Review - Avatar (2009)

        Hey guys, Chuck here. Well, today, in honor of it being Earth Day, I wanted to give you guys my review of the 2009 sci-fi epic: James Cameron's Avatar. As of writing this review, Avatar is currently sitting as the highest grossing film of all time at the worldwide box office, retaking the number one spot from Avengers: Endgame. And with, at least, two sequels on the way, now is the perfect time to take a look at the film that, ten years ago, took the world by storm. So, this Earth Day, let's take a look at Avatar. 

        The movie opens with Jake Sully, a paraplegic former Marine who, upon learning of the death of his twin brother Tommy, is asked to take his brother's place in heading off-world to the distant moon of Pandora, where he will be part of the Avatar program. Avatars are remotely-driven bodies created by combining human DNA with DNA of a humanoid race native to Pandora known as the Na'vi. Each Avatar is designed to match up with a singular driver on a genetic level, so that nervous systems between driver and Avatar are in tune. And since Jake's genome was identical to his brother's, he was the only one that could now use what was meant to be Tommy's Avatar. 

           Upon arrival at the Hell's Gate base, Jake and the other new arrivals on Pandora, they are given a safety briefing by the commanding military officer on Pandora, Col. Miles Quaritch. Jake then meets Norm Spellman, another newcomer on Pandora, and the two head to the science lab, where they meet both Dr. Grace Augustine, the head of the Avatar program, and Max Patel, who is her number two guy. Grace, annoyed by having Jake assigned to the Avatar program, heads to meet with Parker Selfridge, who oversees the operation on Pandora. It is here where we learn that the RDA corporation is strip mining Pandora in search of a highly magnetic rare metal called Unobtanium, which sells for $20 million a kilo back on Earth. Parker's goal is to use the Avatar program to find a diplomatic means of relocating a local Na'vi tribe, the Omaticaya, from their current home, known as Hometree, and avoid using military force to drive them out. 

        So, Jake and Norm link with their Avatars, and after an taking them out for a run on base, are brought out of the neural link. Later on, Jake meets pilot Trudy Chacon, who handles flying the science teams out to the rainforest of Pandora. Trudy points Jake to the direction of Quaritch, who professes that although he's not fond of the Avatar program, he sees a unique opportunity with Jake being part of it. Quaritch requests for Jake to learns what he can from the Omaticaya, and get him intel on how to force cooperation from them should diplomacy not be achieved. In return, he offers to set it up for Jake to get the surgery to be able to walk again when he returns to Earth. 

         During a routine research mission, Jake runs into some of the local fauna of Pandora, being chased by a massive predator called a thanator. Separated from the others, Jake wanders through the rainforest, and has to survive the night, due to Trudy and co. not being able to find him, and nighttime operations not being allowed. That night, Jake is attacked by a pack of nocturnal creatures called Viperwolves, but he is saved by Neytiri, who is a member of the Omaticaya. Neytiri is initially untrusting of Jake, and tries to send him away. However, upon seeing Jake covered in forest sprites, Neytiri changes her mind, and decide to bring him to Hometree. It is here that he meets her parents, the chieftain Eytukan, and the spiritual leader Mo'at. It is also here where he meets warrior Tsu'tey, who is next in line to be Chieftain, and is betrothed to Neytiri. The Omaticaya, finding him to be fascinating, decide to teach Jake in their ways, with Neytiri instructing him specifically. 

       Upon awakening from his link, Jake informs both Grace and Quaritch of his encounter with the Omaticaya. It is here that Selfridge asks for Jake to get info on Hometree, and find a peaceful means of getting the Omaticaya to move, as it turns out that Hometree rests atop the richest deposit of Unobtanium on Pandora. The next several days showcase Jake learning the ways of the Omaticaya, riding on six-legged horses native to Pandora, and eventually flying on the back of an ikran, a flying predator that flies with a single hunter that they bond with through what is known as tsaheylu. Tsaheylu is what happens when Na'vi use the long hair braids to connect with another living creature, like an ikran. Grace, meanwhile, shifts operations from the lab at Hell's Gate to an outpost in the floating Hallelujah Mountains. Jake is officially made a part of the Omaticaya, and Neytiri shows him the Tree of Voices. It is here where the two profess their love for each other and, well, hook up. The next morning, RDA bulldozers show up and destroy the Tree of Voices, which thoroughly pissed off the Omaticaya, who plan to retaliate. Despite the efforts of Jake and Grace, the two are unable to do anything, and are forced out of link by Quaritch, who then prepares to roll out the gunships to attack Hometree. After convincing, Jake and Grace are given an hour by Selfridge. Unfortunately, this doesn't work, and many Omaticaya are injured by the destruction of Hometree, with Eytukan dying of his injuries. Jake and Grace are forced out of link, and the two are arrested along with Norm. 

