12/21/09 Review of Avatar.

AVATAR – Review
Starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Giovanni Ribisi, and Michelle Rodriguez. Written and directed by James Cameron. Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences, warfare, sensuality, and some language.

So I, like every other nerd on the planet, have been waiting patiently for the release of Avatar, the movie that is rumored to change motion picture cinema as we know it. I’m so nerdy, in fact, that I drove up to Ann Arbor, Michigan, so that I could view the film in IMAX 3D, the way it was “meant” to be seen.

As the movie began and I put on my super dorky oversized (for IMAX purposes) 3D glasses, I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. This was going to be the best 3D movie ever made. But something was wrong. The opening sequences didn’t really seem that impressive. Were they even in 3D? I think so. But it was subtle. Some depth here and there, but nothing I hadn’t really seen before. I began to panic. Had I built this up too much in my mind? What was I really expecting? I mean, it’s just a movie, after all. I decided to settle in, reserve my judgment, and just pay attention to the story and let the movie develop.

And, to my surprise and delight, it did.

Being the smart and seasoned director that he is, Cameron didn’t want to throw all of his tricks at you at once, and especially not right off the bat. As the movie got going, so did the cinematography and the effects. Giant vehicles would pass by in stunning 3D. A subtle piece of scenery in the foreground or background would capture my attention. And then, like an artist pulling the cover away from his sculpture, Cameron threw the audience into the world of Pandora (the planet that serves as the setting for the movie), and we are transported into a three dimensional wonderland of stunning scope. It is not unlike the moment Dorothy and her Kansas ranch house land in the world of Oz.

There is so much to see in this movie that a repeat viewing or two is probably not out of order. It is easy to see why Avatar was so expensive to make – it appears as if it was filmed on another planet. The effects are totally convincing – scenes that I know HAD to be done using CGI or greenscreen or both don’t seem fake at all. There are also a lot of aerial shots of the lush jungle that makes up much of Pandora that MUST be fake, but it is hard to tell.

If you can stop gawking at the screen long enough to pay attention to what’s actually HAPPENING in the movie, you will not be disappointed. The story is compelling, if a bit farfetched. Cameron sticks with conventions that work – a major conflict, as well as smaller conflicts within, a lot of breathtaking action, and, of course, a love story. And all of the actors turn in excellent performances.

I couldn’t find anything about this movie that I didn’t like. Was it long? Almost three hours. Did I check my watch? Not once. Did I leave the theater to use the bathroom? Nope, I was afraid I would miss something. One warning I will give to the potential viewer – if you have problems with motion sickness, be cautious. There is a lot of flying and aerial photography in this movie, and if you are watching it in 3D, it feels pretty real. I got slight vertigo more than once and had to briefly remove my glasses. When the film was over, I waited a few minutes before driving home, just to get my bearings back.

Avatar feels to me like the Star Wars of this generation. Cameron has created an entire world that is completely new and fresh, and I have no doubt that there will be more Avatar movies to come.

Overall rating: 5 cheeseburgers.

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