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7.6/10 • 33K

2009-12-152h 42m

ActionAdventureFantasyScience Fiction

Enter the world of Pandora.

In the 22nd century, a paraplegic Marine is dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission, but becomes torn between following orders and protecting an alien civilization.

Directors
James Cameron
Writters
James Cameron
Editors
James Cameron, Stephen E. Rivkin

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Sam Worthington

    Sam Worthington

    Jake Sully

  2. Zoe Saldaña

    Zoe Saldaña

    Neytiri

  3. Sigourney Weaver

    Sigourney Weaver

    Dr. Grace Augustine

  4. Stephen Lang

    Stephen Lang

    Colonel Miles Quaritch

  5. Michelle Rodriguez

    Michelle Rodriguez

    Trudy Chacon

  6. Giovanni Ribisi

    Giovanni Ribisi

    Parker Selfridge

  7. Joel David Moore

    Joel David Moore

    Norm Spellman

  8. CCH Pounder

    CCH Pounder

    Mo'at

  9. Wes Studi

    Wes Studi

    Eytukan

Reviews5

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Apr 25, 2020

5/10

It's cinema Jim, but not as we know it. So here it is then, what has been in gestation in James Cameron's mind for over 12 years finally hit the silver screen towards the back end of 2009. Made for gazillions amount of cash, Avatar went on to make a billion trillion in Worldwide receipts-and this before the rush rush release of DVD/BLU RAY sales are factored into the equation. The film, and all its technical wizardry, is quite simply a gargantuan piece of cinematic history. Released in 2d and 3d, and probably some other format that I'm forgetting, every advanced tool of the trade has been utilised by Cameron and his team to create what is now the ultimate popcorn blockbuster. Shame then, that away from the visual extravaganza the film is as shallow as this review will ultimately end up being. No doubt about it, this is a joy for the eyes and ears, the minuscule details are wonderful and the colour positively pings from every frame. But in the eagerness to create such splendour they forgot to put any substance into the writing. This is plot simplicity. And even its messages, as Cameron smugly preaches his sermon from the pulpit, now seem old hat. Do we really need another boink over the head about eco invasion? Or a curt reminder of American infiltration into some land where motives are suspicious at best? No we don't really do we? Worse still is some of the dialogue, which quite frankly could have come from some playground encounter as the kiddies play kiss chase or bang bang your dead army. There's also a sense of familiarity with other better scripted film's, Dances cough With cough Wolves cough It's as if Cameron just knew that narrative structure wasn't as important as having the expensive gimmicks. He's like a modern day William Castle-only with considerably more readies at his disposal. The cast are OK, Zoe Saldana puts a sexy feistiness to her blue alien Neytiri, Sam Worthington keeps the humanistic elements just about above water, while Sigourney Weaver is as ever the consummate professional. But ironically, in a film shimmering bright in 2d & 3d, the characters are all one dimensional. None more so than Stephen "The Party Crasher" Lang's Colonel. A man so gruff and gung-ho menacing he really ought to be in Sly Stallone's upcoming testo movie The Expendables. Nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, it won three, for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and Best Art Direction. Those were richly deserved. They also tell us all we need to now about Cameron's Behemoth. 5/10

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$237,000,000.00
Revenue
$2,923,706,026.00
Keywords
paraplegicattachment to natureculture clashindigenousspace travelspace colonytribealien planetdistant futuremarinebattlelove affairscientistnaturenative peoplespower relationscurioustribal customstribal peopletribal chiefdeitycryonicsspiritual community22nd centurysave the planetracial discriminationsoldierslovingstereoscopic filmcompassionate