Avatar Movie Review

Okay… I had a little bit of  a personal vendetta against James Cameron for making me sit through his long ramble at E3, when we didn’t even know what Avatar was, or if it was even a movie or a game. I can see why he was so excited. If I had written a script brought to life the way Avatar has, I would be excited too.

Video gamers will be very familiar with this style of story. Jake Sully is a disabled marine who is sent to the planet Pandora after his brother passed away. The RDA is looking to mine materials off of the planet.  The the local alien species of Pandora, known as the”Na’vi” stand in their way, as the Na’vi’s home sits on top of the largest “Unobtanium” supply on the planet. Within this organization there is a split: the scientists who wish to integrate with the Na’vi community and then convince them to move, and the military who are being pressured by share holders to produce results within a deadline no matter what the cost. Jake is assigned to his own Avatar; a remotely controlled Na’vi. With this, he enters a dream-like state where he is connected to his Avatar, and in essence can live in another body. His assignment is to get close to the Na’vi. You see from the start of the movie that he will become conflicted when the top military officer asks him to secretly relay information to him about the Na’vi in order to learn their weakness, and in return Jake will receive medical attention to obtain the ability to walk again. After being attacked by a larger animal while using his Avatar, Jake is separated from the other scientists and forced to fend for himself after the sun has set. Being unsuccessful, a Na’vi named Neytiri saves him because she receives a sign from the Eywa, the Na’vi’s protector. Jake follows Neytiri to her home where he starts the long and grueling trial to become a man of the tribe. Eventually Jake will have to choose whether to betray the Na’vi who have given him their trust, or the military who promises him a future in the “real world”.

This movie is being shown in 3D, but it is well placed. There are very few, if any, gimmicky effects to show off the fact that it is 3D. Instead, Cameron used it to render the lush environment of Pandora. It has such an immersible effect that it almost feels like you are walking through the forest with the characters. The forest itself is breath taking. Cameron decided to use a lot of bright colors, and much of the plant life has a glow to it.  You will often see the use of the 3D in such ways to showcase bugs flying around, ashes, and water droplets.

The story itself is basic, but executed very well. It draws a lot of real human emotion and decision making into it. The characters are easy to sympathize with and become attached to. The only drawback is that it’s almost 3 hours long. When watching Avatar, it doesn’t make you feel like they should have cut anything out or that it should have been shorter though. You defiantly get your moneys worth. Make sure you do, because seeing it in 3D is a treat.