I saw AVATAR tonight was was duly amazed, astounded, stupefied and
totally blown away.
Yes, the script and characters could have been more original -- and if
fact I had hoped Cameron would do that, much as he did with TITANIC. In
fact the script and characters are totally predictable once the story
gets rolling and there are no surprises. Not one. But even if these
aspects are totally familiar, they are still done extremely well. For
most people, given what is unfolded before their eyes in 3D is so
incredible it is probably best they have *something* familiar to hang on
to. The scripts lack of originality is not really the point here. The
immersive cinematic experience is the point -- and James Cameron takes
us to another friggin' planet teaming with alien life and almost painful
beauty in a way that has never... repeat never... been done before. We
all do computer graphics here and, well, you ain't never seen no
computer graphics like this before, folks.
I saw it in IMAX 3D and it was quite literally like being there. Really.
And Cameron gives you one grand tour -- for a full hour and a half --
before the standard cowboys and indian plot really takes over for the
last half. Yep, that's right, 3 hours long and worth every minute in the
cramped hard-on-my-back theater seat (and the flipping 3D glasses not
fitting properly over my aviator-style prescription glasses so that I
had to fuss with them a bit and readjust them fairly often). None of
that mattered -- the immersive visual experience is so completely stunning.
I second the emotion of everyone who as seen it: Go see it. See it as
soon as you can. Do not settle for less than the 3D version -- and go
for the IMAX 3D experience if you can.
This film *is* a game-changer. Within one year... two at the most... all
major films will now be released in 3D. That's what will happen, no
question.
But let me emphasize that AVATAR can stand on its own as a film without
the 3D effect. That probably won't be something you can say about a lot
of the "3D" films they will now rush to market, but AVATAR is a stunner
on the flat screen as well. I tried this tonight by simply closing one
eye occasionally and watching a few minutes in "flat screen" here and
there. It was still visually astounding. But the 3D immersion is so
practically perfect that it makes no sense not to see it in 3D and get
the full effect. You should not sit too close... or too far back. About
1/3 to 1/2 of the way from the screen and definitely sit as close to the
center of screen as you can.
I cannot call this "the best film ever", at least not considering is as
just another film. As "just another film", there have been many, many
others -- even recently -- with more original and fully developed
characters and plots. James Cameron's own TITANIC and THE ABYSS are
better in those respects. But this is not just another film. It is the
best 3D film and space flight/alien planet depiction ever done. It's one
huge Sense of Wonder rush. It's like they finally invented light-speed
space tourism for real and we all get to go.
Apparently I will have to get a set of contact lenses for use just when
going to the movies from now on, so the 3D glasses will fit properly on
my face.
-- JR
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