Avatar (2009)
In Avatar, Jake Sully and the audience are given the same mission: transportation to, and exploration of, a vibrant and dangerous world filled with natural wonder and allure. James Cameron achieves this with medium-defining success.
The world of Pandora is brought to life through bioluminescence and vivid color, seen both in the hyper-neon rainforest and the incredibly inventive and eye-catching bestiary. The evolutionary distinction of Pandoran biology from our own is on display throughout the film, with many creatures sporting six limbs and two pairs of eyes. Of particular note are the beautifully mottled and modeled flying ikran that the Na'vi ride, and the vicious thanator that pursues Jake through the jungle early on.
The virtual cinematography is among the best there is, with dramatic zooms, aerial shots, and close-ups of characters at all the right times. The combination of live-action and digital techniques leaves the viewer wondering where production ends and Pandora begins.
Excellent structure keeps the film feeling accessible and digestible, with pacing so precise that the audience forgets they're watching a movie altogether. This is the standout strength of Avatar’s storytelling and is key in maintaining the film’s illusion.
Unfortunately, hamfisted story elements disrupt an otherwise immersive experience.
In the case of human characterization, parallels are drawn between the human RDA and post-9/11 America. This is made clear through a “manufactured war to claim resources” framing and dialogue reminiscent of rhetoric heard during the war on terror. The viewer is taken out of the setting and pulled into a contemporary political issue. If the parallels were less forced they may have borne some weight.
In the case of Jake, we see him acting very much as a white savior; the main problem here is not one of morality but credibility. Why on Pandora would the Na'vi trust a soldier from deep within colonizer ranks? Not only that, he becomes their leader and elite warrior? This makes us question the believability of his whole story. Narratively necessary, it still damages our connection to an otherwise compelling story and world.
Despite their description, the criticisms are meager when compared with the film's achievements. Vast in scope, varied in visuals, and achieving a high level of photorealism, Avatar promises a voyage to a distant moon with colors you've never seen. And it delivers.