Has James Cameron changed the face of cinema?
Michael Leader dons his 3D glasses and settles back to watch Avatar… And thats certainly true.
The relationship between the nature-worshipping, tribal NaVi and the industrialist, expansionist humans is fraught.
Into this melting pot comes wheelchair-bound ex-marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington).
So, once again we find ourselves at the cross-roads between science, business, the military and humanity.
Sully, a soldier at heart, doesnt think twice before accepting Quaritchs mission.
It is testament to the grace of theAvatars effects that such small moments work.
This is pure spectacle.
Strike three, the worst of the bunch: the NaVi just arent as interesting as the humans.
Colonel Quaritch is a scarred, mean bastard who gets all the pumped up hoo-ah!
None of the NaVi have this sense of character: youve seen them before, theyre archetypes.
So while were seduced by their world, our empathy and interest is still located elsewhere.
I suppose most people wont be bothered, and they have every right to be blown away byAvatar.
Its an event movie worthy of the description.
It is every bit the technical achievement that Cameron promised it would be.
However, there is no dodging its weak, underwhelming story.
And I dont go back to rewatchThe Terminator, AliensorT2time after time for the special effects.
Rating:
3 out of 5
