AVATAR (for the second time…)
I Don’t Usually Do This…
I’m home visiting family for the holidays and realized that no one has seen the new amazing 3D movie, Avatar. Well, I was certainly impressed by James Cameron’s latest master piece, despite some of it’s predictability which I’ll mention later…so…I insured that we set some time aside to go see this feature film, because there’s just no point in waiting until it’s out on DVD – I’m sure those that have seen it can agree with me… I don’t usually go to a movie twice while it’s still out at the theatres, but not an issue here – it was still quite good…
How It’s Done…
For starters, this is only the second 3D motion picture that I’ve ever seen, A Christmas Carol (Jim Carey) being the first. After A Christmas Carol, I knew I would be going to as many 3D films as I could. It’s just simply amazing how those movie mechanics can do what they do. Watching Avatar, I discovered I had a new found fear of heights, was swatting at insects that weren’t actually there, brushing vegetation out of my way, you name it. 3D films are created by using two different specially equipped cameras that shoot each scene of the movie from a different perspective, requiring you to wear those highly fashionable wayfarers… For some more research intohow 3D motion pictures are made, check out the following links:
Predictable Yes, But Still worth the $11.00…
OK, so the story line has a few very predictable parts; however, these parts didn’t ruin the movie at all for me. For example, it was pretty obvious that when Neytiri mentioned to ‘Jake” that only five riders have been chosen to ride that giant red and orange bird, that he would soon be swooping down to greet them. Also, when Sigourney Weaver was given the chance to cross over through the eye of Eywa, that Jake would be doing the same; however, the film was still incredibly done. …
Hidden Agendas, Racial Connotations, American History…
It’s also pretty obvious that the story line follows a very similar time in American History. A time when White America wished for, and took by force, the land of the Native Americans. Hopefully, no one today is proud of that particular moment in our (Americans’) past. It was definately a terrible time. Also, one can argue that America still engages in such activity today: Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. … It’s up to everyone to make up their own minds on such matters. Just realize that if you have a complaint, in most cases it is received much better if it is followed by a solution. I would have to say that for myself, I can agree with good and the bad thoughts/feelings on American greed/agression and still and simply try to do what I know is right individually and hope that others will follow.
Here are a couple of links talking about Avatar:
- NPR: Avatar, Cameron’s Dizzying, Immersive, Parable
- io9.com: When Will White People Stop Making Movies Like Avatar
Back to the movie itself… It is after all a MOVIE ment to entertain and provide an escape from the day-to-day grind. For me it provided a Great Escape!… Awesome Indeed! Follow the links below for some further Avatar reading, Avatar the movie & Avatar in general:
GRAVATAR…
Also don’t forget to get your own “gravatar” for when you are commenting on blogs. You can upload a picture of yourself that will follow your email address around from blog to blog as you leave comments…
After directing The Polar Express in 2004, Robert Zemeckis vowed to only make 3D movies using motion-capture technology from then on, never to return to traditional live action films again. What? How could he? Moviegoers everywhere were bemused at how the bloke who gave us Forrest Gump, the Back to the Future trilogy, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Contact and Cast Away could settle for some silly 3D business. Perhaps Zemeckis was smarter than us all though, his pledge to developing a decent 3D output coming half a decade earlier than most. It seems he was on to something.
You’ve definitely hit this one out of the park…at least for me. Thanks…
Avatar was a good movie, I agree with you on that. However many people think the hangover was much better