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James Cameron's epic sci-fi fantasy film released in 2009.
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Rating:
Is “Not Bad” good enough?
-2
That’s really the question when it comes to assessing the quality of Avatar, James Cameron’s first film in over a decade. His first major theatrical release since Titanic, it has been obvious for a long time that Cameron and the studios had every intention of making Avatar as much of a blockbuster epic as its Oscar-winning Leonardo DiCaprio-starring predecessor.
But, again; does Not Bad = Good?
Avatar’s notoriously gargantuan $400+ Million budget actually delivers on its overall promise of over-the-top 3D and special effects. Over half of the film is dominated by advanced CGI-rendered characters, animals and Day-Glo jungle environments. And yes, they are quite amazing. Seen in 3D or 2D, you can see where all the money went. But when it comes to justifying the amount spent, the lines of reason and good taste begin to blur.
The main chorus being sung by the film’s promoters and apologist film critics (speaking of blurred boundaries) is that these are the most realistic CGI rendered characters you will ever see. To paraphrase one of many identical review/interview/commercial spots, the realism invoked by these realistic animated characters is so overwhelming that you will actually come to believe that they are real beings.
This, of course, is a load of crap.
As impressive as these computer generated characters are, there is no point during the film that any rational adult will find themselves wondering how they managed to make the Navi look so real, because they don’t look real; they look like what they are, extremely impressive computer-generated characters. Now, children in the audience might feel differently, but kids aren’t an especially discerning audience. Decades ago, millions of underage film-goers were more than willing to believe that a bunch of midgets in fur suits running around the screen in Return of the Jediwere actually a race of heavily-merchandised half-pint Wookies.
Its called the Suspension of Disbelief, an integral part of the movie-going experience that is not necessarily increased exponentially with the amount of money spent on the effects budget.
As much as the propaganda-heavy news reports and film critic reviews would like you to believe that special effects are what make characters endearing, the truth of the matter is that screenplay and actor performance easily trump that list. In the case of Avatar, the performances are only as good as the special effects and script allows them to be. Considering the weak story presented behind the 3D CGI spectacle, this leaves them all at about half-mast.
The lack of a decent script is almost understandable; when you are completely focused on delivering groundbreaking visuals worthy of a half-billion price tag, you’re going to want to keep your script as lean and simple as possible. And simple it is. Anyone who has ever seenDances with Wolves, The Last Samurai or Enemy Mine already knows this story (aka Plot #17) inside and out: Main Character battles Good Group on behalf of Evil Group, but eventually indentifies with Good Group and helps them defeat Evil Group. Roll credits.
But again, apologists are eager to claim that the amazingly expensive special effects more than justify the extremely light and simplistic screenplay. After all, the nearly half-billion-dollar special effects made the Navi almost seem like a real race, right? My rebuttal to this nonsense is last year’s surprise sci-fi hit District 9.
In District 9, we have yet another film featuring humans interacting with a computer-generated alien species. Instead of the tall, wasp-waisted Navi (yet another Hollywood attempt at increasing eating disorders in young girls) frolicking in a jungle paradise, District 9’s aliens are giant grubby-looking insectoids, affectionately dubbed "Prawns" by their South African benefactors. Both films feature themes regarding the treatment of foreign races and cultures utilizing metaphoric alien races, but District 9 takes the time to explore the relation and exploitation with more attention paid to the complex nature of such situations, with a storyline and character development that doesn’t feel like a black-and-white storybook parable. It garnered rave reviews, also including the realism and believability of its alien creatures, and went on to earn nearly quadruple its
budget during its American theatrical release.
District 9 might not have been a pillar of originality either, arguably being a remake of Alien Nation. But it still treads on far more philosophical and socially relevant ground than sour-milk-drinking populated pun-titled predecessor. Also, while not achieving the extreme ratio of CGI to real world screen time, District 9 managed to achieve the same level of critical and financial success as Avatar, and with a vastly superior screenplay. Its budget: A measly $30 million, less than a tenth of Avatar’s price tag.
So, does Not Bad mean Good? Not really. It doesn’t necessarily mean Bad either, and considering the money it is bringing in, that’s all that matters. Weighing the amazing visuals against the uninspiring script, the only fair assessment is that the film is just your typical Hollywood mega-budget blockbuster; big on spectacle but lacking in substance, no more or less deserving of its box office totals than Transformers 2 or 2012.
But let’s stop making excuses for the obscene amount of money thrown at what is nothing more than another unforgettable weekend blockbuster extravaganza. As much as the Hollywood elite might feel the need to engage in these annual meg-budget pissing contests, special-effect stroke-fests are no substitute for quality filmmaking. And contrary to popular belief, there is a difference.
