red/green) 3D glasses was the last in the 'Final Destination' franchise where the 3D effect was something of a distraction if anything.
With Avatar, after the first few minutes of adjusting to the effect I just became more involved in the film, and in general the iMax + 3D + spectacular landscapes of Pandora resulted in an immersive movie experience which cannot be recommended enough.
Hi-brow critics will no doubt pick holes in the well trodden path the story follows, with elements of Dances with Wolves, Rambo, Rocky, Alien - take your pick - but a pox on anyone who gives this film the merest semblance of a thumbs down.
Superb.
Today is a gift - that's why it's called the Present.
Best Regards,
Chris Redmond.
The old 3-D never worked for me. I never thought those little hologram pictures looked anything other than blurry and could never see those graphics things where you were supposed to stare (or not stare) at them and something would appear from the confusion.
So... does it work?
bleep
Just got back, it was well worth wearing the glasses (and paying extra $ plus waiting in line to get the best seats) to see it in IMAX 3D.
...execution, and Aesop's fable-like message(s).Do go see it, as Cameron lifts the bar again!
Edits: 12/21/09
though the glasses were pretty cheap at the theater I went to
it did have an immersive effect
thanks
Phil
And I generally hate 3D. And I usually find the glasses a pain to wear OVER mu own specs.
But if you're gonna see it, see it in 3D, preferably IMAX 3D.
so as not to fight crowds over the weekend. IMAX for sure. Manohla Dargis in today's NY Times gave it something of a rave review. Can't wait.
It's worth going the IMAX 3D route - it was certainly exciting.
I loved Pandora - heck, I wanna go there.
But Big Jim's story and character chops remain woefully lacking. If only his scripting abilities were on a par with his talent to take us to other worlds...how special THAT would be.
I'm also way tired of his military grunts and his baddies...oh, why bother. Avatar is what it is. But I loved Pandora.
compared to the one you visited...
"I loved Pandora - heck, I wanna go there."
That is a good way to put it. I agree what an awesome planet.
Also, big tree huh?
:^D
I was guessing the trunk was over 500 feet in diameter and another terrific effect.
thanks
Phil
I had understood that Cameron purposefully mandated the exhibition prints be a bit lighter than normal to compensate.
The presentation I saw was digital, and maybe that made the diff.
AMAZING tree. Could only guess at the scale - 500' may be on the low side.
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