“EW just published its list of 25 movies you need to see before the Oscars. I’ve already seen 17 of them before it was published, which I think is even better than last year after intentionally going out to see ones on the list. The 17 are (and lets see if I can do this from memory cause I dont feel like getting up and checking it): Up in The Air, Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Precious, Up, Fantastic Mr Fox, (500) Days of Summer, A Serious Man, The Messenger, Inglorious Basterds, Nine, The Blind Side, Invictus…d’oh I gotta get up and check it…Julie & Julia, Star Trek, District 9, The Informant! Beyond that, I already had plans for 3 more this week. Hoping to get to Its Complicated either tomorrow or day after. Depending on how this week goes I’ll either catch A Single Man on Thur at Coolidge Corner or I’ll double feature it on Sat at the Kendall with An Education (which I plan to see on Sat either way). That’ll bring the total to 20. Then Crazy Heart and The Lovely Bones go wide next week, so I’ll swing ’em at that point. That will just leave The Young Victoria, The Last Station, and Bright Star. I’ll prolly wait until nods are actually out before deciding if I really feel like putting in the effort for those.
Okay, so technically I’d only seen 16 of them before reading the list, cause number 17 came today–Avatar. I know, for me thats a long time since release date for me to catch such a major flick. Plans to watch it earlier were all thwarted by life and other outside factors. Anyways, the Regal Fenway had been jam packed the past two days, with Avatar selling out, so I figured I’d go to the earliest showing possible 3D or not. That plan worked out quite well. Caught the 11:45 which did feature a third dimension.
PS – Kinda had this song stuck in my head the whole time. Only slightly related
Initial reaction, wow. No it wasn’t the best movie ever or anything like that, but as far as groundbreaking film-making technology wise, dayum. And the plot was pretty decent too.
But for reals, the CGI and special effects were killer. I was particularly fond of the night time scenes with all the glowy plants. I wasn’t too sure how I felt about 3 hours of 3-D, but I actually do think it was worth it. Normally I complain when the extra dimension only equals extra depth (as opposed to things jumping at you, which is what I like) but it was such a great touch. It made their world so much more massive, almost felt like being at the IMAX without really being there. I can’t even fathom what it must be like in 3D at the IMAX.
Im generally not someone to be so readily accepting of a new alien culture, especially not such a “”tree-hugging”” one as the Na’vi. But I was drawn to them for some reason. Just absolutely loved them. I find it kinda strange that toward the end of the film, you’re cheering AGAINST the humans in the story. We become the bad guys. Deep. Whoa.
Did like the cast. And before you question how possible it is to give acting merit to a CGI being, I’ve got one word for you: Gollum. Sam Worthington is kind of a poor man’s Ewan McGregor (their American accents sound the same). Is it weird that I found him hotter as a Na’vi? Between this and Terminator: Salvation, he’s really starting to prove his worth as an action star, and he’s doing a fine job of it. Was pleasantly surprised to see Giovanni Ribisi. Hadn’t really seen much of him in a while. Was equally surprised but less pleasantly to find Michelle Rodriguez in this one. Never really cared for her, but this may be her first few steps toward redemption in my book.
Wasn’t anything too special about the story, but it was good and simple. Really, I think this movie was more of a showcase for the technology and the environment than anything else. And the characters were good, which keep me interested. Was a bit lengthy, clocking in at 3 hours if you count all the previews. But when you realize how \m/ long James Cameron spent on this one, I think he’s entitled to a little bit of excess running time.
Avatar – \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/