Mike reviews AVATAR!!!

There are several things that need to be said about Avatar, and they all involve brushing aside the hype (or active dislike of hype) and objectively looking at what James Cameron has done with this incredibly expensive, and incredibly ambitious, sci-fi epic. The first is that it is not that original. The story is an amalgamation of several plot lines we've seen time and time again. By sending the humans to a lush, but technologically regressive, location in order to exploit the natural resources we are treated to the standard anti-colonial narrative that praises the lifestyle of the 'noble savage'. There are moments recognizable from Dances With Wolves and, in a more sci-fi slant, Dune. There are even elements analogous to images and themes of Ferngully and Zulu. The second is that the visuals aren't the most amazing things you've ever seen. The 3-D is great, don't get me wrong, but it is nothing we haven't seen achieved by Disney Pixar, or in films such as The Polar Express. The CGI landscapes are hugely impressive, but similarly ambitious landscapes have been produced much earlier, in films like Blade Runner and Dune again), and more recently in 2012. Likewise, innovative animated characters are clearly on display in Where The Wild Things Are, which combines suits, animatronics and CGI to great effect, and in the more heavily CGI-driven prawns of District 9. The third thing I have to say is that, despite these two things, the film is great in every review I've seen, the critic's judgement hinges on whether this is (or more rarely, is not) a game-changer. The fact is that we can't tell how big a change the film will actually bring about. It may be that this film inspires a generation of environmentalists to develop a niche genre, or rallies the technology lovers of the big screen to fight back against the luvvies who bemoan the ubiquitousness of CGI. It may be that it's viewed as just another box-office success for a talented storyteller with the ability to appeal to a broad audience. Frankly, I don't know. But, as producer John Landau himself points out, cinema is much more about evolution that revolution. On that basis, I have no desire to judge the historic value of this film - and certainly not at this early stage. But I will explain why I enjoyed it so much. The number of thematic and dramatic levels addressed throughout the film is impressive. To be anti-colonial, strongly environmental and heavily political whilst telling a fantastic science-fiction story, as well as a powerfully emotional tale of overcoming physical disability and past shortcomings in a grand moment of redemption is impressive. I struggled to explain it in simple words, so to keep the clarity and emotional resonance of these things throughout such a long and complex narrative is well worthy of praise. Such achievements have only been reached by some classic Hollywood epics in the past, and it would not be too far-fetched to label Avatar as a Ben-Huresque epic for environmentalists. For those not so inclined to buy into an environmentalist narrative, the action (especially in glorious MAX 3-D) provides plenty to gawp at and the military sub-plot is no mere sidetrack. Appropriating imagery of many a Vietnam film, Cameron not only critiques, but endeavours to understand the soldier; and superb performances from Sam Worthington and Stephen Lang work to create a story that is not just a great epic but a classy war film too. What's more, the film looked fantastic. It doesn't matter that the 3-D and CGI are not noticeably better than other expensive contemporaries, because the Na'vi were creations whose attitude and demeanour were not just believable, but capable of garnering audience empathy (a difficult feat for a big, blue, CGI alien). This key element makes everything else that much more enjoyable. Of course, it helps that the array of life around them was nothing short of fantastic in its scope: there were floating mountains, dragon-like lizards and six-legged horse things, all in dazzlingly vivid colours; but the carefully balanced elements of visual creativity and plausibility in the film's primary aliens is what really makes it work well.

If I had to draw a conclusion from my opinions, it'd be this: there's a lot of raving that's going on about Avatar, and whilst I agree with the broadly positive consensus I think the real strengths of the film are being lost. It isn't yet fair to praise (or criticise) the film for its costly innovations in CGI and 3-D, and the story is neither completely original, nor is it trying to be so (Cameron has been cited as saying that the film is inspired by "every single science fiction book I read as a kid"). But Avatar is an intricately-layered, beautifully imagined and painstakingly realised vision with the potential to please people of all cinematic leanings. It may not change the world, but it'll certainly provide enjoyment to many millions of people all over it.