This movie is seriously Ammmaaaazzzinnnggg and I'm saying that now after seeing it twice. Both times in 3D, the second time in Imax 3D (a bigger screen really makes a huge difference..lol) and what I walked away with both times was an appreciation for the art and vision that appears on screen (not necessarily the special effects). In fact, upon second viewing, I really assumed that my mind would forgo the "ohh and ahhs" about the photo realistic CG work at hand. In essence it did, but this time I was looking closer for the flaws and honestly, there isn't a single second of this movie that takes you out of the fantasy. There isn't a single second of it that is flawed and that is to James Cameron's credit.
For any lover of film, you know that 9 times out of 10 a directors ambition gets the best of their intentions. Say, "Van Helsing" for instance "District 9" which I detest but everyone seems to love and the recent "Daybreakers" where the premise is bounty less, but the execution renders it a heaping piece of horse shit. Avatar on the other hand, promises and delivers on a premise that seems impossible to visually conceptualize. I would say until Avatar, the closest we have seen to the seamless transition of people and essentially animation is "300" or "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (j/k) where the movie took on an avant-garde style that lent itself to the treatment. Well Avatar blows anything you have seen out of the water and it is hands down the best use of 3D I have ever seen in a movie. No gimmicks, no arrows or bullets flying out at you....the choices with the 3D are well thought out and add a texture to the film that renders it organic instead of forced. It is the use of 3D that draws you into the experience and makes you feel as if Pandora is home. Watching for the second time, I tried to imagine sitting through "Avatar" in 2d format and I have to say that I think I would enjoy it just as much.
Much has been made about the familiarity of the story and yes, I would have to agree with a lot of the talking points, but what is novel about THIS particular story is how it comes by way of the full force of Hollywood. Its not typical to go into a big blockbuster movie (the most expensive in fact) and expect to receive a timely message about war, colonialism, xenophobia, and greed at the expense of natural resources and the indigenous. But all it takes it a flip through Newsweek or Time and you can't help but notice the obvious metaphorical markers for the war in Iraq, the Congo, actually most civil rights issues in Africa, the Amazon and any other third world region in the world who is at a risk of being overthrown by western ideology of corporatism. On a more intimate level, its also the story of feeling stifled or crippled as main character "Jake Sully" does until he finds a purpose that allows him to soar for lack of a better phrase into the man that he so deems. That may or may not be a story thread that many identify with. But I was engulf in the subtle changes "Jake Sully's" character undergoes as he ultimately learns the true nature and therefore meaning behind his "alternate reality." Jake finds new life in his new adventure, and that is something that we can all identify with.
Avatar is soo good, that I fear that it will spark the heavy handed use of CG in film as a rule instead of an exception. As well, there has been a lot of talk about making every movie 3D which I feared long before "Avatar" made its debut. But now, I can see the gimmick....I mean tool being use on anything and everything....soon we will be seeing Jennifer Aniston in 3D. As well, this isn't the last time we see such incarnations. Although there have been talks of a sequel (which I think will ruin Hollywood in its own way) - there really isn't any use for one as I am sure we will see similar renderings from this point on til kingdom come and since the formula was wildly successfull. Get ready to see this heavy handed emphasis on special effects explode. Which is a shame because for all the technical snafu that went into making "Avatar" the whole ordeal remains organic in that it doesn't try to hardwire a soul into the mix. Cameron took great pains to capture all elements of his performers so that his vision could be as real as possible or rather authentic. Frankly, the law of diminishing returns dictates that those who come after and who can afford such technology, won't be so careful.
Really what I imagine now is that every movie will look like "The Polar Express" and since the technology lends itself to manipulating performances, I am sure that we will see such great legends as "James Dean" and "Marilyn Monroe" star in pictures aside Miley Cirus and Zac Ephron. What a sad concept that will ultimately be the death of Hollywood. What a great movie to cheer on the destruction of it all.
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