PopEntertainment.com

It's all the entertainment you need!

 

FEATURE STORIES MOVIE REVIEWS MUSIC REVIEWS BOX SET REVIEWS TV SHOWS ON DVD CONTESTS CONCERT PHOTOS

 

  FEATURE STORIES
  INTERVIEWS A TO E
  INTERVIEWS F TO J
  INTERVIEWS K TO O
  INTERVIEWS P TO T
  INTERVIEWS U TO Z
  INTERVIEWS ACTORS
  INTERVIEWS ACTRESSES
  INTERVIEWS BOOKS
  INTERVIEWS DIRECTORS AND SCREENWRITERS
  INTERVIEWS MUSIC
  INTERVIEWS OSCAR NOMINEES
  INTERVIEWS THEATER
  IN MEMORIAM
  REVIEWS
  MOVIE REVIEWS
  MUSIC REVIEWS
  CONCERT REVIEWS
  BOX SET REPORT CARD
  TV SHOWS ON DVD
  MISCELLANEOUS STUFF & NONSENSE
  CONCERT PHOTOGRAPHY
  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
  CONTESTS
  LINKS
  MASTHEAD
  EMAIL US

"WILD YEARS-THE MUSIC & MYTH OF TOM WAITS" BY Jay S. Jacobs

AVAILABLE IN BOOK STORES EVERYWHERE!

 

PopEntertainment.com > Reviews > Movie Reviews > Avatar

MOVIE REVIEWS

AVATAR (2009)

Starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Wes Studi, Laz Alonso and Dileep Rao.

Screenplay by James Cameron.

Directed by James Cameron.

Distributed by 20th Century Fox.  165 minutes.  Rated PG-13.

 Fare Buzz

Avatar

James Cameron is a big picture kind of guy.

If you get technical, some of the most basic abilities of a writer/director are beyond his skill set.  For example, he has a completely tin ear when it comes to writing realistic dialogue, he has a tendency towards clichés and he doesn’t have a subtle bone in his body. 

However, you have to give it up to the guy – James Cameron is a terrific, imaginative storyteller with a flawless visual sense. 

Avatar is Cameron’s first movie in twelve years – unless you count three short IMAX documentaries, which I do not.  However, his last feature film just happens to be the most popular movie ever, Titanic.  Other films on Cameron’s résumé include The Terminator, Aliens and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. 

Like I said, not exactly a nuanced body of work, but the man sure has a knack for huge, crowd-pleasing spectacles. 

In certain ways, Avatar may be the finest example of his work.  While I personally feel that Titanic is a better film – and I was never a huge fan of his earlier smashes – Avatar is certainly more imaginative and groundbreaking.  It is visually stunning, in a way that makes even Titanic, certainly a grand spectacle itself, seem a little small. 

Too bad the story is significantly less interesting than that of Titanic. 

Sam Worthington plays Jake, a future Marine who lost use of his legs in war.  He is drafted into a top secret high-tech program, which allows humans to take on a virtual reality alien body on a far-off planet called Pandora. 

The local beings on the planet are twelve-foot tall blue somewhat humanoid looking beings.  They live in peace with nature in a dangerous forest home, protecting each other from wild rampaging animals and worship life.  The beings are somewhat savages – in fact they are very reminiscent of Native Americans – using rudimentary weapons like rocks and bows & arrows. 

The Earthlings covet a rare mineral which is plentiful in the natives’ holy ground.  Jake is told to infiltrate the beings and gain their trust, but the military, scientific and business factions of the Earth force all have different motives. 

Jake does make progress, befriending the chief’s daughter and becoming like one of the aliens.  However, when the Earthlings make more overt actions to take over the planet, Jake must decide which side has his allegiance. 

Cameron uses the film to make some heavy-handed political and ecological points.  The fact that I essentially agree with the points of view he is expressing does not blind me to the fact that he is hammering home his perspective with little tact or restraint.  Still, they are vitally important points at this era of history, so maybe tact or restraint is not prudent. 

Unfortunately, as is often the case in Cameron’s work, the film ends a bit disappointingly.  There is an extended battle sequence between the natives and the humans – while flawlessly put together, it could still have been in just about any sci-fi fantasy genre spectacle. 

Considering the movie is almost three-hours long, this rote ending is doubly disappointing.  However, by this point, most crowds will be all in.  In general the film is strong and visually arresting enough that it can withstand this slightly anti-climactic climax. 

Is Avatar worthy of being the most popular movie of all time – an honor that it is quickly approaching?  No, definitely not.  There are much better and more worthy films.  However, Avatar is a rousing and sometimes jaw-dropping adventure yarn and definitely worthy of being a hit.

Jay S. Jacobs

Copyright ©2010 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: January 20, 2010.

RETURN TO MOVIE REVIEWS MENU

Movies Unlimited

ODYN - For the professional results you need

Berrylook

Copyright ©2010  PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: January 20, 2010.

 

Shop Now!

The Soul of Midnight Special

Bookbaby.com helping independents – whether authors, publishers, musicians, filmmakers, or small businesses – bring their creative efforts to the marketplace.

Bookbaby.com helping independents – whether authors, publishers, musicians, filmmakers, or small businesses – bring their creative efforts to the marketplace.