I’ve had an interesting relationship with James Cameron’s “Avatar”. Without question the 2009 science-fiction epic was a landmark box office achievement. It took theaters by storm, earning its first billion dollars in only 19 days on its way to becoming the highest grossing movie of all time. “Avatar” shattered numerous records, many of which it still holds today. It was a global phenomenon, accompanied by a vast marketing campaign, several companion books, and even its own Disney World attractions.
As for the movie itself, there’s no denying it was cutting edge moviemaking. Cameron made the most of his massive budget in creating one of the most visually breathtaking worlds ever put on screen. But it was the story that I had trouble getting past. I ended up having three main complaints – the copy-and-paste plot, the heavy-handed messaging, the over-the-top characterizations. They drew too much attention away from the extraordinary technical wonder that was “Avatar”.
Over the years and several watches later I’ve softened up on my criticisms of “Avatar”. The most recent call to reevaluation came after seeing the long-awaited 2022 sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water”. It’s a terrific follow-up that (for me at least) shined a new light on the first film. I’ve actually rewatched “Avatar” three times since “The Way of Water” released and have seen my perspective and opinion evolve. Yes, I still think it borrows liberally from other films (“Dances With Wolves” always comes to mind). It’s still a bit clumsy in its messaging. And there are absolutely some exaggerated characterizations.
But after a lengthy reconsideration, I’ve come to some unexpected conclusions. For starters, I think using “copy-and-paste” to describe Cameron’s story is reductive and frankly unfair. He’s clearly pulling inspiration from a number of places. The idea of a foreign invaders persecuting an indigenous people is nothing new. In this case it’s humanity who have depleted Earth’s natural resources. Now they’ve arrived on Pandora to mine a valuable mineral to send back home. The operation is ran by the Resources Development Administration (RDA), an oppressive corporation who force their will on the Na’vi, the blue-skinned humanoid inhabitants of Pandora who live in harmony with nature.
Again, the general outline for the story is familiar, but there’s so much originality in Cameron’s vision, from the world he imagines to the Na’vi culture he creates. Both are key in taking a well-used framework and shaping it into something that pulsates with new creative life. You can’t help but be enamored with Pandora and it’s variety of wildlife, fascinating array of flora, towering waterfalls, and floating mountains. It’s not only an incredible work of imagination, but also visualization. There’s never a moment where Cameron and his VFX wizards aren’t giving us something to take in that’s both stunning and transporting.
As for the messaging, it’s still pretty on-the-nose with Cameron spelling out his numerous stances with varying degrees of effectiveness. His views on the environment, big corporations, and even the military are most impactful when he allows the natural flow of the story to do the talking for him. But there are still lines of dialogue so awkwardly blunt that you can’t help but roll your eyes and laugh. Interestingly, they’re not as noticeable to me as in earlier viewing. But they’re still there.
And then there are the characterizations. In my earliest viewings, Stephen Lang’s Colonel Miles Quaritch, the RDA’s head of security, was the epitome of a ridiculously over-the-top character. He’s a military meathead made even more absurd by Lang’s exaggerated performance. Yet over time I’ve warmed up to the character and the performance. Yes he’s silly to the point of caricature. But Lang has a blast as the chief antagonist and delivers some really good laughs. I can’t say the same for Giovanni Ribisi’s Parker Selfridge, the corporate head of the RDA mining operation. He too is cartoonishly over-the-top, but without a hint of humanity or humor. He’s impossible to take seriously.
Still Cameron gives us a number of great characters including the film’s lead. Sam Worthington plays Corporal Jake Sully, a former Marine and a paraplegic sent to Pandora to take part in the Avatar program. It’s where scientists genetically match a human operator to a Na’vi body. Whether as his human self or in motion-capture, Worthington is terrific in conveying Jake’s frustrations, conflict, and courage. Matching him scene for scene is Zoe Saldaña as Neytiri, the daughter of a local Na’vi clan leader. In many ways she’s the film’s heart and soul.
