Film

I Hate James Cameron, but I Love His Movies

Avatar Is FernGully Meets Space

I Hate James Cameron, but I Love His Movies

AVATAR This is what James Cameron sees when he closes his eyes.

Okay. I think we can all agree that James Cameron is a deeply annoying blowhard: something about his face—like a smug, puffy kitten—and his Titanic and his enthusiasm for Bill Paxton and his propensity for announcing that he is like the Thomas Edison of fine wines of Fabergé eggs of filmmaking of the future. He is silly. He drives me crazy. I don't want James Cameron on my phone, or in my hot tub, or—god forbid—next to me on a plane (I would prefer a snake under all three circumstances!). I do, however, as it turns out, desperately want James Cameron in my movie theater. (Except for sometimes. But this is not one of those sometimes.)

I fully expected to dislike Avatar, because I make it a policy to dislike things that deeply annoying blowhards just won't fucking shut up about (see also: Jesus, kombucha, Tiger Woods). However, a curious thing happened when I sat down and actually watched it. That thing was called "THE BEST MOVIE ABOUT GIANT BLUE CAT PEOPLE EVER TO SHOOT INTO MY SKEPTICAL EYEBALLS." Cameron didn't lie: This movie rules.

Here's the situation. The story is as simple as it gets—Cameron really doesn't do subtlety. Avatar is FernGully meets space meets The Air Up There (these cat people totally reminded me of the really tall dude in Kevin Bacon's Africa-meets-sports classic The Air Up There—is that racist?). There's this alien jungle planet called Pandora, where a spunky space industrialist (Giovanni Ribisi) is mining for the world's valuablest nonsense mineral (called, for realsies, "unobtainium") with the help of the U.S. Army and Sigourney Weaver, Reluctant Scientist (and Terrible Actress). It's suuuper awkward, though, because the biggest unobtainium chunk EVAR is right underneath this really, really big tree where the aforementioned very tall magical blue cat people live! So what's a spunky space industrialist to do? Why, have Sigourney Weaver breed some hybrid human/cat-people avatars (called "avatars") to infiltrate the cat people and trick them into moving their entire civilization, of course! Because diplomacy is #1! (Gigantic bulldozers are #2.)

So. The main avatar is piloted (via science pod) by one Jake Sully (Sam Worthington, Hot Australian), a bewheelchaired marine who doesn't give much of a shit about cat people, but who REALLY gives a shit about getting his legs back (they can do that in the future—but apparently in the future, veterans still have shitty benefits). "There's no such thing as an ex-marine," he grumbles hotly. "Even if you're out, you've always got the attitude."

Jake Sully, in his big blue avatar body, goes to the cat people and he's all, "'Sup" (hot), and they're all, "Meow?" (not really), and he's all, "Yup, I'm the chosen one" (or something), and the great Earth Mother is all, "Jake Sully! 'Bout it, 'bout it!" (paraphrasing), and he goes through their complex warrior training and initiation (much like Kevin Bacon in The Air Up There!) and comes out the other side a fully certified cat-person jungle-parkour dino-wrangler. The cat people are all spiritually in tune with the environment and stuff, the human people are all greedy and bulldozey, and Jake Sully still wants his legs back—so what's a human turncoat in a blue cat body to do when the bulldozers come? Awesome stuff, as it turns out. Just a whole bunch of awesome, awesome stuff.

Make no mistake: Avatar is ridiculous. It's the kind of movie where people are always telling other people that they are "not in Kansas anymore" and saying splendidly cartoony things like "I was going to have to take it to a whole new level" and "If there is a hell, you might want to go there for R&R after a tour on Pandora." There's a slightly uncomfortable level of exotification going on—the cat people are your basic noble- savage earth worshippers with African accents and peaceful wisdom. And it's pretty clumsy in the Indictment of the Modern American Military department ("Our only security lies in preemptive attack," says the evil colonel with the 40-inch neck, "and we will fight terror with terror"; the words "shock and awe" are used). But I'm going to have to go ahead and say fuck all that, because of one thing: JAKE SULLY IS CONSTANTLY BEING CHASED BY A MONSTER.

