Avatar, directed by James Cameron, is a brilliant movie. There I said it. Yes, it has some jarring bits – explosions, people shot (by bullet and arrow), squashed by robots and giant beasts, and bitten by wild creatures – and all the other flashy Hollywood action.
However, the use of action never seems gratuitous. In Avatar, the military is taking over, using ‘shock and awe’ strategies to dominate and a ruthless corporation is terrorizing peaceful Indigenous peoples (the Na’vi) in the pursuit of resources and wealth.
The Na’vi people are reminiscent of First Nations, Aboriginals and other indigenous peoples around the world who are at one with nature and the planet itself. They are athletic, beautiful, warrior-like yet peace-loving —all the traits humans idealize.
The planetoid Pandora is also divine, with floating mountains, magnificent forests and oceans, projecting a loud and clear Gaia message. Of course, most of the humans fail to appreciate this and are intent on selfish goals, apart from a small minority who ‘go local’.
James Cameron does deserve accolades for delivering a great vision and many subtle, and not so subtle, messages about living in harmony with the environment. Aside from the earth loving themes, Avatar has great cinematography, fabulous 3-D imagery and some excellent special effects. The film also has a superb musical score.
The 3-D takes a little bit of getting used to, for about 10 minutes but then it is totally mesmerizing. The actual 3-D perspective brings realism, the computer rendered characters, animals and landscape are wonderful. The acting is also excellent and all the actors take on their human characters and avatars superbly.
I can understand why this movie is so popular, and many people leaving the cinema said they had been once or twice already and were planning on coming back again.
Avatar was very appealing, although I am not sure if it was the planet or the Na’vi, the triumph of good over evil, or the special effects that did it…but I think I’ll be going back again. Unfortunately, after Avatar’s 3-D experience, plain old vanilla 2-D movies just won’t be the same.