My Avatar 3 Experience - A Thrilling Conclusion to the Saga
Hey fellow movie enthusiasts!
I've been waiting for the most anticipated January release for four years, and I'm thrilled to say it met my expectations - I think the saga is complete!
I didn't want to watch some low-budget flick from home, I really wanted to see Avatar 3 on the big screen. Unfortunately, the cinema near me was still playing Burdensome Buratino and Prostokvashino, and the one that started showing Avatar jacked up the prices to over 1000 rubles per ticket - way out of my budget. So, I checked around and found Obninsk Plaz, where they always show new releases first, and I'm glad I did.
How I scored a free movie ticket to see Avatar
It was totally a coincidence, and not something we'd planned. Before heading to the movies, my partner and I decided to pop into Del Gusto Italian Trattoria. Nothing out of the ordinary, just a normal evening out. We ordered a large pizza and enjoyed it thoroughly. When it was time to ask for the bill, a friendly waiter approached us with an offer to participate in a lottery we'd qualified for by ordering a large pizza. It turned out they were running a promotion where you'd get a coin with two sides - 'Yes' and 'No' - and it was up to luck. We were the lucky ones, and the coin landed on the 'Yes' side. And that's how we got this gift certificate for Avatar!!
I'm not exactly a big winner, but I guess winning tickets to the cinema is just my thing. So, we saved 580 rubles and ended up seeing Avatar for free - three tickets, no charge.
At the box office, I presented the gift certificate, and they exchanged it for a real ticket with a face value of 1 ruble (just to balance things out for them, I suppose - they can't have a zero balance). But in reality, it was free. You can even see the difference in the tickets, my null-value one, my husband's, which cost the full amount.
The three hours flew by in no time - even though I'd only seen the first two parts in the cinema, in 3D, I would have happily watched the third part with glasses too, but unfortunately, that wasn't an option. Despite that, the three hours went by like one, it was so captivating.
I'd say with a clear conscience that the third part is the most bloodthirsty, the most dynamic, and the most spiritual. Here's why. And it's exactly this part that I consider the saga to be fully completed, even though James Cameron is still making two more parts, which are supposed to come out in 2029 and 2031. The subsequent parts for me are just a commercial continuation of the franchise. In the third part, everything falls into place, the complete resolution is clear, each character has their own place and their story is told. I felt a complete sense of satisfaction after watching it. All three parts were on par with each other in terms of quality, dynamics, and the development of the story was logical, consistent, and very captivating, and for me, The Flame and Ash became a big exclamation mark. The sense of satisfaction and awe I got is hard to put into words, but I'll try.
Cast and Characters
I was really interested to see the new faces, but also the familiar ones. I have to admit, I didn't know much about the cast until now.
Meet the patriarch of the family, former Marine Jack Sully
Sam Worthington
He's the good father, with a heart of gold, making tough choices every day to protect his family, the planet, and their future. It's a heavy burden, but he's lucky to have a wise and brave wife, and kids who follow their hearts.
His wife, Neytiri, is played by
Zoey Soldana
I'm totally smitten with this character. She's got a great sense of self-awareness, depth, and a huge love for her people. She's a true warrior woman... I think it's impossible not to fall in love with her. Zoey's got some amazing facial features - her sharp face and deep eyes really stand out. This is one of the few avatars that I could totally see the actors playing them bringing to life.
Kiri, the daughter of Jake and Neytiri.
Sigourney Weaver
This is a wonderful young girl who's growing up into a young woman. She's maturing physically, emotionally, and in her abilities. And most importantly, she's growing in her faith. Here, she shows us that the scariest thing of all is doubt. And if you believe in a higher power, your life will always be safe.
I know it's a bit unusual to say that a young girl could be inspired by an actress in her 60s, but Sigourney's talent is still top-notch.
Lo'ak, Jake and Neytiri's son, is played by
Brittany Dalton
The story is told from Lo'ak's perspective, which I really like. We get to see the world and the events unfolding through his eyes. It's a great way to tell a story when you have one narrator and we get to see everything through their lens.
I was blown away by the talented young actress who plays the youngest daughter of the Tuck family, Tuckietry
Triinity Jo-Li Bliss
When I saw her without makeup, she looked a lot older than her on-screen persona, but the girl's got serious talent.
The actor who plays the kid in the Spider-Man exosuit
Jack Champion
I'm a huge fan of this young actor's dramatic range, and I think he's got a bright future in Hollywood. In this movie, he really gets to show off his skills - from the sibling bond to his complex feelings towards his biological father, and the bravery and agility... he's got it all.
I was also surprised to learn that the wife of the water tribe leader is played by
Kate Winslet
and I'm thinking... isn't there something familiar about her soft features?
Now let's dive into the villains, shall we?
Miles Quoitrich absolutely nails the role of the main villain, bringing to life a character that's perfectly despicable - a retired officer with a penchant for causing chaos.
Sylvester Stallone
Stallone's got some mileage left in him, but the computer-generated effects help him bring this character to life. And let me tell you, he's got a lot of screen time in the third installment, so he makes the most of it. The actor himself is charming, and that charm translates well to the villainous role.
But just as you think it's all about the main villain, in comes a new player - the female villain. Meet Varang, the ruthless leader of the Fire Tribe.
Uma Thurman
Varang is a force to be reckoned with - powerful, unrelenting, and seductive. She brings a level of intensity to the role that's unmatched by the other tribes. And let's be honest, she's the one who brings the most destruction to the table.
