‘The secret to film is that it’s an illusion.’ – George Lucas

Everyone who I talked to that has seen this movie has expressed how awesome it is. One even said, and I quote, ‘it’s the most awesome of awesomeness’. Others have labeled it, ‘amazing’. And the reviews have been mostly positive. A lot of buzz surrounds it. It looks like it may sank Titanic (finally!) It’s the most talked about movie in a long-long time. And yet, no one can explain to me what it is about or rather, why it is awesome. So let me simplify the story for you…

A long time ago in a galaxy – far – far – away…

Ex-marine John J. Dunbar longs for the ‘final frontier’. He is talked into, by the Bush administration, to go to Planet Skull Island because there is oil under the ground. There, he plugs into the Matrix using the stargate to turn him into an eight-foot-Smurf. He then makes friends with the other eight-foot-Smurf’s, and falls in-love with Pocahontas, who tells him about the ‘colors of the wind’. He learns their language, culture, and finds that his own kind are evil. He sides with the locals and fights alongside them in an epic battle for Narnia: the Last Rain Forest!

Okay, you get the point. This isn’t exactly the most original piece of storytelling you can find. The facebook status’ and the reviews’ I read suggest that clearly. However and let’s be honest here – is Star Wars really original? George Lucas went on record himself and said he ‘lifted’ a lot of ideas, meshed it together, and created his own mythology. James Cameron has done the same thing here.

He knew he was creating a science fiction/fantasy ‘Dances With Wolves’. And in essence, he knew he would be nailed for some of the obvious comparisons to other movies. He has no shame in it. That’s why he probably took ten years perfecting the special effects. This would have been timely five+ years ago, right when Bush Jr. decided to go back to Iraq. This is also Al Gore’s alley, as it is pro-Earth. I wonder if the filmmakers went green with everything during production.

The movie’s appeal rest on the shoulder’s of its impressive and dare I say it, ‘magical’ special effects. Not since the first Jurassic Park has a movie wowed me to the point that I am asking myself, ‘how did they do that?’ Not only do you have jaw-dropping effects but also you have visuals that will take your breath away. Cameron was very specific when he dreamt what Pandora would look like. He was very detailed what the Na’vi are like. And he knew what all the creatures functions would be . Like the original Star Wars trilogy, there is authenticity to this movie. It looks, seems, and feels natural. And like the first Jurassic Park back in 1993, I was left in my theater seat, blown away by what I just experienced.

Every movie with high special effects like this has flaws. Even Mr. Lucas hasn’t been able to find a way to blend CGI and real life actors in a believable way. There are still traces of actors in front of a screen. The King of the World has masterfully found a way to blend both, and go one step further by enhancing the experience in a 3-dimensional world.

Days later, I am still amazed by what I saw. I even find myself wondering if what I saw was just a dream. James Cameron has been known as a director that has the craft for memorable images in his movies. Some of the things I’ve seen in this film felt too familiar – like the plot itself. But there was a lot that I have never seen before, or could even imagine. That’s why this movie has the wide-range appeal it has. And why it has the ‘word of mouth’ marketing it does (like Cameron’s Titanic did 13 years ago).

It’s grounded in its own genre, and it doesn’t hide from it. But it goes beyond its potential to a place we have never been before. That’s the magic of the movies. It’s rare to see realism and surrealism blend together evenly. So evenly, that you can’t tell one from the other. I am sure even Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, and Lucas has said, ‘how did he do that?’.

I now know what Stanley Kubrick meant when he said, ‘If it can be written, or thought, it can be filmed.’

Welcome back James Cameron. Now, can you fix the Terminator series, please?!?

I thought the film was beautiful- lush scenery, vivid colours, nice message (of course our govt would go in and destroy! what else is new!)

But I thought it was a bit boring. Probably because of the length. I felt no connection to the characters or the “love story.” Cuz it dragged.

I always cry at a good love story.

I’d give it three stars on the special effects alone.

on a scale of one to 10 I thought it was a 7.

why do we care at all.

and before i’m attacked for seeing this movie twice whilst not really liking the story…. the visuals do make up for the short fall in the story plus the fact i saw it 3d alone and in standard with my gf.

as for logic and explanation for the science in movies…. two words Science FICTION…

I cant wait til they re-destroy Dune!

The story sucked the characters were boring Weaver actually annoyed me in this.

having said all this, I had to see the movie to see what visual treats i was install for and i wasnt disappointed in that department. The visuals and creature designs were astounding but to all those who saw it in 3d go and see it in standard cause like someone else said 3d aint all that. i have seen it in both and preferred the standard showing for its clarity

so yeah wow to look at zzzzZZZZzzzzzZZZZZzzzz story.

It’s like when i saw spielbergs jurassic park – same thing, great visuals wasted on a trite story.

this is now what i come to expect from cameron, the titanic looked great but was ultimately the most expensive chick flick of all time.

I recommend avatar for the wow factor, but dont expect to give a damn about any of the characters and take pillow with you because all the rich visuals will eventually tire your eyes and you may want to sleep.

As a person in the street I found Avatar to be the most amazing cinematic experence I have ever had ( My first film I ever saw in the cinema was Star Wars a new Hope in 1977-78ish I was 8 or so at the time )
I was dumbstruck and fully entertained by the visuals from the start. I liked the story, I have seen many simular storylines with many different films.

Unless your a paid film critic, you are daft not to see the amazing landmark stage in film making..

Avatar is in the top 3 of My overall top 10 films, I took My 8 year old son and he was spellbound by the film, brought back memories of My first cienma experiance..

10/10