A paraplegic marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home. [imdb]
Nominated for 9 Oscars:
Best Picture
Best Director: James Cameron
Best Cinematography (WINNER)
Best Original Score
Best Editing
Best Art Direction (WINNER)
Best Sound
Best Sound Editing
Best Visual Effects (WINNER)
After a previous embarrassing situation when I got dizzy watching Avatar in Imax and left earlier, I finally got to see the BIG ass blockbuster. And despite all, I found it to be a calming, relaxed, sweet experience. Not what I’d expect from a big sci-fi action James Cameron movie. If you get to the heart of it, it really is the story of a simple man; not a warrior as described, but someone who finds comfort outside of reality and, lucky him, gets the chance to stay there.
The whole visual eye-popping thing is indeed amazing. Not the type of visual effects I prefer, but still top class and you can tell the HUGE amount of work all those people put into it. The performances were fine, but I still don’t get the hype for Zoe Seldana; I thought Sam Worthington was the perfect casting for the leading role, because just by looking at his sad puppy eyes you could feel for his character and he himself was the emotional core of the film.
I expected the screenplay to be worse, but some lines were funny and it did take my by surprise a couple of times. My favorite scene, obviously the most emotional one: the meeting between Neytiri and the real Jake Sully! I hoped for it to happen and it did!
In the big fight between Avatar and The Hurt Locker for Best Picture, I’m on Hurt Locker’s side. Avatar was nice to look at, but getting past the visual effects: was it THAT different from other sci-fi? A good story, a good movie, great visual effects, but was it magnificent or really meaningful as a whole? I don’t know the answer. I think it will win 3 or 4 technical awards, and I honestly won’t be that upset if it takes the big prize (just not Best Director, which IS for Bigelow).
My rating for the film: 8/10. I might change it to an 8.5 soon. Truth is I haven’t given more than an 8.5 this year, so Avatar is sitting pretty at 8 anyway.
The whole visual eye-popping thing is indeed amazing. Not the type of visual effects I prefer, but still top class and you can tell the HUGE amount of work all those people put into it. The performances were fine, but I still don’t get the hype for Zoe Seldana; I thought Sam Worthington was the perfect casting for the leading role, because just by looking at his sad puppy eyes you could feel for his character and he himself was the emotional core of the film.
I expected the screenplay to be worse, but some lines were funny and it did take my by surprise a couple of times. My favorite scene, obviously the most emotional one: the meeting between Neytiri and the real Jake Sully! I hoped for it to happen and it did!
In the big fight between Avatar and The Hurt Locker for Best Picture, I’m on Hurt Locker’s side. Avatar was nice to look at, but getting past the visual effects: was it THAT different from other sci-fi? A good story, a good movie, great visual effects, but was it magnificent or really meaningful as a whole? I don’t know the answer. I think it will win 3 or 4 technical awards, and I honestly won’t be that upset if it takes the big prize (just not Best Director, which IS for Bigelow).
My rating for the film: 8/10. I might change it to an 8.5 soon. Truth is I haven’t given more than an 8.5 this year, so Avatar is sitting pretty at 8 anyway.
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Glad you liked it. I'm on Avatar, just because. Just to play devil's advocate (because I like THL) other than the war being the foreground how is The Hurt Locker different from any other thriller about detonating bombs? Even The English Patient touched (slightly) on some of the issues. Still, just for arguments sake: I like both.
ReplyDeletePS. I REALLY liked Bright Star.
PPS. Take a guess at the quiz I have if you want.
(sorry for the long ass comment)
I'm not a fan of Avatar. The story was definitely cliche and predictable. The only Oscar I feel Avatar deserves is Best Visual Effects.
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