065 Avatar (2009)

Retro Grade Podcast

“YOU CROSSED THE LINE“

On this episode, we return to Pandora before the long awaited sequel of the highest grossing film “everybody forgot about.” We are talking about James Cameron’s Avatar, from 2009! We talk about how we weren’t super impressed first time we saw this movie, and how that may have changed 13 years later.

We talk about the new technology used to create the the luscious, flora and fauna paradise planet of Pandora, and pay respect to the artistry of the VFX work done in the film. Also bring up how influential the “performance capture“ technique has been in the films we see today, and how influential the film was for the video game industry. James Cameron himself actually showed up on G4 TV to explain how his camera rigs were able to shoot 3D better than the previous camera set ups!

We talk about James Cameron’s vision, and how time and time again he makes movies that change the way people make movies. We talk about how special the ability for filmmakers to be trusted (and funded) to pursue their crazy vision, without the studio pressure to make a certain kind of movie for a specific, unmovable date.

Avatar is often criticized for its familiar plot. We talk about its similarities with films like Fern Gully or Dances with Wolves, but also talk about how that doesn’t really hurt our enjoyment of the film this time around. Storytelling isn’t always about how it ends, and this story resonated with some people so strongly, there were waves of depression that hit audiences as the film left theaters. Why did people love this movie so much? What makes Avatar so special? That’s what we try to figure out.

Music is from Triune Digital and audio clips pulled from movies we will be reviewing in other episodes.

Artwork by @jannelle_o