Avatar

Welcome to another episode of The "D" List.

Today's review is Avatar. Written and Directed by James Cameron.

Well ladies, gentlemen and children of all ages, it's finally here. After 15 years of waiting, James Cameron's big blue alien babies have graced our presence on movie screens everywhere. To give this film it's due it's necessary to give some important technological background on it's creation.

It's no secret to anyone that James Cameron is one of Hollywood's greatest auteurs. The proof is in the pudding. Terminator, Aliens, Titanic are some of cinema's greatest examples of entertainment. If you add The Abyss and True Lies that some may call his "lesser" films which I think is certifiably insane, you have a very impressive lineup of storytelling that withstands the test of time. So the thought going through everyone's mind was how can he top the overwhelming success of Titanic. Cameron had the answer. It was Avatar. The problem was the established filmmaking technology could not keep up with the immense capability of his imagination. So he waited and waited and waited until the hardware would come around the bend and reach the expectations his mind set.

Those expectations were an advanced digital motion capture system that also films in 3D. This allowed the actors to actually act while the computer captured their performances. This is no different to how normal CGI is done the exception here is the advances the cameras have when it comes to getting the shot. The end result is far more lifelike than anyone could ever imagine. The other aspect of the production was the fact that Cameron wanted to create an alien world from scratch that pushed the limits of what CGI could accomplish. These visions took time and a lot of money to become a reality hence the long wait to get this film from page to screen.

The question I know everyone wants answered is was this movie worth the wait?

My answer is simply......Yes and No.

The story takes us into the 22nd century. The earth is dying and a planet called Pandora contains an energy source called Unobtainum that can revive earth. The problem is the "local wildlife." Pandora is inhabited by massive cat like beings called Na'Vi. They reside directly under the main source of the element which creates the struggle. Paralyzed marine Jake Sully played by Sam Worthington volunteers to take part in an experimental unit where human DNA is combined with the DNA of a Na'Vi host called an avatar. The human's conscience is then transferred into the avatar. In plain english you have a remote controlled Na'Vi. Sully goes there to learn about the aliens but the military (as they always do) have another assignment for Jake and his avatar.

The rest of the plot will remain a mystery but as you watch Jake's journey you can see it coming a mile away......and it's here ladies and gentlemen where Avatar's mission fails. Before I get to that let me accentuate the positives and there are many.

Now as a personal preference, I detest 3D. I don't see the point in trying to revive a format of cinema that barely had a pulse and furthermore was a subject of ridicule by generation's x,y and z. However, since that was what Cameron set out to do, I felt as a movie reviewer that I had to respect the effort and see the film the way it was intended. So I saw it in IMAX 3D and to describe this movie in 1 word in the visual department......Impressive.

In it's purest form, Avatar is an orgasm for the eyes. The world of Pandora is so massive and rich with detail that you feel like the planet exists. The colors are vibrant and energetic. The creature designs are absolutely unreal. Not since H.R. Giger's Alien designs have I seen such amazing looking beings. The CGI is as first rate as you can get. For all you Star Wars Episode 1,2 and 3 fans who thought the galaxy that Lucas created was off the hook then I strongly suggest you re-evaluate your opinions because Pandora outshines those designs by leaps and bounds. The sound design is impressive and the action is equally on par with it's look. Cameron no doubt accomplished his goal when it came to pushing the special effects boundary.

This helps and hurts Avatar. As a member of the audience you immerse yourself in this unbelievable spectacle that it distracts you from the basic and harsh truth that the story is both transparent and scarily predictable. Avatar falls into the famous S.O.S (style over substance) category. The disappointing thing is that I know Cameron wasn't trying to jedi mind trick his audience with flashy visuals and mind bending action. All of that stuff makes the film a treat. I just felt betrayed that one of today's most talented and innovative storytellers couldn't come up with a better reason to push the limits of film technology. I think of District 9 as the best example. One of the best films of the summer and maybe the year and it didn't take a decade and a half to make. Better still the story was fresh and new.

On the 5 star scale. Avatar gets 4 stars with a split "Worth Every Penny/Go See It" recommendation. This movie has everything a sci-fi action junkie could ask for with 1 very important exception. Originality.

That's all for today. My next review will be Up In The Air. Jason Reitman's follow up to the very OVERRATED Juno.

Until Next Episode....."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"