Avatar [M]

Humans have depleted Earth’s natural resources and so a squadron of military men and scientists have travelled to the alien planet of Pandora to mine for an extremely valuable mineral called unobtanium. Their problem is that the planet’s richest site of the mineral is beneath the Hometree of a tribe of Pandora’s native inhabitants the Na’vi: 10 feet tall, blue-skinned humanoids who live in harmony with nature. As a means of negotiation the scientists have grown clones of the Na’vi based on human DNA called ‘avatars’ and Jake Sully, a wheelchair bound ex-marine is roped into the science game as the death of his twin brother leaves one avatar to spare. Learning the culture and simultaneously feeding information to the military, Jake’s priorities soon change as he begins to identify with the Na’vi and his time in his avatar’s body becomes more real than life. But when negotiations fail and the hostile brute force of the military threaten the Na’vi and their way of life, Jake has to choose a side. 

I honestly believe that this film is the apex of James Cameron’s career. Written and directed by him, well that pretty much says it all doesn’t it? Cameron’s name has been an effervescent and fixed shadow over the genre of science fiction that I’m sure many aspiring and talented writer/directors have tried to decimate and shift. But it won’t budge. It’s an ever-fixed mark, it’s the Toruk (‘last shadow’) and the only way to master it is to fly above it. 

Avatar holds something for every member of its audiences. It’s a stunning, bedazzling, breathtaking, and any other word for ‘awesome’ that you can think of piece of master’s work that’ll continue to astound audiences for years and years to come I believe. Like the great sagas of Indiana Jones and Star Wars, this movie is unfettered and without an expiration date. IT’S ASTOUNDING, INCREDIBLE, BEAUTIFUL, AWESOME! 

Humans have depleted Earth’s natural resources and so a squadron of military men and scientists have travelled to the alien planet of Pandora to mine for an extremely valuable mineral called unobtanium. Their problem is that the planet’s richest site of the mineral is beneath the Hometree of a tribe of Pandora’s native inhabitants the Na’vi: 10 feet tall, blue-skinned humanoids who live in harmony with nature. As a means of negotiation the scientists have grown clones of the Na’vi based on human DNA called ‘avatars’ and Jake Sully, a wheelchair bound ex-marine is roped into the science game as the death of his twin brother leaves one avatar to spare. Learning the culture and simultaneously feeding information to the military, Jake’s priorities soon change as he begins to identify with the Na’vi and his time in his avatar’s body becomes more real than life. But when negotiations fail and the hostile brute force of the military threaten the Na’vi and their way of life, Jake has to choose a side. 

The first thing that makes this movie so wondrous is the amazing creatures that Cameron has concocted, made real by the wizardry of the arts and special effects departments. Never underestimate the prowess and power of the folks on set who sit and draw because they’re not just doodling, they’re creating something that could save a movie’s sorry arse. The arts and special effects departments were the unrelenting heroes of the day here with their amazing achievements placing all else in the back seat. The Na’vi are amazing creatures; startlingly elongated and caricature human-cross-cat people but at the same time so unearthly beautiful and graceful. I haven’t been so impressed by creatures of the imagination since The Dark Crystal. 

The striking use of light and colour is another feature of this movie worth an accolade. Romantic poet John Keats famously wrote that “a thing of beauty is a joy forever” and I do feel that those words are the most perfect words to use when describing this film. The colour and life that assaults our senses whenever we’re in the forests of Pandora is just like something out of the most wondrous dream, even more so when the planet is its most beautiful at night. 

As far as the story goes, it’s another story of industry vs. nature, man vs. nature. I always have a favouritism for these sorts of movies and I think I really love this movie because on some level it reminds me of one of my favourite films from when I was young: FernGully the Last Rain Forest. 

Starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Govanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, Michelle Rodriguez, Wes Studi, Laz Alsonso, Dileep Rao, and Sigourney Weaver, Avatar is a stunning movie filled with action, war, romance, drama, amazing creatures, dazzling special effects, astounding scenery, and comedy. It’s a real classic that will stand the test of time for years and years and years and years to come. IT’S AN INCREDIBLE MOVIE!