The saying is there is nothing new under the sun, so writer/director/visionary/king of the world James Cameron took it upon himself to create a new sun, on his path to create "Avatar." There isn't much left to say after the years of anticipation, and the payoff the film provides, but let me steer your focus to what it means for the future.
First, our future holds the destruction of our planet. I'm sorry, but if it is in more than one movie, it has to be true (see "2012" and "Wall-E" for support). Instead of rebuilding our planet or embracing alien worlds, American's will employ mercenaries and mining companies to ravage the landscape of other worlds. In an attempt to appear democratic and peaceful, the corporations will hire scientists to connect with the aliens to study and immerse themselves in the culture.
To achieve this, they will use the evolved version of Second Life to transport their consciousnesses into alien bodies, which resemble giant blue feline humanoids, called avatars. Nothing like walking a mile in someone else's shoes, except these aliens, called Na'vi, live as part of the planet, without shoes, and worshiping mother nature.
That's the backstory of the whole film, which we catch throughout the travels of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a paraplegic reactivated Marine, who takes over his diseased brother's avatar. A roughneck corporal missions Sully to infiltrate the Na'vi culture with his avatar in an attempt to drive them away, all the while Sully falls in love with the species. All sides come to heads in the climactic 45-minute battle.
Sounds like a fun future for human history.
Through all the sarcasm, you will find a pretty simple, and already done story, as in "Dances with Wolves." The themes run fairly deep and touching: respect nature and try to understand other cultures. It shouldn't take an alien planet or a fantastic story for you to focus on other cultures. Around the world there are rich societies away from technology and western ideology. As for being green, I'm sure the green politicians have crammed it down American throats too much already.
Other disturbing themes do emerge though because of the ‘avatar' concept. It glorifies the evolution of Second Life and the society disconnect that the Internet brings about. Do we succumb to technology, giving it the power to communicate with people through impersonal means? Texting, instant messaging, Twitter, Facebook and Second Life already exist to connect people from around this world. Cameron simply imagined infusing biology into these technologies, in a fashion very similar to "The Matrix."
(***MINOR SPOILER WARNING***) The most disturbing aspect is what happens when you fall in love as an avatar? Jake Sully falls for a Na'vi girl and by giving into desire and lust; he brings about the philosophical question of is it right? I don't know the answer.
Maybe I dove deep enough in philosophy and themes so let me shift to the experience of "Avatar." The 3D is gorgeous with a full immersion to the world. The trend of 3D to build depth continues with "Avatar," making this the best year for 3D films yet. If you have the opportunity though, travel to an IMAX theater to witness the film.
After seeing the film on both versions of the film, I have to say IMAX overpowers the senses. The theater transforms to become Pandora, with the screen engulfing the full field of vision and the sound expanding the depth of the film's soundtrack and effect mix. All this combined together makes "Avatar" more than any film out now; it is a full visceral experience unlike anything.
Cameron has outdone his body of work with "Avatar." Previously for "Titanic" he set out to find the ship, and did just that. For "Avatar" he had to create everything, the story, the world, the technology, even the cameras he shot with. I already discussed the story, and I really could never do the lush and gorgeous world of Pandora justice in words. Cameron designed everything to make the film. The green screen motion capture technology to digitize actors was more primitive until this film.
Now directors can watch real time renderings of the digital environment through the monitor, as actors walk around green screens. If that wasn't enough, he made his own camera to shoot 3D in some new fangled way. Genius? Maybe.
"Avatar" opens many new doors for cinema, but it may take some years before it is replicated. Watching trailers on TV and online don not reveal the immersive atmosphere of the world. The characters may look cartoonish in advertisements, but once the reels roll in the theater, you will be mesmerized by the realism. With everything considered, James Cameron has claimed his throne as not only the king of this world, but also the king of any other he so chooses to explore.
Grade: A
Alex Kartman is a senior telecommunications major and writes "Scene Selection" for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily represent those of the Daily News.
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