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I've been hiding from most people these days.
Not from the usual retreat into my hermitage as I'm generally wont to do - oh no. I've become somewhat of a pariah.
Here's the thing – I didn't like Avatar.
Maybe you've heard of it? From the man that gave us the 90's cutting edge Terminator 2, Avatar is James Cameron's latest technological magnum opus.
I should pause here, in case you haven't seen the film, and as they say on the Internets: Spoiler Alert!
Is it a pretty movie? Absolutely. This film is the next step in modern 3-D. Admittedly, there is some delight to be had flapping your hands at floating blossoms hovering in an alien landscape.
Plus, when you get down to brass tacks, I'm a sucker for advances in technology. So if the movie studios want to crank out some three dimensions, I'm all for it.
Unfortunately for Mr. Cameron, I judge a film not just on the pretty pictures, but also the storytelling, characters and acting. (I guess I'm a little koo-koo that way.)
All of those qualities were non-existent in Avatar. Plus, the themes explored in Avatar had already been covered very recently. And in a far more thought-provoking and intelligent way at that.
(District 9, anyone?)
The only thing missing to make Avatar, "Fern Gully in space" was a wacky bat.
When I try to explain this to people, I'm on the receiving end of many a hairy eyeball, with exclamations of: "Just enjoy it for what it was!" or "It's mindless entertainment!" and my personal favourite: "But the CGI is amazing!"
I can only repeat this so many times: "Pretty pictures do not a film make!"
We've been suckered down this "latest advancements in computer generated imagery" road before. Allow me to summarize this point in two words: Jar-Jar Binks.
'Nuff said.
So now, because I have the gall to enjoy film based on all its creative angles, I get pegged as a cynic.
To be perfectly honest, as an audience member -- for whatever type of entertainment -- I hop into that seat with good expectations. I was the one who made the conscious choice to check that something out. I spent the money. My plan was to be entertained. We're talking about the best of intentions here – really!
So, if I walk out not liking it, I feel completely fine with bitching about it.
I actually can't get back the hours I spent watching The Phantom Menace, but I can sure vent my frustrations in lieu of a refund.
This is the fun in consuming any creative work. Art's inherent subjectivity is what lends to some of the best conversation ... or so I'd like to think.
And if it makes any difference to the new James Cameron fans, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Aliens.
Can I come outside now?