Avatar

Despite being one of the most anticipated films of all time, Avatar almost feels like it has slipped in under the radar now it’s finally here. With the film being years in the planning and making, and with very little info being leaked, interest was beginning to wane. That was up until a few months ago when people suddenly realised there was only a few months more to wait, then a few teaser clips appeared, followed then by the endlessly player trailer, and before we knew it we were all sitting there on opening day with our 3D glasses on. So, how to review such a film? First of all, the storyline. Sam Worthington stars as Jake Sully, a paraplegic marine, who, via the use of an avatar, infiltrates a colony of humanoid like beings (the Na’vi) in order to persuade them to abandon their planet so humans can mine a precious ore that is buried there. So, to the special effects first then. You can breath a sigh of relief. They are amazing. In addition the overall look of the film has a look (almost like a sheen) of quality not seen before. A couple of scenes where the backgrounds disappear off into the distance are draw dropping. Oddly though, the 3D isn’t as stunning as other 3D efforts this year (A Christmas Carol being a prime example). There is a reason why this is, but I’ll let you surf the net to find the technical explanation. So does the rest of the film back up the effects? Yes and No. The storyline is fairly predictable. As soon as Sully (in his avatar) meets a female Na’vi and starts to understand the Na’vi way of life, you don’t need to be Poirot to guess what’s going to happen next. The acting is hit and miss. Worthington is fine, but a few people struggle to bring life to their underwritten parts. Two parts not underwritten are Giovanni Ribisi’s as the company man determined to get the Na’vi out of the way, and Stephen Lang as the military man in charge of the troops who are more than happy to help him. Both characters are terribly written, laden with awful dialogue and as stereotypical as they come. Lang’s character in particular seems to have dropped in from some mid 1980’s action film. The good news is that regardless of this, the film is still a blast anyway and extremely enjoyable with enough emotional pull for you to feel a connection with the Na’vi as things turn bad. Obviously the film has pretty unsubtle references to the environment and racial and political history. However, as you’re watching the film, you’re probably wise to let these messages pass over your head and just enjoy the ride. Is this the future of film then? At the moment it would appear unlikely. Only a director with James Cameron’s passion (and past successful track record) is going to spend years nurturing a project such as this. In addition, not many studios are going to stump up the current costs associated with such an effects laden film (a rumoured $280,000.000 for this one). Obviously as the years go on the technology will be refined and overheads will come down. And though the visuals are stunning, there is some irony in the fact that the film does actually demonstrate that human acting is always more emotive and engaging than effects could ever be. In addition to this, it does prove that it doesn’t matter whether you’re watching a CGI blockbuster or a low budget independent film, the screenplay is king, and will always be the measure by how a film triumphs or falls.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
This is a visual treat on the eyes. Unfortunately, this enjoyment is counter-balanced by a screenplay that is an assault on the ears and offers little in the way of surprises. Rating: 7/10.