       Some time later, and Trudy breaks Jake, Norm, and Grace out of their confinement, with Max's help. Jake asks Max to stay behind, and then rejoins Trudy and the others. Quaritch, upon seeing the take off attempt, shoots at Jake and co, with grace taking a few bullets. Jake then makes a plan to regain the trust of the Omaticaya, who have relocated to the Tree of Souls, which is the most sacred place to all of the Na'vi. Jake, flying above it, drops on top of a massive flying beast called toruk, and successfully bond with the beast through tsaheylu, which makes Jake the latest to take the name of Toruk Makto. Arriving at the Tree of Souls, the Omaticaya see Jake, and are awestruck at the sight of him. Jake asks for help in saving Grace's life, and Mo'at attempts to transfer Grace's consciousness into her Avatar permanently, but unfortunately they were too late, as Grace succumbs to her injuries. Jake then calls on the Omaticaya to reach as many clans as possible, and have them join Toruk Makto for one last stand against Quaritch and the other soldiers, who themselves plan to attack the Tree of Souls directly. 

      So the final battle is on, as Na'vi from across Pandora knock the crap out of the many gunships in the air, and mechanized AMP suits on the ground. Heck, even Norm is part of the fight riding on horseback. Trudy, using the call sign Rogue One, joins the fight in her own gunship. Unfortunately, the Na'vi also take a number of losses, but help arrives in the form of wild fauna, including untamed ikran. Neytiri has a run in with the thanator, and the beast bows before her, allowing her to perform tsaheylu and bond with the beast, riding it into a fight with Quaritch, who was forced out of his Dragon gunship upon its destruction by Jake, who also destroyed a shuttle being used as a bomber to drop explosives on the Tree of Souls. Quaritch fights both Neytiri and Jake, nearly kills Jake's human body, but is stopped by Neytiri firing two arrows into his chest, and have them saves Jake from dying due to Pandora's air being toxic for humans. The day is won, and Selfridge, along with all but those in the Avatar program, gets sent back to Earth, and the movie ends with Jake being transferred into his Avatar body permanently. 

       Okay, so what is there to say about this movie that hasn't been said already. Well, in terms of the visual effects, I think that Doug Walker, the Nostalgia Critic, put it best. The visual effects from Avatar hold up after ten years, and actually look better than a majority of the CGI in films made in 2019. And I have to agree. Looking back on the CGI in this movie, the effects do hold up, and the film is very gorgeous to look at. 

          Casting wise, everyone here was terrific. Sam Worthington as Jake, Zoe Saldana as Neytiri, Sigourney Weaver as Grace, Giovanni Ribisi as Selfridge, Laz Alonso as Tsu'tey, Wes Studi as Eytukan, Joel David Moore as Norm, Stephen Lang as Quaritch, and Michelle Rodriguez as Trudy. Everyone in the main cast was on point. Now, while a lot of people look to compare the plot to films like FernGully, Dances with Wolves, and Pocahontas, I think Avatar has enough going for it that it can really stand on its own. 

          I remember, eleven years ago now, heading to see this at least three different times in the movie theater: twice by myself, and once with my dad and step-grandmother, and they both enjoyed it. Heck that particular Thanksgiving in 2010, I took my DVD copy with me to visit relatives in Chico, and everyone that watched it enjoyed it thoroughly. So, yeah it was great then, and it's still great now. I mean, this movie came out the same year as sci-fi movies like District 9 and Star Trek, and all three still hold up by the standards of today. All in all, I love Avatar, and if you don't have a DVD or Blu-ray copy of this movie, SHAME ON YOU. I can't say enough that this is one movie that you need to own on Blu-ray, especially the Collector's edition with the Extended Cut of the movie, as well as a slew of behind the scenes featurettes. I'm giving Avatar a rating of 5/5. Seriously, go watch this movie. Heck, it streaming on Disney+, so if you have that, then there is no excuse not to experience this film for yourselves. 

      Anyway, this is Chuck signing off. Have a great Earth Day, and I'll be back tomorrow with my review of the latest release from Warner Bros: the 2021 version of Mortal Kombat.