Not so much long awaited (as the film was playing in theaters up to a week ago) but with the release of AVATAR to DVD the public fascination with the film increases. Already the DVD is setting sales records much like the film did at the box office. So is the movie worth adding to your collection or watching? Sure. But it’s not near as good as some people thought.
Set in the future, the story revolves around Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), an ex-Marine whose legs no longer work. Jake’s brother was to be part of a scientific expedition to the planet of Pandora. To discover more about the planet, Jake’s brother was part of an experiment where his own DNA was combined with that of the planet’s native inhabitants, the Na ‘vi. This cloned body or avatar would be linked to him via equipment in the lab enabling him to see, touch, and feel everything the avatar did. But he died prior to heading out, thus presenting Jake with the opportunity to take his place since they shared DNA.
Upon arriving, Jake finds himself a fish out of water. Not quite still a Marine as he is wheel chair bound, he’s also not taken in right off the bat by the scientific group either, especially by the head scientist Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) who views him as a dimwitted Marine. But he’ll have to do and the link is made. Jake is ecstatic about the chance to walk, run, to feel his feet once more and it appears he just might work.
At the same time Jake has been recruited by the top Marine commander on the planet, Col. Quaritch (Stephen Lang). Quaritch wants Jake to get more intel on the Na’vi and the layout of the land where they live. In return he guarantees Jake he’ll put a word in to get him a new pair of legs.
It seems that the Marines and the corporate sponsor of the entire expedition are there for one reason. The planet of Pandora has a reservoir of a rare ore known as unobtanium (couldn’t they have come up with a better name than this?), worth millions for a single ounce. But the biggest location of this ore is right under the main base of the Na’ vi. It seems the scientific group wants to learn more about the people and work with them while the evil corporate big shot and the Marines want to simply destroy them, get them out of the way and take the ore.
Jake heads out on his first mission but ends up lost from the rest of the group. Alone and in the jungle, he nearly becomes a meal for the local animals but is saved by a female Na ‘vi named Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). A sign from the planet’s deity causes Neytiri to take an interest in Jake and to help him on this new world as a Na ‘vi.
As the film progresses, Jake supplies the information to Quaritch that he desires but begins to change with each passing day. Not only does he begin to take an interest in Neytiri, he also begins to see the Na ‘vi as the people they are, learning more about their heritage and beliefs. And when the Marines begin to move in to destroy the main source of their beliefs, Home Tree, Jake must decide whether he is going to do what he has been ordered or do the right thing.
The movie is a breathtaking experience to see. It is a beautiful combination of colors and visuals that make you feel as if you’re truly seeing another planet that actually exists. For this and this alone, the movie should be seen and appreciated. Not only did visual effects artists create a new world for all to see, they also created the Na ‘vi as well. Yes, the 8 foot tall, blue skinned aliens are all computer generated and completely believable.
The only problem with the movie is that with all of this technology, one would think they would have thought to make a deeper film with less simple plotline that was less political pandering and more story oriented. As another reviewer I read put it, the film is like watching DANCES WITH WOLVES set in outer space.
The simplest idea put forward with this film is that all corporations and military people are bad and that all indigenous people are good; technology is bad and nature is good. Kind of an odd thing to say in a movie made from some of the most high tech available out there. In this film world, there is no common ground, there is no gray area. It’s all black and white, good and evil. As I said, an overly simplistic look at environmental issues.
The film does offer some great action and high adventure. It does present a great science fiction film, a genre that gets less attention than it deserves. But for all the hoopla the movie could have been better. Will you watch it more than once? Certainly. But not as much for the story being told as for the visual world of Pandora you will encounter.
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