Avatar (2009)

Film: Avatar

Director: James Cameron

Country: Canada / USA

Released: December 2009

Runtime: 119 minutes

Genre: Science Fiction

Studio: Lightstorm, Dune, 20th Century Fox

Influenced: Neill Blomkamp, Alex Garland, Bong Joon-Ho, Joss Whedon, JJ Abrams

Avatar is a good place to finish this epic 100-year journey through the history of cinema. Not only is it the the highest-grossing film of all time, Avatar is also credited with trying to popularise 3D technology in modern cinema, marking the (failed) start of a new era of cutting-edge 3D cameras and visual effects. In some ways, the cinematic dead end that was 3D helped the industry and audiences recognise that further advances in technology would not unlock a new era in filmmaking, and leading directors like Nolan, Tarantino and Paul Thomas Anderson have fomented a rebellion against digital. James Cameron is on the other side of the debate. He conceived the idea for Avatar in the mid-1990s, but chose to delay production until the technology had caught up with his vision. He wanted to create a visually immersive experience that pushed the boundaries of cinema, drawing inspiration from various sources, including his fascination with environmental issues, indigenous cultures and tech's potential to connect people. He was also inspired by classic sci-fi like Frank Herbert's Dune and Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars.

Avatar is set in the mid-22nd century on the fictional moon Pandora, inhabited by the Na'vi, a humanoid species connected to their environment. Humans, seeking valuable resources, attempt to extract a rare mineral known as unobtanium by infiltrating the Na'vi community. The film begins with the arrival of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), showcasing the lush and vibrant alien world. Pandora's floating mountains were inspired by Cameron's helicopter trips over Venezuela's tepuis. Sully is a paraplegic former Marine who forms a connection with the Na'vi and leads a rebellion against the human military forces. Sully's mentor and advocate of peaceful relations with the Na'vi is Dr Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver). Weaver wore stilts throughout the film to portray her taller Na'vi character. Sully falls in love with Na'vi princess Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and learns the Na'vi ways, leading to a cultural clash as humans threaten their sacred Tree of Souls. The exhilarating flying sequences, especially the first time Jake rides a Banshee, demonstrate the film's stunning visuals. The iconic banshees were originally designed as six-legged creatures before evolving into their final bird-like form. Avatar's climax involves an epic battle between the Na'vi and the human forces, a metaphor for the conflict between technology and the natural world.

Cameron developed a new virtual camera system that allowed him to see a rough version of the CGI environments in real-time on set, aiding in directing the actors and framing shots. The film also employed advanced motion capture technology to bring the Na'vi characters to life, capturing the actors' facial expressions and movements. Other innovations included linguist Paul Frommer creating an original Na'vi language specifically for the film, with a complete grammar and vocabulary. The Na’vi’s matriarchal culture and Cameron’s focus on strong female characters also represented a novel approach in the sci-fi film genre. There's also a central irony in Avatar, which may or may not be intended by the director. At its heart, Avatar is a movie that questions – just like Cameron's own Terminator films did before it – humanity's hubristic pursuit of technological advancement, while at the same time relying on that exact same technology to deliver its many memorable scenes, such as the epic final sky-battle.

Avatar held the record for the highest production budget in history at the time of its release, with estimates ranging from $237-300mn, and it became a critical and commercial success. The film received nine Academy Award nominations and won three Oscars for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography (Mauro Fiore) and Best Visual Effects. It broke box office records, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time until Avengers: Endgame (momentarily) surpassed it in 2019. Avatar's success revitalised the sci-fi genre and paved the way for further advancements in CGI technology, while its themes sparked discussions about conservation and the relationship between humans and nature. That said, the film is not without its criticisms, which have tended to focus on its simplistic narrative about capitalist exploitation and its clichéd cultural stereotypes. Nonetheless, with four sequels in the planning, starting with Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022, Cameron shows no sign of questioning the public's appetite for the Avatar franchise.