SRC 01/10: Avatar
Shaun Gordon
Film review: Avatar (2009)
Director: James Cameron
While it can be said that I have a definite checklist which has a strict criteria for me to give a film a thumbs up, at the same time I am open to looking at the film as a complete entity before rendering my decision. In most cases I am fairly apt to like science-fiction/ dystopian tales (Water World and The Post Man being the exception to the rule. Sorry Kevin Costner but I’d like my $15.25 back! Prices scaled to cost of living increases).
I am the first to admit that I think James Cameron is a self-aggrandizing overpaid pothead with a heightened sense of self importance. However, he did an incredible job with Avatar. Normally I wouldn’t commend Sam Worthington or Zoe Saldana (because I don’t view them as particularly strong actors) for their performances, but in this instance the entire film was set against a blue screen, and actors weren’t privy to the finished product until close to the films release. In short, they did a great job at playing finger puppets and make believe with tennis balls.
I found the story arch rather contrived and somewhat reminiscent of Star Wars, which in turn is the poor man’s version of Akira Kurosawa’s “Shichinin No Samurai”, but even with those bits of information in tow, you can’t help but watch the visual mastery that is Avatar and say: “Wow!”
Synopsis: Wounded veteran replaces dead twin in scientific exploration of foreign world, under the auspices of a cloned entity that is destined to integrate and eventually lead the alien species in a plight against “science”, which in this instance is masked as capitalism- or the Bush administration’s entire catalogue of foreign policy; visa vie the Iraq War. Of course there’s the supporting cast, who did an outstanding job of aspiring beyond the mediocrity that was their scripted dialogue: Sigourney Weaver, Giovanni Ribisi, Stephen Lang. And finally, if you’re going to change the landscape of movie making, why not make it a political and spiritual statement against the previous administration- the film definitely had the “if you’re not with us, you’re against us” credo echoing in the foreground.
All that aside- Avatar (in 3D) is a mind blowing adventure that lets you escape into a new world, where every detail from flora to fornication (I found this scene really humorous, because all I could think was… What did they do with those tails?…) transcribed beautifully on the screen. I don’t necessarily salute James Cameron as a director, but rather an enthusiast of the arts- as this movie was an homage to the amazing artists who contributed towards creating the jaw dropping world of Pandora.
Summation: Avatar is worth every penny of the $15 ticket price, just to see the details. Heck this movie would even make Stevie Wonder whisper “I see you!”
Thumbs up.
8/10 stars
Lori Gordon
Film review: Avatar (2009)
Director: James Cameron
As with many good sci-fi narratives, the focus is on the society rather than the individual. In this case, Jake is our protagonist, and Neytiri his strong and willful companion. The world of Pandora is a wild place, portraying a fantastic phosphorescent landscape that transports you to a location where the citizens appreciate and honor the land. The parallels of the American money-making war machine and the native, peaceful cohabitants – the Na’vi, is a heartbreaking reminder that the drive of the dollar often brings destruction and catastrophe where there needn’t be any. I won’t spend any length of time discussing the technological breakthroughs; save to say that I watched this film on the IMAX in 3D and it was spectacular – continuously breathtaking. I felt wholly transported, and enjoyed every minute of the ride. My moment of joy in this case sprung from the moments in the story that addressed how human beings and the earth are all connected. That there always needs to be a balance, and existing harmoniously isn’t as impossible as we often feel it is.
9/10 stars
Sibling Rivalry Cinema | 
January 25, 2010 7:08 am | 
Comments (0)
