James Cameron's Avatar puts you into the body of a genetically engineered human/alien hybrid sent to explore/invade planet Pandora. In movie terms it's high concept (the humans are the bad guys, the aliens the goodies), and dealt with as such.
The game tackles this thorny moral allegory through the medium of third-person shooting and fetch and carry quests. The setting stays true to the rich mythology of the film, but the core gameplay consists of gathering information from NPCs and fulfilling arbitrary mission objectives. Collect five of this, destroy seven of those, go and talk to the big blue fella. Again. It's achingly ordinary.
Avatar
Official trailer
3:16TGS in-game footage
Avatar
Official trailer
3:16TGS in-game footage
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Things are shaken up when, in a pivotal scene, you are required to pick which side to fight for. We reckon most people will go with the Na'vi (the blue aliens) and not the RDA (humans). Put it down to a distaste for corporate greed, the recent bellyful of space-marine shooters or just because the humans are portrayed as one-sided pantomime villains. Whatever the reason, it's a decision you'll end up regretting. For the rest of the game.
Planet of the japes The Na'vi campaign is the weaker thanks to primitive weapons and beasts that can't compete with heavily armed RDA vehicles. Presumably the constant feeling of being overwhelmed by a technologically superior force is intentional. The resulting attempts to balance things out result in some hilarious inconsistencies. How, for example, can an arrow destroy a heavily armed chopper?
The RDA campaign fares better. This is largely because the game works when the emphasis is on shooting. Also, whilst the vehicles lack the wow factor of Pandora's beasts they are more fun and effective to use.
Pandora's sheer variety of flora and fauna is impressive (the night levels look great), and the vast acres of planet are easily navigable thanks to a series of warp points. The controls are functional too, if unsophisticated. Switching weapons on the fly is clumsy but at least the shooting's slick.
For all Avatar's faults, it isn't a typical dreadful game shunted out to squeeze more cash from a blockbuster event. Despite the lack of originality it's playable. Playable but ordinary. And that's what stings. A movie this rich and anticipated deserves something truly extraordinary.
PSM3 Staff
// Overview
Verdict
Overall A generic shooter that fails to make the most of the license.
I dislike the notion of humanity being the "bad guys" yet were I to play this game I would have proven CVG's expectations wrong by picking the human side. As they alluded to, bone arrowheads and flint-head spears simply don't pack quite the same "Umpf!" as RPGs, SAWs and other small-arms fire backed up with stomping mecha.
The movie got panned as well, so perhaps I'll take a pass on both the game and the movie this time around.
2. KFD the movie DID NOT get panned. You are an idiot.
3. Why do you dislike the notion that humanity are the bad guys? Are you really that insecure?
1. Suit yourself.
2. I suppose it's too much to expect that you are capable of the cognitive work required to understand that there may be other critics and reviews than the ones you have come across, and that not all of them will share the same opinion. Thanks for calling me an "idiot" by the way; it's about as useful as fake t**s on a pig. What does that say about you, I wonder?
3. Insecure about humanity? Not really. It is clear that humanity is capable both of great compassion and atrocious cruelty. Acknowledging this does not in any way mitigate the evil we sometimes do nor does it diminish the ideals we pursue - they needn't be mutually exclusive.
Yeah KFD. All i've been hearing if rave reviews and i hate to break it to you but we are the bad guys.
I read different news stories and reviews from different countries, and sometimes in different languages. Not all of them had rosy reviews of "Avatar".
As for humanity being bad, we certainly have the ability to be such and often some are - perhaps even many - yet there is also much potential for kind, decent acts amongst humanity. The two sides need not be mutually exclusive paradoxical as that may initially appear. In my personal opinion humanity does some daft and cruel things yet I am also continually astounded by our collective ingenuity and ability to adapt, perservere and even forgive. Ernest Hemingway may be a particularly apt example since he wrote "The world is a fine place worth the fighting for and I hate very much to leave it", yet he still committed suicide.
From what i understand the movie looks incredible but has a very pedestrian storyline which is rather cliched...much like Titanic. To quote a friend of mine its 'Iraqistan' with another coat of paint. I couldn't stand District 9, so quite possibly i wont be able to stand this. Its not like it is either the proper Avatar movie, ie the last airbender, nor is it done by John Carpenter as opposed to James Cameron.
In other news the Iron Man 2 trailer is out...far more interesting
The movie got panned as well, so perhaps I'll take a pass on both the game and the movie this time around.
Mind linking us? I'd be interested to read some bad reviews instead of the glut of sycophantic ones I am unable to burrow past.
Not at all. I'm unsure how much of it you will be able to understand unless you are fluent in one of the three Scandinavian languages (automated online translating devices are notoriously unreliable). In a nutshell the reviewer gives the movie 3 out of 6 stars and states that this is one of those movies one should watch for the visual effects which demonstrates Cameron's ability with the 3D medium and what it is capable of, but which has a banal storyline, predictable characters. The reviewer finishes by stating that one can simply hope that someone else will find a way to utilise the medium with a better story.
The header translates in to: "Banal picture/image storm. The impressive effects in 'Avatar' unfortunately fail to cover/hide the schematic story."
Here's another pearl of an excerpt: "The mesmerizing imagery in "Avatar" unfortunately doesn't make up for a story devoid of fantasy, which exclusively resorts to the use of frightening themes and tricks from the ABC of adventures cobbled together with a hedgecutter."
