Avatar Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: On an alien world, humans transfer their minds into "avatars" to interact with the indigenous people in order to gain access to a rare and valuable element.

Review: James Cameron has done it again! Okay, forget the hype and forget the backlack for a second and watch this film objectively like it's the first time you've ever heard of it. This is a great movie that takes so much slack for no reason other than, what it seems is, because it was popular and successful; I do see the flaws, but they are nowhere near as egregious as others would make it seem. Let's start with the most impressive aspect of this film: the visuals. I don't think I have ever watched a more beautiful movie; the world of Pandora is brought to life down to the smallest detail. If you didn't get the chance to see Avatar at the cinema, I feel sorry for you because you truly missed out! I typically don't like the gimmicky 3-D, but this film nailed it and revolutionized my expectations for what a real 3-D movie must bring to the table from here on out. You see branches rustling, bugs flying, dust floating, etc.; you are on Pandora! But any film can be nice to look at so let's look at the story: it is simplistic, and I do see the inspiration from other films. However, there is enough depth, character development, unique plot points, and action to round out any claims of being a ripoff. A greedy company destroying the indigenous people (the blue, catlike Na'vi) is nothing new to film (or real history for that matter), but I don't see it as a fault. I do wish we had more information about this company and what "unobtanium" is supposed to do rather than using it as a MacGuffin. But the thing I feel a lot of people don't understand is that stories like this are meant to focus on what the writer felt was most important; in this case, it's the characters. We see the film's perspective mostly through the eyes of our hero, Jake Sully. I know critics have knocked Sam Worthington's acting, but I think he successfully pulls off a washed up soldier who realizes there's more to life than what he believed. His relationship with Neytiri (played by the gorgeous Zoe Saldana) feels natural as we see months of their feelings develop and a certain degree of innocence to their love; I liked that we actually had a sense of development combined with a natural attraction rather than merely being told they love each other like a movie such as "Thor." The sense of betrayal Neytiri feels when she discovers Jake's original goal was to infiltrate the Na'vi, and the attempts for Jake to redeem himself feels so satisfying. All the other background characters are strong as well and enhance the overall enjoyment of the film; I loved Grace, Trudy, and Norm and was sad when some of them died. On the other hand, Quaritch, as the company's main lacky, makes an interesting adversary to our heroes. The fight between the human soldiers against the Na'vi is so awesome especially when the other animals that inhabit Pandora help the Na'vi in their struggle (since the Na'vi don't use technology). The final battle between Quaritch and Jake is especially intense. And who doesn't love to root for the underdog? Finally, the music, pacing, and direction all felt right; you never feel bored and you lose yourself within this 3+ hours film! Overall, this is a fantastic movie with so much imagination and creativity; it's a shame that some people feel resistant to like this due to various reasons or those who hate it just because they've heard others' criticism. For me, trust the majority on this one; there's definitely a reason this became the highest grossing film in history and why there was so much repeat business. Avatar gets so many things right and tells a universal story all audiences can lose themselves in. If by chance you've been skipping this one, finally break down and watch it! If you are hating this film, give it one more chance and be objective. This is one of those movies that sticks with you over the years, and I can't wait for the sequel!

Notable Moment: When Jake gathers the clans of Na'vi and reunites with Neytiri; it is a powerful moment and touching.

Final Rating: 9.5/10