Eating Words
I have to eat a bit of humble pie. I complained about Avatar being nominated for a Golden Globe a while back, before seeing the film. That was a bit dumb. After watching the film, I regret writing what I did.
I think Avatar is an important film. I do not think the story is original (*cough* Pocahontas *cough*), I think there are some terribly cheesy lines and wooden acting, and I think the thinly veiled criticism of US/World environmental policy is almost laughable.
However, the special effects and 3D technology made the film absolutely breathtaking. Seeing it in IMAX 3D was a phenomenal experience. It might be the only way to see it. The advances in technology that James Cameron has been a part of since he started making movies are nothing short of revolutionary. These newest advancements will raise the ire of many film fans who will now be inundated with 3D everything, for better, but mostly for worse.
But Cameron did something important with his film - he used 3D sparingly. He used it to enhance what was happening on the screen, not to have the 3D image be the centrepiece. Many directors and studios will miss that very important point, and cross that important line.
Movie theatres now have a huge cash chow - 3D tickets have a huge premium, and they continue to soar. 3D TVs are being released, along with 3D-capable Bluray players and video game systems. It’s supposed to be the next big thing.
For the incredible 3D experiences that will be few and far between, we can thank James Cameron.
For the rest, we can blame the studios for trying to cash in and letting artistic merit go to the wayside yet again in the quest for the almighty moviegoer dollar.
