"Avatar" (my 0-10 rating. 9) Genre. Action-Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy Director. James Cameron Screenplay. James Cameron Starring. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang Time. 2 hrs., 40 min.Rating. PG-13 (intense warfare, sensuality, vulgarity).Take the most spectacular sci-fi special effects space epic you've seen so far since the first Star Wars -- and "Avatar" transcends it, in visuals and concept, by light years.Five years in production and with a new concept in technology.So what's that mean to you?Well, ultimately bedazzling special effects, not surprisingly.But also, James Cameron's grandly visionary super-spectacle wants you to be not merely hypnotized totally but deeply emotionally involved.That is, these are not the effects designed for adolescent boys at video games but for an adult audience trying to get some serious soul.The grand references to quantum theory of eternal energy, the Sacred Feminine in god worship and the spirituality of all animals and nature, have here raised the bar considerably in the sci-fi genre.And with sharp reference to the spiritual way of life of the Native American of old and to the essence of the Akashic Records of classic Buddhism, this is a good start in proposing high intelligence into the genre.The grace and care with which Cameron portrays the love relationship, and its meaning within the grand view, is actually quite exquisite.The film, already destined for classical status, keeps a firm grip on hard pro-environment message, along with anti-mining and anti-corporate greed.Sarah Palin lovers need not attend.The planetscape settings created by computer, are extraordinary, and in fact singular, in their imagination and absolutely hypnotic and breathtaking textures and atmosphere.The film must be faulted from a perfect rating by the surprising failing in the credibility of its ending battle.More on that after the plot description.It's the year 2154.Jake Scully (Sam Worthington), a Marine hero confined to a wheelchair, is recruited by a multinational corporation, operating through the U.S.Air Force, Marines, and a brutish, almost caricatured Col.Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) in a matter of ultimate Earth-threatening urgency.Seems that total depletion of earth's energy supply is imminent.This corporation along with a military component, 30 years ago, had established a mining operation on the planet Pandora, light years away.The goal has been to mine a rare mineral that can save Earth.Problem. the atmosphere of Pandora is toxic to earthlings.Another. the natives, the Na'vi, a tribe of sensuous 12-foot tall and proud, fluidly moving blue-skinned forest dwellers, are hostile; not by nature but because the earth people there want the land on which they live.For the moment, the corporate people must live in military base oxygen cocoons.But for more sophisticated operations, the Avatar Program has been designed.An "avatar," by definition is an embodiment of another being, in this case an actual transfer of consciousness into beings that travel in fortified armor and robotics.Jake, re-born by this process into a handsome Na'vi avatar form with full intelligence and emotions, can now walk again.The form is under his mental control, like a puppet, from the ship.He has a long braided ponytail, a zebra-striped lean body and huge yellow eyes.He can run and leap like a gazelle.For Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), the tribal leader's daughter who's rescued him in the forest from a gigantic beast, he's quite the attraction.She takes him in to learn the arts of the warrior and the rituals of her culture.But he's also to learn just who the enemy is, namely, the corporate assaulters upon the environment who brought him to Pandora, they who aim to demolish the land on which the Na'vi live.And, in the way of a cowboy taming a wild stallion, he'll have to bring a mighty flying dragon-like creature to accept him as its rider.Also, back on board the ship and realizing who's friend and foe here is top scientist, Dr.Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver).The finale will include a spectacle to make the word stupendous seem small, as mighty machine-gun decked military droids and vessels go into fierce action against Na'vi primitive tactics.Now that ending. I felt irked by incredulity in that.We are to understand that by pure will, the Na'vis summoned all their 2000 or so people and attacked 22nd century gigantic machines of steel and technology with bows and arrows.Sometimes you'd see an arrow piercing the super windshields.Meantime, the Na'vi warriors, both male and female, are being mowed down by the guns -- which, rather absurdly, are still of our 2009 variety.No more weapons evolution? And, of course, you know who wins.Always.I had a hard time sitting through that.Really.But your eyes and minds need a movie like this.It will leave you withered in gasping.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
