It has been fifteen years since the concept was contrived, four since shooting began and a lifetime since a film of this magnitude has come to fruition. Originally, the technology that was required for such a large project did not exist, so Oscar-winning director James Cameron put the story on hold until he was able to successfully present his vivid imagination in true color and sound, just as he had always pictured. The end result is Avatar, a visual spectacle that integrates drama, action and human emotion, and I am here to tell you that though it has its flaws, it was definitely worth every minute of the wait.
Starring fast up-and-comers Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana, Avatar tells the story of Pandora, a new world millions of miles away. Attempting to integrate into the local society, scientists have bred DNA from both the local inhabitants and the selected scientists who have agreed to this long-term mission. A freak accident has made a paraplegic ex-marine the driver for the mission, and when a field study goes off book, our lead protagonist finds himself within the wild of the new world, alone and unknowing - that is, until he meets Neytiri, a local woman who leads him to her village.
I know, the story doesn't sound too appetizing. The characters are a bit stereotypical, the plot line a tad generic, and the whole unlikely hero rising to battle the species superior is anything but original. However, for this film, it works.
James Cameron always has a way of turning childlike stories into visual masterpieces (see Titanic), and the same goes here. But instead of relying on the normal CGI features, Cameron has gone off and created his own type of film, bringing about a revolutionary style of special effects that have not only created a solid movie, but transformed the future of motion cinema in the process.
The intellectual imagination of Cameron comes alive here as we get to see an entirely different world filled with courageous animals, beautiful landscapes and a history as rich as any culture we have ever come to know. The interlocking aspects of the story give it a realistic edge, allowing us to become sucked into the story as we witness the massacre and re-birth of science and technology.
Both Worthington and Saldana do a magnificent job in their respective roles, holding their own amongst Cameron alum Sigourney Weaver, effectively bringing heart and emotion into their characters, and inconsequently, the story.
Still, the most noteworthy aspect of the film is its visual effects and 3D presentation. While other movies only feature select scenes in the highly sophisticated 3D format, nearly the entire film grasped the virtually realistic state, giving the ultimate viewing experience to one and all. It was a sort of 'out of body' experience, the first that I have ever encountered during a feature length film, and a feeling that I am not sure I'll ever get again.
Let's not forget though, Avatar is not a perfect film. Granted, the special effects are about as close as I have ever seen, the story still lacked originality. From the fifteen minute mark, it becomes quite clear what is going to happen, who is going to fight who and what the eventual outcome will be. There are the occasional side plots, most of which keep the film alive, both nothing out-of-this-world fantastic.
Additionally, the character development was lacking in many aspects. The history of each character, on both sides of the scientific line, ran a bit thin, especially considering how much detail could have been integrated into the nearly three hour film. A montage fills us in on the culture and ways of life, but there was still a longing for more - most notably, explanations for what we were witnessing so fast on screen.
However, I will continue to revert back to the one thing that Cameron and Fox knew they could sell from the very beginning: the technology. There is no escaping its power, especially on the big screen. I loved the film, yet I fully understand why others have not. It is almost three hours, it contains a bland story, and it is quite predictable. But for me, the visual masterfullness of it all makes it a worthy pick during this crowded holiday season, and a movie experience unlike any other.
