Movie: Avatar
Year: 2009
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Action
Director: James Cameron
Stars: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver

Snapshot of Story:
A paraplegic soldier arrives at a far distant world called Pandora where humans have setup mining operations for precious materials. The soldier sides with the natives of Pandora called Navi to defend their own home against a ruthless Colonel .

Storyline:
Avatar was a major worldwide blockbuster hit of 2009 coming from the camp of James Cameron who also happens to have the number one spot for the movie Titanic made back in 1997. This epic movie in typical Cameron style had one of the biggest budgets in movie making history and when you watch the movie, you will know why.

For Cameron, it is not sufficient to have a movie with just great special effects and action but it needs to be tied to an engaging storyline which Avatar delivers upon. At the beginning of the movie we are introduced to Jake Sully (played by Sam Worthington) who is a paraplegic and disembarks the ship that brings him to the remote planet called Pandora. We are introduced to the planet bit by bit as the story unfolds and the superb special effects have their place when the helicopter ascends to the skies and shows the wondrous planet in its full glory.

Jake Sully is recruited to become an Avatar of the indigenous race Navi in order to learn more about them and indirectly exploit their planet. There are many Avatars recruited by the mining company and Grace (played by Sigourney Weaver) heads this research part of the operation. Sully who is paraplegic becomes suspended in the sleep like state in order for his Avatar to come alive. This is a touching moment since he is now able to walk and roam like the others in his new Avatar form. He ultimately bonds with a small group of Navi and befriends them to learn more of their ways. Cameron does not focus on too much of the technical details of the Avatar such as when the Avatar goes to sleep when Sully comes out of his state of suspension. Cameron leaves this to the imagination of the audience.

Sully falls for one of the Navi called Neytiri and the special bond between them is carried throughout the movie. Most of Cameron’s movies centers around a strong union and bond between two central characters within the movie and Avatar is no exception. Cameron is able to convey a heightened sense of feelings and realism through the eyes of these characters to the audience. This was typified in one of the scenes where Sully and Neytiri find themselves exploring the forest at night of and the audiences gasp at the foliage and plants of the Pandora’s forest. Cameron obviously spent a great deal of time to get this scene right as it was the very first time that the audience witnesses the awe and sensation of Pandora. The fact that he recruited biologist and paleontologists to bring about this scene is a testament to his vision of producing something just right.

As Sully becomes more immersed with the clan he develops a deep affection for the Navi race and their beliefs and culture. This however is at odds end to the ruthless dictatorship of the mining company whose sole aim is for profit and they see the Navi race as a hindrance towards their objective. Under the leadership of Colonel Miles Quaritch (played by Stephen Lang) the soldiers are sent to show their might and displace the Navi population away from their operations. Cameron is clearly sending an underlying message in this part of the movie and possibly showing his resentment towards super power politics of today.

There is a final battle with the Navi and the Colonels army where the Navi’s prevail. Cameron cleverly brings about the supernatural forces lying within Pandora where the Navis are intrinsically connected to.

Final Thoughts:
Although Avatar failed to receive many Oscars for its block buster hit in 2009, unlike the previous movie Titanic, it nevertheless set another milestone in cinematography. The resounding success throughout the world and topping the all-time box-office chart is an indication of its wide appeal. Look out for the next Avatar which is said to be taking place under water, a favorite theme of James Cameron.

Rating:
9/10

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