"Avatar succeeds in immersing you to this rich, beautiful world that looks so real you'd wish it truly exists."
Me: "I'll be watching Avatar."
Friend: "Ava-what?"
Me: "Avatar. A film by James Cameron."
Friend: "Who?"
Me: "James Cameron. Director of 'Titanic'."
Friend: "Ahhh...'TITANIC'... Ok."
Titanic. Whether he likes it or not, James Cameron will always be linked to the "Numero Uno Blockbuster Movie of All-Time". On a positive note however, this helps as movies he'll direct from then on initially gives that "great movie perception" strengthened from his film portfolio, beginning of course with Titanic - the same film that catapulted actor Leonardo DiCaprio to mega guwapo stardom and the song "My Heart Will Go On" be played endlessly on FM stations unless we turn off the radio or set it on fire.
So after a decade of not directing any film since 1997's Titanic, Cameron gives us "Avatar".
"Avatar? "
The story goes that in 2154 AD, a human corporation mines Pandora, a lush, low gravity moon of Polyphemus, a gas giant orbiting Alpha Centauri A, 4.4 light-years from Earth. The humans seek to exploit Pandora's reserves of unobtanium, a precious mineral. Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi), head of the operation, employs former marines and soldiers as mercenaries.
Pandora is inhabited by an indigenous race of tall humanoids called the Na'vi and researchers led by Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) create the Avatar Program, creating human-Na'vi hybrids in an attempt to blend in with the environment. A human who shares genetic material with an avatar can link to it, allowing them to control it while their own body 'sleeps'.
Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is a former Marine who was paralyzed below the waist in combat on Earth. His twin brother was a scientist working in the Avatar Program. When Jake's brother is killed, Jake takes his place because he is compatible with his brother's avatar. The research team lets him into the program, having him act more as their security rather than a researcher/explorer. But as Jake explores the world of Pandora and becomes involved with the Na'vi in ways he didn't expect, it leads to a situation which would eventually decide the fate of both the humans and the Na'vi in Pandora.
I'll get straight to the point: The groundbreaking technological advancements and innovative eye candy employed in this film is one of the best in years. Not since "Lord of the Rings" has a film been as absorbing and engaging as this.
Cameron wanted to make a lush and surreal new world taken out of the pages of 'National Geographic' in fantasy mode and the result is utterly breathtaking. There were a handful of moments during my THX 3D viewing when his creations seemed to pop out of the IMAX screen and looked so realistic that I found myself extending my finger for the desire to wanting to literally touch them!
The film has already topped the CGI department in all its breathtaking splendor with jaw-dropping effects, the pulse-pounding action is top notch, the engaging adventure infectious (God I wanted to ride one of those flying creatures and soar like Jake!) and the story of one man's journey of finding his place in the universe realized amongst a race he used to discriminate is enough to be backed up by the visuals.
Granted that Cameron took some elements from his past works such as "Aliens" and some scenes could have been shortened, but it's his way of paying tribute to past works and his penchant for the lengthy path is only because he wanted the viewers to stay around for awhile and be a witness to this incredible world that it leaves a lasting effect on the theme he wants to drive: to learn to appreciate the environment we live in and how imperialism could destroy everything we take for granted.
Sam Worthington's acting is good enough for us to cheer for him, and Sigourney Weaver's presence back to the science fiction genre is an added welcome. And lastly, the cinematic sound courtesy of James Horner is exceptional and heightened the viewing experience up another level.
Experts predict that Avatar will be the groundbreaking landmark and template for future blockbuster films to come, and it comes as no surprise. It's a fantasy film epic without a doubt and will remind you why you watch movies in the first place.
James Cameron. Director of Titanic.
And years from now, when another friend will come to ask about the next Cameron film? I plan on saying this:
"James Cameron. Director of Avatar."
And that, could very well make him nod in approval.
* FILM RATING: 5 STARS (out of 5)
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