Post-Oscar Update:
So, no Best Picture or Director Oscars for Avatar. But fear not, Avatar Fans, It took home a truckload of technical awards, which is all it ever really deserved. It never should have been nominated for Best Picture, and no doubt it only made the ranks so the Avatar-sympathetic masses wouldn't boycott the awards ceremony. So they not only nominated it for Best Picture (which might not have happened in a less-then-ten slot category), but bent over backwards to justify the action by also nominating the superior District 9, just to prove that they weren't giving Box Office Receipts consideration over actual film-making. In the end, the Oscar went to a real film that actually had something to say about war and the soldiers who wage it, and not a remake of Dances with Wolves with the Native American Indians replaced by Giant Smurfs.
Since the worst of the storm seems to be over, I thought I would come back and touch on the subject one more time while it was still sore and tender.
Now, I'd be lying if I claimed I sat through this film groaning and gnashing my teeth. Like most movie goers, I also went along for the visual ride and took in the 3D sites while munching away on my Bucket 'o Carbs. But when it comes to relentlessly praising a film, I think you should be able to say more about a Best Picture Oscar Nominee than "It Looked Pretty and Was Against War." That's not an Oscar Film, that's Susan Sarandon.
What some people and most Avatar fans seem to miss is that most film reviews (mine included) are about the craft and structure of the film itself, and not whether you should like it. People like what the like, and no amount of analysis or criticism is going to change that. The fact that you liked it doesn't mean it's a good movie. My affection for Ernest Goes to Jail is a firm testament to that.
So don't take it so personal. People will no doubt purchase special edition DVDs and 3D televisions in droves so they can experience three hours of Shiny all over again, no matter what I say, and they are more than welcome to their obsession. But don't attempt to legitimize your affection for the film by trying to convince me that a screenplay plagiarized from Pocahontas and wrapped in a half-billion dollars of special effects wizardry is anything other than commercially successful eye candy.
So don't take it so personal. People will no doubt purchase special edition DVDs and 3D televisions in droves so they can experience three hours of Shiny all over again, no matter what I say, and they are more than welcome to their obsession. But don't attempt to legitimize your affection for the film by trying to convince me that a screenplay plagiarized from Pocahontas and wrapped in a half-billion dollars of special effects wizardry is anything other than commercially successful eye candy.
(reposted from MovieSucktastic by the author)
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More Avatar (2009 film) reviews
review by amanbehl.
January 24, 2011
Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good Too good
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review by plaNetweaver.
December 29, 2009
I bow to our friend, who prefaced his astonished and profound appreciation of the Avatar movie with "It drives me nuts.." (that they have to include the dominator thing.....) "But...." The conversation that ensued resulted in all 8 of us (4 couples) going to IMax for the experience (that one couple's second viewing). We came out of there with 'sea legs' and we're still re-orienting. It's significant in my little Universe … more
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review by Husher315.
December 18, 2009
James Cameron has outdone himself! He may have actually outdone the whole entire film industry. Never in my life have I seen a film so brilliant and beautiful that it made me rethink the whole way in which I look at film. Avatar is what movies are all about; transporting you into the film and making you feel as if you're really there. Mr. Cameron has accomplished that with they way in which he has revolutionized the 3D genre of filmmaking. Avatar isn't just another … more
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review by jbeswick.
December 19, 2009
Watching Avatar is in every way as impressive as when you first saw the dirty spaceships in Star Wars or - I would imagine - seeing color or hearing sound on celluloid for the first time. It's not so much that you haven't see 3D before - previously, it's always felt like its purpose is to continually poke you in the eye with objects - but this time, it immerses the viewer in a way that breaks down the barrier between where the edges of the film stop and the audience sits. … more
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review by elissawilliams.
January 23, 2010
First of all, it is stunningly beautiful. The computer genius it took to produce will being helping everyday technology along for years to come. My daughter the biology major and I both were awed and intrigued by the detail of the plant life. The face painter in me saw some beautiful paintwork in the detailing of the avatar that can be traced back to early 2000’s and the rise of some awesome body and face painting artists in Europe. Looking at the faces of of the Na’Vi tribe … more
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review by sniffcode.
December 20, 2009
If you've seen Dances with Wolves, The Last Samurai, Glory, 10,000 BC or any movie where an indigenous population is roused to rebellion with the help of a sympathetic white defector who might also represent the enemy then you haven't seen Avatar. I say "haven't" because where James Cameron's imagination soars is that he's taken this highly treaded theme and turned it into a work of science-fiction. If it's been done before in this genre, I haven't seen it. I don't … more
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review by Ed_1962.
