Film Review - AVATAR (Rerelease)
Images courtesy of 20th Century Studios Australia.
Released at the very beginning of the seemingly endless wave of franchise blockbusters we now find ourselves stranded in, James Cameron's Avatar has become something of a cultural oddity. While most will remember it for popularising 3D technology, the film has been derided for its milquetoast plotting (aping problematic white saviour narratives such as Pocahontas and Dances with Wolves) and weak characterisation, considering its status as the highest grossing film of all time. Now, finally, 13 years after the original film's release and consequential delays, Avatar is getting a sequel of its own. To refresh audiences memory's on important details (like the names Jake Sully and Neytiri), a brand new 4K remaster has been released in theatres - one that includes high frame rate sequences, HDR, and a new, clearer colour grade.
My own experience with the film has been somewhat of a rollercoaster; I remember being incredibly hyped about it prior to release, coming away from the first watch a little disappointed, then falling in love with it again when it came out on home video as I spent most of the summer sitting under the air conditioner, staring up at the giant screen of my grandparent's home entertainment system in awe of the world Cameron had created, and then finally going along with the popular opinion of it being kind of overrated. And now, just a week out from my first ever time actually watching the thing in 3D, I find myself yet again in love with the worldbuilding and sheer sense of escapism Avatar encompasses
While I'd like to point out that I think the complaints the vast majority of people have regarding the story and characterisation are indeed completely valid, what works for me is the magnitude of the experience - the sense of wonder I get despite the bland protagonist, the magical world of Pandora (an ecology built up over years of research) brought to life through breathtaking CGI, and the score that evokes such an amazing array of emotions. The success of most films hinges predominantly on the former, yet Avatar commits entirely to the peripherals and that, to me, is essential to why it was such a box office hit - and I'm not just talking about the increased expenses associated with 3D ticket prices. Cameron came into this film deciding he wanted no less than complete and utter immersion, working for almost 20 years on the technology to bring that vision to life, and thanks to years of making documentaries, he brought a new set of eyes to his blockbuster passion project.
Whether The Way of Water sinks or swims come its release in December, I remain an apologist for the original Avatar, even if it doesn't reach the heights that it potentially could if the main course of the film were as developed as its entrees and desserts. Are you ready to return to the world of Pandora? They say some of us never really left.
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The rerelease of AVATAR is screening in cinemas from Thursday September 22nd. For tickets and more info, click here.