So I have finally given in and gone to see Avatar in 3D. All the hype and ravings about this ‘revolutionary’ movie finally sucked me in. Firstly, I had to wait three days until I could finally get tickets. Secondly, I had to wait one hour and a half in line just to get in to the movie and finally I get into the theater and have to wait another 30 minutes for the movie to start. So, after what seems like hours, the theater lights finally dim and it begins! The opening shot was amazing. I really have to say that the little bubbles seemed like they were right in front of my face…like I could reach out and grab them…excellent 3D…mission accomplished. However, as the movie continued, the effect of the ‘cool’ 3D wore off and I forgot that I was watching a movie in 3D almost entirely, there were times when I even removed my glasses just to find that all they served was to sharpen the picture. Hmmm….
The story was interesting. I really enjoy the Pocahontas-type story and I think that it’s important to remind ourselves that we need to take care of ourselves and what we have. And that everything in the world, or in this case ‘other worlds’ is not just laying around waiting for be ravaged by capitalists. Or is it? I found myself also really drawn into the idea that everything is connected. Being very very very slightly familiar with the works of Eckart Tolle, Wayne Dyer, and Byron Katie I am slowly warming to the ‘one being’ idea. I sincerely enjoy the idea of all things being connected and the ability to connect to everything and everyone around us. This said, I am severely skeptical about the views of Tolle, Dyer and Katie being a severe academic. So unfortunately I am at a stalemate. *Sigh* The action was obviously fantastical but the underlying premise was good; the stabs at capitalism, our low natural resources, military force, etc. I enjoyed it.
The 3D was good. This, by far, was one of the best 3D movies I have seen so far. The only comparable one was the Christmas Carol that I saw a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed feeling like I was in the movie. However, I found that many of the scenes didn’t utilize the advantages of 3D and my 3D glasses were only good to sharpen the image. I was talking to a friend, Jon, about the ‘cool-ness’ of 3D and he brought up a great point; the fact that endorsing 3D will eventually push out smaller, independent movie-makers because of the financial strain. I hope I have that right Jon! If supporting 3D movies means the compromise of smaller movie-makers meaning a smaller variety of movies than I wholeheartedly will estrange myself from them! In my opinion, it was just a neat movie to see because of the 3D but I do not want to jeopardize seeing a variety of movies from a variety of movie-makers for a one time fling at the theater!
Overall, Avatar was an entertaining movie with a cool, however unoriginal, story! It was a one-time movie for me and that was good enough. I saw 2012 in the movie theater with a similar view. 2012, although it’s ridiculous, was entertaining for me… the graphics were cool, the story kept my interest and it was a one-time, only-in-the-movie, type movie! So cheers to Avatar for being entertaining and peaking my interest although I will not be seeing it again. 