Avatar (2009)

Directed by James Cameron

Grade: 7/10


James Cameron's "Avatar" takes you on an adventure with intense special effects and an interesting storyline. The film follows paraplegic marine Jake Sulley (Sam Worthington) looking to follow in his brother's footsteps after his death. He is placed on the moon Pandora filled with interesting humanoids known as the Na'vi. The Na'Vi are a peaceful, yet warlike, breed who just happen to have a mineral on their land that America wants. There he meets up with Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) who has been developing a program to turn soldiers into Na'Vi themselves for periods of time using a specific chamber. Jake goes through many twists and turns throughout his time living as a Na'Vi and living as a Marine. His goal is to gain the trust of the Na'Vi and get them to relocate themselves so that his superiors may take their sacred minerals. However while living with the Na'Vi he falls in love with a female Na'Vi, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), and begins to enjoy his time on Pandora. Jake's colonel and superiors grow impatient and tell him to get the Na'Vi to move or they will attack. Deciding to be faithful to the Na'Vi, Jake unveils his true mission to Neytiri and the other Na'Vi, telling them that the sky people (Marines) are coming and will use force if need be. The Na'Vi choose to ignore the request of relocation and decide to make a war of it. Now, Jake must fight a struggle between siding with a group of people he's come to love or his own race.

Visually, this movie looks absolutely amazing. Watching it in 3D is definitely the way to go. I was very skeptical when I heard "Avatar" was being shown in 3D, but the way James Cameron and his team put this movie together to be shown in that way, was brilliant. Something about a mythical paradise is beautifully intriguing, and "Avatar" delivered. The computer graphics and makeup are very in depth and visually striking, passing the limits of many other films. James Cameron said that "Avatar will change the way the public looks at movies", and in a way he was right.

However, with saying that, this movie isn't perfect by any means. If "Avatar" didn't look so good, it would be a mediocre movie at best. The acting is very sub-par and the screenplay is at many points, well, awful. Sam Worthington's performance is very disappointing especially since the role doesn't really ask for much. A few scenes could of been cut out and the storyline would've been unaffected. Including a scene where two blue humanoids mate under a tree is pretty damn pointless. I guess the general public needs their dose of sex nowadays. With all of the emphasis on graphics and visual effects, a lot of the plot is taken away.

Like any other James Cameron film, he takes a lot of pride in what he does and tends to make long movies. "Avatar" is a LONG movie. Then again, if you are going to go out and spend about 300 million dollars on a film, it better be long and look damn good.

"Avatar" is not the best movie ever made, but it is very entertaining. I would suggest seeing it in 3D to get the full visual aspect of the film. "Avatar" is worth seeing, but don't go into it expecting too many breathtaking performances.