The movie got panned as well, so perhaps I'll take a pass on both the game and the movie this time around.
Mind linking us? I'd be interested to read some bad reviews instead of the glut of sycophantic ones I am unable to burrow past.
Not at all. I'm unsure how much of it you will be able to understand unless you are fluent in one of the three Scandinavian languages (automated online translating devices are notoriously unreliable). In a nutshell the reviewer gives the movie 3 out of 6 stars and states that this is one of those movies one should watch for the visual effects which demonstrates Cameron's ability with the 3D medium and what it is capable of, but which has a banal storyline, predictable characters. The reviewer finishes by stating that one can simply hope that someone else will find a way to utilise the medium with a better story.
The header translates in to: "Banal picture/image storm. The impressive effects in 'Avatar' unfortunately fail to cover/hide the schematic story."
Here's another pearl of an excerpt: "The mesmerizing imagery in "Avatar" unfortunately doesn't make up for a story devoid of fantasy, which exclusively resorts to the use of frightening themes and tricks from the ABC of adventures cobbled together with a hedgecutter."
Cool, thanks. As you might expect, I can't speak any Scandinavian language, but the 3/6 is there for all to see. One bad review does not a bad movie make, but I find all the praise being heaped on the movie somewhat suspect. I'm not that interested in it, but I'll go to see it anyway, just so that I can be informed as to whether it merits the hype. To tell the truth, I've harboured a grudge for James Cameron ever since he bulldozed his way to ensure that Avatar: The Last Airbender couldn't use its full title for its movie incarnation, despite having had prior rights to the title.
The movie got panned as well, so perhaps I'll take a pass on both the game and the movie this time around.
Mind linking us? I'd be interested to read some bad reviews instead of the glut of sycophantic ones I am unable to burrow past.
Not at all. I'm unsure how much of it you will be able to understand unless you are fluent in one of the three Scandinavian languages (automated online translating devices are notoriously unreliable). In a nutshell the reviewer gives the movie 3 out of 6 stars and states that this is one of those movies one should watch for the visual effects which demonstrates Cameron's ability with the 3D medium and what it is capable of, but which has a banal storyline, predictable characters. The reviewer finishes by stating that one can simply hope that someone else will find a way to utilise the medium with a better story.
The header translates in to: "Banal picture/image storm. The impressive effects in 'Avatar' unfortunately fail to cover/hide the schematic story."
Here's another pearl of an excerpt: "The mesmerizing imagery in "Avatar" unfortunately doesn't make up for a story devoid of fantasy, which exclusively resorts to the use of frightening themes and tricks from the ABC of adventures cobbled together with a hedgecutter."
It didn't seem too harsh a review, he praised the movies effects but basically stated that the story was unoriginal and a little uninspiring. Then again i'm not sure what the guy was expecting becasue this was laways going to be a bit of an effects picture. But still fair.
I guess its a cultural phenomenon. Despite appearences Modern media in this country still by and large is considered for entertainment value before whether it has something worthwhile to say or any grand artisitc merit. This is where i feel that Euroipe are light years ahead of us culturally as they seem to appreciate a strong narrative and how evocative a piece is way more than we do.
On your previous comments about Human nature you have a point. However History shows that humans as individuals are capable of great acts of kindness and inginuity. Humans as a species on the other hand are a mass of loafish cattle.Easily swayed into the darksest of acts and the most un noble causes.
I would hardly call the previous excerpts flattering, and this next excerpt gives a back-handed compliment that favours the back-handed part of it:
"Because just as impressive as 'Avatar' is on the image effects side of things, it is just as banal, schematic and predictable in terms of substance. And it simultaneously points it's social worker's finger stiffly, so it's difficult not to feel looked down upon - at least if you are older than 12 years of age."
That said, it does have a near mind-blowing amount of eye candy (which the reviewer also gives it due credit for).
The movie got panned as well, so perhaps I'll take a pass on both the game and the movie this time around.
Mind linking us? I'd be interested to read some bad reviews instead of the glut of sycophantic ones I am unable to burrow past.
Not at all. I'm unsure how much of it you will be able to understand unless you are fluent in one of the three Scandinavian languages (automated online translating devices are notoriously unreliable). In a nutshell the reviewer gives the movie 3 out of 6 stars and states that this is one of those movies one should watch for the visual effects which demonstrates Cameron's ability with the 3D medium and what it is capable of, but which has a banal storyline, predictable characters. The reviewer finishes by stating that one can simply hope that someone else will find a way to utilise the medium with a better story.
The header translates in to: "Banal picture/image storm. The impressive effects in 'Avatar' unfortunately fail to cover/hide the schematic story."
Here's another pearl of an excerpt: "The mesmerizing imagery in "Avatar" unfortunately doesn't make up for a story devoid of fantasy, which exclusively resorts to the use of frightening themes and tricks from the ABC of adventures cobbled together with a hedgecutter."
review seemed fair, gave praise where praise was due, and a slap on the wrist where deserved. i havent seen the movie though, nor do i think i have to to know that this is all about the special effects. this isnt a movie, its CG pornography.
Schindler's List, Shawshank Redemption, those are movies. this? not so much.
will probably rent it in a few years, if ive gotten around to getting a 3D tv set. no reason to watch this without the 3D methinks.
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