Avatar—at almost three hours—is literally never not exciting. The creatures that inhabit Pandora's stunning glow-stick jungle (it's basically Blacklight Poster: The Movie) will blow your mind up: skinless dogs, dino-rhinos, lizard-lions, everything fast and alive and terrifying AND CHASING YOU. I had the adrenaline shakes for the whole ride home. And even if he's not much for complexity, Cameron knows how to structure a story. Avatar is a magnificent piece of entertainment. I might even allow him in my hot tub for this one. (But DON'T GET USED TO IT, CAMERON!) recommended

 

Comments (105) RSS

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1
you, reviewer, are an undeniable asshat. the type of woman every man hopes he doesn't have to wake up next to.
Posted by lolwtf on December 16, 2009 at 11:11 AM · Report
reverend dr dj riz 2
i'd wake up to you anytime lindy...
...anytime
Posted by reverend dr dj riz on December 16, 2009 at 11:49 AM · Report
lukeiscool 3
"Does it have any nudity?"

http://auer83.files.wordpress.com/2009/0…
Posted by lukeiscool on December 16, 2009 at 11:52 AM · Report
4
Lindy West, you are my hero. By the way, I now work at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and do you know what they have here? That's right, Araipaima. They are as scary and terrifying as you say, and I'm pretty sure the other fish in the aquarium are in fact scared out of their scales.
Posted by seattleeco on December 16, 2009 at 12:07 PM · Report
gloomy gus 5
What a wonderful review. Sigh.
Posted by gloomy gus on December 16, 2009 at 12:21 PM · Report
6
apparently, James Cameron was the first to post. Lindy, a splendid review! Just superb darling, I'm sweating. bahaaaaaw! (ashes cigarette)
Posted by uncercover otter on December 16, 2009 at 12:37 PM · Report
7
Dances with Smurfs!

This looks like the most high budget otherkin porn ever made.

That said, I will probably still watch it.
Posted by Reg on December 16, 2009 at 1:32 PM · Report
8
The definitive big box-office smash of the year, and the Stranger sends their lulzy fucking intern to cover it? To quote Lindy West, "WTF??! Okay that's the MOSTEST AWESOME DECISION EVAR!!!!"
Posted by 4chanReject on December 16, 2009 at 2:06 PM · Report
9
Whoa, whoa. No need to shit-talk Kombucha lovers. There's a reason we always talk about it, it fucking amazing! Tiger Woods, ok, that's reasonable
Posted by AKBitches on December 16, 2009 at 2:09 PM · Report
danhowes 10
Sounds like Peter Jackson's King Kong: 3 hours of giant, fantastical CGI creatures and bad acting from the humans.
Posted by danhowes http://www.vimeo.com/danhowes on December 16, 2009 at 2:27 PM · Report
11
@10, I had the exact same thought, which is why the "fool me once" adage applies here.
Posted by Peter F on December 16, 2009 at 4:02 PM · Report
Lindy West 12
@10: Oh, it's so much less boring than King Kong.
Posted by Lindy West on December 16, 2009 at 4:10 PM · Report
13
Oh sweet fucking Jesus, King Kong was boring. Anytime there's a big CGI monster fight and you say "This is still happening?" is time to pack it in.

Will I see Avatar based on the review? Mmm, probably not.
Posted by POH on December 16, 2009 at 4:22 PM · Report
14
I once thought Lindy West wrote rather humorous movie reviews. The problem is her style wore thin very quickly but she's a one-trick pony. Now she both bores and annoys the shit out of me.
Posted by Ruth Lincoln on December 16, 2009 at 4:48 PM · Report
Puty 15
Great review!
Posted by Puty on December 16, 2009 at 6:37 PM · Report
16
Oh hell yes on some ferngully!

Loved that shit when I was little.
Posted by whiteshroud on December 16, 2009 at 7:46 PM · Report
freesandbags 17
At almost three hours, when would be a good time to take a pee during the movie. These things do happen.
Posted by freesandbags on December 16, 2009 at 9:54 PM · Report
18
I worked on Avatar here in New Zealand,and yes you are right....James Cameron is a blowhard too say the least!...I won't divulge what the majority of his crew thought of this asshole but lets just say....the movie is pretty wicked all the same!
Posted by Quarich on December 17, 2009 at 12:32 AM · Report
19
Saw the movie last night. I too had low expectations, but guess what? Cameron hit one out of the Ballpark here!!

Excellent movie, enough action to keep it good, enough romance to satisfy the teeny boppers (and they actually glow just like New Moon), plus a really over told story about greedy Humans and the depths to which they will sink to acquire things.

I saw it in 3D and it was done well. None of the crappy flying in your face every few seconds like "Final Destination".

Cameron better hope that word of mouth works very well because this hog cost over $500 million dollars to make. It will take several weeks of blockbuster weekends to make that tidy sum up.

