Avatar - 3D

Plot

The story takes place in the year 2154 on Pandora, a lush, Earth-like moon of the planet Polyphemus in the Alpha Centauri star system. The RDA corporation is mining a valuable mineral called unobtanium. However, the indigenous people of Pandora (the Na'vi) are at odds with the humans, so human controlled Avatars are sent in to attempt peaceful negotiations and research. One such human grows to understand the Na'vi and has to decide what side he is on.

Cast

Humans
Sam Worthington as Corporal Jake Sully.
Sigourney Weaver as Dr. Grace Augustine.
Michelle Rodriguez as Trudy Chacón.
Giovanni Ribisi as Parker Selfridge.
Joel David Moore as Norm Spellman.
Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch.

Na'vi
Zoe Saldana as Neytiri.
C. C. H. Pounder as Mo'at.
Laz Alonso as Tsu'tey.
Wes Studi as Eytucan.

Review

WOW! Normally when I walk out of a movie I can usually find at least one thing wrong with what have just seen. Whether is be, but not limited to, a plot hole (or lack of plot altogether), bad acting or bad special effects (I cite X-men Origins: Wolverine as worst movie ever! I’ll write about why in an upcoming post). However, this movie contains none of the aforementioned issues. Let me detail to you why you have to go see this movie, especially in 3D.

The plot of the movie has been compared to Pocahontas in space but I don’t think its fair to compare this movie to another since the overall idea is universal. The story is about the representative of a conquering people meets the representative of indigenous people and begins to learn about their ways. Eventually the conquering representative begins to realize their people cannot take the land or materials from the indigenous people and vows to fight for the indigenous people because it is the right thing to do. I’m sure this story sounds familiar to many of you because the basic story is not unique to Avatar; however the way the story is told is unique. The plot is well paced and robust. James Cameron has written a very enjoyable film, but this is only one of the reasons to see the movie.

The emotion in this movie is enthralling. You really do grow to feel for the characters - both real and digital. Throughout the movie you are constantly on the seat of your pants wanting to know more about the characters and their motivations. I found myself actually saddened at the destruction caused by the human people and excited when the Na’vi were holding their own in the end battle. You get so engrossed in the movie that you don’t realize the 2.5 hrs passing. The sign of a good movie is not just when it can entertain you, but when it can grab you (not in a sexual way) and keep you wanting more.

Lastly, let me talk about the visual effects. Most of the movie contains at least some if not all computer generated effects. Motion capture technology was used to not only recreate the actors movements but facial expressions too. The Na’vi and Avatars move so naturally that is they were not blue, cat-like in appearance and 9 to 12 feet tall, you wouldn’t know they were animated. The landscapes are beautiful and the wildlife breathtaking. The 3D aspect of the film adds a level of “hyper-realism” to the film that has to be seen as I cannot put into worlds what it is like. Cameron wrote the first draft of this story in 1994 but had to wait until now for the technology to catch up to his vision. Pandora is so well drawn and animated that it really could be a place and if so, I would love to go visit.

All I can say is go see this movie! Right now. Get up and go, I’ll watch the kids, and get your ass to the theatre before it is too late.

Rating

5 Reels out of 5

Gamer

Plot

The film stars Gerard Butler as an unwilling participant in an online game in which participants can control human beings as players, and Logan Lerman as the player who controls him.

Cast

• Gerard Butler as John "Kable" Tillman, the highest-ranked warrior in the game Slayers
• Amber Valletta as Angie "Nika" Tillman, Kable's wife, a controlled avatar in Society
• Michael C. Hall as Ken Castle, creator of the games Society and Slayers
• Logan Lerman as Simon Silverton, the 17-year-old gamer playing Kable
• Kyra Sedgwick as Gina Parker Smith, famous talk show host
• Ludacris as Humanz Brother, spokesperson and leader of the Humanz
• Aaron Yoo as Humanz Dude, a member of the Humanz
• Alison Lohman as Trace, a member of the Humanz
• Jonathan Chase as Geek Leader, leader of Castle's technical team
• John Leguizamo as Freek, an inmate who befriends Kable
• Terry Crews as Hackman, an inmate sent to kill Kable
• Zoe Bell as Sandra, an inmate
• Ramsey Moore as Gorge, the gamer playing Nika
• Keith David as Agent Keith, a CIA-agent
• Johnny Whitworth as Scotch, the first person to receive a Nanex-implant
• Milo Ventimiglia as Rick Rape, described as "Moonraker, silver grill, with a latex outfit making him look like a bumblebee."^[3]
• Sam Witwer as the Caseworker on Angie's custody case

Review

I don't really have anything bad to say about this movie, or anything overly positive for that matter, but the movie does bring up a very interesting point I would like to comment on. This movie revolves around the idea that if a prison inmate agrees to be implanted with technology that allows him/her to be controlled remotely by another player and then survives 30 violent games - they are freed from prison. These games involve war scenarios where it is kill or be killed (but again, not by the inmate but by the player).

This brings up a very important moral question - is killing another human being through a remotely controlled inmate actually murder. If someone where to kill another person using a kitchen knife, we don't arrest and sentence the knife. The movie supports a world where the general public can in effect take the live of another free of charge (minus the cost of the game). In reality they are executing (no pun intended) capital punishment. Now agree that in the context of the movie, these are all criminals who have hopefully had a fair trial and were proven guilty - but its doesn't make it right. Furthermore, the movie also sets up the situation that a violent offender could in fact be released back into the world with no rehabilitation simply because their player was good enough or lucky enough to win 30 games. This person could then offend again and more innocent lives will be lost.

Despite these two glaring problems with the idea of the movie, all in all it was very enjoyable. I highly suggest watching for any and all Gerard Butler fans and all sci-fi fans. The effects are good and the plot well paced. P.S. Michael C. Hall is creepy (and not Dexter creepy/lovable but seriously creepy)!!!

Rating

3.75 Reels out of 5

Pandorum

Plot

Two astronauts, Bower (Foster) and Payton (Quaid), wake up from suspended animation to find themselves alone, with no memory of who they are, what they are doing, or what has happened to the crew of their 60,000 passenger sleeper ship, the Elysium

Cast

• Dennis Quaid as Lt. Payton

• Ben Foster as Corporal Bower

• Cam Gigandet as Gallo
• Antje Traue as Nadia
• Cung Le as Manh

• André Hennicke as Hunter Leader

• Norman Reedus as Shepard

• Wotan Wilke Möhring as Young Bower's Father

Review

Very good movie! The action is well paced throughout the film and there are enough twists to keep you engaged from start to finish. The visual effects are amazing, the ship itself is well designed and its the little things that make this movie a good vision of the future. Crank systems to power individual consoles (however, if this crank system powers up the console if the main systems are down...how does it get information or connect with other systems throughout the depowered ship? Plot hole!) and little things like seats that recess into the floor to conserve space are such examples. What I am getting at is that the designers thought of things that make me actually believe that this could be what the future of space travel might actually be like.

My only real complaint about the movie that keeps it from getting a 5 out of 5 reels is the ending. There is such a huge lead up to the end, the odds or thought to be insurmountable and the task at hand overwhelming but within the last 20 minutes.....the plot is resolved with only a few lingering questions (such as what happens to the antagonists? or how will they rebuild when everything they need is under water?).

Overall, rent this movie!!! You will not be disappointed.

Rating

4 reels out of 5