"From the producer of Titanic..." "AVATAR, the second highest grossing film of all time" "New 3d and IMAX3d technology used, and cameras especially made for this movie" This is almost all that I'm hearing about this movie. The mass hysteria around AVATAR was mainly generated by two things: the 3d viewing possibility and the fact that it's directed by James Cameron. The high budget is also brought into consideration, although almost the entire movie is a 3d animation that is indeed very expensive.

     People that didn't see the movie yet, and that are waiting for the DVD release are equally enthusiastic about it, and there is no way you can convince them that the story is not all that's cracked up to be. I had such a conversation with a work coleague and he went on and on about the budget and technology, claiming this movie to be so revolutionary for the movie industry, and then confessing that he didn't see it yet.

     Well I saw it alright. It is a fantastic movie with awesome characters. This doesn't shade the fact that there are many things that don't make the story so ingenious. On the contrary, the plot is as old as the colonization of America. The Na'vi people strikely resemble the indians in many ways. First of all, their way of dressing, their ritualic songs, even the way Neytiri says Jake's name. The plot also resembles the story depicted in Dune. Humans who come to another world and exploit a rare mineral is similar to the exploitation of Dune's spice. Jake and Paul Atreides have the same thing in common - the growing attachement for the natives and fighting along their sides.

     We could easily find other things that were done before. The special planes, this way of spelling names (Na'vi), the antagonic characters: the devoted scientist versus the mad obsessed army leader, even Hometree seems vaguely familiar. That special tree looks to me like a collection of christmas hose lights, and I think I'm not far from the truth on this one.

     I have some objections on the scenery, but there is a certain improvement in creativity. The actors were well chosen in my opinion and the animated stuff is very well done. Don't get me wrong, in spite of all these imitations, the movie remains one of the best fiction stories of the century, but I hardly think it surpasses Lord of The Rings. As for the IMAX3d, I really wish I could see Matrix in this format. That story has all the atributtes to justify a 3d experience. I cannot say the same about AVATAR. 

     I think people should concentrate on things that are really important about movies - acting, story, plot, characters, scenery. When did we get so technical and industrial? Why analyze the industry and stuff our minds with directors, budgets, and stuff that should be their concern? By the way, I think this movie's promo is the first to mention more than two movies made by it's director. It definitely striked me as bragging. Efficient marketing idea though. "James Cameron? Oh then it must be an amazing movie.."