When I saw James Cameron’s first blockbuster and so- called masterpiece, Titanic, I found it boring, poorly made with lack of action and a very poor dialogue and plot line. In fact, it’s unfortunate that the only interesting bit is when the ship hits the iceberg. So on that basis, I was worried that this movie would not live up to my expectations. Upon seeing the trailer and noticing minor similarities to Draenei in appearance, I had surprising feelings that it may be as Epic as people have made it out to be.

Jake Scully (Sam Worthington) is a marine who has paralysis in legs and thus; has to use a wheelchair. He has been sent to the planet of Pandora to replace his brother as a scientist as his Brother had died due to unfortunate circumstances. In the lab, Jake is introduced to Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) and Norm Spellman (Joel David Moore). They are both involved in the Avatar program – a program in which Jake will be partaking in. This program involves them going to sleep in these special beds that look something like the time capsule in the first episode of Futurama. When asleep in these beds, their human body shuts down completely and only their brains and eyes are supposedly functioning. At the same time they are transformed into the body of a Na’Vi – also known as The Avatar Form.

Upon entering the body of his Na\Vi, Jake takes a little getting of getting used to the body. Norm is okay but Jake over enthusiastic and runs outside and keeps running through the play area of all the other Avatars. He stops when he sees Grace and is quickly learns to handle his new body well. The three are sent on a mission to gather research data and encounter a wild beast which unfortunately causes Jake to get disbanded from the group and left to survive in the forest of Pandora alone. That is until he is encountered by a female Na’Vi Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). She take him back to the Avatar home-tree and this is where Jake learns a lot more about the Na’Vi species than he ever imagined.

The head of RDA security Miles Quaritich (Stephen Lang) promises Jake to regain his legs that are currently paralyzed. This is only under the condition of the RDA gaining access to the mineral of unobtainium beneath the Na\Vi’s home-tree. What Jake doesn’t realise is that he has put the whole of the Na’Vi in serious danger and will have to find a way of changing things. That’s if his emotions towards Netiri don’t get in the way.

So the whole movie plays out quite well. There are mixed messages of people saying that the first part is too boring. I however thought it was quite good due to the scenery. This movie can be looked at as one big prologue. Most movies usually run through with opening credits, title, plot, ending credits in that sequence. However this movie doesn’t do that. This movie jumps straight into the plot and you will not see any opening credits. Once you get to the end however, that’s when we can really see it as a prologue and it’s a very unique thing for James Cameron to do with this movie. The last frame really adds emphasis to having the title straight afterwards, before the ending credits start. The plot is good, dialogue keeps the story moving and is does live up my expectations. It gave Titanic an old kick in the ass considering that it smashed the Box Office.

The visual effects, especially the 3D and the scenery are simply stunning. If there is anything you want to keep your eyes focused on, it’s the scenery. The mountains, trees, valleys, rocks, and lets not forget the mystical Na’Vi home-tree. The choice of location by James for all the wonderful scenery and the flying scenes make you feel that would want to go and visit. It’s the kind of stuff that is advertised in Travel mags. Stuff that can open people’s eyes and say “hey that looks like a nice place to visit.” The 3D side isn’t the kind that jumps out at you. It’s the kind that makes you feel like you are really there. It’s great but because the surroundings and scenery do a better job, it’s obviously something that is hard to focus on or take notice of during the film. But it’s there and is seen really well when Jake is lost in Pandora.

The music is pretty average. Yes there are great parts to the film which makes the musical score wonderful, but it could have done better. Films like Wall-E have a musical score that nothing can compare too. Although that is Disney after all. But this one had lots of great classical music filled with instruments like Violin, Double Bass, Bass Drums, Horn, and others that may either go unnoticed or are not included. When the music is prevalent in this film and goes unrecognisable, it’s a letdown as music is always something I listen out for. But yet again, it did have lots of lovely parts to keep me entertained.

Overall, it got the treatment it deserved, didn’t go underrated, and is a great film to watch.

4 ½ out of 5 Rubber Chickens



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