Avatar

Rating: 6/10 (1 February 2010)

Golden Globe winning, and Oscar and BAFTA nominated director James Cameron (The Terminator, Aliens) returned after a twelve year absence, from Titanic, with this 3D film that was rumoured would change the way films (particularly in 3D) are made, I had to see what the big deal was. Basically, it is 2154, where paraplegic war veteran, marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is being recruited for a mission to the alien planet Pandora, inhabited by the native humanoid race called Na'vi with their own language and culture. To get onto the planet without suspicion, he, fellow soldier Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore) and experienced Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) enter a cocoon have their minds enter a new body known as an Avatar to look like the alien race,and control is by telepathy, so Jake can walk again in this body. The mission is to first understand more about the Na'vi, Jake manages to gain the trust of Neytiri (Zoë Saldana) and eventually the rest of them, and to find a precious mineral called Unobtanium. As time goes by, it becomes obvious that Jake is enjoying life in the Avatar as a Na'vi a bit too much for the likes of Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), who promised Jake his real legs back, and Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi). They are turning nasty to get what they want and start stripping the planet, so Jake, Trudy Chacon (Michelle Rodriguez) and the whole of the Na'vi form an army to go against the enemy (the humans) to save what is precious, Pandora itself. Also starring CCH Pounder as Moat, Wes Studi as Eytukan and Laz Alonso as Tsu'tey. 2009 also saw this film break the worldwide record for highest grossing film in the world and of all time, with over $2 billion, ironically beating Cameron's own Titanic (which made over $1 billion). As for the film itself, it might not be the most original of plots, but the performances are good, and the big hook is seeing the amazing special effects take you into another world. The motion-capture is really well done for the blue characters, and the 3D really adds to the beautiful landscapes and colours of the alien world, oh, and for the quite gripping action scenes, so it is an epic science-fiction fantasy to see. It won the Oscars for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects, and it was nominated for Best Editing, Best Music for James Horner, Best Sound, Best Sound Editing and Best Motion Picture of the Year, it won the BAFTAs for Best Production Design and Best Special Visual Effects, and it was nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Music, Best Sound and Best Film, and it won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Drama, and it was nominated the Golden Globes for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for Leona Lewis's "I See You". Good!