January 05, 2010
Okay, I know I'm going to get a lot of opposing opinions but this is my opinion of Avatar. I don't normally do movie reviews but felt compelled to do so in the case of the new movie "Avatar" which my wife and I recently drove twenty miles from our home to watch. Some theaters around the country show the movie in 3D (with the glasses) but that isn't available in our area. First, let me clarify that this movie was created by the very talented and successful producer/director … more
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review by JDunn187.
January 04, 2010
Simply put James Cameron's "Avatar" is terrible. The story is one cliche after another, with plot elements that all worked better in previous movies. Basically this film is "Dances With Wolves" with substantially better graphics but with a story that is a mere shadow of Kevin Costner's touching and powerful Academy Award winning film. Everything is telegraphed well in advance, from the total lack of subtelty in the foreshadowing of the Toruk to … more
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review by Rodericke.
December 21, 2009
The late 2009 big buzz in movies is a scifi action film called AVATAR. The plot is the classic big guy against the little guy, underdog theme. It is reminiscent of how Native Americans are portrayed as being victims of European expansionism. An "avatar" is a character controlled by another person, much like any video game you might play -- the character you control is an avatar. It follows your commands, but when you stop telling it what to do, it does nothing. … more
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The long awaited James Cameron film Avatar hit theaters this past weekend. While opening weekend raked in an estimated $77 million in domestic ticket sales and an additional $159 million in ticket sales in 106 countries overseas -- excluding Japan and China who are still to come. This weekend Avatar did reach the #9 spot for All Time Worldwide Opening Records and the #2 spot for Top December Opening Weekend Records. However, some reports have come in saying that the blizzard that hit the east coast … more
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About the reviewer
S. Michael Wilson (smichaelwilson)
Ranked #38
Ranked #38
I am the editor and coauthor of Monster Rallyand the author of Performed by Lugosi. I am also a co-host of the wildly popular film review podcast MovieSucktastic. As a writer, … more
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About this movie
Avatar is a 2009 American science fiction epic film written and directed by James Cameron and starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez and Stephen Lang. The film is set in the year 2154, when humans are mining a precious mineral called unobtanium on Pandora, a lush moon of a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system. The expansion of the mining colony threatens the continued existence of a local tribe of Na'vi—a sentient humanoid species indigenous to Pandora. The film's title refers to the genetically engineered Na'vi and human hybrid bodies used by several human characters to interact with the natives of Pandora.
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Development on Avatar began in 1994, when Cameron wrote an 80-page scriptment for the film. Filming was supposed to take place after the completion of Cameron's 1997 film Titanic, for a planned release in 1999, but according to Cameron, the necessary technology was not yet available to achieve his vision of the film. Work on the language for the film's extraterrestrial beings began in summer 2005, and Cameron began developing the screenplay and fictional universe in early 2006.
Avatar was officially budgeted at US$237 million. Other estimates put the cost between $280 million and $310 million for production, and at $150 million for promotion. The film was released for traditional two-dimensional projectors, as well as in 3-D, using the RealD 3D, Dolby 3D, XpanD 3D and IMAX 3D formats, and also in ...
Director:
James Cameron
Genre:
Action,
Adventure,
Drama,
Fantasy,
Sci-Fi
Release Date:
December 18, 2009
MPAA Rating:
PG-13
Screen Writer:
James Cameron
Runtime:
162 minutes
Studio:
20th Century Fox
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Exactly what positive message did you gain from the film regarding Disabled Americans? That they should feel incomplete and brood constantly, live vicariously through others or in a virtual body if possible instead of trying to function in the real world, and if possible, perform deceptive and destructive black ops in exchange for the promise of regaining full mobility? No wonder I haven't heard any Disabled Americans Groups championing this film. George Romero's Monkeyshines had a more positive outlook on being handicapped.
As for the other themes you mentioned, I eagerly direct you to any review of the 1992 animated feature Ferngully. Substitute the name Avater for Ferngully throughout the review and enjoy until your heart's content.
Also, kudos for pointing out the humor in weight related illnesses. You are quite right; when compared to America's growing obesity epidemic, the thought of teenage girls and young women starving themselves to death (anorexia) or slowly destroying their bodies (bulimia) in a desperate attempt to duplicate the extreme female body type they are endlessly bombarded with by popular culture is, once you think about it, quite funny. Haha funny folks indeed.