firmly believe that one cannot judge a movie on first viewing. I like to review a movie after watching it a second time, after a week of my first viewing, preferably a month later. So may be I should not write this review an hour after seeing AVATAR. A second viewing shows me things that I might have missed the first time. I like to form my opinion after several days, but but BUT... the initial opinion never changes.
I can watch a movie any number of times, but the first impression is, my dear movie aficionados, ALWAYS the best impression. So here it is, the first impression. You know the feeling when watching a really great movie, that awesome realisation that you are watching a masterpiece, the fuzzy feeling in your heart that you will be waching this movie again and again with your kids and grandkids?
Well, I did NOT get that feeling after watching AVATAR.
What I did get was that James Cameron has given the children of today and tomorrow a good damn movie. Seriously. Colourful woods and blue aliens and helicopter fights and oh my, even flying dragon-birds. Classic children’s movie, I tell you. Unfortunately, the theatre was filled with adults, adults who looked uncomfortable during the beginning of the movie, bored in the middle, and quite relieved when it ended.
But let’s talk a bit about the story here. Humans discover a distant planet called Pandora which contains a valuable mineral. The planet is also inhabited by really tall and incredibly blue aliens (the N’avi) who resist the invasion. Grace (WEAVER), an environmental scientist, tries to stop the army into harming the aliens. Jake Sully (WORTHINGTON), a disabled veteran is given a body mask that makes him look exactly like the Na’vi. The humans introduce him and Grace into the world of Na’vi to know how they can be tricked into giving up their homeland. Will Jake and Grace succeed?
Technically, the movie is cool. If you are a diehard Cameron fan and if you like epic movie plots with gorgeous landscape, you will love it. I too am speechless at the world Cameron created in the movie (but good special effects doth not make a good movie!). If you watch this one with children (not teens, though, they will just snort and leave to watch TWILIGHT in the next hall), you will even shed a tear or two at the hardships faced by the aliens. The special effects is marvellous and sure to get an Oscar nod, the actors have done their jobs properly, and it is really good entertainment.
But was it worth all the hype? Not really. And did we expect more from Cameron. YES.
Given the 10-foot-tall aliens and the breathtaking world of Pandora, I can somewhat accept that Cameron was working on this movie for more than a decade (he must have spent most part of it at the 3g lab), but the plot left me puzzled. It was unoriginal and tired, especially to a scifi junkie like me. The epic good vs evil war theme and even the background music strongly resembled Narnia, and the chanting aliens and environmental theme kind of made it cheesy. And the dialogue at times was simply atrocious.
All that can be overlooked, except for one thing - where is the zing? My biggest gripe is that the movie itself is not telling us anything new. It is just another mindless scifi flick like a PLANET OF APES or THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL or WAR OF THE WORLDS. There is nothing wrong with mindless scifi flicks, by the way. I positively love them. I am actually the-love-them-and-leave-them type when it comes to mindless entertainment. You see it, roll your eyes, whoop at the war scenes, and forget about it. Heck, I got more goosebumps when I was watching TRANSFORMERS!!!
That’s what is unacceptable. After 12 years, is this the best Cameron can give us? Where is the rollercoaster thrill of his ALIENS, the haunting beauty of his TITANIC, The suave sexiness of TRUE LIES, the sheer magic of T2? Why is this so generic and why didn’t this movie have any visible trademark that it was directed by a master expert? Why did I not leave the theatre hall feeling privileged to have seen a Cameron movie (should I have watched it in 3D)? Why, why, WHY, dammit?
Now, if only it was advertised as a children’s movie...!!!
Hey Leuboo, would your view on the movie change had the director been a first timer and there was very little for movie goers to look back on and compare previous work to?
I ignored the hype leading into this and I'm not a big fan of James Cameron's movies so my expectations were probably lower then yours but judging on its own merit I think this is a great film for the family or a childrens flick however you see it. I think it stands up reasonably well against his other films.
I saw this movie yesterday, and I have to say thats its ok, but I doubt I would see it again, its not one of those movies that you must see again, IMHO, but thank god its much better than that-TITANIC- which I didn't like at all
Television Doesn't Rule My Life .... But .....
Wouldn't the World be a far better place if everyone just thought like I do
I actually enjoyed Titanic at the cinemas. I am going to see AVATAR before too long It has smashed the $1 Billion mark in takings!
Avatar smashes through the $US1billion mark for takings in just three weeks
Colin Vickery From: Herald Sun January 05, 2010 12:00AM
AVATAR has smashed through the $US1billion mark for takings in just three weeks.
The science-fiction epic, starring Aussie Sam Worthington, is now the fourth-highest grossing movie of all time and could jump ahead of The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King into second spot within the week.
If that happens, Cameron will have the two highest-grossing movies of all time worldwide. His Titanic, released in 1997, leads the pack with $US1.848 million.
In Australia, Avatar has taken more than $48 million, pushing it into fourth spot.
Titanic, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, is also Australia's top movie of all time.
Experts predict Avatar will keep doing spectacular business for at least the next month because there are no new blockbuster movies set to debut. That could give it a serious chance of beating Titanic.
Avatar is reportedly the most expensive film ever made, with a budget in excess of $US300 million.
"It's like a runaway freight train. It just keeps doing business," Fox distribution executive Bert Livingston has said.
The movie's performance is a huge boost for Worthington, who has another big budget film, Clash of the Titans, set to be released in April. His recent Terminator: Salvation grossed $US372 million worldwide.
Cameron said in December he planned two Avatar sequels.
I actually enjoyed Titanic at the cinemas. I am going to see AVATAR before too long It has smashed the $1 Billion mark in takings!
Avatar smashes through the $US1billion mark for takings in just three weeks
Colin Vickery From: Herald Sun January 05, 2010 12:00AM
AVATAR has smashed through the $US1billion mark for takings in just three weeks.
The science-fiction epic, starring Aussie Sam Worthington, is now the fourth-highest grossing movie of all time and could jump ahead of The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King into second spot within the week.
If that happens, Cameron will have the two highest-grossing movies of all time worldwide. His Titanic, released in 1997, leads the pack with $US1.848 million.
In Australia, Avatar has taken more than $48 million, pushing it into fourth spot.
Titanic, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, is also Australia's top movie of all time.
Experts predict Avatar will keep doing spectacular business for at least the next month because there are no new blockbuster movies set to debut. That could give it a serious chance of beating Titanic.
Avatar is reportedly the most expensive film ever made, with a budget in excess of $US300 million.
"It's like a runaway freight train. It just keeps doing business," Fox distribution executive Bert Livingston has said.
The movie's performance is a huge boost for Worthington, who has another big budget film, Clash of the Titans, set to be released in April. His recent Terminator: Salvation grossed $US372 million worldwide.
Cameron said in December he planned two Avatar sequels.
I saw Avatar just before the school holidays and have got to say that I liked it, thought that Sam Worthington did such a great job in his role as Jake and if there are sequwls on the way I'll be keeping my ears and eyes open
Bought the Avatar DVD today and watched it tonight. Its just as good as I remember it
It wasn't one of the 360,000 copies sold in the first 24 hours......cause I was two days late. Lucky the shop had just received a new delivery....I hadn't got around to booking one.
GOODBYE fellow eBlah's .....it sure has been nice meeting yo'all here and I will miss everyone of you
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