Avatar. A Movie Review
OK, I saw it and bottom line I liked it. I liked it a lot. It was very entertaining and the imagery, especially in 3D IMAX, was just phenomenal. I was absorbed by the movie and the characters for the most part. There were just a few poorly placed phrases that made it a hair too political. They were just blatant shots at the Bush administration that really cheapened the movie. Because they were cheap shots that were not needed.
First, the bad guy colonel phrasing his battle plan as a "preemptive strike" was not only factually inaccurate, it was, IMO, a swipe at our actions in Iraq. It was not a preemptive attack. It was just an attack. The lame attempt to draw a parallel to the actions being taken on this futuristic planet and our actions in Iraq was just cheap and frankly, it was lazy writing.
Secondly, they actually used the phrase "shock and awe" in describing what what the colonel had planned. Again, cheap and lazy writing. It's hard for me to imagine a film with a budget as big as this could not come up with some better writing. Or at least more original. Of course, the entire story isn't that creative writing wise, other than the characters names and dialect. It's Dances With Wolves except that it didn't take place after the Civil War, it takes place on a distant planet. Yes, the entire story line is based on an anti-capitalism and therefore and anti-American theme, but it you're not bogged down by it. There's enough going on in the movie that it becomes secondary.
Also, I did not like the fact that they used Marines in this film. Granted, the hero of the film is a Marine, and he was the only character I saw sporting the Eagle Globe and Anchor emblem of the Marine Corps. So, I guess it evens out.
And really, those are the only things I did not like about the film. A small list given it's 2 and half hour run time.
Now, the special effects, the creatures, the scenery of the planet, all top notch. There were a couple of scenes that in 3D, it was absolutely mind boggling. And it is definitely worth putting away your politics for an evening and going to see.
I gotta say what hit me during the movie was the same feeling I had as an 8 year old boy going to see Star Wars. This movie was a voyage to another world, just as Star Wars was in 1977. This is definitely the Star Wars of today. It's probably the first time I've ever felt like I'm living in 2010 because the special effects were that good.
It was odd getting back into my truck, looking at my GPS and thinking it seems like I've just went from 2010 back to the 50s. Since I got it, I thought my GPS was very cool and somewhat futuristic. Now it almost seems like an 8-track player because I feel like I got an in-depth look at what life was supposed to be like in 2010, from a technology standpoint.
Anyway, great movie. Well worth the time and money.
First, the bad guy colonel phrasing his battle plan as a "preemptive strike" was not only factually inaccurate, it was, IMO, a swipe at our actions in Iraq. It was not a preemptive attack. It was just an attack. The lame attempt to draw a parallel to the actions being taken on this futuristic planet and our actions in Iraq was just cheap and frankly, it was lazy writing.
Secondly, they actually used the phrase "shock and awe" in describing what what the colonel had planned. Again, cheap and lazy writing. It's hard for me to imagine a film with a budget as big as this could not come up with some better writing. Or at least more original. Of course, the entire story isn't that creative writing wise, other than the characters names and dialect. It's Dances With Wolves except that it didn't take place after the Civil War, it takes place on a distant planet. Yes, the entire story line is based on an anti-capitalism and therefore and anti-American theme, but it you're not bogged down by it. There's enough going on in the movie that it becomes secondary.
Also, I did not like the fact that they used Marines in this film. Granted, the hero of the film is a Marine, and he was the only character I saw sporting the Eagle Globe and Anchor emblem of the Marine Corps. So, I guess it evens out.
And really, those are the only things I did not like about the film. A small list given it's 2 and half hour run time.
Now, the special effects, the creatures, the scenery of the planet, all top notch. There were a couple of scenes that in 3D, it was absolutely mind boggling. And it is definitely worth putting away your politics for an evening and going to see.
I gotta say what hit me during the movie was the same feeling I had as an 8 year old boy going to see Star Wars. This movie was a voyage to another world, just as Star Wars was in 1977. This is definitely the Star Wars of today. It's probably the first time I've ever felt like I'm living in 2010 because the special effects were that good.
It was odd getting back into my truck, looking at my GPS and thinking it seems like I've just went from 2010 back to the 50s. Since I got it, I thought my GPS was very cool and somewhat futuristic. Now it almost seems like an 8-track player because I feel like I got an in-depth look at what life was supposed to be like in 2010, from a technology standpoint.
Anyway, great movie. Well worth the time and money.
posted by Goose at 21:27
2 Comments:
Goose - COME ON! Of course they took a couple of shots at our world today! I am actually surprised you didn't go nuts because of the huge environmentalist bent the movie has.
I loved it! The special effects were awesome! The idea of using Avatars to get around in an alien world was pretty interesting too.
I hope all is well - will try and call you soon!
Hey, what do you want from me? I liked the movie. I really enjoyed it. And I mentioned the anti-capitalist theme, which is the huge environmentalist bent you speak of. But I really think that silly rhetoric is secondary to the entertainment value the movie provides.
I will say, that as a long time fan of James Cameron's work, the Avatar concept is the next logical step in his progression of science "faction." If you go back and watch The Abyss, then Titanic, his Titanic Documentary, and now Avatar, his inability to get around freely in the Deep Sea is clearly what led to this concept. I think he was sitting on ship one night, floating above Titanic, and though "man, I wish there was a way I could get around that ship freely, without the use of these robots" and the idea snowballed from there. I wish I could ask him the question in person because I know I'm right.
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