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“Avatar”
has been reviewed to death since it hit
theaters running a few short months ago.
Both in its 3D format and Plain Jane version,
audiences were blown away by director Jim
Cameron’s visionary and somewhat allegorical
story of mankind’s desire to take
what they cannot have simply because they
feel entitled… no matter what the
cost. Cameron’s setting on the moon
of Pandora allowed him to create an alien
world, as unlike anything we’ve ever
seen. And while he may not have taken home
the Oscar, audiences propelled it into the
highest grossing film of all time.
On my first personal visit to Pandora…
on the Imax… in 3D… stunned
me into disbelief. The story itself may
have had subtle flaws and thunderous clichés,
but the very look of the film made all of
that unimportant.
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The 3D was not what I had seen back in the 70’s
with films like “Comin’ At Ya,”
where the sole intent was to have items come out
of the screen and make you flinch. This 3D was
totally immersive, as if you could step forward
and walk right into the screen. It had a depth
I have never experienced. Seeing it again in 3D,
I was equally impressed, then finally in 2D I
was able to still appreciate the utter beauty
of the production design.
I’ll admit to having a handful of issues
with the story, but I began to think there was
something wrong with me as people I knew went
to the theater to see it… people who NEVER
go to the theater… and they loved it and
saw it multiple times. Friends whose taste in
films I was sure would make them hate it…
loved it. So… forget the flaws. “Avatar”
is simply an amazing film despite them.
I’d get into the whole plot, but honestly…
is there anyone who hasn’t at least heard
about the plot? You know, soldier (Sam Worthington)
takes his dead brother’s place in the Avatar
program where a human’s consciousness is
placed into a genetically grown replica of the
moon’s local inhabitants in order for us
to scientifically observe and interact with them.
Well, that’s what the scientists want. The
corporate goons who run the show are atypical
of your average suits who want to study them to
find out their weaknesses so they can be defeated
and exploited for the minerals in their land.
Oh wait… I wasn’t going to go into
that. Ah well… I’ll move on.
I was curious as to how the film would translate
onto a smaller screen in 2D, even if the smaller
screen is 65 inch. The answer is… “Avatar”
loses nothing off the big screen. And to be honest,
the flaws I saw in the plot became even less important
on a 4th viewing. The movie just gets better and
better. And I gotta tell you, the Bluray is absolutely
stunning. This edition (which also includes a
DVD copy) is devoid of special features (which
of course means there will be a bigger and better
release down the road). At first I was bummed
by this, but the results of the time spent in
this transfer are beyond anything I’ve seen
on a Bluray to date.
Every detail that Cameron meant you to see is
crystal clear, actually beyond that if there is
a term to describe it. I found myself actually
pausing the image occasionally just to look at
the clarity of the picture. And as far as the
sound mix was concerned, the separation was perfect
on my system. The explosive scenes were room-shattering,
while the quietest moments made me hold my breath
to listen to every little rustle of a branch.
I don’t mean to focus only on the visuals
and the sound, but it is hard not to. The performances
throughout were excellent. Sam Worthington (who
was simply awful in “Clash of the Titans”)
delivers a very understated, yet powerful performance
as Jake, the soldier-turned-hero. Sigourney Weaver
as Dr. Augustine is wonderfully cantankerous,
but her love for the inhabitants of this moon
is evident from the littlest of facial expressions.
But what was the most impressive was the motion
capture performance by Zoe Saldana, whose character
of Neytiri is as fully realized, if not more so
than that of Gollum from the “LOTR”
Trilogy.
Bottom line, in spite of the fact that there
will undoubtedly be a more fully realized edition
down the road, and I’m sure a 3D version
once the technology fully catches up for home
consumption, grab this edition now. Watch it,
embrace it, enjoy it… then buy it all over
again. This is a recommendation I rarely make.
Directed by: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney
Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, Stephen Lang
Extras: None
Specification: Widescreen 1080p (1.85:1); DTS-HD
Master Audio 5.1
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: 4/22/2010
MPAA Rating: PG-13
We'll give Avatar (Bluray) an A.
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