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| A Na'vi in Avatar |
James Cameron is not a filmmaker who does things by halves. As the trailer for Avatar reminds us - in big, bold, blue letters – he has previously made Terminator, Aliens, Terminator 2, True Lies and Titanic (understandably missing out Piranha Part 2: The Spawning if it’s tagline ‘The terror is back...but this time it flies!’ is anything to go by). The reported $300 million it cost just makes it another addition to his many expensive movies.
Sam Worthington plays Jake Sully, a wheelchair-bound ex-marine who gets the opportunity to visit the distant planet Pandora on a mission originally planned for his cleverer brother, who is killed before shipping out. He is linked to an avatar, a genetically grown half-human/half-Na’vi (Pandora’s humanoid race) and upon exploring the world, gets mixed up between the interests of the corporation, who want to mine the precious metal which lies under the Na’vi village, Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang), who wants to go in all guns blazing, and the Na’vi themselves, which includes Neytiri (Zoe Saldena), who he takes rather a shine to.
Visually, Avatar is very original and – overall – outstanding. Nearly 60% of the film is computer generated and it is all very impressive (whether there will be cracks in the digital seams 10 or 20 years from now, it’s hard to say), but despite all that technology and, no doubt, hard work, I just wasn’t sucked in by it like I imagined I would be - even with it being 3-D. Hmm... 3-D...well, I was as unimpressed as usual. I still see it as a gimmick, perhaps better suited to gaming, and at times I did find myself thinking ‘That would be a lovely shot if these bloody glasses weren’t in the way.’
The script was much less original than the visuals and surprisingly clichéd in places. It’s as if the CGI had taken so much effort, Cameron couldn’t really be arsed to go above and beyond with the basic plot points. I liked the sentiment, that all nature is connected and the army and greedy corporation are the bad guys, etcetera, etcetera, but it seemed a bit forced and over sentimental.
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| Michelle Rodriguez as Trudy Chacon in Avatar |
Worthington plays his protagonist role well enough, but I found his narration was another part of the lazy writing. The rest of the cast are good, especially Weaver, a scientist trying to use the avatar’s to find a diplomatic solution with the Na’vi. Stephen Lang is also quality and is very entertaining, despite being a slightly clichéd villain.
Perhaps it was all too much to take in on first viewing, perhaps I was looking forward to it too much, perhaps I would prefer it in 2-D. But the fact remains, Avatar was, although far from bad, a huge disappointment - however, I do seem to be in the minority with that opinion.
Avatar
Write Commentby Jared Jan 29, 2010, 12:00:35 amWent to see this tonight. The first time i've seen a film in proper 3D (I'm not counting old-school films like Jaws 3D etc). Forgive me if I sound like a kid but: FAWKIN' HELL! IT'S PROPER GOOD INNIT? I MEAN, THE FILM ISN'T BAD BUT THE NEW TECHNOLOGY IS AMAZING! CINEMA HAS CHANGED FOREVER!!!
by MollyQueen Jan 29, 2010, 12:26:11 amI want an avatar.
by NS Jan 29, 2010, 12:54:10 amForgive me if I sound like a kid but: FAWKIN' HELL! IT'S PROPER GOOD INNIT? I
I thought it were brill an 'all ! Dialogue was tripe but who cares. Visually spectacular.
by Nutty Sis Jan 29, 2010, 09:01:25 amWhite Western male saves the noble savage race through being in some way 'more blessed' than they are and also better than them at all the things they do best. Pah.
Loved the experience though.
by theonelikethe Jan 29, 2010, 09:53:34 amWhite Western male saves the noble savage race through being in some way 'more blessed' than they are and also better than them at all the things they do best. Pah.
this is why i don't want to see it, because i know i'll get annoyed.
but it looks so damn pretty. hmm.
by Mr BRJ Jan 29, 2010, 10:22:26 amWhite Western male saves the noble savage race through being in some way 'more blessed' than they are and also better than them at all the things they do best. Pah.
Dont worry tolt, the hero is wheelchair bound when he isnt plugged into his avatar body so that makes it OK for us lefties to watch it without feeling sick (although i still did a bit).
The story/script/characters/narrative are all complete utter utter shite. My brain was asleep and annoyed, even if my eyes were interested.
I'm no expert but i'm not sure '3D' is not the correct name for this kind of cinema. Seems to me like when your watching they create depth by making one 2D object appear closer than the other which isnt exactly 3D, but more like a photoshop file with the layers seperated and put at different distances from the viewer. Hurts my head tbh.
