Avatar

I watched Avatar today. On one hand I really loved the visuals. It is extraordinary to actually watch a CGI film in 3D, with force feedback seats. That added significantly to the experience. I still wonder at how the latest 3D technology works, with what appears to be polarized glasses instead of the old red-blue variety. Great stuff. Slick action sequences, scenes that could have been straight out of World of Warcraft or some other fantasy-themed RPG...that's the ticket.

Now, the problem I have with the show is that the storyline is tired. Essentially, it's a reskinned Pocahontas meets Last Samurai. Colonial fella meets exotic native tribe, falls in love with exotic native tribeswoman, fights on side of exotic natives, natives win. If anything, the Na'Vi were something of a cross between African tribespeople and Native Americans, what with the attitudes towards the world as sentient (it really was in this case) and mystical rituals looking like they came from a documentary on Africa. And then of course we will have the customary reference to the War on Terror and environmentalism (with humans coming from a "dying world"). In the end, as is expected, the exotic tribespeople get their butts handed to them by modern firepower but win in the end due to a Deus Ex incident. Maybe we're (thankfully) still guilty about what we did with the natives back then.

Did I like the show? Hell yeah. I like great big CGI battles (even more so in 3D with force feedback) and epic duels. Preferably with lots of slaughter. Storyline...well it's tired, but still a goody. Can't say I didn't expect what happened in the end. I think many would see that coming from a mile away. Still, I'd give the movie a 8/10. Mostly from the gorgeous visuals and action sequences.

I could not help but notice that Full Metal Jacket reference, however. Damn do I love a machinegunner that says Git SOME!