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Avatar: Silly Fun
Cameron makes even the surreal look mundane
by MALIN GURUNG
| FROM ISSUE # 169 (January 2010) | IN THIS ISSUE | |||
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James Cameron's hyper film, the sci-fi epic Avatar, is technically brilliant, visually stimulating and unwittingly immersive but it is also equally disappointing. Relying heavily on old Hollywood clichés, half-baked ideas and borrowed storylines, Cameron has devastatingly made what could have been a surreal journey mundane. It's 2154 AD and the earth is devoid of any resources. Thankfully man has found a valuable substance called Unobtainium (yes, really!) on a nearby moon named Pandora. Pandora is inhabited by nine feet tall, tailed humanoids called Na'vi (or 'blue monkeys' as they're derogatorily called) who talk in a distinctive African accent. So the problem? They reside exactly on top of a rich deposit of the substance man wants. So our hero Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a disabled former US Marine, is chosen to take part in the experiment Avatar, which transfers the person's consciousness into the body of a Na'vi. Jake's avatar, his Na'vi self, is lost in the Pandoran forest, where he eventually befriends the Na'vi clan, winning their trust (Dances with Wolves, anyone?). Little do they know that Jake's intention behind befriending them is only to exploit the Unobtanium deposit. But Jake falls for Neytiri, a blue Na'vi with Catwoman-like features (Zoe Saldana) and for the Na'vi clan. You know how this is going to end. So there you go. With an ensemble of one-dimensional characters and a storyline like that you can hardly expect anything on screen. But fortunately, Cameron is a director with a child-like imagination and a flair for action direction - the unbridled Pandoran landscape in its rich blue and purple hues, where flowers light up and the ground illuminates as you step on it is when you enter a different world. And what a world it is. A visual feast and a sensory extravaganza, the world Cameron has created on screen is a sprawling utopia. But Cameron's unrestrained imagination also works against him; instead of using CGI to back up the story, here CGI is the story. However, having said that, Avatar works as a singular movie event with enough action sequences (yes, the good ol' good vs. evil) and visual delights to keep you going. Just don't expect a masterpiece. So the verdict: Is the story crap? Yes. Is the movie worth the hype? No. Is it the future of the movies as some have made out it to be? No. Is it worth checking out? Definitely yes.
Avatar (2009) 
Director: James Cameron
Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana
3/5
to qoute a cmnt on RT "YAWN. Fanboys, get over it, some people aren't going to love this movie as much as you do. Because movie critics tend to be movie fans, not Sci-Fi geek Star Trek costume wearing freaks. " HAH!
some movies has to b watched with imagination n creativity,yes the story is not fantastic but it is of course excellent coz of the message it has given to us i.e to protect our mother nature so dat our future generation wont b invaders..imagination of the planet pandora n the visual effects takes ones breath away..n the na'vi language is not african..is it really a SILLY FUN???not at all
god i think the reviewer should look at the other side of the story, its trying to give a message to us about the future earth, being resourceless, if we keep crapping this earth. Besides, you have to watch the movie in 3D IMAX, i didnt even realize the length of the movie. its a beautifully done movie and as usual, haters exist. so got get a life.
what ever yo guys say...but its graphics are great....and moral of the story...save the planet....
honestly speaking i was about to doze off throughout the preliminary part. the subsequent entry into the magical land of the navi's was what kept me at the edge of my seat. i didn't realize the movie's length as well.all in all a visual treat and totally my money's worth. sure it delivers good entertainment but i wouldn't enlist it in my roll of quality movies.anybody who prefers a more brainpicking script ought to watch sherlock holmes.
id giv it 5/5 its a gr8 movie none the less..
I agree its a simple story. Anyone watching it would've easily guessed what was next. The thing that makes the movie interesting is the visual graphics. I'm sure most people loved it including me....Sometimes movies are not just about stories.
film ta bawal cha.story might be old but animation is great i mean perfect.
Mate u must b abnormal coz the whole world like the movie and its going on oscar also
what i would want to add to it is that although the story is the same age old hollywood formula, the way it has been presented is simply marvellous. i dont think the reviewer watched it in 3d . well this review would be favourable for nepal where there is virtually no 3d technology to watch movie (that was the case before i left nepal 18 mnths ago) .. but talking on a global scale , the review is simply immature and lacks credibility.. cheers ujjwal
avatar..soungs like a nepali film wid rajesh hamal wid his long hair shoutin like a freak.nyways i havnt watched dis movie so watever the issue is...let's appreciate the gud things...shall not we?cheers
the most hyped thing since viagra and amir khan
your review sucks. You dont present us with concrete reasons as to why this movie isn't worth a see. You might think it is cool to criticise this movie which I found utterly imaginative, and so did by major critics. No wonder it got like 9 nominations, and has already won so many awards. And please learn to write decently, putting up your point of arguments justifiably with examples..