Destined to be a Classic

Rating: 9/10 (24 January 2010)

I saw "Avatar," the newest film from James Cameron, for the second time a few days ago. I didn't see it in IMAX 3D this time. Gosh, it's amazing how one dimension can change a whole movie.
The first time I saw it, which was in 3D, was a cinematic experience like none other... to an extent. First and foremost, the visuals were nothing less that stunning. From the design of the Na'vi to the scenery of Pandora was breathtaking. The 3D made it that much better.
When it comes to 3D movies, most directors decide to have random stuff popping out at completely irrelevant times. For a long time, I thought 3D was just a gimmick. "Avatar" blew that out of the water. If you ever see this in 3D, prepare to have your mind blown. Cameron uses 3D to create a sense of depth to the movie as to make it appear you aren't just staring at a flat screen. It looks like you're viewing a play. Now, if you decide to save a few bucks and see it in 2D, you will still get the amazing mind being blown feeling, but you probably won't feel as "wowed" as most people do as compared to 3D.
The overall acting was solid. It wasn't perfect. Take for example Sigourney Weaver as Grace. She comes off as strong character who, to put it bluntly, doesn't give a damn about Jake, and soon becomes softer and softer towards him. I just felt this was inconsistent because Weaver plays strong characters.
On with the story. Yes, it wasn't original to most of us. My reason for "most of us" being that it is near, if not impossible, to have a completely original, unwritten idea. It doesn't matter who or where, but at least one person will recognize a plot, a sequence, the cinematography, etc, and link it to another movie. The biggest complaint I heard about "Avatar" was how it ripped off "Dances With Wolves." To be honest, I think an archetype like that isn't a bad one to follow. A person generally realizes the flaws with a general way of life and chooses to go with another completely different one. Not to shabby.
Even though it has its flaws, "Avatar" is destined to become a classic. Why, you ask? First, it was made by James Cameron. You know, the guy who made the movie about the robot apocalypse and the other movie about the boat? Yeah, that guy. His credibility couldn't possibly be higher. Second, the many clichés in it. I don't know about you, but an occasional cliché makes a classic effect on the movie. There are a lot of clichés in this movie, which can make it seem watered down, but it works. Third, the themes. They are all universal and sent a message in issues effecting the world today. Such as the "anti-war pro-environment" theme.
All in all, Avatar is a must see 3D experience.