Happy Valentines Day!
Now onto the review of AVATAR or as I’d like to call it, “James Cameron’s version of every other movie in the world”. I’m going to be honest and brutal in the next few paragraphs so strap in it’s going to be a very open and bumpy ride. I’m justifying my honesty because I did a film class in high school where we actually made a movie & I’m pretty sure I qualify as a nearly graduated Padawan Movie Geek.
Let’s start out positive. The images, scenes, cinematography and everything visual about this movie blows everything we’ve seen out into the far recesses where our former forlorn-ed planet Pluto drifts in a depressed state. We’re real sorry little guy. As sorry as James Cameron should be for being proud of having his name attached as writer to this giant pile of pandering prose. Mind you I’m not going after this movie for it’s “supposed” left wing bent. I could care less about the political implications of the entire tome. What I care about is good writing. Basic writing. Cognizant writing even? Were these guys awake when they put these words to paper?
I’m probably sounding like a movie elitist (and I’m actually ok with this) with all my wanting for something that even resembles a good movie. It doesn’t have to be great. Die Hard 4 wasn’t great but at least it delivered. I was with that movie from start to finish and loved it. Sure, I checked my brain at the door but I didn’t find it wandering back in the room to get back in my head. This happened with Avatar. I actually found myself bored with what was going on with the plot. My eyes were tapping their dog legs for sure but the rest of me was thinking about what happened at church today or what I’d have to do on Monday for some catch up at work.
Those words should terrify any filmmaker. I don’t claim to be the one test to decide if a movie is good, but I can count on one hand the times that moment has happened in a movie theatre or even watching a movie at home. I know myself. I’m fairly accepting. Heck, I enjoyed “When in Rome”. When I’m simply waiting for the plot points to fall into the pre-planned place because I’ve lost interest in the plot, I can confirm with very little math work that indeed this movie is not worthy of the accolades it’s been getting.
The acting isn’t anything to write home about (or even really write about) but they do a serviceable job with the script they were handed. The General’s lines had me rolling my eyes at several points.
I cannot say enough for the imagery and effects this film throws down. With IMAX and 3-D it’s a visual feast for the eyes. Rich, supple and full of colors that will have you razzled and dazzled it’s worth just seeing how far technology has come and where it is going. This is the only point where Cameron and crew won me over. Would I dare even say I deserve a few dollars back since IMAX & 3-D costs more? I wouldn’t go that far but I’d be walking a careful line thinking such a thing in the back of my mind.
This movie deserves Oscars in special effects and maybe even sound. Cinematography will require me to think a little bit more. But outside of those this film does not deserve a Best Picture nomination for any awards season. Not even if it was up against “The Golden Girls Zombie Reunion” romantic comedy would it deserve even a sniffle. Because you and I both know the Golden Girls movie would be hilariously touching especially with a Danny Elfman & John Williams score.
And so I finally saw AVATAR. I standby my twitter short review from earlier -
Early avatar review – great images, sucky script and below average plot. Not oscar worthy. More to come in blog form.
And I still need an answer to my other twittered thought from this movie -
I do have one question – why does michelle rodriguez always be dying in her movies?