I wonder if he bought any Carbon Credits to offset all the computer processing power that went into this?
Posted by stormblade on December 17, 2009 at 4:36 AM · Report
20
@3 There was some "boobage" in the movie, but it was not blatant and most of the time it was coverd in beads and necklaces in the style of some African Tribes you see in National Geographic in the 60's.
Posted by stormblade on December 17, 2009 at 4:38 AM · Report
JF 21
@20 I can work with that.
Posted by JF on December 17, 2009 at 9:50 AM · Report
22
Did Cameraon really call the McGuffin material in Avatar 'unobtanium'? That was used a couple of years ago in 'The Core', a rather poor movie with a fairly good cast, including Delroy Lindo, who called his McGuffin propulsion material 'unobtainium.'
Posted by Nickmo on December 17, 2009 at 10:27 AM · Report
23
#22: Unobtainium is apparently standard scientist slang for extremely rare/mythical materials. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unobtainium

That Cameron doesn't miss a trick.
Posted by Andrew Wright on December 17, 2009 at 10:36 AM · Report
24
Can't wait to see this
Posted by clint on December 17, 2009 at 10:55 AM · Report
Josh Bomb 25
love your reviews lindy, but no thanks. can't make me go see that one. ewwww.
Posted by Josh Bomb http://www.satanosphere.com on December 17, 2009 at 10:57 AM · Report
theophrastus 26
So this film isn't just the good old noble red, ...er blue man versus the land-raping disgusting euro, ...er earth invader trope?
Posted by theophrastus on December 17, 2009 at 11:22 AM · Report
seandr 27
Seems like this movie would be amazing to see .... on weed!!
Posted by seandr on December 17, 2009 at 11:41 AM · Report
28
Dearest Lindy,

If it somehow were biologically possible, I would ask you to have my children. Well, after marrying me, depending of course which state you live in.
Posted by Dioracat on December 17, 2009 at 11:54 AM · Report
Andy_Squirrel 29
Question Lindy: Do you think the trailer properly represents the film? Because frankly every time I see the trailer I just laugh at how horrible & cheesy it looks.....
but If you really think its great maybe I'll check it out...
Posted by Andy_Squirrel on December 17, 2009 at 12:09 PM · Report
Asa 30
This is good news. As soon as I heard about this project (years ago), I knew it could only go two ways: Mindblowingly Awesome or Amazingly Atrocious. Cameron doesn't do mediocre.
Posted by Asa on December 17, 2009 at 12:10 PM · Report
Asa 31
Andy @ 29:

Have you seen the trailer in the theater recently, like in the last 2 or 3 weeks? They re-cut the thing from the first trailer I saw, which made it look about 40% more awesome in my opinion.
Posted by Asa on December 17, 2009 at 12:12 PM · Report
Andy_Squirrel 32
ps. If you were an engineer, chemist or probably involved in any science you wouldn't be amazed by unobtainium.....we use it all the time in lame, lame work jokes....

god I hate nerd jokes.....
Posted by Andy_Squirrel on December 17, 2009 at 12:13 PM · Report
Andy_Squirrel 33
@31 I will look it up and check it out, thanks
Posted by Andy_Squirrel on December 17, 2009 at 12:14 PM · Report
balderdash 34
I like you, Lindy.

But I suspect you have a lot higher tolerance for terrible writing and gaping plot holes than I do.
Posted by balderdash http://introverse.blogspot.com on December 17, 2009 at 12:16 PM · Report
Trent Moorman 35
Bulldozey. Avatoodle Jar-Jartica Scratch and Sniff Prequal. 2D.
Posted by Trent Moorman on December 17, 2009 at 12:19 PM · Report
Trent Moorman 36
Bulldozey Avatoodle Jar-Jartica Scratch and Sniff Prequal. 2D.
Posted by Trent Moorman on December 17, 2009 at 12:23 PM · Report
37
Thanks for the review. I'll see this now. Wouldn't have before.
xo
Posted by Paulikin on December 17, 2009 at 12:25 PM · Report
biffster 38
@7- that episode of South Park was awesome, i like how they started making fun of Glenn Beck then somehow tied this movie into it.

