The Case for Vicariosity

Into 2010... wow. Let's start with another movie verdict.

I suppose Avatar was always going to split audiences. After so much build up, so many revelations about the innovative technology to tell a story with a heart, and of course the options of seeing the movie in either 2 or 3D mean that it was never going to live up to everyone’s expectations. Case in point: see the debate that has raged on Moosetastic’s site.

And this Judge’s perspective? To summarise first: amazing special effects, so-so story. I knew I was in trouble when halfway through the film I decided to stop trying to like any of the characters and instead decided to root for the most enjoyable one. As that character ended up being an ex-Marine Colonel Quaritch hell bent on raising hell on Pandora, and so of course was always going to end up on the “bad” side, I knew my favourite character was not going to end up victorious in the end.


Perhaps its Sam Worthington’s (as Jake Sully) fault. I saw Terminator: Salvation the night before, and so I knew he had huge difficulty maintaining an American accent, so the fact it continued to vary throughout Avatar was not that much of a shock though it was a bit disappointing; and I could lay the blame at James Cameron’s script for rendering his character an annoying self involved idiot who doesn’t really have much of a revelation in the film but more has people learn to accept him, for no reason I can really fathom. Sigourney Weaver gets to play Ellen Ripley mushed up with Diane Fossey, though only utilises the most annoying traits from both. In the end, it’s the rotten eggs – Giovanni Ribisi’s Burke-light Selfridge (what kind of name is that?); Michelle Rodriguez’s Vasquez with a pilot licence, Chacon; and of course the evil Quaritch – who have, and provide, the most fun.

The Na’vi, the blue-skinned local inhabitants of the savage yet somehow noble planet of Pandora, are an interesting lot. Not because of who they are: their culture is an hippie amalgamation of “in touch with their environment natives” (predominantly based, I would hazard a guess, on a very PC view of Native Americans); but more for their evolution – how on earth (well, on Pandora), did a humanoid form develop on a planet where 6 limbs appears to be the norm?

Zoe Saldana takes a break from her red Starfleet miniskirt to become 10 foot tall Neytiri, who teaches Sully how to be a Naboo - oops, Na’vi. Warriors, it seems, are more highly valued than elders and teachers in this highly spiritual touchy feely society, so the Na’vi decide that a highly impressionable, young, single woman would be his perfect teacher (as I said, the culture is really… dumb). Becoming a Na’vi involves lots of running, apparently, and Sully never really learns the language but apparently that’s not a biggie. Looking at the cast photos on IMDB, it is interesting to note that all the Na’vi are played by black actors – perhaps that was a back up plan in case the digital effects engine broke down. Apparently, just “acting alien” was not going to be enough.

Gah. It’s so easy to find fault with the film and the production that I really should stop it. On the positive side, the special effects are utterly amazing, and I was completely immersed in a video game of colour and spectacular action sequences. And, if you see Avatar as a Phantom Menace style film, aiming to capture a kiddie audience while satisfying adults, then I don’t think you will be disappointed, as Cameron is a much better writer and director than Lucas (based on this and the prequel Star Wars trilogy films anyway). Just don’t expect a thought provoking message or well rounded and engaging characters – the only third dimension to this film is visual.

Verdict: Come with the Na’vi and you will see (in 3D) a world of pure imagination. Pandora is an incredible creation and James Cameron has every reason to be proud of what he has accomplished. However, while his powers have increased in the visual arena, his writing skills appear to be getting a bit rusty as Avatar is filled with lots of characters who interact with the environment, but not with each other. And perhaps one day, Sam Worthington will be able to prove he can act in a decent role. 7 kilos of Unobtainium (another ridiculous name!) out of 10.