Maybe i'm just sour and i havent forgiven cameron for titanic.
4/10
by NS Jan 29, 2010, 10:39:44 amspoiler alert !!
Worst message in the movie was (other than humans are a virus and we should all be ashamed of ourselves) - It's ok to forgives an ass hole boyfriend if he gets a nice car
Infiltrate tribe on false premise - steals tribesmans woman - reveals secrets of tribe to aggressors - gets tribes home destroyed, many tribesman slaughtered including her own father but when he rolls into town with dragon equivelent of farrari or whetever , all is forgiven. Stupid cow. double pah.
Not bad for a remake of Fern Gully tho'
by New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co. Jan 29, 2010, 12:45:21 pmI thought it was Smurfahontas?
I've heard lots of people say it looks amazing, but everything else about it (plot, politics, script) sounds quite dodgy. Think I might save my 3D cherry for Tron.
Best review of Avatar I've heard so far was a four word wonder from a guest on Marc Maron's WTF podcast:
"'Unobtanium'? Go fuck yourself."
by Daysleeper Jan 29, 2010, 02:46:54 pmThe story is shocking for all of the reasons stated above. Absolute tedium. It's too long as well. Most of the scenes of them poncing around the enchanted forest should have been cut.
The 3D does look good (but I hope that it stays a fad), but I found I got eye ache and had to take off my glasses now and again to rest them.
by beatmastabill Jan 30, 2010, 07:14:08 pm
by Zuhaib Feb 07, 2010, 10:44:32 pmI went to see Avater yesterday in 2-D, I can see what you're saying but I gotta disagree, in my opinion there wasn't one thing I could fault, I enjoyed it from start to finish and as a scriptwriter I thiought that the script was well written, you can see why it became the biggest film of all time, it combines different genres, it's a love story as well as an adventure, oh yeah now I want an avater!
by 44ton Feb 08, 2010, 07:10:22 amdisapointing,overhyped.how this film made sooooo much money is beyond me,
by Nutty Sis Feb 08, 2010, 09:23:52 amWow, for a scriptwriter Zuhaib you really use a whole lotta commas!I went to see Avater yesterday in 2-D, I can see what you're saying but I gotta disagree, in my opinion there wasn't one thing I could fault, I enjoyed it from start to finish and as a scriptwriter I thiought that the script was well written, you can see why it became the biggest film of all time, it combines different genres, it's a love story as well as an adventure, oh yeah now I want an avater!
by Jared Feb 08, 2010, 02:47:53 pmThe queen of LeftLion punctuation and grammar strikes again.
by Samyouwell Feb 19, 2010, 11:35:28 amI finally dragged my sorry ass to see this last night and what a load of old shit I though it was.
Great special effects I agree. What I dont understand is if they spent millions and millions of special effects, why on earth didnt they spen a bit more on script and storyline. I know its a 12 but I knew exactly what was going to happen after about 2 minutes of the film. No twists or turns, some of the most cliched writing I have ever seen in a film. If you were blind and went to see it you would probably think its the worst film you had ever (not) seen. The most infuriating thing about it was the subtext. White man saves race of savages and becomes their deity.as a scriptwriter I thiought that the script was well written,
What do you write scripts for Zuhaib Playschool? You gotta be kidding me right. How many good lines from decent films were stolen and used in totally the wrong context in relation to characters and film setting. Also it was so predictable an unborn baby would have known exactly what was going to happen. All the main concepts were pretty much lifted out of other films such as The Matrix & Dune. Absolute rubbish...
by Deceased Feb 19, 2010, 11:44:16 amdisapointing,overhyped.how this film made sooooo much money is beyond me,
'Cos it costs more to see :)
Good effects
Average film
Only worth one oscar, certainly not best film
by Samyouwell Feb 19, 2010, 11:47:33 am
I just found thise quote on the wiki pages about the film..
'In 1994, director James Cameron wrote a 80-page script for Avatar reportedly in just two weeks'
Maybe, justy maybe he should have spent a bit more time on the script, thinking of a few twists and turns and some interesting character development but no. Throw millions at it in special effecst and people will pay to see anything...
by Jared Feb 19, 2010, 01:44:07 pm'In 1994, director James Cameron wrote a 80-page script for Avatar reportedly in just two weeks'
It took him two weeks to find this in google?
http://cbl.orcein.net/pocahontas/misc2/script.htm
Then 'find and replace' a few people and place names? Slow bast...
