I never thought I would find it erotic- watching two blue-skinned giants making love on screen. The key point here is I felt SOMETHING. An emotional connect. That too, watching two images which are not real. We always talk incessantly about how films have the power to transport us to a new world altogether. But, truth is, we forget about most of them in a day or two. AVATAR is not that kind of a film. It really does transport you to a new world, literally. And this is a movie which will linger in your minds for a long time to come.
Legend has it that James Cameron, after wrapping up the story way back in 1995, realized that the technology required for this kind of a movie did not exist at all. Gosh! Such a dilemma! What to do now? Simple. He spent a few 12 years or so, developing the technology. Motion Capture, Virtual Camera, Digital 3D Fusion Camera System were the results. And are they revolutionary, do I hear you ask?
Let me put it this way.
Never before has something like this been attempted. And it will be very, very difficult to top this. Even for Cameron himself. At least, in the technological department. This is a film, which has a "decent-enough" story with a strong political and environmental message. You won't believe how well the visuals and the narrative have been married together.
But, the story here takes a backseat. Its technology-triumphs-over-narrative all over but for once, I am not complaining. The story is simplistic enough- In the year 2154, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) must inhabit, along with an alien clan called Na'vi, on a distant moon called Pandora, in order to win their complete trust. You see, the clan and their religious ethics sit upon a mine full of valuable minerals. SecFor's Colonel Miles Quaritch (brilliantly essayed by Stephen Lang) and Parker Selfridge (again a brilliant Giovanni Ribisi) are the people to whom Worthington has to report, despite knowing that the botanist Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) stands on morally rightful grounds. So, Worthington lets his mind enter the body of a genetically-bred hybrid Na'vi or in short, his Avatar and sets out to infiltrate the clan, thereby gaining their trust as well as valuable information. He meets a Na'vi girl named Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and falls in love with her. Realization kicks his butt and he decides to change sides, for good, before its too late.
I know what you're thinking. Too outdated a plotline, isn't it? But, Cameron makes sure you don't go home empty-handed or empty-headed rather. Stunning visuals, a heart-warming score by James Horner and the PERFORMANCES. Ah! Yes! The performances, indeed. For this is just not a motley mix of real images and animation. To quote Cameron, "Every little detail you see, every tiny bit of expression is actually physical. They are the performance expressions captured from the actors' faces. It is not merely animation.". And boy! Let me tell you. If I were to recommend you some special-effects extravaganza, I'd recommend you AVATAR rather than Transformers, anyday. The live action and animation is a visual orgy of sorts. Cameron has a vivid eye for detail and it is more than evident in the scenes when you see the SecFor Chopper hovering over a prairie-like land, the grass billowing like green silk. Also, be prepared to marvel in that scene where Jake tames a dragon. Or the one, in which we see the chopper gliding through a series of floating islands. Full marks to the guys at Weta Digital for pulling off the mammoth CGI and Special Effects. And the action-filled climax proves that when Cameron decides to get down to it, there's no stopping him.
The performances are worthy of a mention. Sam Worthington does adequately, here. A pretty face and some good acting too. Sigourney Weaver, a big name in the cast, is rightfully cast and she acts as the moral backbone of this whole story. But, its Zoe Saldana finally who nails the show by giving a spectacular performance as the 10 foot (or was it 11) giant Neytiri. Zoe is 100% Neytiri here and her expressions are so convincing that you actually care for her character by the time the film gears forward.
The only hitch- some meat should have been provided to the storyline. I repeat, an event-movie with a less eventful story feels a little hollow.
I saw this movie in 2D. I recommend you catch it ASAP in 3D. You need to LIVE this movie, DEVOUR this movie, not just see it. I will be more than willing to tweak the rating for this (which I'm about to give) a little bit once I catch hold of it in 3D. 3D-IMAX would be excellent.
Which brings us to Cameron. To say that Cameron has a vision would be like saying Lion loves meat. James Cameron deserves every bit of the hype, every bit of praise and every body's attention. The man once declared while accepting the Oscar for Titanic, "I'm the King of the World". We don't need to ask him for any proof. We agree, in unison.
Rating: * * * * 1/2
Written By Gyandeep Pattnayak.
Legend has it that James Cameron, after wrapping up the story way back in 1995, realized that the technology required for this kind of a movie did not exist at all. Gosh! Such a dilemma! What to do now? Simple. He spent a few 12 years or so, developing the technology. Motion Capture, Virtual Camera, Digital 3D Fusion Camera System were the results. And are they revolutionary, do I hear you ask?
Let me put it this way.
Never before has something like this been attempted. And it will be very, very difficult to top this. Even for Cameron himself. At least, in the technological department. This is a film, which has a "decent-enough" story with a strong political and environmental message. You won't believe how well the visuals and the narrative have been married together.