Sigourney Weaver's interview on "The Daily Show" actually got me more interested than i would have been with just seeing the previews.
click!
Posted by biffster on December 17, 2009 at 12:34 PM · Report
josh 39
This is exactly what I needed to know about this movie. Thank you Lindy and hello IMAX EXPERIENCE. (BTW, did you see the 3D version?)
Posted by josh http://www.sciencevsromance.net on December 17, 2009 at 12:45 PM · Report
josh 40
oh, and @17, keep an eye on http://runpee.com/ for your movie bathroom break needs.
Posted by josh http://www.sciencevsromance.net on December 17, 2009 at 12:47 PM · Report
Dougsf 41
I love that people get bent out of shape about your reviews. Taking a movie like this any more seriously would be offensive. I'd probably pay $10 see most anything that cost $500M. I'm gonna see it drunk.
Posted by Dougsf on December 17, 2009 at 12:50 PM · Report
Jaymeson 42
I refuse to see it because of the I-need-an-exotic-looking-font-for-my-school-poster use of Papyrus as the title font. Yuck.
Posted by Jaymeson on December 17, 2009 at 12:50 PM · Report
dollface 43
i needed some mike and ikes. i went to the HUB. the mike and ikes weren't there in their usual spot. instead: double stacked raisinets. a very nice staff person went back into the vault and got me some mike and ikes. i walked back to my office wondering why i would be so much happier if i got a bag of original fruits mike and ikes that happened to be all strawberry (the freakish chances!) than if they actually just *sold* a bag of mike and ikes that were only strawberries. i made it to my office. i pulled up slog. there is red chunky mike and ike on my screen now because of Lindy. i eat the red ones first and save all the strawberry ones for last.
Posted by dollface http://www.protovietic.wordpress.com on December 17, 2009 at 1:07 PM · Report
michael strangeways 44
you didnt just trash talk Sigourney Weaver, did you?

this means war.
Posted by michael strangeways http://www.seattlegayscene.com/ on December 17, 2009 at 1:15 PM · Report
Sir Learnsalot 45
Lindy West is the best.
Posted by Sir Learnsalot http://ubiquitousthey.com on December 17, 2009 at 1:30 PM · Report
46
I've never read one of West's reviews before and if this is typical I'm never going to read another. There's so much unnecessary literary tap dancing in her writing the subject takes a back seat.
Posted by P138 on December 17, 2009 at 1:41 PM · Report
47
Titanic could have benefited from a giant Lizard-lion chasing Leonardo DiCaprio around.

At least until the ship was well on its way towards sinking.
Posted by NapoleonXIV on December 17, 2009 at 2:05 PM · Report
48
but is it awesome enough to earn its golden globe nomination for best pic? (???????????)
Posted by boobage on December 17, 2009 at 2:07 PM · Report
49
fired. you. are. fired.
Posted by bloodhorse on December 17, 2009 at 2:11 PM · Report
50
I just want to hang out in Lindy's hot tub.
Posted by keshmeshi on December 17, 2009 at 2:47 PM · Report
Timmytee 51
After months of anticipation I bought "King Kong" like the day it came out, also "Team America". I was extremely disappointed both times, to put it mildly. (In "Team America"'s case, probably the worst big budget movie I've ever seen!) Even though I probably will get burned again, I really hope "Avatar" lives up to its hype. From Lindy's review, and a couple others I've read today, I think I've got a chance.
Posted by Timmytee on December 17, 2009 at 2:49 PM · Report
52
I run to the bathroom immediately after a big fight/chase scene. Hasn't failed me yet.
Posted by keshmeshi on December 17, 2009 at 2:49 PM · Report
53
Great review, and like some others will now go and see it, having previously had a "no damn way" attitude.
Posted by ozchick on December 17, 2009 at 3:23 PM · Report
54
Was I the only person who read the front page headline as "'Family Guy' Meets 'Space'"? Now THAT would be a great movie.
Posted by AlaskanbutnotSeanParnell on December 17, 2009 at 3:41 PM · Report
Mary P. Traverse 55
@42, your font-critique touches my design-nerd heart. I haaaaaaaaaaaate Papyrus.
Posted by Mary P. Traverse http://dinosaurnews.tumblr.com on December 17, 2009 at 4:06 PM · Report
Enigma 56
@55
I'm sure you've seen Papyrus:
http://xkcd.com/590/
Posted by Enigma http://washingtonunitedformarriage.org/ on December 17, 2009 at 4:44 PM · Report
Enigma 57
@55
I'm sure you've seen Papyrus:
http://xkcd.com/590/
Posted by Enigma http://washingtonunitedformarriage.org/ on December 17, 2009 at 4:46 PM · Report
Timmytee 58
@54: I agree. I'd like to shoot everything to do with "Family Guy" (including its fans) into space.
Posted by Timmytee on December 17, 2009 at 5:17 PM · Report
59
The only thing that can destroy Avatar now is if Avatar stands between Lindy West and a just delivered pepperoni pizza.
Posted by Tricyclic on December 17, 2009 at 7:15 PM · Report
60
The 3D is much better than Cats. I will see it again, and again.
Posted by razzamachuck on December 17, 2009 at 8:09 PM · Report
61
I can't wait to get sooper fuckin' baked and see this flick!
Posted by KOS on December 17, 2009 at 9:40 PM · Report
razorclammer 62
Kombucha is a symbiotic combination of bacteria and yeast.
Posted by razorclammer on December 17, 2009 at 10:53 PM · Report
NumberOne 63
@ 46 Agreed. All the verbosity causes the initial point to get lost. Its like reading something by my 9 year old niece.
Posted by NumberOne on December 17, 2009 at 11:40 PM · Report
64
Hold the fuck on - did someone up there actually complain about a movie like this having plot holes?
Plot holes.
In AVATAR.

