autaku

I usually like to have a movie playing in the background while I’m writing a review, but of course in the case of new cinema releases that’s not really possible. Instead, I’ll have to rely on the fresh memories from tonight’s screening of James Cameron’s Avatar, and you will have to deal with the residual excitement. Avatar is blockbuster entertainment at its finest, with an enjoyable plot, engaging characters, great action sequences and special effects that set a new standard for production values. I saw the film in 3D and although I’ve not seen the “flat” version for direct comparison, I can wholeheartedly recommend that you goggle up and enjoy the spectacle in three dimensions.

If you’ve somehow missed out on the hype train for James Cameron’s long-awaited return to blockbuster cinema, allow me to fill you in. Avatar takes place 150 years or so in the future. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a paraplegic former Marine, is enlisted to join the Avatar program on a planet (well, technically a moon) called Pandora, where humans are trying to convince the native population – called the Na’vi – to move from their forest homes so that they can mine a valuable metal from beneath the surface. Avatars are genetically modified human/Na’vi bodies that can be remotely controlled by humans, allowing them to more easily traverse the forests of Pandora and deal with the true Na’vi.

The human population on Pandora consists of two main groups: soldiers and scientists. The scientists – led by Dr Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) – are interested in studying Pandora’s rich ecosystem and learning more about the Na’vi in hopes of reaching a diplomatic solution, while on the military side Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) seems to be just waiting around for an excuse to level the forest. Jake is initially torn between these two factions: officially he is with the research team but Quaritch appeals to his Marine background and he decides to report to both. But of course, Jake soon becomes a sort of ambassador to the Na-vi, and is allowed to integrate into their society and learn their customs with the help of Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). A relationship blossoms between the two and Jake finds himself with ties on both sides of the conflict. Jake’s choices are often predictable, but always understandable and relatable.

The story may not tread much truly new ground, but it’s well-told and full of enjoyable characters. Even Quaritch, the cliched drill-sargeant military type, is such a great version of the familiar character that it’s easy to overlook the stereotypes. He’s a cliche and not only does he know it, he loves it. The computer-generated Na’vi – or should that be computer-enhanced? I honestly couldn’t tell at times where the real actors ended and where the CGI began – are just as emotive and believable as any of the humans in the film. Often they are even moreso, and it’s just as well since you’ll be looking at the blue giants for most of the film. I’m not sure whether Cameron and his team developed new techniques for motion capture or simply perfected existing ones, but the result is spectacular; over the course of the film the Na’vi seemed more and more real, especially with the added immersion of 3D.

It’s not just the Na’vi that impress: Pandora is simply breathtaking. I don’t know if it was the unique plant and animal life, the stunning CGI, the 3D or all that and more, but I was enthralled by the world of Avatar. Sometimes even very impressive CGI fails to truly suspend my disbelief, but that’s not the case here. Every now and then I would realise that what I was seeing wasn’t real; for a moment I would be all the more impressed and then I’d be immersed again. I don’t doubt that Avatar would still be beautiful in 2D – I particularly can’t wait to see it on blu-ray – but in 3D it’s an absolute revelation that raises the bar for CGI across the board.

If you can’t tell by now, I enjoyed Avatar immensely. The story, while often predictable, is engaging thanks to likeable and relatable characters, and the world James Cameron has created is rich, immersive and full of life. At around two hours and forty minutes, Avatar is long but never once felt too long. If anything, I was so engrossed in the film that it could have gone on a bit longer and I’d still be right there with it. Best of all, this is a film that offers a complete  and satisfying experience: while there is certainly scope for a sequel, there is no need for one if Cameron chooses not to revisit Pandora. Too many films these days leave you wanting more for the wrong reasons. Avatar has left me wanting more for all the right ones. Perhaps another trip to the cinema is in order…