‘Avatar’ is wonderful

I finally saw “Avatar” last night. I had heard so much about the politics of the movie that I wondered if it would be annoying. You know what? Forget the politics. It’s just a story to hang a spectacular vision on. This movie is great.

The plot is basic, but fine. It’s a “Pocahontas” love story, and it works. The acting is better than “Titanic,” although the music may be a little too close to “Titanic’s.” I was ready for Celine Dion to break out with “Near, far, wherever you are….”

James Cameron must have brought together the imaginations of 1,000 artists to make this film. So much is going on, and this new world has so much gorgeous detail it is a miracle it all fits into one motion picture. And yet, with all its facets, the film never loses track of its central story.

Oscar hunt. Cameron has a real shot at another Oscar. At the same time, we’re hearing that some Iraq war veterans aren’t real happy with “The Hurt Locker.” It’ll be a close vote.

Meanwhile, check out this video spoof highlighting the many similarities between “Avatar” and “Pocahontas.”

Frank Warner

Comments

[CJW]

Avatar Thrills, but Troops Take Hit

[Frank Warner]

I look at it like the Michael Crichton stories. Someone in power is always covering up something. It makes for a good plot. Maybe it's getting old, and it probably exaggerates the greed end of the profit motive, but it does keep a story moving.

"Avatar" probably is a metaphor for Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait, or perhaps the Sandinistas' attempt to wipe out the Miskito Indians of Nicaragua. The invaders pretend to be one of the people they are destroying, and eventually they are defeated.

[CJW]

Did you see the 3D version using the goofy "glasses" or did you see the non-3D version because you didn't want to commit a fashion faux-pas?

[Jim Brack]

Special effects first rate!

Story line was really lacking. As my first thought was, why are they using a lumbering giant helicopter as a bomber? Sit back and bomb them from orbit. Why send in the troops?

[George]

I might be able to answer that question. The bomb had to be delivered with visual guidance as a "Flux Vortex" interfered with the guidance instruments of weapons and aircrafts rendering them imprecise or unusable.

I do question the use of foot soldiers but I believe there are some arguments for them.

[CJW]

Sometimes you have to use the army you've got rather than the army you might want.

[Frank Warner]

And as I understand it, these were not the U.S. Marines, they were U.S. Marine veterans. Some were bad guys. Some were good.

Obviously, the central character was a Marine, and he is portrayed favorably.

I did see it with the 3-D glasses. I don't think it was a fashion faux-pas because I saw it in a theater all by myself. It was the 10:10 p.m. show.

[CJW]

Once a Marine, always a Marine. They were all part of the Jarhead clan.

Author to sue James Cameron over Avatar