List of Previous Titles

Sunday, February 7, 2010

AVATAR


THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD

My wife and I saw Avatar on a Friday, and because we were so impressed we returned to the cinema on the following Tuesday to view it again, this time in 3-D. I am compelled to make some comment about this incredible film, but I must be careful not to spoil your fun. In summary I can say that this film constitutes an Event in the history of cinematography. As the art form has evolved there has been several such Events. No doubt my opinions on the series of such changes will be subject to debate, but those that I can recall are as follows:

First there were the silent films in black and white. The films were always accompanied by very talented pianists, but it was very much a bare bones experience. Several actors owed their success to the fact that there was no sound on, because when the first giant leap took place with the addition of sound some of the actors sounded horrible.

The addition of sound changed the movies for all time. There was no going back, nor would anyone have wanted to turn away from progress. The next big step forward arrived with the technology of colour. We opened our eyes wide in amazement, often because the colour of life on screen was even more glorious than actual every day colour. Sound and colour moved forward in partnership adding big screen technology, 3-D, and SurroundSound to make the experience in the cinema unlike any other.

My next Event came with Steven Spielberg’s “Star Wars”, a fabulous mind bending exercise in fantasy. That film introduced a wonderful cast of new animals and humans. That was followed by another Event in the presentation of the “Matrix” triology, especially the fight sequence on moving vehicles. I watched those scenes several times just because they were so astounding.

Now, we have Avatar. The publicity for it goes as follows: “We enter an alien world through the eyes of Jake Sully, a former Marine confined to a wheelchair. Despite his broken body, Jake is still a warrior at heart. He is recruited to travel light years to the human outpost on Pandora, where corporations are mining a rare mineral that is the key to solving Earth’s energy crisis.”

Considering the film as a whole, that is a phenomenal understatement, if ever there was one. This film takes the art of making films upwards by a giant leap. The impact that it is having on people is simply staggering. It takes storytelling to new levels, and the pictures, imagination, sound, and overall effect is so rich that it is truly stirring.

The second time that we saw it, someone thought to bring their elderly grandmother. She sat in the same row as we did and I made a mental note to watch her reaction. As the film rolled on I completely forgot about her. Remember, I was seeing it for the second time.

There will surely be a making of Avatar, and I will be watching for its release. Meantime, Thank You ! James Cameron for the absolutely super cinematic experience of a lifetime. The promise that Avatar will be a triology is so exciting.

Copyright © 2010 Eugene Carmichael