“Avatar” is the movie that has brought the people of Earth together by telling the story of a distant planet. In the 12 years since James Cameron released the highest-grossing film of all time, “Titanic,” he has worked on a film that has revolutionized filmmaking. Cameron spent over a decade working on “Avatar” with a budget that is estimated at $237 million but the film made over $1.4 billion in only four weeks. Pandora is one of the moons of the planet Polyphemus which is located in the Alpha Centauri star system. The planet is similar to Earth and possesses the extremely valuable natural resource, unobtanium. Beautiful lush forestry covers Pandora. While the planet looks inviting, large and dangerous creatures as well as the tall, blue-skinned indigenous people, the Na’vi, inhabit it. A private corporation, the Resources Development Administration, has enlisted the United States Marines to provide security while they excavate unobtainium.
Sam Worthington plays Jake Sully, a paraplegic marine who has been drafted by RDA to pilot an avatar. The avatars are Na’vi bodies created by scientists utilizing human DNA. The pilots are matched genetically and control the Na’vi remotely through a computer that links them mentally. Jake joins the head of the Avatar program Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) and Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore) on a reconnaissance mission, but is separated from them while in the forest. Grace and Norm search unsuccessfully above the forest in an aircraft piloted by Trudy Chacon (Michelle Rodriguez). As night sets in, Jake finds himself in great danger in the forest until he is found by Netyiri (Zoe Saldana). The film follows Jake’s education by the Na’vi people and culture, as well as the RDA’s mission of extracting unobtainium. The onscreen talent performs well. The actors deliver believable performances (given the subject material) with each other and the computer generated imagery animation. However, the stunning visual world that Cameron presents completely overshadows the actors. Watching the film in 3D is an experience audiences will not wish to miss. Cameron avoided the typical 3D tricks of having items come directly toward the viewer. Instead, he was subtle and deliberate in filming and the use of special effects.
Overall, “Avatar” is a good film for the story and acting alone. The story will seem familiar to anyone who has read American history, but this brave new world gives it new legs and a fresh feel. The stunning visual world and special effects make this a movie that you will not want to miss seeing in a theater. While “Avatar” clocks in at over two and a half hours, the time will pass quickly as the film has a nice pace that is helped by a good amount of action. You will definitely want to head to your local cineplex, pick up the 3D glasses and enlist on James Cameron’s latest ride.