I just watched my friend Herbert Midgley's review of Avatar. In part I agree with him. Story is key. Acting, special effects etc... come in second. However, there are points where I must respectfully disagree with his critique.
You see, I personally gauge a movie by how well that movie manages to lose me within the individual frames of the film strip itself. In Avatar's case, a search party had to be dispatched to find me! Yes, story is key but the story is only one aspect of multiple facets of a movie that are responsible of "sucking you in" to the film and holding you there. Pulp Fiction comes to mind. The story was all over the place yet the film still worked because the other aspects of Quentin Tarantino's genius were able to come through and hold you there.
The same in Avatar's case. The story was there but the other aspects of the film kept you glued there.
Yes, I've heard the arguments over predictability, overused plot lines etc...etc...etc... The fact is, that basic plot line forms the basis of many, many, many movies yet, it still works. Pocahontas, Fern Gully, Dances with Wolves to name a few all share that same basic plot line. It's how you wrap the entire package and tie it with a beautiful bow that makes a good movie. I believe James Cameron was able to pull that off with Avatar.
Now, regarding Herbert Midgley, for those that don't know him (and you should, after all he is THE Internet Legend!!), Herbert is a professor of music and makes his own films having taken film making classes. I have read many reviews from many film makers. There is one very important point that film maker reviews have taught me. NEVER go to film school! It seems that once someone goes to film school, they tend to lose that fantasy "inner child" side of their brains. Film makers, rather than sitting back enjoying and having fun with the "absurd" instead spend the entire time in their seats, eating popcorn and dissecting every shot, every angle, every aspect ratio, every F stop of the film wondering why the director decided to do "this" or do "that". Seems kind of depressing to me.
Especially in times like these, the economy in the toilet, the world hell bent on wiping Americans off the face of the Earth, bombs in underwear, global warming or whatever... For a few moments, none of that existed. For a few moments, it was Pandora, some 10 foot tall Smurfs and crazed marines whisking me away on a fantasy adventure. If you too just need an escape. Need to get away. Need to decompress, have fun with this film. For it truly sends you into the realm of fantasy.
That, my friends, makes a good movie.
-SjN
