The two sides of a great director.

Rating: 7/10 (9 January 2010)

The obvious and final debate about Avatar that pits the fanboys and 3D geeks against the plot-crazy and character-driven fans is whether or not the special effects and 3D setting is enough to entertain and drive home the film its entire running length of 160 minutes.
Well, since I belong to the latter group, I say that Avatar does not deliver the entire way as the final third loses steam tremendously. However, to start with the positive, there is no denying that writer/director James Cameron is one of the best, if not the absolute king of visual effects and epic storytelling. Cameron, who revolutionized movies with the Terminator films, Aliens and Titanic, continues to do what he does best with amazing attention to detail and astonishing creations of action sequences that completely surround and delight all audiences. There can be nothing bad said about the look and sound of the film, but there can be for the storytelling; heavy on storytelling and light on story.
People will say that I am missing the real reason for this movie and I am looking too hard and expecting too much, but really am I? Is it wrong to want a story with very strong, independent-minded characters that come alive through the acting and not just their physical traits? Many say the movies were invented to tell stories like Avatar, and I cannot disagree with that since film is a visual medium and Avatar is that. But, there are times when it is all visual and the substance to support everything else falls to the wayside in order for Cameron to dazzle and amaze our eyes. This I do not mind, but I wanted a nice balance of visuals and plot.
With all the incredible visual touches, it is unfortunate to not get a more original storyline. Basically, this is 'Dances With Wolves' meets Star Wars 150 years in the future. The dialog is quite silly at times and the emotions of the characters are amazing in how they swing so strong from one scene to another. It is too bad such emotional and vital actors like Sigourney Weaver are hidden behind motion-picture technology while wooden actors like Sam Worthington are allowed to take center stage.
Yes, I know, I am being too hard and critical of this movie. But then again, Cameron is being very ambitious. This is by no means a bad movie, but I think it will be remembered for its influence in technological aspects rather than being a landmark film; this did not change movies forever. I admire Cameron so much as a director, but it is Cameron the writer that gets lost in his own world at times. Still, seeing it in 3D was quite incredible and I loved watching Zoe Saldana take over every scene she was in. As if you haven't already, it is certainly worth seeing Avatar, but it is not worth heaping all accolades onto it.