Movie Review: Avatar

It is essentially proven fact at this point that James Cameron knows how to make spectacle. He can be obsessed with water and the color blue, he can come off as a sociopathic control freak in interviews, but goddamn does the man know how to film an action sequence. And it brings me much joy to say that Avatar signals his return to Hollywood blockbuster filmmaking.

And it is awesome.

In some ways I’d call Avatar more of an experience than a movie. Many have accused the film’s screenplay of being derivative, and in some ways they’re right. It operates within very familiar tropes, and fulfills a certain set of expectations. However, where the film truly becomes the work of an original visionary, is when the world of Pandora is explored. You see, Pandora is a wholly original alien planet developed by Cameron himself. It’s full of strange creatures, gorgeous plant-life, and a stunning landscape that becomes bioluminescent in the night-time. And that is where Avatar truly delivers the goods; it makes you feel like you’re exploring an alien planet for the first time. The story is simple, but effective. The emotional beats are expected, but nonetheless powerful. The vast world of Pandora will fill the hearts of all but the most bitter cynic with awe and wonder. And yes, the action sequences, which there are plenty of, are absolutely exhilarating.

And in a strange way, 3D becomes essential to it all. I’ve been slightly apprehensive but open to the 3D fad that has swept Hollywood in the last 3 years. In movies like Monsters vs. Aliens it felt like cheap gimmickry, but in Henry Selick’s lovely Coraline the 3D felt like it was part of the fabric of the film. However, Avatar is the first movie where the 3D truly feels like an integral part of the experience. Coraline used it very well, but I think it’s something about the sheer size and scope of Avatar that makes it feel impressively immersive. And if you are close to a real (not retrofitted) IMAX theater showing this movie in IMAX 3D, run, don’t walk. I guarantee you it will be worth it.

The film’s plot is a familiar one, that on paper looks like it has the potential to be a pile of heavy-handed rubbish. Human/white man goes to alien/savage world in the hopes of draining a resource. Protagonist meets a native woman who convinces him of the value and depth of the tribal culture which his people set to effectively destroy. He sees the error of his ways, earnestness ensues. Sounds terrible, right?

But in Cameron’s sure storytelling hands, this tired series of tropes feels fresh, vibrant, exhilarating, and effective. In a strange way, I found myself really caring for the Na’vi, the alien race that populates the film, in a way I never thought I would for blue cat people. Jake Sully, played in a star-making turn by Sam Worthington, becomes a hero that you can root for. And then there’s the baddie. Holy crap. Stephen Lang, playing the menacing Col. Quartich, doesn’t merely chew the scenery in this picture, he makes a multi-course meal out of it. This isn’t a spoiler, but he’s lit on fire at one point while conducting his invasion on Pandora, and the guy does not even give a ****. Now that is one hell of a villain.

Yeah, there’s definitely some corny lines of dialogue in the movie, but it’s all part of the tapestry of it. When Jake delivers comic book-like voiceover narration in the film’s opening, it doesn’t feel lame, but rather just another part of the world of the movie. Sure, there are a few cringe-worthy lines that slip in there, but in a way there’s something strangely comforting about it all. That’s not to say I prefer bad dialogue, but I don’t know if I would call a lot of the dialogue in the film bad. There are certainly a lot of moments which are overly earnest and corny, but that strangely becomes part of the charm of it. Cameron does such a great job of investing you in this universe, that when a weak line slips by, you’re happy to run with it.

Which leads me to the visuals, which play a major role in why the film is as immersive as it is. With this movie, James Cameron hasn’t just crossed the uncanny valley, he has skyrocketed over it like a bat out of hell. The eye movements of the Na’vi in this movie are lifelike, while avoiding the creepy, “lifeless” eyes of Robert Zemeckis’ recent motion-capture efforts. The world of Pandora is a wonderful, trippy blend of dazzling color, surreal beasts, and a generally stunning ecosystem which is a feast for the eyes. In 3D, it’s pretty gorgeous stuff.

Damn. What else can I say? James Horner’s score is appropriately thrilling. The jungles of Pandora look lush and splendid. There’s a final action set-piece in the film which lasts about half an hour, and it is engaging at every step of the way. Unlike the majority of modern action sequences, which confuse incoherence for spectacle, it is always clearly defined what’s going on. Zoe Saldana is really good as Neytiri, the Na’vi woman who leads Jake to his revelation, infusing the character full of personality and character. And the pacing of the film is fantastic, as it feels about an hour shorter than its 160 minute length.

In some ways it feels like 2009 has been the year of the blockbuster. While many Oscar hopefuls like Precious and The Lovely Bones have disappointed, the genre films of the year like Star Trek, District 9, and this all filled me with a giddy, child-like sense of wonder. Watching these movies reminded me of the blockbusters of my childhood. Star Trek had the gee-whiz joy of the original Star Wars trilogy. District 9 had the hard-R action and grit of movies like Terminator 2 and Robocop. And Avatar reminds me of the wonder and awe I felt upon my first viewing of Jurassic Park. Yes, in this case it’s all driven by a simple narrative that doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel. However, sometimes it is the most simple formula, when executed beautifully, that can satisfy just right.