The trailers have not enticed me, so I’m not in line to see it. Even a $230,000,000 budget only makes me think that special effects will get in the way of story. This review seems balanced and mildly critical, and consistent with what I’ve read elsewhere. I’m curious what others think.
Seth
I really liked it. The story was pretty simple and predictable, but I think it worked well. The CG was not quite "perfectly" photoreal, but it got DARN close! The scenery was absolutely beautiful, and absolutely believable. The humans are evil mentality was a little heavy handed, but to be expected. Overall, I think the simple story was needed to facilitate the featuring of the amazing special effects. It is worth seeing on the big screen. There's my two cents.
Kathryn
I have mixed feelings, on one hand, it was a really pretty movie and the 3D worked, but the story could have been a lot better and more nuanced. In general, I have multiple issues with both the 'noble savages' trope and the 'white man saves the day for indigenous people' trope and both are on display without much subtlety. Not to say that I don't think it was a fairly good movie overall, I just think it could have been a lot better. James Cameron created this fantastic world and then it felt like he threw a bunch of worn out tropes together to create a story because he knew he had to have some kind of plot. If you do see it, definitely see it at Royal Palm on the digital screens,
Randy Greenwald
Thanks K and S. You guys are so good at assessing this stuff. The thing is, what matters to me is the story. I'll take scratchy black 'n' white if the story is good. I have heard from multiple sources that the film is visually stunning, but story is lacking or, as you put it Kathryn, played out along questionable lines. I can't see myself going to see this at the theater… but it sounds like on DVD and my 27" TV it's kinda gonna lose something!Thanks for the report!