AVATAR - The 3D IMAX Experience - 2009

The bar has been raised, the goalposts moved, the rulebook rewritten, and all other manner of euphemisms for the next step in the evolution of cinema. Avatar is without question, one of the most sumptuous, breaktaking and visually satisfying films you are ever likely to see. In 3D it is a completely immersive experience which is the biggest and best endorsement for 3D being the future of cinema ever made. No longer do object need to be moving toward you in order to fully feel the effect of 3D, and it is most certainly no longer a gimmick. Earlier films in 2009, Up, Coraline etc proved that when it comes to animation 3D is most definately the future, but Avatar proves that rule applies to all cinema, and not just big budget event cinema. It's amazing that with all the astonishing, outstanding action set pieces on Avatar, the scenes which really stood out for me were the quiet, set based, talky scenes. Or for example the moment Jake Sully rolls down onto the landing base on Pandora, people mulling about, mecha striding past, giant machines wheeling along and you feel right within the action. You are no longer watching the film, but are actually within it. Avatar was dubbed as the future of cinema, and based on these early scenes it didn't take long to be converted.

Which is why, for all of the genius of display Avatar is ultimately an unfulfilling experience. I was so wowed by the visual feast for the eyes, and the world, so perfectly visualised and so wonderfully realised, that it merely stood to emphasis the giant flaws in the story and character. Cameron rightly, spends little time setting up the story, and creates a number of contrived plot beats in order to get the story rolling as quickly as possible, but far too much information is given as exposition in the first act, essentially positioning and audience and feeding them what is needed in order to keep their attention later on. But the problem which this creates is that we barely understand who these people are who what truly motivates them. Too many characters have underdeveloped arcs, and so certain actions leaving you scratching you head. But most dissapointingly the story is just too familiar as cliched. A classic archetypal narrative is not to be unexpected, but Cameron seems to have invested so much time in the world and technology he has forgotten the heart of all stories are unique, individual and original characters. Instead clunky dialogue and 2D characters (how ironic) hinder what is clearly one of the most ambitious pieces of cinema ever undertaken.

It's unusual that a films quality will swing, pendulum like, so much between mouth watering brilliance to predictable tedium, and at one point, just before the final big battle, Cameron has created probably the worst seqeunce in his entire ouerve. Thankfully, when the big battle commences any lingering doubts about Avatar drift away in the mist around the floating mountains of Pandora. Cameron is possibly cinemas greatest exponent of emotionally charged action and for 45 minutes you barely take breath as 3D action finally fulfils its potential, with one of the most exhilarating sequences ever concieved.

Special mention should also be given to WETA for creating such strunningly realistic visual effects. A film like Avatar depends on the brilliance of the visual effects department and they are possibly the films greatest achievement. Its the little subtleties which make the world and Na'vi seem completely real, and each characters Avatar resembles them so successfully that you wouldn't be surprised to learn that is was prothetics or make-up.

By the films conclusion you'll be buzzing with excitement, your heart pounding in your chest, but at the same time, there'll be that sick feeling deep down in your gut as you begun to ponder what could have been, If Avatar was consistently as good as it is when it reaches its heights then it could have been the greatest science fiction actioner of all time.

So, 3D is the future, Cameron is a genius, but his ability to tell an engaging, fully believeable story is in doubt, and but for some contrived plot developments and massively underdeveloped characters Avatar is a success (in box office terms a major one). And to think, in this entire review, and for the whole film, the fact that its a bunch of blue people running around doesn't really cross your mind. And that's an achievement all its own.

Paranormal Activity - 2009

The latest in a string of handheld shaky cam films which try to justify the use of such a technique by implying firstly that the material is real (Blair Witch) and secondly having the characters actually holding the camera (Cloverfield) is another horror film which scares more when you see nothing, than it does when the film tries to use actual physical events to terrify.

The trailer and the marketing campaign almost guaranteed Paranormal Activity would be a success. A clever trailer which showed audiences screaming and trying to hide behind loved ones, and an endorsement and aparently a reshot ending suggested by non other than Steven Spielberg, who was quoted as saying he had to wait until morning to watch the films climax helped to raise word of mouth before there actually was any.

But is the film any good? And more importantly perhaps, is it actually scary? The short answer is no. It never captures to originality of The Blair Witch Project or the sheer terror of the Unknown that Cloverfield managed. Instead Paranormal Activity has distracting out of focus, shaky camerawork, which rather than unsettles just brings on nausea. There is far too many scenes when the is no sense of danger or peril, and despite their best efforts, its not until the final few minutes that the film actually creates a genuine increase in tension.

The acting is however, very good, the relationship feels real and their interactions and the increase in tension within the couple is palpable. But none of this makes up for the complete absence of genuine scares. There are moments; a shadow here, footprints in talcum powder, and a door slightly opening and shuting. The whole premise of a demon haunting a single person also works well as it removes any chance for the characters to escape. Their fate seeled and at the mercy of a creature which neither of them can comprehend.

Ultimately though, despite the fanfare, or because of it, Paranormal Activity is a major dissapointment and even worse actually gave me a feeling of nausea which made me want to leave the cinema after about the first 20 minutes.