A beautiful dream

Rating: 10/10 (23 December 2009)

I have now seen this movie twice in 3D over three days.
First viewing I was gob smacked by the 3D and CGI. In the few moments of self-awareness I found myself with mouth wide open, eyes wide with wonder and tense from so many emotions.
Second viewing, today, I had more time to take in more of the nuances and detail.
Overall, I have been shocked by this movie.
The cast did a superb job, top honours going to Zoe Saldana for the adorable amazonian goddess Neytiri. James Cameron has created technology able to capture the subtlest of gestures and emotions, and it brings the Avatars and Na-vi to scintillating life. The story I found to be involving, and I felt myself cursing the invaders, fretting for the Na-vi and their way of life, moved by the very touching and intimate romance and genuinely interested in what would happen next.
I can't help but think that the combination of Digital 3D, extreme-HD CGI and sheer spectacle just might spell a revival of the cinema. I spent nearly £10 each visit, and can only say that it was totally worth it. Sure, there are allegories that some will find hart to stomach, and some people don't really get sci-fi or fantasy, and some of the plot-devices have been used before, but to me none of that it relevant.
It is a shame that I will never have the opportunity to experience this again when it leaves cinemas. Sure, I will buy a blu-ray player (or cave and get a PS3) when it is released, but it will never be the same as the big-screen Digital 3D experience. Is it a landmark in film? I think so. Mr Cameron has already started passing on the new technology to other directors, and this will help not only the directors, studios and audience, but will be a revelation for cinema-takings.
With regards to the technology, I think there is a certain 'magic' about this film. The combination of imagination, MoCap, CGI and 3D feels like it affects the brain in a different way to the conventional 2D movie experience (like participating rather than witnessing). Certainly I am recurrently taken back to Pandora in a way I have not experienced before, and perhaps the tech had something to do with that.
Hopefully I can now fully get back to real life having written this, at least until my next visit to that far away land of beauty and harmony.
10/10