FA+
Shop
Avatar
15 years ago
Alright, I'll admit, I finally saw Avatar. And my opinion? I could sum it up in two words: relentlessly conventional.
Was there ever a point in the movie where you didn't know what was going to happen next? You've heard the story a hundred times before. You knew what each character's role was going to be from the minute they showed up. The greedy corporate douchebag. Sarge from Quake 3. The girl who doesn't trust the protagonist but will inevitably end up in bed with him by the end of the movie. The die-hard leader who will lead his army right off the edge and never look back. The nervous protagonist with an epiphany of gold.
Maybe you didn't see it with blue furries versus humans, but you've seen this same conflict before. It's Captain Planet. The infallible tree-huggers versus the infinitely evil military-industrial complex. It's not exactly subtle.
The only front where the movie works, I think, is the effects angle. It's easy to see how their digital make-up is as important an advancement as the make-up in the original Planet of the Apes. But, at least in this case, there's simply no heart behind the effects.
Actually, it's made me want to go and watch District 9 again because I don't think I gave that movie a fair shake the first time I saw it. For my money, the Prawns were far more compelling aliens. Possibly because District 9 liked to understate things. It didn't let the special effects replace the story. It was an allegory just the same, but there was something about it that clicked better.
Was there ever a point in the movie where you didn't know what was going to happen next? You've heard the story a hundred times before. You knew what each character's role was going to be from the minute they showed up. The greedy corporate douchebag. Sarge from Quake 3. The girl who doesn't trust the protagonist but will inevitably end up in bed with him by the end of the movie. The die-hard leader who will lead his army right off the edge and never look back. The nervous protagonist with an epiphany of gold.
Maybe you didn't see it with blue furries versus humans, but you've seen this same conflict before. It's Captain Planet. The infallible tree-huggers versus the infinitely evil military-industrial complex. It's not exactly subtle.
The only front where the movie works, I think, is the effects angle. It's easy to see how their digital make-up is as important an advancement as the make-up in the original Planet of the Apes. But, at least in this case, there's simply no heart behind the effects.
Actually, it's made me want to go and watch District 9 again because I don't think I gave that movie a fair shake the first time I saw it. For my money, the Prawns were far more compelling aliens. Possibly because District 9 liked to understate things. It didn't let the special effects replace the story. It was an allegory just the same, but there was something about it that clicked better.
Cameron's earlier work, like The Terminator movies, were definitely filled with action, but they were a bit less predictable and the plot had more meat on its bones. It was still obviously good versus evil, but it kept you guessing. The time travel plot got convoluted in the later sequels, but at least as Cameron's movies were concerned, it made just enough sense. And because the situation was so dire, you weren't sure who was going to make it to the end of the movie either. I mean, heck, Arnold sacrifices himself at the end of T2. I didn't see that coming, but it made sense. It had to happen to save the future.
and im sure I saw naiv nipples too!
It kinda reminded me of Last of the Mocheans. A fully trained and equiped military force sent in to deal with "savege" natives and end up getting their asses hand back to them.
But the movie itself has the same plot as countless others. Dances with Wolves, Pocahontas, etc. It's obviously an allegory for the Europeans arriving in the New World and finding the "savage" Native Americans. I just wish the two sides weren't so painfully black and white. This isn't G.I. Joe versus Cobra! I mean, the evil corporation, why did they even start the Avatar program and hire all those scientists anyway if they were just going to ignore them?
I do like how they never really explain why unobtainium is so valuable. A great Macguffin.
It seems to be that the Avatar programme (based on what was said in the movie) it was a way to gain their trust, if you look sounded and acted like them they would trust you.
The commander saw it as a way to gather recon data on them. So when the big boys move in they will be in quick.
There could be two reasons for this.
1: Time is money
2: The money used on this programme could of been used to help those back on Earth
I keep saying they are Nightcrawler cat things. Other people call them giant Smurfs. Are Smurfs furry?
for one theysd need fur. lol