But, the story here takes a backseat. Its technology-triumphs-over-narrative all over but for once, I am not complaining. The story is simplistic enough- In the year 2154, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) must inhabit, along with an alien clan called Na'vi, on a distant moon called Pandora, in order to win their complete trust. You see, the clan and their religious ethics sit upon a mine full of valuable minerals. SecFor's Colonel Miles Quaritch (brilliantly essayed by Stephen Lang) and Parker Selfridge (again a brilliant Giovanni Ribisi) are the people to whom Worthington has to report, despite knowing that the botanist Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) stands on morally rightful grounds. So, Worthington lets his mind enter the body of a genetically-bred hybrid Na'vi or in short, his Avatar and sets out to infiltrate the clan, thereby gaining their trust as well as valuable information. He meets a Na'vi girl named Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and falls in love with her. Realization kicks his butt and he decides to change sides, for good, before its too late.
I know what you're thinking. Too outdated a plotline, isn't it? But, Cameron makes sure you don't go home empty-handed or empty-headed rather. Stunning visuals, a heart-warming score by James Horner and the PERFORMANCES. Ah! Yes! The performances, indeed. For this is just not a motley mix of real images and animation. To quote Cameron, "Every little detail you see, every tiny bit of expression is actually physical. They are the performance expressions captured from the actors' faces. It is not merely animation.". And boy! Let me tell you. If I were to recommend you some special-effects extravaganza, I'd recommend you AVATAR rather than Transformers, anyday. The live action and animation is a visual orgy of sorts. Cameron has a vivid eye for detail and it is more than evident in the scenes when you see the SecFor Chopper hovering over a prairie-like land, the grass billowing like green silk. Also, be prepared to marvel in that scene where Jake tames a dragon. Or the one, in which we see the chopper gliding through a series of floating islands. Full marks to the guys at Weta Digital for pulling off the mammoth CGI and Special Effects. And the action-filled climax proves that when Cameron decides to get down to it, there's no stopping him.
The performances are worthy of a mention. Sam Worthington does adequately, here. A pretty face and some good acting too. Sigourney Weaver, a big name in the cast, is rightfully cast and she acts as the moral backbone of this whole story. But, its Zoe Saldana finally who nails the show by giving a spectacular performance as the 10 foot (or was it 11) giant Neytiri. Zoe is 100% Neytiri here and her expressions are so convincing that you actually care for her character by the time the film gears forward.
The only hitch- some meat should have been provided to the storyline. I repeat, an event-movie with a less eventful story feels a little hollow.
I saw this movie in 2D. I recommend you catch it ASAP in 3D. You need to LIVE this movie, DEVOUR this movie, not just see it. I will be more than willing to tweak the rating for this (which I'm about to give) a little bit once I catch hold of it in 3D. 3D-IMAX would be excellent.
Which brings us to Cameron. To say that Cameron has a vision would be like saying Lion loves meat. James Cameron deserves every bit of the hype, every bit of praise and every body's attention. The man once declared while accepting the Oscar for Titanic, "I'm the King of the World". We don't need to ask him for any proof. We agree, in unison.
Rating: * * * * 1/2
Written By Gyandeep Pattnayak.
9 comments:
looks like this is one movie not to be missed!!
Not to be missed at any cost, I'd say. Please do make time for it and I insist...in 3D please!
I saw Avatar yesterday and man, was that an amazing experience!! Well to my anguish i cudn't find 3d anywhere in town... well let me tell another of my feeling, in the beginning 20-25 minutes i couldn't make my self to like it much, but then night time happened in Pandora world and i was hooked .... from that point on the movie just didnt slow down, scene after scene it is pitch perfect.
Ali,
Agreed. Those 20-25 minutes were the setup minutes. Wasn't the movie great?
yup i agree with the rating completely... well i actually like a kick-*ss opening scene in movies such as these, so i get hooked with very first scene ... so setting up process seems more interesting dont you think?? by the way did u feel the same way about initial half hour
Ali,
No. I think Cameron is too talented a person to pander to weak cinema. I loved the movie from the go. Those were routine, but you know, sometimes you just have to let go in anticipation of what might be coming next :)
Agree that this is a must see. I also thought the political/social critiques were strong and important from people to be confronted by. I think people in the West (esp.) are too used to the fact that (a) they have and still do benefit from injustice and (b) money trumps all. Hopefully, this movie shakes them by the shoulders a bit. This is the power of Sci-Fi, you can talk about human issues but in a totally new/fantastic context. I think Cameron did an amazing job of critiquing some not-so-honourable aspects of Western culture in this movie.
PS, I was immensely happy I saw this in 2-D. From what i hear the 3-D effects are so powerful, that I fear the message of the movie may be lost.
@Bre: agreed there, Cameroon could actually talk about tough issues at hand without getting into mess and also entertaining in the process; Yes it does give out a message to the West to look beyond monetary gains to justify war; moreover it is message to us all to be soft on nature and not go on plundering it over and over again; naah i still regret not being able to watch it in 3D :(
PS. i am glad to welcome you to the site:-)
remided me of how the native americans were treated...HUM!
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