Avatar (2009)

My hope is that everyone is not only lucky enough to see this film, but to see it in theatres, so that it may be experienced to its full and amazing extent. I know you have heard the hype about Avatar; James Cameron's epic undertaking (he only spent 300 million making it!), but trust me when I say that all the hype and all the rumors about its innovative CGI and revolutionary special effects will not let you down! We, as film-goers really have no reference for what we see in this movie, and I know it will leave you imagining what the future has in store for cinema, just as it did me.

This film's plot is a very basic, and primordial one, focused on only two characters despite a rather large cast. Jake Sully is a wheel-chair bound marine who receives an offer from the government to take up his twin brother's place as a researcher on the planet of Pandora after his brother's sudden death. Pandora holds many mysteries, but much wealth is to be had from it as well, so there are conflicts between those who want to learn from the planet, and those who want to exploit its resources.

A race of native humanoids called the Na'vi dwell in the forests of Pandora, and are thought of as dangerous savages by nearly all the humans who have come to Pandora. Those who have come to study and learn the scientific secrets of the planet, however, venture out of their safe havens with Avatars. These Avatars look like the native Na'vi, and Jake Sully's brother was to have one of his own. Now the Avatar is Jake's, and despite his inexperience and fear of Pandora's dangers, he is thrilled to be free of his wheelchair and able to walk once more.

Neytiri is the daughter of one of the Na'vi clan's chiefs. She is blue skinned, has cat-like eyes, and wears her dark hair dreadlocked like the rest of her people. She also reflects her people's resentment of the humans when she meets Jake, though he counters that with an admiration for her, and an ever-increasing sympathy for her people and their values. The peaceful lives they live in harmony with their planet have great appeal to Jake, and he eventually begins to realize that he too cares about what the Na'vi are fighting to protect. In addition, he has fallen in love with Neytiri, and she with him despite all their differences.

I must say, that at this point, the story will remind you, as it did me, of many other similar movies. You may be thinking Dances With Wolves, but first to pop into my mind is Princess Mononoke, which also contains the environmental themes. James Cameron himself has pointed out the "green" message, just as Hayao Miyazaki pointed his out twelve years ago in Princess Mononoke. Please follow this link to read more on the subliminal undertones of Avatar:
http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/hmg-avatar-hidden-messages.html

So now on to things I didn't like so well about the film! I will not describe the end here, as I know I have probably gushed way too many spoilers as is, but I will say that I did not care for it much, and that it was predictable. I also would have enjoyed more of a back story with the human characters, such as an explanation for why Jake Sully so easily gave up his earthly life in favor of fighting against his own people and betraying all they had done for him. His heart over head thinking was a little beyond belief for me there.

Avatar is rated PG-13 and is a whopping 162 minute film, which I know is longish for some, but it did not bother me. I would gladly have sat through another half hour if that time could have fleshed out those characters that Cameron put on screen just long enough to interest me, but not allow me to really know them. This though, is obviously minor, and is a testament to how wonderful his characters really are. Noteworthy performances come from Sigourney Weaver as Dr. Grace Augustine, and also from Giovanni Ribisi and Michelle Rodriguez. All in all, this film is a work of art and an astounding contribution to cinema.

- Dani