I love Jim Cameron. I think he’s the most exciting and creative writer/director filmmaker around. When I head Avatar was opening in December, I couldn’t wait to see it and I was filled with fantasies and expectations about what it was going to be and what it was going to be about.
I had known about the script for years. As a matter of fact, when I did an interview with Cameron for my book Four Screenplays, about the making of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, he mentioned the only reason he consented to doing an interview with me was because after he read my book Screenplay, he knew he could write a screenplay. Screenplay showed him what a screenplay was, that it was a craft that could be learned, just the way he learned how a camera worked.
It was during this interview that he mentioned that he wanted to write a sci-fi screenplay called Avatar but at that moment, it was still in the thinking stage. This was many, many years ago, back in the late 90’s. A few years later, he went on to make Titanic, then spent several years doing his underwater documentaries about the Titanic. When he wanted to go back to making movies, he knew it was a time when he could create the software for the special effects that would make Avatar such an extraordinary cinematic experience.
Because that’s what James Cameron does – he makes extraordinary movies that are a totally engaging movie experience. People talk about his screenplays as being more on the romantic/melodramatic side, but that’s not what Cameron is about: it’s about an extraordinary cinematic experience. That’s why Titanic was most financially successful film in history, until it was recently surpassed by Avatar.
So, on a rainy afternoon, a few days after it opened, I went to a screening of Avatar in 3-D. As I expected, I was totally engaged in the story and cinematic effects that were so phenomenal.
It took me a few minutes to adjust to the 3D glasses, but grabbed my attention immediately was the fact that the main character, Jake Sully, has lost both his legs before the story began. How do you have a main character that has lost his legs? Wouldn’t that limit the action and his involvement so much that he would be a passive, reactive character?
That question was answered immediately, because there was so much exposition and background and visual imagery thrown at me I really didn’t have time to hold onto that thought. Needless to say, it didn’t matter.
It didn’t take long for me to settle down and drink in the story and become immersed in the extraordinary visual effects of the planet Pandora. I began noticing things: first, despite what many people were saying I found this to be a very personal film. That surprised me. I’ve read any number of things about the political environment of the film and how “anti-American” it is. For me, nothing could be further from the truth. We can’t ignore our history where events like this have happened since the Spanish-American war. So, I don’t buy that – it just reflects where we are as a country now – and that it has parallels to our invasion of Iraq is obvious and totally coincidental.
Another thing I noticed: Cameron (at least in my interviews) had an awareness of trees (and the context of roots spreading across the landscape searching for water) that was insightful and engaging. Sure enough, the concept of Hometree spreading its roots across the entire planet of Pandora, brings together an intellectual unity of personal thought, feeling and emotion. All living things are connected, Cameron says – we are the many in the One. It is one of the unifying ideas that forcibly attract Jake Sully to the Na’vi. When tails entwine, a connection is made; a unity of Life. Nature and Being. If you think about it, we do the same thing, differing only in form, not in thought or idea or content: we shake hands, kiss cheeks, hug, embrace, gestures that are meant to connect the bridge between us all.
I was also impressed with his portrayal of women – Neytiri is a model of feminine strength, maturity and wisdom, ready and able to hold her own against any man or woman. She is free, spirited, a complete individual, something I think we all aspire to.
Many people have commented on the story – it’s not original in the sense of new ideas – but has its roots in films like The Last Samurai and Dances With Wolves. I noticed that immediately.
So what? These ideas of someone giving up his/her native culture to join another with cultural contexts that are more compatible with their own beliefs, has been part of humanity’s growth from the very beginning of recorded history. One of the key things about our “humanness” is our ability to adapt to various conditions for our survival.
And that certainly is the case with Avatar. This is a choice for Jake Sully, something he’s comfortable with, a way of life that is compatible to his own. And for me, that is what makes Avatar such an extraordinary film experience.
March 20th, 2010 at 10:34 pm
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April 10th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
I’m not usually a fan of SciFi or fantasy, so I was leery about sitting through such a long movie with “the boys” in my family. However, I LOVED it! I was engrossed from the first scene to the last. AVATAR is such a special film. I especially love the trees, and I’m looking forward to seeing this film on DVD soon.
April 14th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
Avatar should be named the most creative movie since Star Wars.
April 22nd, 2010 at 11:51 am
I love the Avatar 3D film, particularly the story line, not solely it brings a totally new feelings however eye opening ideas of humanity. I heard the New Avatar 2 is comming soon, cannot wait to see it again…!
April 22nd, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I like the Avatar 3D film, especially the story line, not only it brings a very new sensation however inspiring thoughts of humanity. I heard the New Avatar 2 is comming soon, cannot wait to see it again…!
May 3rd, 2010 at 6:25 pm
I was completely blown away by Avatar. When I saw the trailer I said there was no way I’d go see it. Then when it stayed for a few weeks at the box office and made billions it got my interest. It was not only amazing in acting, but creativity, set, direction and dialog. In fact most of the people at our theatre informed me they have been to see it several times. I noticed it’s out on DVD earlier then other movies, great plan! GST credits and income tax, people will buy the DVDS to keep kiddies and adults occupied during the summer months.
The 3D effect of flying was just like in my dreams. This is the first movie to make me really feel like I was flying in the air, it was exhilarating and well shot. I can’t wait to see it again.
As for James Cameron, he’s a genius and from my home town and he was a personal friend of my boyfriends sister (they went to school together).
I remember when James was going to Niagara College in Welland and people were buzzing about his works in the papers years ago.
A true talent to follow and dedicated to his work, he’s an inspiration to many screenwriters, directors out there looking to start in the biz.
I loved his movie the Titanic and saw it at the theatre 5 times with 5 different people. I even bought it and watched it for another 100 times. Not only did I love the acting, but I loved the antique drawings and interior designs. I actually have a large wall hanging of the original titanic and it’s many compartments explained in graphic art.
The movie concept of characters travelling by ship as immigrants, was an inspiration in the munroe series of novels that I’ve been writing and posted on authonomy.com
I’ll bet James Cameron’s movies will inspire thousands of people to love the art of the theatre again and to learn to write novels, plays and music.
June 15th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
The imagery of hometree was like a balm for my senses. I longed to visit a forest cathedral like that.
Human beings and the environment are all connected with fragile ties. It’s frightening. This movie illustrated how quickly that can be untied. It’s spooky.
It reminds me of the Gulf. The pain there arrives every night with the news. It’s the same cycle getting deeper.– groundwater pollution, Chernobyl, toxins in the rivers, and now oil that will travel to who knows where.
The damage this time isn’t digestible though because it’s a behemoth monster that vomiting. I mourne that because I didn’t get to Gulf side of Florida enough. It will never be the same and I didn’t get to see enough of it before now.
A lot more humility is needed by those who think that they’re invincible. Do they realize that yet?
I’m intrigued to read that James Cameron likes Mr. Fields book. I’ve purchased many of his books. They have helped me a lot. I had my hands on Four Screenplays before I sat down to read articles here. I should have read it tonight instead of typing this.
Oops, this gives me motivation for digging into it next after I finish my current text on screenwriting.
Hey, can i jerk the readers around? Why don’t they call in some scientists instead of James Cameron for a think tank on the Gulf Problem?
Duh, He’s an artist,writer, producer. To everything there is a season. To everything there is a place. Solving an oil spill isn’t his specialty, When others with “THE TRAINING” in science, research, and technology are forgotten I become suspicious of the motivation of those in charge. We’re not that dumb.
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March 15th, 2011 at 11:13 am
Hi,
Do you accept guest posts?
March 18th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
Hi Mark:
Sorry, no.
We don’t accept guest posts.
Kristina
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