Avatar'd
Just got back from the theatre.
I really liked it. The story was all of a type; there weren't really any elements that I hadn't seen or read before dozens of times, but they're good elements which bear repeating. The dazzling spectacle of Pandora, matchless CGI, and some really good voice acting (especially by Zoe Saldana) made the oft-used characters fresh again.
Well, mostly. There were one and a half times when I rolled my eyes, but after thirty years of theatre-going that's really quite good.
As for the dazzling spectacle/matchless CGI: hoo, boy. The plants and animals of Pandora are characters just as much as the people. Being me I was rapt by all the little details, my brain occupied with figuring out the design and function of everything, from the human ship/base interiors to the breathing of the native life.
(anyone else wonder whether the Na'vi are actually related to any of the other creatures?)
I'm full of design thoughts. What would an intelligent biped with the body plan of the wildlife look like? Hm...
CGI characters were pretty much completely convincing - a wonderful achievement! I had no difficulty connecting with their thoughts and feelings. Their displays of grief were very moving.
The 3-D was well-used; I feel it added to the experience. An awful lot of the spectacle is bound up with depth of vision, and on a flat screen would, I think, be harder to keep track of and appreciate.
And, Na'vi guys have really nice butts, something I know I will appreciate over and over again. Not sure whether the 3-D influenced this.
I really liked it. The story was all of a type; there weren't really any elements that I hadn't seen or read before dozens of times, but they're good elements which bear repeating. The dazzling spectacle of Pandora, matchless CGI, and some really good voice acting (especially by Zoe Saldana) made the oft-used characters fresh again.
Well, mostly. There were one and a half times when I rolled my eyes, but after thirty years of theatre-going that's really quite good.
As for the dazzling spectacle/matchless CGI: hoo, boy. The plants and animals of Pandora are characters just as much as the people. Being me I was rapt by all the little details, my brain occupied with figuring out the design and function of everything, from the human ship/base interiors to the breathing of the native life.
(anyone else wonder whether the Na'vi are actually related to any of the other creatures?)
I'm full of design thoughts. What would an intelligent biped with the body plan of the wildlife look like? Hm...
CGI characters were pretty much completely convincing - a wonderful achievement! I had no difficulty connecting with their thoughts and feelings. Their displays of grief were very moving.
The 3-D was well-used; I feel it added to the experience. An awful lot of the spectacle is bound up with depth of vision, and on a flat screen would, I think, be harder to keep track of and appreciate.
And, Na'vi guys have really nice butts, something I know I will appreciate over and over again. Not sure whether the 3-D influenced this.