Avatar - Mini-Review

I saw Avatar this weekend in 3D and it totally lived up to the hype.  We couldn't get into the IMAX showing, but I just couldn't wait to see this movie.  In a word, the movie is simply amazing, and incredibly beautiful.  Avatar does what movies should do -- it transported me to a different world.  The 3D was mostly subtle, and made me feel that I was truly in that forest on the planet of Pandora.

The story was a bit of Dances With Wolves in space, but James Cameron makes movies for the main stream audience.  My husband was deriding Titanic as we waited for the movie to begin, but I love that movie and all it's hokey plot lines.  James Cameron delivers something for everyone.  A little romance, a little action, stuff blowing up, and visuals that just plain stun.

The way that the motion capture and animation totally immersed me in the story, and never left me doubting these blue Na'vi 10 foot tall beings were real is just amazing.  I felt walking out of that movie like I did after seeing the first Matrix film with all the bullet time effects.  I had just seen something totally new, and game changing.  And I wasn't the only one.  Here's what Steven Spielberg said after seeing Avatar:

Steven Spielberg: “The last time I came out of a movie feeling that way it was the first time I saw Star Wars.” … “The most evocative and amazing science-fiction movie since Star Wars.”

This is a movie not based on a comic book, or a toy, or a sequel or spin off of something else.  The movie plot may be predictable, but it's an original movie, which seems very unusual these days.  I just love how the production team just let their imaginations run wild.  The planet of Pandora is full of visual surprises, and it's all fresh and new.

Sam Worthington was the best thing about Terminator Salvation as the Terminator who didn't believe he wasn't human.  He was very good here, and he's certainly an up and comer.  I was pleasantly surprised at what a large role Sigourney Weaver has in Avatar.  I thought she'd be not much more than a cameo, but she is in most of the movie and it's just great seeing her again.  Giovanni Ribisi twirled his mustache amusingly, too. 

The biggest disappointment in the film is the villain, the military Colonel played by Steve Lang.  As my husband said, he's too much of an archetype.  He's like a stock character, with no other motivation than, I'm military and bad ass therefore I get my way and enjoy killing people for the fun of it.  A wee bit of depth with him would have helped.

Even with that flaw, I give Avatar a resounding 4 stars.  See it on a big screen, and definitely in 3D.  It is an experience not to be missed.  This film could even garner best picture this year, making James Cameron king of the world again.  He should be lauded for what is a stunning achievement in film.