In addition to building an imaginative world and compelling mythology, Cameron packs a surprising amount of emotion into his story. And of course there is the inevitable final showdown – an edge-of-your-seat thrilling and visually stunning spectacle built around some well developed stakes. Yes, it still has some nagging issues. But over the years I’ve found them to be less pronounced and far less distracting. And even with them, “Avatar” remains a transporting experience – an entertaining blend of old-fashioned adventure and technological wonder.
VERDICT – 4 STARS
keithandthemovies.com 
I never truly cared for animation movies. They just don’t appeal to me. The storyline is an age old repeat of humanity using up its available resources, and then going somewhere else to do it to someone else’s resources. I was taught to leave my footprint as slight on this earth as possible, and to try to leave all as true as I found it. I used to hunt, but that changed after military service. I never killed more than I could eat, and the numbers of horns didn’t interest me, because you just cannot tenderize them to eat! I have a little native American in me, just enough for me to respect this world that we live in. I have witnessed to many “scientists” create things only to find out they had not thought of by-products of their creation, that they didn’t think about waste products that won’t die anytime in our lifetime, so they stored them in steel containers and put them into the oceans or various other places. Off my soapbox, Avatar admitedly has cinematic moments, but for me, I have not missed watching it. I rather enjoyed things like Superman, whereby the bad guys shoot bullet at him only to see him duck when they throw the guns at him!
I loved reading this and honestly I can’t knock anyone for having issues with AVATAR. But it has strangely evolved for me. Never thought I’d say that.
It’s a film I hadn’t seen in a long time as it’s the only film on 3D that I ever saw in the theaters in that format (and will never do 3D ever again). I like the visuals though yes, the story isn’t that compelling but I do like the performances from Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver. I think it’s time for a re-watch and then watch the 2nd film.
Saldana doesn’t get the appreciation she deserves for her performance. It Carrie’s over into the second movie. She’s great!
I saw the second one but can’t remember very much about it, whereas I remember all of the first one. It was groundbreaking visually and truly stunning. The second was a bit same-o same-o.
It’s quite an achievement. And it still looks better than so much else that comes out today.
The first one surprisingly aged better than I expected, its narrative limits don’t bug me as much anymore. I feel like Cameron learned a long time ago that there’s no evolving the pen and paper, and went off the deep end pushing the technology of making movies. Perhaps that’s why Cameron’s dialogue and characterizations feel so stuck in the ’80s (and ripped from his own movies, frankly).
But there’s no denying the experience of watching Avatar. If everything is CGI now, then the Avatar films feel distinct and truly transportive as you say. Honestly, it’s just awesome these days to sit back and watch one WHOLE movie–not one that ends on a cliffhanger or teases five more movies inside of it. Cameron fully delivers on the singular viewing experience and that’s why I’ll keep watching these.
Good on ya Adrian
Absolutely agree on every point. It has aged extremely well. I also love what you said about his world feels distinct and transportive.
I was one of those who had never seen Avatar in a movie theatre. It is very strange I didn’t see it when it first opened. My wife and I try to average at least one movie a week throughout the year. It was the week before Christmas…there were other movies…and the subject matter simply didn’t do anything for us even though a lot of folks were reporting how freaking amazing the film’s visuals were. We eventually caught up with Avatar when it first debuted on cable, and while mindful we were not experiencing the fully-immersive, multi-dimensional theatre view, it still didn’t do that much for us…an ok film for me. My wife? She liked it a bit less than ok. But then the sequel came…albeit so many years later. Saw it in IMAX, and it blew both of us away. Not only that, but seeing The Way Of Water helped us understand the absolute love and devotion many have for the original film. While we think the sequel “outpointed” the first movie, both are cinema classics.
I was mesmerized watching it in the theater with the 3D glasses. I love the story and how they depict the giant tree as the giver of life and the keeper of the tribe’s memories. It’s a good movie that I’d like to watch again. The sequel, not so much. It really gets away from the sacred spaces and the peaceful way of living and focuses on the war aspect which I do not think works in the film’s favor. Good essay, Keith!
Thanks so much. I’ve really come around on this one.
You’re very welcome.
Great review! Interesting to revisit this in light of the sequel. Here’s my review for the recent sequel: