In Theaters: Avatar
The Na'vi aesthetic is largely drawn from a combination of Native American and African traditions, although they seem to speak English (and of course many of them do) with a Caribbean lilt. Their belief system is strictly eco-cratic, the crown jewel of their colony a large mother tree, under which, of course, a motherlode of Unobtainium lies. There is something tremendously, marvelously subversive in imbuing the destruction of a single tree with the world-rocking urgency and pathos that Cameron eventually does.
It is in this middle third that the use of 3-D is both most extraordinary and most germane: there are always half a dozen relevant planes of action in play, and the visual delicacies of Pandora envelop the viewer, creating -- and I'm about to get a little flowery here, so bear down -- a kind of womb which we, like Jake, are loath to leave. Combined with a level of fluidity and tactility I have never before seen in a CGI-scape, it makes for a completely immersive, goggle-eyed, slack-jawed experience. "You should see your faces right now," a fighter pilot played by Michelle Rodriguez says to Jake and Co. as she flies them through a cosmos of floating mountains, and I am certain mine looked about 7 years old. And so when the peace and beauty of Pandora is threatened and then completely obliterated, not just the action but the trauma is quite intimately felt.
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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"