Director : James Cameron
Writer : James Cameron
English
162 mins
The king of the world returns after 12 years to again dazzle us with his latest visual spectacle.He has obviously topped himself with this.James Cameron is a great example of aging with grace and wisdom.
This guy is known primarily for two things,all of his films has groundbreaking special effects and are mega-budgeted.With Avatar,he has for the record third time,claimed throne to helm the most expensive film ever made,he did it in 1992 with Terminator 2,again he broke his own record in 1997 with Titanic and now swallowing US$340 million in production costs,he claimed top spot again with Avatar.The best part is,the fella's films not only costs a fortune,it breeds fortune several times the amount he spent and all of his films are awesome eye-candy.
And folks,Avatar is the best eye-candy of a film i've ever watched.This is yet another landmark film in CGI effects and motion capture technology.This films employs the best in class visual effects done for the first time by both ILM (Industrial Light & Magic) and Weta Works,so dazzling its definitely gonna bag the effects Oscars - all three,Visual,Sound and Sound Editing.Now what really surprises me is the central spiritual theme of the film.Something has happened to Cameron over the past 12 years.Since he didn't make any film,he was reportedly spending his time doing deepsea explorations and filming underwater documentaries,probably he could've experienced an 'other-worldly' encounter ala 'The Abyss',which is also his film.And that experience has left him dumbfounded,awakening his consciousness leading him to embark on a spiritual calling,surrendering himself to Mother Nature,Eywa as she's called in this film,our Mata Gayatri,Shakti.
The spiritual connotations and overtone is universal and will be extremely relevant to those who can interpret it.This film works in various levels,it works as science-fiction film,an all-out action film,it delivers a strong message on the growing neglicence of corporate and individual on environmental awareness and the devastating effects as a results,most importantly,its a beautifully told love story between man and nature and how spiritually connected we really are with our environment.The great spiritual truth that the physical body is a just a vehicle,and the real 'driver' and 'co-driver' is the soul and mind respectively is brilliantly depicted with science & technology as a backdrop.I've had a remarkable experience watching this film.Visually breathtaking,i ' surrendered' myself to the entire 160 mins plus of the film.I believe such a planet like Pandora most certainly exists,not at a scientific measurable distance,but in higher spiritual realms,the Na'vi's are very united and connected among themselves.Why?Because they're one with nature,they live their lives along with nature,they never go against it.What a blissful existence !We need not to be like the Na'vi's,at least we can emulate their way of life when it comes to harmonising with nature,which would increase our 'shelf life' on Earth.This message in the film is the strongest and the most significant to me.Last but not least,MONEY!!!!!!!!!Truckloads !!Truckloads!!Make no mistake,Jim Cameron is not a charity filmaker.The figures are astounding,officially as i write this,it has grossed a jaw-dropping US$442 mil domestic(US not kampung) box-office and internationally US$ 1.38 BILLION,behind only,well,guess what?Titanic,which is our friend's film aso la,bugger Cameron is laughing all the way to the bank.To find out more,pls visit Box Office Mojo at my links.
Rating : 5 stars.
* Nominated for 4 Golden Globe Awards
Best Picture - Drama
Best Director - James Cameron
Best Original Score - James Horner
Best Original Song
Review by
Amreish Siman
No comments:
Post a Comment