Re: The Avatar Trilogy
So, just because it's old means its okay just to re-hash it? Why not do something a little more original?
The way Star Wars was original? Or The Matrix? Or District 9? Or Forbidden Planet? Or 2001:A Space
ODYSSEY?
I hate to break it to you, but many, if not most, of the classic science-fiction films are "re-hashes" of old myths, stories, and legends. What makes stories like these endure (i.e. worth re-telling) is that they convey themes that have withstood the test of time in terms of what they have to say about the nature of good and evil, right and wrong, crime and punishment, love and hate, etc.
Again, it's not what a filmmaker steals, it's what he
does with what he steals that matters.
I wonder if there was this much flapping when Shakespeare offered his interpretation of the Hamlet story...
You better believe it.
More to the point, classics like King Kong, The Wizard of Oz, 2001, Planet of the Apes, and Star Wars (just to name a few) have all been called “mediocre” at one point or another. Avatar is hardly the first sci-fi/ fantasy film to be dismissed by critics as being a disposable piece of pop entertainment, nor will it be the last. In the grand scheme of things I suppose the critics have a point, but for the time being some of us seem to enjoy films like A L I E N well enough (just to name another highly derivative re-hash).
The thing about the sci-fi/ fantasy/ horror genres is that they’ve always been easy targets for critics. In the past hardcore fans like yours truly have embraced movies like Jason and the Argonauts, Day the Earth Stood Still, Fantastic Voyage, and War of the Worlds (for example) in spite of their flaws. These days so-called genre “fans” (i.e. fanboys) will trash a filmmaker for failing to achieve perfection, and they’ll do so with the sort of venomous passion previously reserved for Nazis and child molesters. God knows we’re each entitled to our opinion, but if I judged every sci-fi film by the lofty standards held by some on this board I’d never have become a fan in the first place.
I have no idea if Avatar will withstand the test of time to the extent of the films mentioned above, but I wouldn’t bet against it. I’ve seen a lot of sci-fi/ fantasy movies over the past 40 years and only three have teleported me so utterly and completely into another world that the viewing experience was akin to embarking on a physical journey: 2001, Star Wars and Avatar. Each of these pictures has flaws, to be sure, but in each case I find the strengths far outweigh the weaknesses.
As for the prospect of sequels, if they turn out good I’m all for them. I mean, I’ll take a decent flick where I can find one. Flaws and all.