Avatar: A Much Delayed Review

So it’s taken almost three and a half weeks since the movie was released, but I was finally able to get the right pieces together and go see Avatar. Now, this is a movie that I’ve heard about, and I’ll say, semi-followed for a number of years as James Cameron has worked through the technological hurdles required to launch it. I am the perfect demographic for this movie, a fan of science fiction in general, fascinated by the film technology being pioneered within, even a large follower of James Cameron’s collective works. That said, I found the movie to be nothing more than a solid good movie.

While any movie able to tackle the box office totals as this one has must clearly have something to say for itself, I was generally let down by the storytelling. Certain sacrifices must be made in making a story more appropriate for mass audience, and I can accept this as a matter of doing business. But somewhere in that compromise Avatar lost something. We’re treated to an absolute masterpiece of visual standards, blowing away any previous 3D efforts and setting a new bar for immersive film technique and subtle use of an oft-abused third dimension in film. The score is able to build and sustain great swells of emotion and does its best at times to nudge the story along. Lost in this visual and aural treat are our characters.. ambling about and stumbling through an oversimplified and devastatingly drawn out jumble of predictable plot twists and conclusions.

I am an expert at leaving my cynicism and disbelief at the theatre door and can find great joy in ninety-nine percent of all film I go to see, even the most ridiculous B-movie can be a great ride while accepting the inherent faults of less expensive cinema. Sometime during Avatar though, I didn’t start to disbelieve the film so much as I wanted to believe more. Cameron’s dialogue is about to tread the line between forced delivery and natural development well enough, but our story is so cookie cutter science fiction it almost kills the merits gained throughout. An invading race, an indigenous race, a boy-meets-girl story, a sudden realization of corporate/human greed, a battle, all wrapped up nicely with an ending I won’t ruin but you can guess.

Sequel talk has begun in earnest, and why shouldn’t it? $1,341,694,147 gross worldwide as of this post. Amazing 3D technology. And clearly popular momentum. Let’s take a risk though, let’s tell a new story with a sequel – explore new science fiction ground. A repeat of the Human vs Na’vi struggle will simply deliver the mediocre sequel results we’ve all seen in the past.

Regardless, it’s worth seeing for the experience. Don’t dare see it in 2D. Don’t let AMC and other theaters trick you into paying more for a licensed but sub-par IMAX experience. A traditional 3D screen is the best and only way this movie should be watched. (Minus on a real, full-sized IMAX screen in 3D)

Next up: Does Dan Brown Still Got It?