Gary A. Markette
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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.
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