Avatar 2009

Nat reviewed Avatar (2009)

It was a brilliantly orchestrated cinematic experience (despite doubts)

I have to admit something before i start this review: i fell asleep during the first part of the film. The introduction of the humans going into space was by far too long, the script has absolutely no weight behind it (even taking into account its a blockbuster) and i did seem to think there was no redemption from the 30 minutes or so of what was just hellish and felt like it was written by a computer calculated to write your 2* sci fi thriller. chain smoking sigorney weaver waking from her capsule (an absolute trite pandering on spoof of alien?) was enough to send me to slumber even when i had paid an extortionate £10 for the cinema ticket.

i seem to remember in a very early guide to film studies that the audience like an extremely long film during depressingly economic times ( you get more for what you paid for philosophy) and that it was no surprise that the fantasy world of Oz made it really big in the 1930's depression. The beginning is just full of gristle - just brace yourself til you get to the meat.

Avatar - is somewhat "were not in Kansas no more, Toto" with a 20th century learning embedded on top of this (no more mistreatment of little people, or animals). And rather than our great escape from the middle of nowhere (or to be exact, the centre of the USA, Kansas) were escaping from the planet earth - to realise that the last 20th century learning of factual progression has been too much and only lead us into warfare, the credit crunch (but we believed so much in you, economy!) and the finite realisation were actually destroying the planet not making it better. So instead of living amongst the munchkins and fairies we get the suspended disbelief that the human race is now in a primitive realm thats guided by the kind of elusive 'sounds' of the planet (a pre-christian society). I personally, found this abstraction kind of nice as I am a fan of The Doors and if you listen deep enough you'll hear Jim Morrison prophesying the same kind of shamanistic abilities as the blue people in Avatar (i've actually forgotten what their called, oh and note the film Apocalypse Now for further research). It seems fundamentally to me a kind of environment based ordeal where were really facing up to the reality of the 21st century. Whilst i would of cut the beginning to be 3 minutes long i think their is a great deal of depth to this film and its script (however slated) that does deserve a re-watching.

The films cinematography (best illustrated with 3D glasses, of course) reminded me of watching The Lion King for the first time when i was about 8 and how it was hyped as the best thing in cinematic history for its ability to morph cartoon with CG. I think we'll see a lot more of it and soon get superseded by something more marvelous. But, like The Lion King your fixed in your seat and embraced by the beauty of nature itself, however remote from the actuality of nature we are in a cinema, its an absolutely mesmerizing treat to watch.

If you listen close enough it is extremely interrogating of US and British politics, and works completely on two levels, if you want a sit back and munch some popcorn, watch a film type film its there, if you want a film to make you re-think possibilities in your head and put new perspectives in there then its all in the bag. This film deserves a 10/10 but is faulted by its terrible beginning.

oh and on a side note - did anyone else read the possibilities of a virtual reality as a way of soul redemption ? is james cameron actually telling us were being politicized by playing computer games (particularly MMORPG's) by his effusion of the fact that even though their on a different planet they are in fact simulating the characters also ? (couldn't they of done that from Earth?) i don't know!! haha, perhaps i'm delving too far (the landscapes are similar to World of Warcraft!)

A private user reviewed Avatar (2009)

Avatar

If there is an award for cutting edge technology in a film then it should go to Avatar. If there is an award for special effects then it should go to Avatar. If there is an award for the best looking movie, best visuals, then it should go to Avatar. If there is an award for best movie then Avatar shouldn't be in the top 10. Why? Because a best movie has to offer more than just good looks.

The plot is full of holes and the dialogue is just so-so. It has been likened to Dances With Wolves but I can also see Lord of The Rings in Space with man portrayed as flawed, the planet being polluted and trees having a key role.

Avatar is benefiting from the Cameron effect and is hyped way beyond it's merits. I hope the A.A. don't get blinded by the hype and give it a best movie award. It would be demeaning to the great movies that have gone before.

sah reviewed Avatar (2009)

Visually exciting---yet mostly mediocre.

Thoroughly enjoyable eye candy--but not groundbreaking in any way; just a natural progression of incredibly realistic CGI.

The narrative was admittedly lifted from Dances with Wolves; no surprises here, just fast paced typical Hollywood storytelling--the impressive visuals elevate above most conventional films.

A private user reviewed Avatar (2009)

Avatar

A work of art to look at. Incredibly beautiful and despite the length of the film, admiring the look never gets old. The story and characters though were a swirl of Star Wars, Dancing with Wolves and Superman fending off kryptonite. This one film you must see in the theater because viewing at home will simply not provide the full effect.

A private user reviewed Avatar (2009)

Avatar

Watching Avatar felt like watching Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park or Star Wars for the first time when I was a kid. Back then I didn’t even really realize I was watching a movie, I felt more like one of the characters and a part of the story. Watching Avatar was like that. The 3D technology Cameron has perfected over the years makes you dive into the story so deep, you feel everything more effectively, just like when you were a child. After the movie was over my body was shaking and my heart was bounding from excitement. There’s that feeling, that high again, the reason why I love movies above all thing.

Avatar is director James Cameron’s first film in 12 years after Titanic, which was the most expensive movie of it’s time. So true to his grand style Avatar is no exception. It is clear from the start that this movie was very expensive. That being said, Cameron is one of those people who knows how to spend money wisely and in the right places. In this movie the money has gone mostly to CGI. And God knows how much money is spend on enhancing the 3D technology alone. I say money well spent, because Avatar is not only one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen, but it is also a major breakthrough in 3D technology. The movie is so beautiful in fact that at times I was moved to near tears just by it’s beauty alone.

Although Avatar is highly entertaining it is also very anti-war and green. I might even say that the movie has a conscience. I truly admire the highly imaginative world Cameron has created for Avatar. It feels like he has thought of every tiny little thing. It’s not every day you get to see a bunch of blue people running around half naked in the jungle and not think it’s completely ridiculous. And this is one of those days.

I’m not saying that the movie is flawless or that there were no negatives, sure they were. A cynic might even say that Avatar is a movie filled with crazy patriotic soldiers, bad dialogue and a bunch of tree huggers. But who cares when you feel like you’ve just been injected with a doze of the most exquisite movie heroine. The only really negative thing about Avatar is that the movie is not meant to be watched in 2D or from you shitty TV screen, no matter how big it is. I’m already a little sad that I will never be able to see Avatar again, at least not in the right way, unless I go to the theatre again.

Oh wait, what’s that ringing sound? Oh, it’s the Oscar bells.

Dragonleo reviewed Avatar (2009)

Review from the comment

The Avatar-hype has been living a life of its own ever since the movie first hit the theaters - and for a good reason.
The movie is visually stunning. The world of Pandora featured breathtaking views and beautiful scenery, and blend of CGI with real life was just about seamless. The story, which has been the major source of criticism, wasn't on par with the visuals, but the world inhabited by the Na'vi was in all ways a fascinating and a beautiful creation - worthy of much praise. If I could only see this in a theater in 3D...

J_Jammer reviewed Avatar (2009)

Review from the comment

The visuals were amazing, fantastic. It was creatively innovative and awe-inspiring. The story was good, the acting was good, the directing (of course) was very good. It was one of those movies that did everything it needed to do to become a hit. I did not like how long it was and I also did not like the title song. I will not see it again in one setting. I think for a great film the posters SUCK....but James C. should be very pleased with himself and those that call it racist should shut up, please.