May 27, 2010 Avatar
I waited & waited till the movie ran out of theatres. I finally saw this much hyped movie of the year on a small laptop, minus the 3D effects. Did I miss out on anything? I’m not so sure.
Huge budgets, massive effects, spectacular lighting and great music define this otherwise so predictable story. I was left confused when asked if I liked the movie, simply because I felt I did like it, but couldn’t say why!
This is the bare basic plot for this magnus opus – A futuristic era where mankind has discovered a rare mineral / element, aptly called “Unobtainium”, which sells at millions a kilo. A private company sets shop in a Planet called Pandora, where this element is available in abundance.
The only issue however, is that the natives of this planet – huge blue human hybrids are so very much connected to their forests, grass, animals, leaves & plants that everything is considered sacred to them. In the heart of a village where Unobtainium lies, stands a huuuuuuuuuge tree which forms the cornerstone of the existence of this clan.
The big question lies ahead – how do you get the villagers to move base, so that we materialistic humans can plunder & profit.
There are 2 factions hired by this company – a group of scientists working on an unexplainable budget, creating “Avatars” – bodies which trained scientists can soul-teleport themselves into & control them, in order to be one with the villagers & explain the situation to an amicable solution.
The other faction is led by ex marines & army men who pine to attack & nuke out the place to have their way, rather than wait for months for an amicable solution.
Moving on to our central character – a paraplegic ex marine who is taken onboard only because his identical twin, a scientist was killed in a freaky accident. Matching DNAs supposedly were the reason why our wheelchair ridden hero is chosen, instead of abandoning an Avatar made for him (or his brother, rather), investing millions in this technology.
Damn Cameron! That’s quite a complicated way to tell a simple tale!
This is my version of this tale for those who wont be seeing this movie anyways…
Picture this: Greedy city people want something out of the village land. Villagers live a peaceful life and worship a tree in the middle of the village as their god. They wont move because money cant buy their belief & happiness. So the mean city people get huge tractors & landmovers out to destroy the village. Villagers get together, other villages join in & help out & they defeat the mean city people. End of story. Happy ending.
Oh yeah one more parallel story which is so often seen in Bollywood as well – the City People send one of them to get friendly with the villagers, win their heart over & influence them. He ends up falling for the villagers & helps them fight the enemy. (refer: Namak Haram)
So much for the plot! 
Where does this movie score then?
Great music by James Horner – I really dont need to praise someone with his credentials.
Great use & adaptation of a often retold script. Mindblowing CGI & technology, single handedly gives you a totally new experience, worthy enough to mask a lame old story into something totally fresh.
Sam Worthington as the paraplegic Jake Sully is a dud. But his Avatar “Jakesully” is so very energetic and awe inspiring, and childish at the same time that his enthusiasm can be infectious. You root for his avatar, rather than for him – which probably bodes well for the story.
The chemistry between Sam Worthington & his muse is great. Certain scenes are memorable – their love scene near the holy tree of souls, the taming of the Toruk Maktu, their flight together, and the Independence Day type battle speech.
Watch it for the Avatar, not for Sam, not for Cameron, not for anything else.
Rating: 6 / 10
- Leave a comment
- Posted under movie reviews
