At the end of 2009, year’s most awaited film met almost all and in many ways exceeded expectations. Avatar, James Cameron’s sci-fi epic delivered impressive scenes and previously unimaginable spectacle thanks to the revolutionary special effects, enhanced with freshly revived 3D technology that , at least for a time, made cinema-going inherently superior to home video. The film became a commercial triumph, but, sadly, effort invested in pretty pictures wasn’t matched by creativity of scriptwriters. Story about former marine (played by predicatbly bland Sam Worthington) helping Na’vis, native inhabitants of alien planet Pandora, against evil human corporation, used too many western and “noble savage” cliches, enhanced with annoying New Age propaganda and some mild and ill-timed criticism of US occupation of Iraq. The brave new era of 3D cinema heralded by Avatar never materialised and the lack of depth in most ambitious and most successful 3D film might give some answers why.
RATING: 7/10