Unlike the other tribes, Varang's design is a bold, eye-catching affair. She's a fiery red and black, with a color scheme that's as intense as her personality. The red represents the fire that burns within her, while the black represents the ash and destruction that follows in her wake.
I've got to say, I loved how they depicted this warring tribe. All her underlings are super intimidating, and she's not exactly a beauty queen compared to the Avatars - she's actually pretty striking. Those red feathers...and have you seen her face? It's like a lizard or something...
One word: this is a worthy adversary.
Visuals, sound, translation, dynamics, atmosphere
The visuals, of course, are just top-notch - as good as the previous two. It's all cutting-edge computer graphics. The people look realistic, not like some cartoon character in a fantasy world. I'm not a huge fan of fantasy, but this is actually really close to what I'd expect from an Avatar film. All those flying creatures, cities, and sea creatures with wings...
It's all really realistic, especially when it comes to the intelligent sea creatures.
I've got to give James Cameron credit - he's a member of the Geographic Society and a nature enthusiast, which is why his love for animals and the entire underwater world he's created is so palpable. Just imagine how much research goes into studying creatures like whales, with their own social histories, to create these incredible animals with their own stories.
And let's not forget that back in 2010, James Cameron dove 200 meters deep into Lake Baikal to study its inhabitants and create his world of Pandora. I mean, just think about how dedicated he must be to his work and how much he wanted to make this movie truly epic! And he succeeded - I'm still bummed it wasn't in 3D, where you could reach out and touch everything!
The dynamic of the third installment matched the pace of the first two. It's incredibly action-packed, with plenty of battles, flights, jumps, and falls...I was so immersed in the picture that I felt like I was falling and flying right along with the characters. My mind was racing for three hours, and by the time it was over, my body was tense, I was worried about the characters, and I needed a massage for my shoulders. I'd been so caught up in the atmosphere of the falls and flying creatures that I was exhausted.
I was blown away by the voice acting - it's seriously top-notch, from the narrator's tone to the beautiful translations. The way the dialogue is delivered is just stunning... I found myself really paying attention because it adds so much depth to the story. I was expecting a lot, and the translation exceeded my expectations by a mile!
The spiritual undertones of the film: James Cameron - a 'former Christian' who shows unwavering faith.
This isn't something you'd normally talk about, but I wanted to highlight it because faith is a big deal for me - I spend a lot of time thinking about it, and in Avatar-3, I saw firsthand just how much the creator believes. I even looked up James Cameron's views on faith after the movie...
Formerly a strong Christian, now an agnostic
Luckily, nothing I saw in the movie had anything to do with agnosticism - quite the opposite, in fact.
Episode 1: The Hidden Purpose.
We know from the previous episode that Sally's eldest daughter, Kiwi, has a special connection with the Mother Ava - the Mother of the Living. She's their deity that nourishes their souls and governs the universe. In one episode, Kiwi had a conversation with one of her tribe members about her purpose in life, which she's constantly asking the Mother of the Living for clarification on:
- I want Ava to reveal to me the meaning of my existence
- Not yet. She's got a plan for you, and she's not ready to share it with you yet.
This is a direct parallel to Christianity, where people can and should pray to God to reveal their purpose in helping others. It's just that sometimes, it's not the right time.
Episode 2: Leap of Faith. Ask, and it shall be given.
There were also a few moments in this part where it seemed like prayers were futile... When the situation was critical, and Kiwi started calling out to the Mother of the Living, her tribe members would respond with:
It's a critical situation, not the time to pray
But she relied on Ava and continued her prayers. That's when Cameron showed us this leap of faith, something that's only depicted in holy scriptures... and here, on screen.
I got chills in those moments.
Episode 3: Renunciation
What really stood out to me was Varang's confession that the Mother of All Living didn't help her out in a tough spot, and since then, she's lost faith. She decided to take matters into her own hands and become a goddess herself. That's a classic example of someone who doesn't believe in free will and thinks the Great Spirit has a plan for everyone, even if it's not what we want. But that's no reason to give up, right?
That's why Varang comes across as a devilish figure, and her followers look like little demons. It's because she's lost faith. I especially love this screenshot...check out Varang's silhouette and the flames around her...it's got a bit of a pagan vibe.
There are moments like this all over the movie, and they're what make the world of Avatar so unique. It's got all the hallmarks of faith - the Mother of All Living, prayer, faith, and the unity of all living things in the Temple of the Living...it's really something special!
I've gotta say, this movie's got a unique universe that's been crafted by a super hardworking and dedicated person - someone I trust implicitly. It's impossible to trim it down to two hours, or you'd miss out on so many key moments. Three hours is the sweet spot where you can take it all in and analyze it.
Cameron's done an amazing job of showing us the full spectrum of human nature and the personalities of these extraordinary beings.
You've been given new eyes. Now it's time to open them
This is a one-of-a-kind visual experience with a deep meaning and a sense of completion. For me, the third Avatar installment is the perfect conclusion. It's the most intense, but also the most spiritual and complex - every character has their moment, and the mission is crystal clear. Sure, there are a couple of characters who could've been fleshed out more, but I don't think that would've worked for a sequel. Maybe Cameron can pull it off, though. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I'm still reeling from the experience <3
It's been a mixed bag for us this year, with 2:2 films.
Two standouts - Avatar 3 and The Unlikely Empress - and two duds - Buratino and Prostokvashino. I'm thinking of checking out Levsha and the new Silent Hill too.
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