In Theaters: Avatar
Using motion capture technology and an entirely digitally created world, Cameron sets the majority of Avatar on a distant planet called Pandora, an Edenic realm populated by a people known as the Na'vi, who are ten feet tall, have large, slanted amber eyes, goat-like ears, long, agile tails and skin that's a rippling, robin's egg blue. Much of what you see on Pandora is human- and earth-like enough -- from the expressive Na-vi features to mountains that float and lemurs with six arms instead of two -- that Cameron creates an interesting visual tension in the viewer, who is invited to marvel at both the unbelievable strangeness and the equally incredible verisimilitude at the same time.
We arrive on Pandora with a paraplegic Marine named Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), who has been chosen to join the Avatar program after his twin brother's sudden death. Jake's identical DNA makes him the obvious choice to pick up his brother's role as the human "driver" behind the Na'vi avatar that had been generated for him. Run by a hard-nosed, ciggie-smoking scientist named Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver), the Avatar program represents one school of thought about how to "win the hearts and minds" of a foreign people: learn to look like them, talk like them; study their ways. Operating out of the same base on Pandora is an American military operation that is interested in the scientific approach only to the extent that it gets them closer to uprooting the Na'vi and pillaging their supply of "Unobtainium" (yuk, yuk), a natural resource that will ease Earth's energy crisis (it's 2154 and we're basically hosed). Initially, both approaches are proposed as equally suspect.
Locked safely in a sort of hyperbaric chamber and in a fugue, semi-conscious state, Jake is able to inhabit his Na'vi body like his own; restored to his upright position with not only functioning legs but a tail for ballast, our first look at the Na'vi world and people is via Jake's bounding, incredulous leaps around the Avatar base. Not much interested in science or the Avatar program, Jake seems strictly in it for the LOLs; if anything, he is more attuned to the lien a Marine Colonel named Quaritch (Stephen Lang) puts on his military pedigree, pressing him to use his avatar privileges to feed the unit and a corporate snake played by Giovanni Ribisi the necessary intel. On his second outing with the Avatar team, Jake is separated from his group, has a terrifying encounter with several hordes of Pandoran fauna, and is rescued by a Na'vi female named Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). Thus begins the middle third (that is, hour) of the film, in which Neytiri is slowly drawn to Jake, and then attempts to integrate him into her tribe.
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Comments
Avatar is so fuckin awesome, it makes Delgo look like Battle For Terrs!
I still doubt I'll love this movie even with all of the praise it's been getting. I'll watch it when it comes to HBO, unless someone drags me to see it in theaters.
And I seriously doubt this will live on in the history books the way, King Kong has, maybe more like the way Titanic has or The Terminator.
Canada's image lies in tatters
We should curb our nationalism and pride a bit.
I saw it yesterday and I'm going to se it again soon! It was the single best film experience I have ever had. I saw it in IMAX which is definitely the best way to watch it. Avatar should be the next Star Wars.
This gave me a huge headache – prepare for hours of 3D by doing this: Tictacdo Also, There's no action until the end – a huge build-up for nothing. Like Titanic all over again...
I just saw Avatr for the first time tonight and I say first time because I will be seeing it many more times. Awesome movie in so many ways. Great imagery, animation, plot, moral, action, love story between man, animal and creature, man's obsession with greed and violence, overcoming and more. Blam!
The 3-D effect made me want to puke – I was so dizzy
For me, the best parts of the movie by far were the human segments with Sam Worthington. No matter how amazing/revolutionary/mind-blowing CGI or animation is, it tends to bore me senseless.
Majean said, "And I seriously doubt this will live on in the history books the way, King Kong has, maybe more like the way Titanic has or The Terminator."
Titanic is the highest grossing movie of all time. Terminator is a well-loved movie. Sounds like Avatar is in good company. There is no doubt that Avatar will be remembered for a long time the way Star Wars has. My only fear is that someone will make an even more spectacular movie. Even if that happens we will all be winners.
Right on the nose. This movie had me laughing, crying and wanting to fight for what is right. No other movie has ever gotten me so emotionally involved. It's about time they started making movies this great.
James Cameron will be "King of the Universe" with his film "Avatar"