Battle Smurfs

Having recently watched Avatar, I think I can safely say it is an excellent example of how story telling can make or break a movie. Let's face it, it's not an original movie. It's basically Pocahontas but with more UV lighting and better special effects. It's not particularly subtle (Unobtainium, anyone?) and the characters have a tick-the-box feel to them. (Gruff-yet-caring-mother-figure, spunky wrench-wench, wise elders, amoral-jerk-golf-playing CEO, beautiful-yet-untamed heroine, who goes from hating to loving the strong silent hero...) The plot-line is nothing new- Pocahontas, Dancing With Wolves and Princess Mononoke are hurled into space with a pot of neon paint and some Lego for company.

Having said that, the movie made over 2 billion US dollars, ran at the cinema (to my mind) for an obscenely long time, and won so many awards, James Cameron's mantle-piece snapped in half. (FACT) This is for one very good reason. The film is visually stunning. From the gentle lighting of Pandora to the more stark setting of the local army base, your breath is taken away by the painstaking detail and glorious settings. James Cameron, as evidenced by his other films (Titanic, Alien and Terminator, to name a few) has a flair for the visual dramatic which is rarely surpassed. His hyper-real camera style gives an otherwise uninspired story an unforgettable quality that keeps the viewer coming back for more, even when limited by ancient and fuzzy television. It is a sign of a good movie that, even when the sound is off, people still stop to look at the screen. The human world and Na'vi world are made equally spectacular in their own ways. The mechanical nature of the human world is emphasised with HUGE TANKS and metal men, while the Na'vi sleep in hammocks made of leaves.

Avatar also heralds an new stage in cinematic history. With video piracy and technological innovations (I recently had a go with 3D tele. Very cool) making it easier for people to flag the cinema, it's becoming more difficult for film-makers to get people in the cinema. While 3D technology is off to a wibbly start (remember that time when everything had a 3D release?) it is clear that it is the way that people are going to be brought into the cinema from now on. Cinema is a matter of spectacle, and making sure that people are getting something that they cannot get in their own home, and it is true that while Avatar is stunning on the small screen, it is easier to take in on a big screen, as at times the detail can be over-looked or missed completely. While a HD plasma tele with Bluray DVD can make you feel like you're looking through a window into the action, only cinema, with it's faint smell of popcorn and slightly unwashed person can give you the level of ideal level of immersion.

So Avatar. It's a good thing, and definitely worth your time.