I wasn't completely aware of this movie until Comic Con. Sure, I knew James Cameron was the director, but I had no idea what it was about. But that massive mech-like AMP suit on the convention floor sure got my attention. Then I had the chance to see James Cameron himself, talking about the film at a panel with Peter Jackson. From that point on I took note of the steady stream of marketing, building up the hype. I even got familiar with the world of Pandora while getting an early sneak peak at the video game. It was then that I realized the scope of this film. Unlike most current movies, Avatar is an original concept. It's not based on a comic book nor is it some remake of an old movie or TV show. This is a completely new world, complete with unique flora and fauna. The movie definitely captures the sense of wonder experienced by the characters as they see this world for the first time. This is made all the more impressive by the top-notch CG "performance capture" and immersive 3D photography. But I never got the sense that the film was showboating its visuals; they were just part of the story. While the world of Pandora is truly original, the story feels a bit recycled. It's basically a sci-fi retelling of the Pochahontas/John Smith tale. The RDA (the humans) are after a rare type of mineral called Unobtainium. It just so happens that the local Na'vi tribe reside on a large deposit of this MacGuffin-like resource. Conflict ensues. The similarities between the Na'vi and Native Americans are hard to overlook. Hey, Wes Studi even plays one of the Na'vi elders. But even if the story is a bit too familiar, that doesn't make the movie any less appealing. At nearly three hours long, I was afraid this film would drag. But that wasn't the case. Cameron's pacing is nearly perfect, peppering the screen with the right mix of action, drama, and sci-fi awesomeness to keep things interesting from beginning to end. Definitely worth checking out and paying a little extra for the 3D experience.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Avatar
I wasn't completely aware of this movie until Comic Con. Sure, I knew James Cameron was the director, but I had no idea what it was about. But that massive mech-like AMP suit on the convention floor sure got my attention. Then I had the chance to see James Cameron himself, talking about the film at a panel with Peter Jackson. From that point on I took note of the steady stream of marketing, building up the hype. I even got familiar with the world of Pandora while getting an early sneak peak at the video game. It was then that I realized the scope of this film. Unlike most current movies, Avatar is an original concept. It's not based on a comic book nor is it some remake of an old movie or TV show. This is a completely new world, complete with unique flora and fauna. The movie definitely captures the sense of wonder experienced by the characters as they see this world for the first time. This is made all the more impressive by the top-notch CG "performance capture" and immersive 3D photography. But I never got the sense that the film was showboating its visuals; they were just part of the story. While the world of Pandora is truly original, the story feels a bit recycled. It's basically a sci-fi retelling of the Pochahontas/John Smith tale. The RDA (the humans) are after a rare type of mineral called Unobtainium. It just so happens that the local Na'vi tribe reside on a large deposit of this MacGuffin-like resource. Conflict ensues. The similarities between the Na'vi and Native Americans are hard to overlook. Hey, Wes Studi even plays one of the Na'vi elders. But even if the story is a bit too familiar, that doesn't make the movie any less appealing. At nearly three hours long, I was afraid this film would drag. But that wasn't the case. Cameron's pacing is nearly perfect, peppering the screen with the right mix of action, drama, and sci-fi awesomeness to keep things interesting from beginning to end. Definitely worth checking out and paying a little extra for the 3D experience.
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