Avatar * * * *
Director: James Cameron.
Screenplay: James Cameron.
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Giovanni Ribisi, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Wes Studi, CCH Pounder, Joel David Moore, Laz Alonso.
Director James Cameron and science fiction have proved a good combination in the past (“The Terminator”, “Aliens”, “The Abyss”, Terminator 2″) and this is a fine addition to his earlier films.
Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is a paraplegic marine, who finds a new lease of life and mobility while researching the planet of Pandora and the “Na’vi”, the indigenous tribe living there. Humans being the greedy and power hungry virus that we are, intend on destroying the Na’vi and exploiting their land. Jake meanwhile, has become accustomed to the Na’vi ways and must choose which side he is on pending a full blown attack on the planet.
Cameron has shot this film with specially designed 3-D cameras and took the first step in changing the way we will be viewing films from now on in. Directors such as Spielberg and Scorsese have now used the technique, and for that, Cameron has to be applauded.
The plot, however, isn’t the strongest thing about the film and quite frankly without the special effects and wonderful visuals, it would have had nothing going for it. Thankfully though, the special effects are something to behold and Cameron has created a stunningly visual treat. It is almost like watching animation or a beautiful canvas and for a change, it’s forgivable that the story becomes secondary in a film. I never seen this in 3-D as it was intended to be viewed but I wish I had. Oscar winner for Cinematography (Mauro Fiore), Art Direction, and Visual Effects.
This is an innovative piece of work and Cameron can now hold his head up again, after the disastrous “Titanic”.
Mark Walker
MARKED MOVIES 
Leave a Reply