Pocahontas in space
AVATAR Director: James Cameron Cert. 12A
James Cameron’s Avatar is set in the future. A corporation from a dying earth is seeking to exploit the mineral resources of the beautiful planet Pandora, occupied by the indigenous Na’vi people whose major city lies above a huge mineral deposit.
A scientific team launch a ‘hearts and minds’ campaign to try and persuade the ‘noble savage’ Na’vi people to move and allow mining to commence. To break cultural boundaries, they create ‘Avatars’, artificially created alien bodies to be ‘driven’ by human operators. If the team fails, a large military force stands ready to force the Na’vi from their homes. The story sees a former marine controlling an Avatar ‘go native’ before he organises the Na’vi resistance in the inevitable battle.
3D falling flat?
Avatar was supposed to usher in a new era of 3D cinema. Instead it shows both the strengths and weaknesses of this technology. Avatar is supposed to be an immersive experience, inviting you into the life of the tribe. To a certain extent, with the costly use of 3D animation, as well as cutting edge motion capture technology, it succeeds. However, despite the huge expense, Avatar still looks like an animated film and when not jumping out at the viewer, the 3D effects often resemble a 1990s ‘Magic Eye’. Moreover, the design concept of the Na’vi people is weak. Although beautifully rendered, these 12-ft. blue aliens with strategically placed dreadlocks accompanied by ‘tribal music’, struck me as silly and possibly offensive. As yet, no technology can replace a good script and good characters.
