Anywho, I got to hang out with L yesterday which was lovely. We saw Avatar, and I realise that I am possibly the only person on the planet, but I was completely underwhelmed by it. When you hype something up like that I'm expecting something amazing and awe-inspiring, not Pocahontas in Space. There is absolutely nothing original in that film. It's visually arresting and beautifully done, yes, but the entire thing is so utterly predictable and heavy-handed that I found myself simply not caring. To be fair, I never had any interest in seeing this film. The previews didn't inspire me and I was blasé over the whole thing from the start, but being the phenomenon that it is, I obviously had to see it. Films like that just have no appeal to me.
There were a few laughs and, like I said, it is visually quite arresting, but none of that is enough to distract me from the fact that I was bored to tears halfway through. It is a predictable, sanctimonious piece of storytelling that borrows so heavily from colonial dialogue, it might as well feature in a Modernity and Post-Colonialism lecture. And that would be fine, if it wasn't for the fact that everyone keeps going on about it. Now my movie tastes are quite dubious at times, I concede, but with this amount of hype I expect a decent story, not something I've heard a billion times before, and painting the cast blue does not change that fact. It baffles me why a film like, oh I don't know, let's say In Burges, one that's rather quite brilliant and that virtually no one saw, is considered somehow lesser than this space-take on Dances with Wolves. Look, it's very pretty and I can see that it would be very entertaining if you're into that sort of thing, but I just don't think it deserves the hype it's gotten. It deserves every single on of its technical Oscar noms sure, but I just don't think it's 'Best Picture' material *shrugs*
On a similar note, I'm completely apprehensive about this 3D craze. Now that Avatar has done so phenomenally well, we're probably going to get everything in 3D. Again, this is completely personal and I know a lot of people love 3D, but to me it seems to make barely any difference to my viewing experience whatsoever. And it gives me a headache. I know its supposed to make it more immersive, but if anything it detracts from my viewing experience cause I am constantly aware I'm wearing stupid glasses. I have to say I found it quite amusing in Final Destination, cause hell, there is stuff flying at you every two minutes, but in a world where it's pretty much just giving you depth, well I don't care that much. I have always had my imagination for that. I didn't have 3D for Lord of the Rings, and I've never been more immersed in a fictional world. I know this is completely selfish and petty, but personally for me they don't add anything to a film and if they keep using them, I'm going to have to kerb my movie watching. I love going to the movies! I just don't want my head to explode. Also, Lizzie made a good point last night that the 3D sort of chooses your focus for you, whatever the director decides is the important part of a scene is what you can look at it, if you try to see past that it goes all blurry. Sometimes I like to get distracted by the weird guy/tree/animal in the background, with 3D I fear I won't have that luxury.
Oh yes, finally, I hear they're planning an Avatar sequel. Why? It's done. We did it. The ending is completely unambiguous, it's d.o.n.e. Clearly, money talks.
Right, well I better get a move-on, places to be, things to do, money I don't have to spend...
Music: Play crack the sky - Brand New
Mood: Lethargic
I agree that the story has been done a billion times before and if you're not into that sort of thing then naturally you won't like it. But I do like those sorts of stories so I enjoyed it on that level. The fact that the good guys won and the bad guys were sent packing. But I don't think it's done anything new except technology-wise and probably shouldn't be up for best picture. It's enjoyable if you like that sort of thing, and it's pretty but plot wise and story wise it hasn't done anything new.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's kind of hypocritical for me to love fictional versions of colonialism but not care a single bit about the real stuff lol. I guess my brain says what's done is done BUT now that we have hindsight we can avoid doing it in the future. With blue catpeople.
And yeah, there's no need for a sequel. I will satisfy myself for seeing Sam Worthington in Clash of the Titans. I love the preview for that.
Er - where are you going??
ReplyDeleteSouth Africa. I'll be in Jo'burg for a week, then I'm possibly going camping down the coast for another week when I get back.
ReplyDelete