Didn't Get Me

Rating: 1/10 (19 December 2009)

I would just like to say that, first off, I'm aware that this is an excellent film. It's original, and it's overwhelmingly enjoyable. However, that is only for some people. For me, however, well... Let's just say that it didn't get me.
I went into this with some of the highest expectations that I've ever had. I wanted to be wowed, quite simply. And I wasn't. I felt that the film followed too much of a formula, and took too many turns into clichés. I've got a feeling the only reason nobody has noticed these things is due to the revolutionary visual effects the film presented. Never before seen. It blinded many people from what story was actually there. And there wasn't much story. It was quite simple.
The story followed closely behind the usual District 9-ish themes. It, like many before it, just states that the United States Government is corrupt and always wants control of everything for their own uses, etc. This storyline and its themes is so hackneyed, that seeing Cameron take advantage of it makes me sick. This film doesn't come close to his others, including Terminator, Aliens and Titanic.
However, I will say that the background to the characters and to the aliens was extremely fascinating and original. Cameron has a way of doing things like that. But that wasn't enough to save the film for me. I didn't even enjoy for the action and adventure, because quite frankly it wasn't that impressive. I didn't feel that anything was real and the CGI was used to an extent that the film just turned into an animation.
Overall, the film fails mostly on an emotional level. I didn't feel a thing for any of the characters. I didn't care who lived, or who died. Sam Worthington tried hard, and he gave a great performance, but it wasn't great enough to save everything else. Best film of the last 30 years? No. Way. In. Hell. I don't even think it was one of the best films of the decade, let alone the best film of the year.
All I've got to say, is that this film definitely did not surpass the hype. It didn't get me.