Avatar, a pre-Christmas movie that was filmed with newly developed technology that simulates human sight has become (in my opinion) the best Christmas gift for many movie goers. Every time I exit the cinema I have a number in mind that quantifies the movie as a whole. And it has been a very long time since I last rate a movie this high.

This is the first time I am writing movie review for my website, I will do my utmost best to make it interesting and limit spoilers. As you can see, a high 8.5 from me, imdb.com rated it a whooping 8.9 which I think is a tad overrated, so why 8.5 and not 8.9?

Computer Graphics

Let’s start first with CG since this movie is made purposely on the sole purpose of delivering a remarkable and “a higher level” of realism. The 3D technology used in this film is a step further than any other 3D movies I have watched before. The depth of field effect is very much focused in this film, making the movie extremely realistic.

Artwork & Creativity

I highly object that fact that the alien, also called the Na’Vi is very creative human imagination. Mainly because they look exactly like human and even express their love like humans too (I will explain more about this in a moment)!

However, the design of Pandora, the home planet of the Na’Vis is a work of mesmeric art. It is such an eye candy that you feel the urge to enter their world while watching the movie.

Jake following Neytiri in the woods

The woods lights up every steps the Na’Vis passes through at night. The flora and faunas are also a piece of art.

Curious Jake Sully

The creatures from Pandora is pretty similar to what we have on earth such as wolves (Nantang), tiger wannabe (Thanator), rhinos (Hammerhead Titanothere), huge ass birds (Banshee and Toruk). They are pretty unique in a way that each one of them expresses the nature of Pandora in some way unexplainable in words. The really imaginative part was that Na’Vis have the power to bond with any beasts in Pandora through some sort of a plug and play device through their hair.

Neytiri on Thanator

James Cameron (script writer) has also done a superb job when introducing us to the Na’Vi’s culture. There isn’t a better way to express alien’s culture.

The young adult Na'Vis earning their Banshees

Storyline

Before I went into the cinema I have read and heard many comments regarding the “recognizable” storyline in Avatar. After 3 hours, I must say that the storyline is nowhere near recognizable in any other productions. There are many hidden surprises within the movie.

Unlike Transformers II, Avatar has no room for irrelevant and lame jokes (I can’t see no dog humping on Neytiri’s legs). Every part of the 2 hours 40 minutes movie is interesting and viewers are kept engrossed on the entire film. Although the storyline is not as intriguing as District 9, it still contains all the elements of a good storyline.

The epic war at the end was also very carefully panned out. You get this feeling that everything will turn out all right, but it is just very tricky to guess what’s coming next, the plot tantalizes viewer with lots of unexpected outcomes.

The overwhelming human force

Neytiri was excessively fierce at many instances too.

Emotions & Feel

As you can expect from James Cameron’s films, the emotional wow factor is there. Paired with Zoë Saldaña’s awesome act, you can feel the sorrow as Neytiri found out that his father died when the hometree came crashing down.

If you’re a guy you could even feel the confusion over Neytiri’s sudden change of emotion when she found out that Jake did not tell her about the incoming human invasion. Seriously I did not expect her to get angry so easily.

Jake’s patriotic speech after the biologist’s death was also very emotional. I had to keep myself together so that tears do not obstruct my view of the screen.

Jake giving a patriotic speech after landing on his Toruk

Setbacks

I may have rate this movie exceptionally high, but this does not mean that there are no let-downs at all. I have mentioned earlier how the Na’Vis express their love like human beings through kissing as well. I mean, how unoriginal can this be?

I always have this idea that aliens express love in some other way, like hold their tails together instead of holding hands or kiss in some way we human beings can’t imagine. Heck, the make out we had in Avatar was exactly a human being’s make out. That’s like watching a male gorilla smooch a female gorilla, give me a break.

Another would be the sound of the missile blasts on Na’Vis’ hometree. The blasts sounded like the bashing of empty steel containers, similar to the sounds that a child would produce when he imagines himself as a drummer.

Na'Vi's Hometree

Conclusion

The setbacks can be ignored, I am writing them for the sake of expressing my own views that’s all. I felt the “something is wrong” or “this is too fake” feeling in many movies I have watched before. In Avatar, well lets just say these only occurs at the smooching part. The rest of the show was practically awesome.

Avatar is definitely a “must watch” movie especially if there is a 3D cinema near you! If you are planning on watching DVD on your little 15 inch laptop, think again because you don’t want to watch 2009’s best movie on a little screen.