Avatar: A Movie That Lives Up to the Hype

After months of speculation, James Cameron’s Avatar opened in theaters last Friday. To call this movie an event is an understatement, as there is talk that this movie will change filmmaking forever. While I am not sure that is the case, I have no problem in proclaiming that it is a epic adventure that raises the standards for CGI effects several notches.

With such advantages in effects, the plot has a surprisingly simplistic feeling to it. It seemed a bit like watching a futuristic cowboys and Indians adventure, but with a hefty dose of cultural acceptance and spirituality woven in. The movie takes place on a futuristic moon called Polyphemus in 2154 AD. The moon is rich in natural minerals that humans want to mine to save their own dying planet, but are unable to persuade a group indigenous Na'vi to leave their home tree, where a vast supply of the material resides. To prevent an all out war from occurring a program has been set up to create a diplomatic solution, overseen by the idealistic Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver). They have created a Human-Na'vi hybrid, referred to as an Avatar, which a person can remotely link up with and use to naturally interact with the Na’vi and possibly gain their trust. New to the program is Jake (Sam Worthington), a paralyzed formed marine who was brought on because his deceased twin brother had an Avatar created and Jake’s genetics make him compatible to inhabit it. On their first trip out into the planet Jake is separated from the group and has to fend for himself for the night. While driving off attacking animals he is rescued by Neytiri (Zoë Saldaña), a princess to the Na'vi tribe that inhabits the desired mineral site. Though wary of Jake’s recklessness she brings him to her tribe and persuades the Na’vi to have Jake learn their ways. As Jake spends more time with the deeply harmonistic Na’vi and inside his Avatar body he begins to have his doubts of the plan to strip and ravage their home world.

While the storyline is intriguing it is the visual effects that dominate this movie and make it so worthwhile to see on the big screen. Viewers are taken into a completely alien world and feel as if they are actually there. The camera swoops and soars over a lush landscape that engrosses the viewing experience. While it should be seen regardless, it’s best to see it in 3D. Rather then seeing the images simply come at you the viewer feels like they are surrounded and actually in the world they are seeing.

Even more impressive are the Na’vi and the Avatars. While we have seen computerized creatures in past film like Lord of the Rings and the new Star Wars trilogy, here they are detailed to a previously unheard of way. When we see Grace and Jake’s Avatar we can actually see a bit of the actor’s face in the computerized alien creature. This level of detail is both fascinating and even a little eerie at first.

While more hype is just that, this is one film that deserves all the praise it is getting. Treat yourself to a fine movie experience and see Avatar. It is a move you will not regret.

Britney Murphy dead

Actress Britney Murphy, best known for her roles in King of the Hill and Clueless, was found dead at her home on Sunday. The 32 year old was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after going into cardiac arrest, but was pronounced dead upon arrival. No cause of death is known as of yet and an investigation will be underway.

Brittany Murphy first came of notice to Hollywood after playing the role of Tai in 1995's hit movie Clueless. She went on to play other prominent roles in several films such as Don't Say A Word, Girl Interrupted, 8 Mile, Just Married, and Sin City. However, her best remembered role was voicing the character Luanne in the animated show King of the Hill, voicing the ditzy character through the show's entire 13 season run.

Brittany Murphy's publicist, Nicole Perna, has released the following statement: "In this time of sadness, the family thanks you for your love and support. It is their wish that you respect their privacy."

Scott’s Tots: An Office episode That Lacks Humor

The Office has always attempted to show the humor in extremely awkward situations. Whether it is Stanley suffering a heart attack during a fire drill gone horribly wrong or Dwight killing Angela’s sick cat without her permission, the show has excelled in taking a horrific occurrence and making it funny. Occasionally there will be an incident which is just painful to watch and not funny at all, such as when Pam’s former boyfriend Roy starts violently destroying a bar after he finds out that she and Jim kissed. But these simply uncomfortable moments, besides being few and far between, are always surrounded by very funny moments. We have never had an episode that was just simply painful to watch.

Until last night’s episode aired that is.

Last night’s episode of The Office, entitled “Scott’s Tots”, was one of the most difficult shows to sit through. Instead of being awkwardly funny it was alienating and uncomfortable. The premise of the episode was this: ten years ago Michael had promised a class of underprivileged third graders that if they graduated from high school he would pay for each of them to go to college. Now they are set to graduate and he doesn’t have the money to make good on his promise. He goes down to the school where he is greeted be applause from the students and numerous members of the committee. After hearing several students give speeches on how Michael’s promise kept them on track Michael finally tells them that he can’t pay for them to go to college. The students are shocked and angry at not getting to further their education after they worked so hard to get to this point and Michael leaves the school in disgrace.

The entire episode was simply painful to watch. While Michael has made some impulsive promises before it’s never been at this horrid of a level before. Even when Michael’s receptionist Erin points out that the silver lining is that his empty promise enabled those kids to graduate from high school it still doesn’t make up for crushing those kid’s dreams and trust. Possibly the worst image is seeing a newspaper article that came out when Michael first made the promise, praising him for his generosity and for giving those kids something to aspire to. While I normally find dark humor hilarious, watching this episode was about as uncomfortable as watching a sex scene with one’s parents. Hopefully the next episode goes back to being awkwardly funny instead of just awkward.

When Popularity Wins Out Over Story

This week’s episode of the show Heroes, the last one to air until January, was nothing special. The most significant advancement to happen was Nathan (Adrian Pasdar), after physically dying and having his memories imprinted into Sylar’s (Zachary Quinto) body, giving up trying to be someone who is essentially gone and allowing himself to “die” and have Sylar take permanent control. After seeing this I felt that the wrong character had just died. That the better move to make would have been to kill off Sylar instead.

Many out there would probably disagree and say that Sylar is the best character on the show. And in many ways I would agree. He is cool and intriguing and someone we root for even when he is killing people. The problem with him is that after three and a half seasons there’s simply no place for him anymore. In spite of other villains taking rise over the seasons (such as season two’s Adam Monroe, season three’s Arthur Petrelli and Emile Danko, and this season’s Samuel) Sylar remains lurking in the background. But rather then advance the overall story; he seems to just be there because viewers want him to be around.

To keep villains that are around for multiple seasons interesting, they have to grow and change as much as the heroes do. If they remain exactly the same they simply become repetitive. Since his introduction Sylar has continually been all about power and revenge. Even when he takes brief side trips he always comes back to his original obsessions. While it was a thrill to watch this during the first and even the second season, it’s stopped being interesting. Now when I watch the show I envision the writers sitting around asking themselves what can they possibly do with Sylar this week.

The writers of the show should instead take a page from the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If there was one show that valued plot progression over character popularity it was that one. Continually characters were written off of the show if it meant that the overall plot grew, even if they were beloved by viewers. While it was heartbreaking when an adored character was written off (as I experienced in season six when Tara was shot and killed) I had to give the writers credit for having the guts to get rid of popular characters if it meant the plot was advanced.

It might be time to think about getting rid of Sylar for good. Either that or come up with something for him to do that actually matters to the overall story arc.