It's Just Movies

— by ROBERT DeFEIS —

James Cameron takes us to a world called Pandora, with the Na’vi being its native habitants. The humans engage in a war over the planet’s resources and existence. Cameron has created a 3-D film that rivals any before it and many for years to come. “Avatar” will not only take our imaginations and run away with them it will set the standard in film and take science fiction and make it possible for everyone to enjoy it from the geeks and nerds to the hot cheerleader-jock crowd.

Cameron also created “Titanic” and I only mention that because after they spent a reported $500 million creating and marketing “Avatar,” it is almost forced to be one of the highest grossing films in history. Spending close to $300 million to create the film, and going so far as to use special cameras called stereoscopic cameras that simulate human sight. Cameron planned to create photo-realistic computer-generated characters by using motion capture animation technology. Unlike previous performance capture systems, where the digital environment is added after the actors’ motions have been captured, Cameron’s new virtual camera allows him to observe directly on a monitor how the actors’ virtual counterparts interact with the movie’s digital world in real time and adjust and direct the scenes just as if shooting live action.

The other money went to marketing and I’ll tell you one thing — if you haven’t seen this movie being advertised somewhere, you have been living under a rock. Take one of my favorite shows Fox’s “Bones.” Joel David Moore, who has a recurring role in the series and is also in the film “Avatar,” has tickets to see the movie and gives two of his buddies that he works with tickets also. Throughout the show, the film is being mentioned and they also go back and forth showing them waiting on line for the film. I don’t think I have ever watched a show where they advertise so heavily, but I will say it did make me want to see it a bit more.

These six clips not only show the amazing effects this film has, but also some really superb acting and while there really aren’t any heavy-hitting movie stars, it still brings a sense of comfort because they all mesh together really well. The clips show you how everything happens and doesn’t really get into any action. It will show you everything from when Jake (Sam Worthington) getting ready to go into his avatar for the first time to when he learns how to pick his own Banshee from Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), which looks like a really cool dragon (to me at least).

The rest of the films actors include Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver, Matt Gerald, Giovanni Ribisi, CCH Pounder, Laz Alonso, and Wes Studi. Like I said, no real giants, but still some of my favorites like Sigourney and Rodriguez. Overall, a great cast as this film has looks to bring home the bacon. “Avatar” has a lengthy run time, over two and a half hours. That could be the only downfall of the movie, where anyone who likes to see a film here and there will get a little tired after the two-hour mark.

The film will be released in both 3-D and 2-D on Dec. 18, 2009.

Source: Trailer Addict

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