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Avatar (2009) – Movie Review

Director: James Cameron

Screenwriter: James Cameron

Producers: James Cameron, Jon Landau

Studio/s: 20th Century Fox

Production Companies: Lightstorm Entertainment, Dune Entertainment, Ingenious Film Partners

Top Billed Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Wes Studi, Laz Alonso

LOGLINE: Jake Sulley takes on an 'Avatar', an alien body that you project your mind into, to infiltrate the Na'avi to help the mining company persuade them to move off the rescource rich patch they inhabit, but when he falls in love with their princess and the mining company become more and more greedy Jake and his loyal scientist friends must teach the Na'avi how to fight the humans.

VIEWING CIRCUMSTANCES: At the IMAX Cinemas in 3D (IMAX, Darling Harbour).

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Awesome! I had heard a lot of buzz, but hadn't listened closely to any of it so as not to build up an expectation, which was probably best. Shortly after seeing it two of my friends were talking about it and the conversation went something like this: 
A-"Have you seen Avatar?" B-"Are you kidding? How good is it?" A-"I know right?" B-"Ridiculous" A-"Just quietly I think it could be man kinds greatest achievement" B-"Just quietly I think it's the reason man kind exists".
Now, I think that if I had have heard that before I saw it I would've been disappointed. But let's face it, I don't think any movie, probably not even my favourite (Lord of the Rings) could live up to that hype.

STORY: Yes, what you've probably heard is true; the story is the weakest part of an otherwise strong movie. It is unoriginal, on the nose, corny and sometimes plain patronising. Having said that, it's also a ripping tale and mythologically strong. i.e. Even if it isn't original or delicate it's still a fun, meaningful adventure.

PRODUCTION: Breakthrough, brilliant and awesome. On the back of the (also breakthrough) production techniques of Lord of the Rings, Cameron took things to yet another level and single handedly (for better or [more likely] worse) shepherded in a whole new generation of 3D movies. 

PERFORMANCE: Sam Worthington is strong in the lead though I don't think he quite had the American accent down 100% (I'd have preferred if they let him play it straight [Aussie]). I get the feeling that Sigourney's role was maybe a little too easy for her and she might've been erring on the side of boredom. The vocal actors are all strong, led by the best of the lot, Zoe Saldana. Stephen Lang did well with a one dimensional "shapeshifter". Michelle Rodriguez takes my Best in Show award. 

OVERALL: James Cameron can be as subtle as a sledge hammer at times (unobtanium? come one) but the dude can tell a story and as unoriginal as this is it still hit some major mythic chord within me and resonated.

MEETSLINE: Pocahontas/Dances with Wolves (same movie) meets  Independence Day (only humans are the aliens in this one).

FAVOURITE QUOTES: "I see you"
"Run! Definitely run!"
"Sky People cannot learn, you do not see"
"It is hard to fill a cup that is already full."

RECOMMENDED ACCOMPANIMENT: Blue centered-grapefruit

LINKS: Deconstruction to come soon: http://filmdeconstructions.blogspot.com/

RATING:

4 1/2 out of 5 reels of film.

Movie Review by A.B. McBlogsmith the Backwards Cap Film Reviewer

(C) Review Flix 2011