"Avatar" Movie Review
"Avatar" (my 0-10 rating. 9) Genre. Action-Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy Director. James Cameron Screenplay. James Cameron Starring. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang Time. 2 hrs., 40 min.Rating. PG-13 (intense warfare, sensuality, vulgarity).Take the most spectacular sci-fi special effects space epic you've seen so far since the first Star Wars -- and "Avatar" transcends it, in visuals and concept, by light years.Five years in production and with a new concept in technology.So what's that mean to you?Well, ultimately bedazzling special effects, not surprisingly.But also, James Cameron's grandly visionary super-spectacle wants you to be not merely hypnotized totally but deeply emotionally involved.That is, these are not the effects designed for adolescent boys at video games but for an adult audience trying to get some serious soul.The grand references to quantum theory of eternal energy, the Sacred Feminine in god worship and the spirituality of all animals and nature, have here raised the bar considerably in the sci-fi genre.And with sharp reference to the spiritual way of life of the Native American of old and to the essence of the Akashic Records of classic Buddhism, this is a good start in proposing high intelligence into the genre.The grace and care with which Cameron portrays the love relationship, and its meaning within the grand view, is actually quite exquisite.The film, already destined for classical status, keeps a firm grip on hard pro-environment message, along with anti-mining and anti-corporate greed.Sarah Palin lovers need not attend.The planetscape settings created by computer, are extraordinary, and in fact singular, in their imagination and absolutely hypnotic and breathtaking textures and atmosphere.The film must be faulted from a perfect rating by the surprising failing in the credibility of its ending battle.More on that after the plot description.It's the year 2154.Jake Scully (Sam Worthington), a Marine hero confined to a wheelchair, is recruited by a multinational corporation, operating through the U.S.Air Force, Marines, and a brutish, almost caricatured Col.Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) in a matter of ultimate Earth-threatening urgency.Seems that total depletion of earth's energy supply is imminent.This corporation along with a military component, 30 years ago, had established a mining operation on the planet Pandora, light years away.The goal has been to mine a rare mineral that can save Earth.Problem. the atmosphere of Pandora is toxic to earthlings.Another. the natives, the Na'vi, a tribe of sensuous 12-foot tall and proud, fluidly moving blue-skinned forest dwellers, are hostile; not by nature but because the earth people there want the land on which they live.For the moment, the corporate people must live in military base oxygen cocoons.But for more sophisticated operations, the Avatar Program has been designed.An "avatar," by definition is an embodiment of another being, in this case an actual transfer of consciousness into beings that travel in fortified armor and robotics.Jake, re-born by this process into a handsome Na'vi avatar form with full intelligence and emotions, can now walk again.The form is under his mental control, like a puppet, from the ship.He has a long braided ponytail, a zebra-striped lean body and huge yellow eyes.He can run and leap like a gazelle.For Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), the tribal leader's daughter who's rescued him in the forest from a gigantic beast, he's quite the attraction.She takes him in to learn the arts of the warrior and the rituals of her culture.But he's also to learn just who the enemy is, namely, the corporate assaulters upon the environment who brought him to Pandora, they who aim to demolish the land on which the Na'vi live.And, in the way of a cowboy taming a wild stallion, he'll have to bring a mighty flying dragon-like creature to accept him as its rider.Also, back on board the ship and realizing who's friend and foe here is top scientist, Dr.Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver).The finale will include a spectacle to make the word stupendous seem small, as mighty machine-gun decked military droids and vessels go into fierce action against Na'vi primitive tactics.Now that ending. I felt irked by incredulity in that.We are to understand that by pure will, the Na'vis summoned all their 2000 or so people and attacked 22nd century gigantic machines of steel and technology with bows and arrows.Sometimes you'd see an arrow piercing the super windshields.Meantime, the Na'vi warriors, both male and female, are being mowed down by the guns -- which, rather absurdly, are still of our 2009 variety.No more weapons evolution? And, of course, you know who wins.Always.I had a hard time sitting through that.Really.But your eyes and minds need a movie like this.It will leave you withered in gasping.
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