![]() There is a lot of science both on screen and behind the scenes to bring us a story that is decidedly not rocket science: Avatar is a dreadfully boring, predictable story about a generic protagonist, but luckily it’s set in a beautiful world full of exciting creatures and incredible possibilities for adventure. Sully’s caught between the two, as he pilots a fake Na’vi body and learns of their culture while also acting as a spy for the militaristic bad guy, Col. Things improve greatly once the movie moves mostly into the alien tribe of Na’vi as they defend their land from encroaching capitalist interests. The latter is cleverly revealed as a result of his unwillingly vlogging his experiences For Science, but every time he explains or re-explains ideas or emotions communicated elsewhere, the movie stops dead. Sam Worthington’s Jake Sully provides voiceover that is painfully unnecessary and stilted, both in writing and delivery. Every line feels like the first draft of a character archetype from the most generic of action movies. What Avatar is most brilliant at is the world is creates, and maybe Cameron is too in love with that world, because the first 20 or so minutes of this movie are rough. For me, it always felt like it turned the TV screen into a diorama, with multiple planes of 2D images stacked in close proximity to one another. I’ve never loved 3D, though: I’ve rarely felt immersed by the technology. And the 4K remaster of this movie looks mostly great, though objects in movement felt noticeably blurrier as a result (in other words, motion blur is normal, but is way more jarring when a mostly still image is so much clearer). ![]() Personally, I see well enough to watch a movie without my glasses, but this was nice. The provided 3D glasses are a nice improvement on what I’ve experienced before they fit nicely enough over my own glasses. So I took the whole day off and indulged in the 3D spectacle of James Cameron’s Avatar, a movie that I didn’t love when it first came out. I have an ungodly amount of PTO to burn and had to take my cat to the vet at 9AM yesterday (he’s OK, but asthmatic). I dunno, man, I’ve spent a lot of time underestimating the love that this movie apparently got that earned it the biggest and most tickets sold in the world for any movie ever or whatever. Focusing instead on his religious propriety and its unwelcome place in a land with other beliefs makes for a more universal villain but a less complex one. Cromwell makes for an interesting case since his reputation in Ireland differs from other countries but the film demures from playing to the worst of the feelings and opinions of the man. Robyn’s father plays his part, with a relatable touch of being reluctantly subservient to his job for the benefit of his family. The Odd Couple this is not, but a getting-to-know-you tale in the finest form of the trope. Mebh requires much less effort as her mythical origins are clearer, and her interactions with Robyn provide the little spark of interest on which the relationship rests. Robyn’s background is merely stated and I found myself craving more allusions to her past as away of driving her future. It’s not that they’re inherently cold or flat, but perhaps because at only 103 minutes and with a lot of ground to cover, the film has to get to the point fairly quickly. Getting down to the nitty gritty, the characters took a while to warm up to.
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