AVATAR
A Technical ground Breaker, & a Visually Spectacular Treat that slowly gets evaporated when it starts delivering the content
by Vishal Verma

Release in India by Fox Studios India (700 prints, in English, Hindi, Tamil & Telugu,) of a 20th Century Fox release worldwide presented in association with Dune Entertainment and Ingenious Film Partners.

Producers : James Cameron, Jon Landau
Executive producers : Colin Wilson, Laeta Kalogrios
Co-producders : Brooke Breton, Josh McLaglen
Writer director : James Cameron
Genre : sci fi action romancer
Target Audience : General

Starring

Jake Sully - Sam Worthington
Neytiri - Zoe Saldana
Grace - Sigourney Weaver
Col. Miles Quaritch - Stephen Lang
Trudy Chacon - Michelle Rodriguez
Parker Selfridge - Giovanni Ribisi
Norm Spellman - Joel David Moore
Moat - CCH Pounder
Eytukan - Wes Studi
Tsu'tey - Laz Alonso
Dr. Max Patel - Dileep Rao
Corporal Lyle Wainfleet - Matt Gerald

Technical Analysis

The most expensive (2000 crores including marketing) and technically ambitious film ‘Avatar’ is undeniably a technical groundbreaker, if not a cinematic one, James Cameron's long-awaited return (12 years since Titanic) delivers on its promise to be a fully immersive, rousing spectacle.

As time passes the spectacle fades as the thud of the spectacular gaze makes it dull to read the story & find its soul. “Avatar" will prove very interesting in retrospect. But in terms of connecting human emotions in still a cliché tale (in bollywood terms) which was remarkably achieved in ‘Tiitanic’ which gave a highly satisfying engrossing feel to the audience, ‘Avatar’ fails to deliver to that level.

In terms of filmmaking it is a delight and a ride that does set the bar for spectacle stratospherically high, scale wise nothing has been attempted like this since "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. In terms of satisfaction, it's a blockbuster of superb manufacture with more weight and heart. Where "Avatar" truly succeeds is its seamlessness. at times it looks like a computer animated film where the world of Pandora itself is almost entirely there - the countless ferns of the jungle swaying in the breeze, the floating mountains, the millenia old giant trees, the waterfall cascades, Floras & fountains (amazingly striking) and the exotic species in this anything is possible digital world.

The animals seem to have spawned from a workstation some insects turn into fluorescent helicopters, horse on fire. The Na'vi physically look and feel animated, but the detail level is astonishing and often seems more convincing. The Na'vis who all seem to have recognizably human traits and personas. They hunt with bows and arrows, and speak a fantasy language. Makes you wish that Cameron visits another Pandora asap without making us wait for a dozen years.

Your heart goes on a journey in ‘Avatar’ & will roam in this 3-D alien-jungle but will struggle to stick as it did in ‘Titanic’ thus underlying the difference between a great film & an ambitious film.

The marvelous work from Weta guys in New Zealand as well as the numerous other visual-effects and animation firms involved have complimented each other in creating this visual feast.

Performances are quite strong.
Zoe Saldana is the standout as the love interest Neytiri, Worthington is worthy.
Sigourney Weave is astonishing.

The movie scores 4 out of 5 shared between the guys who bring us the spectacle & the actors.

The Story

Paraplegic war veteran Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), is sent to the exotic planet Pandora, replacing his brother, who was killed. Although he's part of the military under the command of Col. Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), the human presence is driven by a corporation mining a unique mineral alongside a scientific probe directed by Dr Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver).

Humans cannot breathe Pandoran air, so they genetically engineer human/Na'vi hybrids known as Avatars. The indigenous Na'vi are resentful - but Princess Neytiri (Zoë Saldana) befriends him and becomes his guide and protector on the strange planet. Jake is soon caught in the middle of the conflict between the Na'vi and the human military machine raping their world.

 

Promotion

Marvelously promoted in the west, the movie has made considerable buzz in India as well.

 

Business Analysis

This 2000 crore spectacular extravaganza comes with a universal appeal & delivers on visual. The curiosity & the visual satisfaction will ensure huge returns from screens all over.

Other Credits    
 
Camera (Deluxe color, widescreen, HD, 3D) : Mauro Fiore; Editors: Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua, Cameron; music: James Horner; production designer: Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg; supervising virtual art director: Yuri Bartoli; lead supervising art director: Kim Sinclair; supervising art directors: Kevin Ishioka, Stefan Dechant, Todd Cherniawsky; virtual production art directors: Andrew L. Jones, Norm Newberry; art directors: Nick Bassett, Rob Bavin, Simon Bright, Jill Cormack, Sean Haworth, Andrew Menzies, Andy McLaren; costume designers: Mayes C. Rubeo, Deborah L. Scott; sound (Dolby/DTS),: Jim Tanenbaum, William B. Kaplan; supervising sound editor/sound designer: Christopher Boyes; re-recording mixers: Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson; senior visual effects supervisor: Joe Letteri; Weta visual effects supervisors: Stephen Rosenbau, Eric Saindon, Dan Lemmon, Guy Williams; ILM visual effects supervisor: John Knoll; visual effects and animation: Weta Digital, Industrial Light & Magic, Prime Focux; visual effects: Framestore, Hybride, Hydraulx, BUF; animation supervisors: Richard Baneham, Andrew R. Jones; ILM animation supervisor: Paul Kavanagh; visual effects supervisors: John Bruno, Steven Quale; performance capture technology and production services: Giant Studios; conceptual design, costume and specialty props: Richard Taylor; Stan Winston character design supervisor: John Rosengrant; lead creature designer: Neville Page; vehicle designer: Tyruben Ellingson; initial creature concepts: Wayne Barlowe; Na'vi language created by Paul Frommer, stunt coordinators: , Garrett Warren (U.S.), Stu Thorpe, Allan Poppleton (New Zealand); assistant director: , Josh McLaglen; L.A. unit camera: Vince Pace; casting, Margery Simkin; initial casting, Mali Finn. Media Awareness (India): Universal Communications. Reviewed at PVR, Phoniex Mills, Mumbai, on Dec. 15, 2009. Running time: 163 MIN.

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