Movie Review: Avatar

In Avatar, paraplegic marine Jake Sully uploads his mind into an alien-hybrid Avatar in order to help The Company relocate the indigenous population and more easily acquire a rare metal.

I went into this movie having largely avoided the hype (although it's difficult not to be aware of it's existence). So my only experience was the trailer and the subsequent thought that James Cameron must be working a deal with Blizzard because I swear Avatar looks like WOW vs Starcraft.



The first thing that must strike any sci-fi movie fan over the age of 30 is the tie-ins to the Alien franchise (James Cameron produced Aliens, the second in the franchise and there was/is(?) rumor that he may be producing an Alien 5).

First, is the corrupt, uber-capitalist Company with a 'profit is the only consideration' mentality. In Avatar they attempt genocide of a nature-loving people and what is essentially a planet-mind (to acquire a rare, powerful metal). In Alien... they attempt to harness the most perfect bioweapon in the galaxy, ultimately unleashing it on Earth.

The other obvious tie-in is Sigourney Weaver's tough character. In the Alien franchise, we learned she was a clone, so the storyline in Avatar fits well with this.

However, for me at least, a third tie-in seems to exist in the form of the tough female Mexican pilot in Avatar. Michelle Rodriguez's character Trudy Chacon in Avatar is highly reminiscent of Jenette Goldstein's character Pvt. Vasquez in Aliens. Other characters that seems similar to me are Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Cpl Dwayne Hicks (Michael Biehn).

Okay, so once I overcame the 'Aliens' connection, the next thing that stuck me was sheer beauty and realism of the planet and the amount of imagination and detail that went into bringing it alive. True, most lifeforms were recognizable as Terran variants, but it could be argued that was as much for story and saleability reasons as any. Regardless, I found it a truly beautiful experience to watch the characters stroll through the jungle planet (especially in 3D).

The beauty of the planet is necessary to the story, as was the length of the film (2hr 40min). The audience requires this time to truly experience the new culture, the beauty of the planet, and to become properly empathetic with the people when all that is destroyed in the name of money.

I won't say any more specifically about Avatar except to say that I found it very enjoyable, well-written and well-produced. I did find it interesting that Hollywood has release two 'upload' movies this year (Surrogates & Avatar) when the last one that I remember as such was The Matrix series (1999-2004). The 'upload' ideas is, arguably, becoming more sophisticated in the current movies, as the uploads involve 'improving' human life through enhance bodies.

Putting on the futurist hat for a moment, it's not difficult to see that such 'uploads', if possible, would be the way forward for humanity. Our frail human bodies would have difficulty surviving, let alone adjusting, to the rigors of space or extra-terrestrial planets. Mechanical and/or alternative organic avatars/surrogates may very well be the only way forward if we are to spread into the galaxy (otherwise, it's difficult not to believe that machines are the only future). Thinking as the optimist, it may also be a way for peacefully liaising with any intelligent alien cultures we find.

So, not only is Avatar an wonderful film, but it provokes much thought on the future directions of humanity.

Edwin

Reviews & Commentaries

I've been wanting to vary the content of the blog for a while now and I thought it would be useful to add book and movie reviews. These will primarily centre around science fiction works, but I will also review other interesting or useful samples. In addition, I'll attempt to add some commentary re: the science fiction ideas presented, trends they represent, and ideas they may suggest in the future. I'll keep the title of reviews of the simple format Book (or Movie) review: title so they are easily searchable.

As always, I'm open to comments. Feel free to post if you have something to say, or want to see something on the sight.

Edwin

Assassins' Canon Anthology Available!

Finally, Assassins' Canon is online, in press, and available for order in time for Christmas--at least, that's what the printer claims (minus disclaimer, however, in my experience, Lulu deliver ahead of schedule most of the time). You can order a perfect bound trade paperback version for £9.99 or, if you can't wait, download a PDF version for half price (£4.49).

Here is the link to our storefront.

A big thanks goes out to the editorial team: acquisition editors Nicole Smith, Stephanie Cassey and Amanda Irazusta; assistant editor Alice Shevitz and copy editor Sarah E. Holroyd.

Also, a big thanks to all the authors who submitted stories, and especially those whose stories we liked :-)

Links to all editors and authors webpages (as much as they exist) can be found on the Utility Fog Press site.

Once again, thanks to all and I hope you enjoy.

EH Rydberg
Chief Editor
Utility Fog Press