On the distant jungle planet of Pandora, an ex-marine named Jake is recruited to participate in the high tech Avatar program. Jake's twin brother, a Phd researcher, was killed on the planet. The Navi are a native humanoid race, whose ancestral home sits on a collection of rock that can can be used to cultivate massive amounts of energy. Jake's mind is placed in an Avatar, a Navi body mixed with human DNA, that can live on Pandora and interact with the native people. There is a diplomatic task force led by scientists and researchers which use the Avatars to study the Navi, interact with them, and attempt a diplomatic solution to the problems at hand. Humans cannot breathe the air on Pandora, thus the Avatars are necessary. There is also a group of marines stationed on Pandora for protection against the natives, whom are led by a brutal general. The General answers to the corporation and his own whims, not to a government source. Soon, Jake is manipulated into drawing out military intelligence that can be used against the Navi in war. However, he also becomes accepted by the Navi, learns their culture, and grows to love their way of life. He falls in love with the princess of the tribe. Soon, Jake is caught between the interests he works for, which seek to exploit and destroy an entire race of intelligent beings, and the woman and culture he has grown to love. He chooses to fight with the Navi in an epic climax not to be missed.
Avatar met and exceeded my expectations, which is something I cannot say for most movies. It can be included in the company of a fine few action/sci-fi film that respects the intelligence of the fans, and delivers a film that is both intelligently written and visually stunning. Avatar is character driven, with a strong script and acting; plus edge of your seat action. The films villains are deliciously evil. Giovanni Ribsi and Stephen Lang give life to the otherwise "flat" characters of the evil corporate guy, and a hardened Colonel twisted by the harsh realities of war. Sigourney Weaver gives an inspired performance as a strong female researcher; her work is a joy to watch as always. The greatest kudos must go to the two lead roles.
Zoe Saldana Plays a Navi princess, Neytiri. In the film she is a tall, blue, fictional humanoid, but the special effects and the actresses' performance are done so incredibly well that the audience can feel with this woman, identify with this woman, even thought she is a fictional alien character. Maybe I need to get out more, but Saldana plays Nytiri with such an artistic brilliance she come across as a truly intelligent, sexy, charismatic and passionate woman ant times...despite being giant and blue. Forgive me, I am a digital media major. The Navi characters could not have been more likable, believable characters without the combination of outstanding, cutting edge effects, and actors that give true emotional life to that digital image.
Sam Worthington as Jake had the power to make or break the film as the male lead, and he delivered as an actor magnificently. A simple solider sent to "a place he'd regret" Worthington plays Jake as a rough and tumble “grunt” with and intelligent, inutitive side he has been taught to neglect his whole life, and nobody has ever seen in him. Other reviews of the film contented that the beginning voice over and video narrations that Jake does are out of character for him and seem misplaced, as he purports to be a simple "grunt." I firmly, respectfully could not disagree more. My fellow writers whom assert that point misunderstand this character woefully, and the important transformations he undergoes that are vital to the film’s plot. It is the transformations that his complicated character undergoes that drive the films story. Jake has to realize that the interests he has come to represent, though powerful, are morally wrong. He must learn to develop his intellect, and trust this instincts to do the morally right thing-stand against the humans against his own self interest. Jake's training as a Navi hunter in the film, and initiation into Navi manhood, prepare him for the daunting task he must undertake. While the film carries ani-military sentiment most of the time, Jake must embody the purest form of miliraty service at the films climax-military combat that goes against one's self interest, and intervense on behalf of a nation oppressed by powerful tyrants. In this regard, the film embraces the ocasinal need for combat as necessary after being anti-military for most of the film. Avatar has much to offer and so much beneath the surface, I am preparing an analytical essay to examine it. I'll include it on the sight as soon as it is ready.
No film can be perfect, and Avatar has it's forgivable, cheezy moments. Jake is akwardly accepted by the Navi clan, and is taught the language and customs of the Navi people. Ntyri, the Navi princes, is assigned to him as his tutor. He masters not only their language, but advanced hunting skills. He gains an appreciation of their ideals and religious values as well. Naturally, Ntyri softens her harsh attitude towards him. Of course, they become friends and eventually lovers. It’s Hollywood, yes; it has to happened that way, its’ just a staple of movies. Let’s accept that and move on. Of course, no one in the film foresees that this could happen, just like in the Star Wars prequels, nobody thought putting a celibate young jedi with Hayden Chyrystenson’s looks, and a princess with Natalie Portmans’ beauty alone on as stunningly gorgeous planet, alone in a lavish castle could be a bad idea. What could happen? He just gonna be her bodyguard right; he’s just gonna guard her body, that’all he’s gonna do right?” Okay, I will never make reference to those mediocre at best films in my review of Avatar, a movie I really like. I guess we can assume the parents really thought it was a good idea to let their daughter run around with some bizarre alien, and could not see a thousand bad things which could arise from this relationship. I’ll assume they didn’t think he could kidnap her and hold her for ransom. I’ll assume they couldn’t see their own daughter might be influenced and won over by his values. Lastly, they really didn’t think anything would happen between two scantily clad young people, human or otherwise, running around in the woods. I’ll assume a competent male hunter was not available, or the ugly chick of the tribe was on another assignment, and the only one available was just the charismatic young Princess. The movie briefly chocks the assignment up to the will of Ayiwa, the goddess of the tribe. I guess this religion isn’t like a Episcopalian bible study where everybody shares their interpretations and “nobody is wrong,” and if you don’t like the interpretation you can offer another one for one hour and everyone has to drink coffee and politely listen. Poor dad could not stand up and say "no, no Ayiwa is saying that my daughter should not hang out with that kid, she saying that he should get the the heck out, and that he should know I keep a shotgun in my closet…That’s what I’m getting on my heart tonight from Ayiwa!" And everyone would have to consider all the options. Ayiwa, by the way, is the main goddess of the tribe.
As other reviewers have pointed out, the plot of Avatar bears a striking resemblance to other films that have treated the topics of colonialism and western impearlism-Dances with Wolves, Pochahontas, A man Called Horse, The Last Samurai, and more. In fact, the films basic premise is nearly identical to Disney's Pocahontas. In Pocahontas, a naieve and adventerous colonical soilder is taken to the new world by a greedy corporation, and then falls in love with a beautiful native princess, which causes him to see the error of his ways. The plot of Avatar is fundamentally the same. Avatar however has a more complicated story, and is more creatively told as a science fiction film. Having said that, certain scenes are embarrassingly similar to Pocahontas.The most recognizable is the scene where the navi princess introduces Jake, her colonial lover, to a sacred tree that speaks to her people. In Avatar, this scene is fantastic and mystical, in Pocahontas it is animated an cute. However, it is nearly the same scene. Avatar's brilliance is sadly not that it introduces new concepts that have never been attempted in film. It is that it gives us new insights on imperialism, a gripping human story, and a visually amazing film.
Nothing is perfect. Avatars flaws and modest unoriginality are grossly overshadowed by it's strength as a film that is excellent on every level a film could be-including the acting, writing, cinematography, and special effects. James Cameron has given modern cinema another masterpiece.
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