Avatar
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephan Lang
Director: James Cameron
Runtime: 162 minutes
Rated: PG-13 Warfare and Language
Release Date: December 18th, 2009
Reviewed by: Len Berger (ConNotations Film Editor)
An Avatar is a humanoid creature created from human and Na’vi DNA.  The Na’vi are the rather tall blue humanoid creatures that inhabit the peaceful moon Pandora.  The Avatar itself is controlled by the human whose DNA was used to create the specific Avatar.  A “link” is established between the human and “his” Avatar through some impressive technology. 

The basic story is a common one where Earthlings would like something from someone or something and generally think that they can just take it.  The something in this case is unobtanium which is an energy source that sells for $20 million per kilo on Earth.  In the year 2154 the Resources Development Administration (RDA) sends humans in suspended animation on a 6 year journey to Pandora to mine the unobtanium.  Once there some Avatar “drivers” are needed to assist in the mining operation since the atmosphere is toxic to humans.

Jake Sully (played by Sam Worthington – Marcus Wright in Terminator Salvation) had a brother who was to travel to Pandora to control his Avatar.  Unfortunately he died unexpectedly so the RDA asked his twin brother Jake to take his place.  Jake had no training and was wheelchair bound due to a war injury but could certainly control an Avatar “link”.  Jake met the beautiful Neytiri (played by Zoe Saldana – Uhura in Star Trek) when he became separated from the rest of his excursion crew and was being attacked by a group of Viperwolfs.  Neytiri saved Jakes life and commented “You have a strong heart but are stupid like a child”.  Jake befriends Neytiri and asks her to teach him the ways of the Na’vi. 

Dr. Grace Augustine (played by Sigourney Weaver – can you say Alien) is a scientist who uses her Avatar to study Pandoran plant life and the Na’vi race.  The Dr. developed a relationship with the Na’vi and ran some schools to teach the children of the Na’vi.

Col. Miles Quaritch (played by Stephan Lang – Gen. Hopgood in the Men Who Stare at Goats) views the Na’vi as savages who are jeopardizing the mining operation.  The Colonel asks Jake to spy on the Na’vi and in return the Colonel will make sure Jakes legs are repaired when he returns to Earth.  The relationship that develops between Jake (through his Avatar) and Neytiri jeopardizes Jake’s mission.

It is hard to come up with the words to describe the visual experience of the film.  The moon Pandora is gorgeous, stunning and unbelievable.  Usually the word gorgeous is reserved to describe a person but in this case the film itself deserves the description.  The audience will feel that they are on the moon Pandora and perhaps will feel that they are flying around on one of the Mountain Banshees.  James Cameron’s imagination created the moon and it is certainly the highlight of the entire film.  3D has never been seen with this amount of detail – the terrain, the plants, the animals, the bugs, and even the computer terminals are visually amazing.  The live action sequences blended quite well with the CG sequences.  Production time was approximately 4 years.

The film is being released in IMAX 3D 70mm, IMAX 3D Digital, 3D Digital and 2D.  This reviewer saw the film at an IMAX 3D Digital theatre and will recommend that the film be seen in IMAX 3D.  The music went well with the serine moon scenes.  At the IMAX 3D Digital screening the seats shook.

Avatar is rated “B+” and is highly recommended.