AVATAR And The Lack Of Imagination

James Cameron's AVATAR. The overwhelming consensus is that it looks like a very complex video game, something that Cameron was definitely not looking to accomplish. While I was underwhelmed by the supposedly "game changing" special effects, which looked disappointingly similar to every other CGI film we have endured over recent summers, I was most disappointed by what I perceived as a startling lack of imagination in the film. Going even further, we could say that filmed science fiction has yet to free itself from the shackles of reality the way novelizations can. In other words, AVATAR continues the lack of imagination found in almost all science fiction films. There have been very few science fiction films that have given audiences something they have never seen or perceived before. Most science fiction films have been content to simply alter the everyday slightly, thereby creating a sense of futurism. Of all science fiction films, I would say these are the ones that significantly alter reality, perception, or utilize copious amounts of imagination: 1. METROPOLIS 2. 2001: A SPACE ODYESSY 3. STAR WARS 4. BLADE RUNNER 5. THE MATRIX 6. GATTACA 7. ROBOCOP 8. ALIEN 9. THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (original) 10. TERMINATOR As you can see, most of these films are considered to be bona fide classics of the genre. And with good reason. All of these films demonstrate vivid imaginations, often coupled with visionary futurism and radical, thought-provoking storylines. Outside of this small group, most science fiction films come off like KRULL - flashy nonsense, recycled plotting, and cheesy attempts to create another world or time. While some of that is budgetary, films like GATTACA demonstrate that one does not need huge budgets to create a palpable science fiction atmosphere. With the CGI era, imaginations finally have the possibility to run free, yet science fiction filmmakers seem unwilling or unable to go the extra step and actually make something unique and divorced from reality. Cameron has been trumpeting for three years that AVATAR would be the next step in the evolution of science fiction films, and die-hard science fiction geeks have been salivating at the prospect of a films that could rival novelized science fiction's power to transport. Alas, the new trailer for AVATAR reveals yet another example of a science fiction film thinking too small. Despite the huge budget and scope, the film features another race of aliens with eyes, a nose, and a mouth just like humans ... they just have blue skin. They also use something that looks exactly like a bow and arrow ... weird, isn't it? Their home planet - light years from Earth - have plants and trees that look strikingly similar to those found on Earth, albeit bigger. Shouldn't we be able to assume at this point that any aliens we ever encounter will look, sound, and act very different from us? On the human side, we see humans in wheelchairs far into the future (this might be explained). We also see hovering ships that look suspiciously like the ones found in Pixar's THE INCREDIBLES, and other ones that look like they were copied and pasted from the STAR WARS prequels. In all, a surprising lack of imagination from a director who claims to be changing the game. While the new footage looks pretty and painterly, the imagination behind it is sorely lacking. Of all genres, science fiction is meant to transport, engage, and provoke. It is supposed to provide audiences with unique and visionary sights and situations. While the film might be something else entirely, the trailer for AVATAR leaves one feeling that it is merely a collection of impressive CGI effects desperately attempting to distract from the lack of original ideas and concept.