Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Thoughts on a Phenomenon, A Negative Perspective: Avatar


I saw it. I bowed down to the hype and went and saw the almighty Avatar in 3D IMAX. I know I am supposed to like this movie. Well, the first hour was great, the 3D effects were super trippy and the film contained the only convincing CGI I have ever seen. Up until now I have found CGI, for the most part, laughable. Once I got used to it and then the hardcore corniness kicked in- I found the experience almost unbearable. I know Cameron is making a film to appeal to the lowest common denominator- but some of that dialogue was inexcusably bad. Sure, dumb it down for the masses- but not that far down! The repeated love affirmation “I see you” being an example. I’m guessing he had to use terms a simpleton would use because he was already counting his dollars, as knew he would eventually have to dub the movie in every real language out there.

Another complaint: Even though the supposed bad guys in the movie were American military and mercenaries- I still thought they managed to glorify imperialist violence with all the “kick-ass” bravado and the subtle inspirational music during the attack on the big tree. I’m imagine most dumb kids and meatheads in the audience were thinking “yeah, burn that hippie tree down and kill those Blue Man Group cat kooks.”

Also, I can’t help but wonder if people truly enjoyed the barrage of quantum psycho-babble that infected the movie like a Pandora spirit-virus. I admit that Sigourney Weavers little speech to Giovanni Ribisi about the network of energy being alive was mildly interesting- especially when found in a blockbuster. But were people really feeling the Na’vi’s cross-legged arm to arm spiritual rejuvenation dance? I found it silly. Did you not?

To a certain degree, I did enjoy exploring the Na’vi world and, of course, the psychedelic colors of the forest and dragons were amazing to look at. But as the minutes wore on and the film became yet another hour long good vs. evil battle sequence… I had had enough. Been there, done that, don’t need to see it again. The nail in the coffin of me basically disliking the film was the god-awful emo forest spirit song playing as the credits rolled. Did they still have to try and shove the quasi new age ideology down our throats even after the movie was over??????? I think not. I found it offensive.

5 comments:

Chris Scotten said...

"I imagine most dumb kids and meatheads in the audience were thinking “yeah, burn that hippie tree down and kill those Blue Man Group cat faggots.”

HAHAHAHAHA!!! Blue Man Group Cat Faggots. Awesome.

DJ Jophus said...

As a Blue Man Group Cat Faggot, I am only mildly offended. If it were not for the context of your comment, I would seek an apology.

smoke signals said...

I thought it was nice to see something like that getting the popularity it did.
I mean, sure its dumbed-down and mainstream and I totally agree with a lot of the points you made about the problems with its story line etc., however, I think its a good message to be extremely popularized; its certainly better than a whole lot of other slash-and-gore-drama-drug bullshit that becomes the mainstream. Obviously you're on the right side of the bell curve, but how does one give a simple message to simple people everywhere?
Cameron did a hellofa job.

Salix said...

Yeah, it was good but what was up with the big blue tree hugging hippy cats, and the ponytails with the spaghetti USB ports...yeah, just plug that into the nearest pterodactyl and you're away flying...yeah, that's realistic.

Mr. Riddler said...

agreed friend