Cameron Answers the Call; "Avatar" is Stellar

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So the next step in the filmmaking evolutionary ladder has finally stumbled onto the scene; “Avatar” is out and running in theaters all over the world raking in metric tons of cash. I still remember years ago when news was leaking out about Cameron finally coming back to popular filmmaking, with some sci-fi themed project he’d been working on for years upon years. It sounded pretty preposterous to me, I admit. But I had to hold faith in the project, because this was James Cameron we were talking about. The guy who’s simultaneously responsible for the highest grossing, 2nd-most-Oscar-winning film in history (“Titanic”) as well as inarguably the greatest pure action flick ever made (“Terminator 2: Judgment Day”). Not to mention projects like “Aliens,” and “The Abyss.”

Even when the project first got rolling, plenty of hype-spewers were saying the most puzzling things; it was going to be a 3D masterpiece, it would change the cinema dynamic, maybe even it was his greatest project yet? I was baffled by all of this talk. Cameron didn’t have anything to prove to the world; he’s the Hank Aaron, the Michael Jordan of popular American cinema. If there were a motion picture “Hall of Fame,” he’s wouldn’t be inducted yet but they’d already be preparing an entire wing of the museum just for him.

Then the previews hit the street a year or so ago and I wondered where all this cut footage of “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” had suddenly appeared from. It definitely looked like something stuck in-between a live action film and a Saturday morning cartoon. This significantly lowered my expectations. I almost wondered if I would even see it. But last month, as the early reviews started to come in and it became clear that “Avatar” might have some legs, my heart lifted a bit. Perhaps the Hero of Hollywood, Cameron, would return triumphantly.

“Avatar” is a good film; undeniably I would say. Film history isn’t something we always have a firm grasp on, so saying someone’s work is “revolutionary” or “game-changing” is a bit premature, especially for a film only in its first week of release. However I’d say it certainly looks like it will be. But let’s not even talk about the future, when the present for this film is so much more interesting….

For starters, it did $77 million in business in America over the weekend alone, with more than $242.5 million cashed-in worldwide for the same time period. So it’s pretty much already made its money back. Which, normally, that’s not such an astounding feat on its own; plenty of films have done that. What’s important to recognize is this is a film that by most accounts cost $300 million to make. Compare that to the $140 million it took to make “Iron Man,” the $185 budget of “The Dark Knight,” or even the $200 million price tag on this year’s monstrous “2012.”

We’ve seen some serious watershed moments for box office tallies, between last year’s unbelievable fun for “The Dark Knight” and this year’s box office beating brought to us by “Transformers 2: ROTF,” which grossed $800 million worldwide. Don’t be surprised when “Avatar” outshines both of these films at the ticket counter. We would be wise to point out that perhaps some of the reason why its box office totals will be due to increased ticket prices from the inclusion of 3D glasses, but don’t be fooled. People are going to go see this movie because it rocks.

Now, also, to you sci-fi fans out there who might think it looks a little too much like a kids movie, I want you to consider a very important little factoid. After his weekend’s debut, “Avatar” now boasts the largest debut weekend ever for an original film. By original we mean not based on previous material, not based on a comic book or a sequel or what have you. This one fact is what has me harping on “Avatar” so much. Like “District 9,” it represents an original, creative science fiction vision whose power and appeal isn’t already prepackaged with a previously published book series or a lifetime of nostalgia to help it sell. This is something new that wants to (and confidently does) stand on its own.

Smart, original, and entertaining science fiction film is dying out, and it hurts me so much to say that. The reason it’s dying is because the genre is becoming flooded with these mediocre comic book adaptations and series sequels and other bombastic nonsense that’s geared more towards selling popcorn than getting people to talk about good ideas. I won’t launch into a prejudiced tirade against “Star Trek,” but even that film falls into the same lump of super-blockbusters that feel like all whiz! bang! and pow! and come up significantly short on true substance. That’s a series that used to really belt out some of the best thought-provoking American science fiction, but it looks to me like that’s a thing of the past.

All this text so far and I’ve talked so little about the film, haven’t I? Well, I’d like to believe that the less I tell you, the more you’ll enjoy it once you go see it. That was part of caused me to be so stunned by what I saw: I didn’t know what to expect. So let me just go with generalities.

It’s a roller coaster ride like any other modern blockbuster, but it’s smart. It’s clever, and it’s technically masterful, as all Cameron’s work is. The story you’ve probably heard before, but there’s enough new twists to it to keep you engrossed and entertained. The effects and computer animation are probably the best committed to film yet. That’s one of it’s most appealing qualities sure, but how I would describe the film’s use of effects is that Cameron was less concerned with using them to wow you and instead concentrated on just showing you. That strategy worked wonderfully, as you very gradually and gently become lured into the world he creates; you can literally feel the planet encompassing you as you try to brush away the limbs and bugs that flitter past your face as you voyage from scene to scene.

I enjoyed “Avatar” because I could just feel in my bones that this wasn’t a film that was solely concerned with taking money from your wallet, then presenting you with a few mindless distractions as compensation. “Avatar” has a place to take you, and makes sure you’re incredibly comfortable for the ride and makes sure to take the scenic route. Simply joyous. Phenomenal. This is a film to end this decade on. Don’t wait for DVD, this is a theater experience unlike anything we have seen before.