Avatar, meh.

So I saw the movie "Avatar" with my kids a couple weekends ago. I thought it was entertaining and visually incredible. My kids absolutely loved it and want to see it again. I loved looking at it. But, damn, I wish I could have turned off the sound and made up my own dialogue. I like the idea of the story more than I liked the actual plotline and while watching it I found myself internally groaning and thinking - "Gawd, there are episodes of old Star Trek that are better than this."



Yes, I love the idea that the point of the movie is to honor the inate spirit of life and nature. I love the spirit of the film (no pun intended). The beautiful blue people didn't do much for me. I kept thinking that elfin characters from WOW had populated the screen and I was always aware that they weren't real. So yes, down with imperical capitalistic greed and forceful takeovers. Down with brawn and might. Good moral portions to the story, for sure. However, the more I think about the plot, the more I wonder about the original spirits tied to those half-breed beings and why that moral issue was never addressed. Did those "bodies" grow brain dead or did the "good guys" kill off the original soul that grew in that body so it could be occupied by the transferred human mind.

Yes, I can overanalyze a flick at times. I know I should just enjoy a good movie, or a good story. But what can I say? I thought the story lacked good writing to begin with, so I can afford to be a bit picky now, can't I?

I will admit, the computer animation - AH!Mazing!!! It's worth going just to see the movie for that reason. Just don't expect the screenwriting to blow you away.