Avatar…Holy Crap.

OK…first things first. Welcome to the new RobAlderman.Net. …Super glad to have you here.

Now, on to more important things, like Avatar . Wow.

To say that this film is EPIC, would be an understatement in the truest sense. In fact, I struggle to even find a way to review the film, so in the end, I’ll probably just let the Slinky do it. Still, I feel like I should say something, so here goes.

Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way…

Yes, the movie steals it’s plot from Ferngully , though much of Ferngully has better dialogue. Let that sink in and just accept it. ready to move on? Good.

Now on to the good stuff.

You have NEVER, ever…like, EVER IN YOUR LIFE seen a movie like this. Now, my good pal and old professor Matthew Melton went and saw this movie in regular 2D format, and he still loved it. I’m not really sure how this is possible.

The fact is that this movie is an absolute gamechanger. I think that beyond anything, it was the fact that I never had a “Wow, this is 3DDDDD!!!!!” moment that really showed how brilliant this film really is. The tech is so amazing that you just buy into it from the opening scene. My eyes never needed adjusting, nothing weird…just simple transportation into an alien world that seems just as real as the person sitting next to you.

Now, there is something else worth mentioning. The acting is actually really solid, and doesn’t seem to hurt from the cliche dialogue. what’s more is that you really truly feel for the characters. Their pain and happiness affect you deeply, which is a real triumph in this day and age.

As for the message, it isn’t anything you haven’t heard before, but that doesn’t make it any less important. i love movies that tap into the basic human needs. Love. Hate. Waste. Forgivness. Grace. Ect…

When you look at this film through a theological framework it becomes even more intense. There were moments during the film that I felt I was communing with The Almighty, and that doesn’t happen much. When a film takes me to a place where I feel the need to pray,(and I don’t mean in that “Dear God, this movie is so horrible. Please get me out of here.” sort of way) I am forced to take notice.

As you know, I really REALLY enjoyed Sherlock Holmes, and I think you should go see it. I’ll stand in line for the sequel and I’ll go to bat for the film against any of it’s detractors for no other reason that America needs to learn to enjoy a fun movie when they get one. But here’s the thing. For as good as Sherlock Holmes is, it isn’t even in the same league as Avatar. You can’t compare the two, so don’t try. While Sherlock Holmes is a fun ride, Avatar succedes at being something much deeper and meaningful…and I, for one, am grateful.