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Message started by Gary A. Markette on Apr 28^th, 2010, 3:14am

Title: Two minute reviews: AVATAR
Post by Gary A. Markette on Apr 28^th, 2010, 3:14am

If you can ignore the political message, AVATAR is an OK movie. Not terrific, not sensational, not in the same league with, say, 2001, but OK. Yes, the characters are stereotypes; yes, the story is cliche-ridden, but the actors read their lines well and the pacing of the tale--though overlong--doesn't drag. Sigourney Weaver brings her touch of class to the film and anything Siggy touches is, at least, OK. So, if you can ignore the political message, the film is OK.

Unfortunately, it's hard to ignore the political message.

It screams above the score, above the beautiful cinemetography, above the superb special effects, above the gripping action sequences. Its shout thunders far louder than the acolades heaped on this film by critics and the public alike. Its message goes something like this: Bad-bad corporate enviro-thieves--evil, meanie capitalist scum and their running-dog militant lackeys--try to impose their money-grubbing, heartless will upon the simple, pure, natural commune of folk who are a part of the land. At first they succeed and woe betides all but, finally, in the ancient (and I mean ancient) tedious tradition of deus ex machina, the planet itself opposes them.

Spare me.

Rent or buy the DVD. Turn off your head and watch the pretty pictures. But please spare me the claims of "greatest sci-fi movie of all time." I tire of political agendas--left or right--masquerading as art.

The film's OK. Enjoy it.

Title: Re: Two minute reviews: AVATAR
Post by Webbie on May 1^st, 2010, 9:14am

Spend the $$ and see it in 3-D.
It's much easier to ignore the politics and be impressed with the cinematography. Some of the flying scenes are impressive.

Title: Re: Two minute reviews: AVATAR
Post by Jeangoldstrom on May 1^st, 2010, 7:12pm

Gary, I must vote with you on this one.

No offense, Webbie.

I guess if you rented the DVD you could turn off the sound and just look at the pix.

Boy am I glad I went to the low-budget movie theater for this one. Ninety-nine cents was enough IMO!

-- Jean

Title: Re: Two minute reviews: AVATAR
Post by ArthurS on May 8^th, 2010, 2:25am

I agree it is NOT the best film ever. It's a fun film. I would never have nominated it for "Best Picture." All of it is derivative. It did what it was designed to do -- give you a night out.

That said, the one place it excells is in the affects. It's a 3D film designed to show off what 3D can do today. I'm curious what people will say of the 2D DVDs. Cause if you're not flying through the air, if the flowers aren't cascading all around you, then is the film nearly as entertaining as it was in the theaters. A better film and almost as cool a 3D film is "How To Train Your Dragon." Still predictable but something you can take the kids to watch and not be bored yourself.