It's a Whole New World

Rating: 9/10 (26 December 2012)

Finally, after a year of hype and endless speculation about what effect it would have on the motion picture industry, James Cameron's Avatar has arrived. Having finished watching it not more than an hour ago, I'm here to spell it out for you: go see this movie immediately. It's a breathtaking spectacle, and one that's almost impossible to process in one viewing. Avatar is nothing short of revolutionary, serving as a visual opus for the ages and a guiding light for the future of filmmaking. So, now that I'm done heaping unconditional praise on Cameron's grand return to the multiplex, let's break this thing down.
Exhibit A: the story. If you've read any of the early reviews of the film, you're aware of the fact that many critics have declared Avatar a success solely on the technical front. This was something that worried me as I excitedly donned the yellow 3D glasses issued me by my local Regal Cinema, but not even 15 minutes into the film all of those fears had dissolved. The story is solid all around, and it features a number of standout performances. I have to tip my hat to Zoe Saldana first and foremost. Saldana plays Neytiri, a member of the Na'vi species that inhabits the planet Pandora. Working just beneath the photo-realistic surface of a CGIer-hem"avatar"she manages to elicit the strongest emotional response from viewers by really making us care about the welfare of her people.
I have to be honest: going into this, the premise seemed a little too Dances With Wolves (and thus in grave danger of succumbing to cliché and, of course, the resultant eye-rolling). Thankfully, though, the story is presented with enough originality to stand on its own. Cameron nicely balances what can only be described as National Geographic-esque documentary footage with the story of a budding romance between Jake Sully (Worthington)—a marine with a chip on his shoulder—and Neytiri. There's also the presence of a greedy corporate executive and a hardened military Colonel, both of whom execute their respective roles admirably. The narrative is completely absorbing, and only on very brief occasions does it falter and break the trance it has on the audience. These moments come in the form of treatises on global warming and the many ways "terrorism" can be defined, and they are indeed noticeable when they arrive (mainly because they're in such sharp contrast to the otherwise engrossing story line). Cameron, it seems, works best when he's dealing with broader philosophical concepts (see Terminator 2: Judgment Day). There are also a handful of other "Oh, that's convenient" moments, but these are also few and far between. Really, the tale Cameron spins for us is very well constructed. It's all logical, and despite how fantastic some of the things you see on screen may seem, you still believe in their existence.
Which brings me to the effects. In a word, they're phenomenal. I'm always hesitant to use the word "ever" when writing a review—I think long and hard before actually including it in anything I write—but Avatar is the most beautiful movie I've ever seen. Even though the Na'vi are entirely fictional, they look real. I mean, really real. This is also the case with every other organism inhabiting Pandora. The success of what you see on screen is due mainly to the fluidity of movement (especially in the case of the Na'vi); the sense that it's all "organic" pervades every frame, and the attention paid to detail is mind-boggling. It's clear that Cameron is really enjoying mulling over the intricacies of a piece of Pandoran fruit, for example (especially when Jake's avatar takes a big bite out of it), and we can't help but be swept up in the grandiose nature of it all. In one particular scene, where Jake and Neytiri are running across a phosphorescent/bioluminescent mold of some sort, things verge on sensory overload (and I mean that in a very, very good way).
The use of 3D is, of course, integral to the convincing nature of what you're seeing, and there are no gimmicks here. Unlike past movies where objects stick out and threaten to poke you in the face, the third dimension is subtlety (yet effectively) utilized in Avatar. As a matter of fact, it won't be long before you forget that you're wearing dopey yellow sunglasses. When people call this film a viewing experience, that's exactly what it is: an experience. I can talk about it 'til I'm blue in the face, but you won't really understand until you strap yourself into the center of the theater and dive headlong into the entirely believable world that Cameron and company have created.
And, as with any good James Cameron movie, there are plenty of "awweeesoommmeee!" action moments. Again, I think it's futile for me to try and describe them, but they rival anything from his earlier entries (yes—that includes Aliens and T2). Especially great is the epic final battle, as is a heart-stopping chase scene that occurs early on between Jake and an indigenous beast.
If ever there were a movie that you absolutely must see on the big screen, this is it. And, if it's at all possible, see it in IMAX. You can thank me later.