Ok so in tabletop gaming (best way to start a sentence ever?), there's a concept called: SUSPEND DISBELIEF. It's entirely self explanatory, and it enables fun-having.

Y'know. Fun?
Posted by crabflex on December 18, 2009 at 3:42 AM · Report
65
Lindy you are terrific, and your reviews are even better. Laughed out loud several times while reading this one... I'm looking forward to seeing the film.

BTW - just how much cocaine do you reckon has gone up Cameron's nose? He has that cokehead "my face is about to implode at any moment look" going on somethin' fierce.

And fuck the Lindy haters. I'm apparently not alone here in thinking that she's really fuckin' funny.
Posted by tharp42 on December 18, 2009 at 5:26 AM · Report
66
I wish the Lindy West haters would give it a rest. We get it: you fucking hate Lindy West. No, but, for real: you really, really, REALLY fucking hate her. (And in the case of the first commenter here, you also hate women in general. But especially Lindy West! Lindy West is, like, a woman times three. Three times as hateable.)

Now that we're all clear on this point, you can quit posting your nasty comments every time she posts a column or review.
Posted by BelaTarr on December 18, 2009 at 3:27 PM · Report
67
@17 There's really no good time to go, but if you must, go any time right after the dude wakes up back into the human world - you can miss all the military mumbo jumbo and none of the magical blue-people stuff.

@26 It's exactly that, but visually just incredibly, incredibly amazing.

@61 That sounds like an excellent plan.

Everyone go see it.

PS I love you Lindy.
Posted by poo poo on December 18, 2009 at 4:41 PM · Report
Andy_Squirrel 68
@64
The problem lies in the fact that we keep giving blowjobs to all these twats who think having plot-holes is a valid/expected/acceptable characteristic to perform in any any storytelling. We need to stop it, its not a virtue to be admired or even tolerated....its just shitty storytelling...plain and simple....asking someone to "SUSPEND DISBELIEF" is asking them to become a thoughtless drone..... a shit vacuum..... a vomit sponge.
please, lets take a step forward in screenplays for once..... even shitty action films
Posted by Andy_Squirrel on December 18, 2009 at 5:09 PM · Report
69
@68
Worse than that - what about the racism? Stop rewarding prejudiced moviemaking with your $$. Ditto Transformers 2.
Posted by roesmoker on December 19, 2009 at 12:15 AM · Report
70
I was about to say "Stop it Lindy, no one finds your forced fourth grade writing style endearing" but apparently there are many, many people around here who do.
Posted by Bah humbug on December 19, 2009 at 10:55 AM · Report
71
LAMENESS. I don't mind James Cameron--most people act like complete buttholes, especially if you cut them slack. It's his stupid movies that bother me. I always thought Terminator was silly, that Aliens was a moronic step back, that Titanic had fakey effects and stupid characterizations, and so now I'm supposed to get all juiced up over blue aliens? Please.
Posted by Rayizz990 on December 19, 2009 at 11:21 AM · Report
72
@64 yeah, i remember fun and i'm gonna go have some at 10:45! whether this movie is good or not, it at least looks entertaining, and if not - BIG FUCKING DEAL!!! some people really need to get over themselves. i'll leave the nit-picking freaks to what they obviously enjoy as a pastime. i, on the other hand, have better things to do, like enjoying a little mindless "shit vacuum", "vomit sponge" entertainment.
Posted by resultsmayvary on December 19, 2009 at 2:42 PM · Report
Nova 73
I know several people that also watched this movie, expecting it to be crap. Everyone so far has said it was an absolutely amazing film. I can't believe it. I guess I have to go watch it now.
Posted by Nova on December 19, 2009 at 8:24 PM · Report
74
See, Lindy displays the penultimate characteristic of the Hipster Douchebag: She hates it when people get excited over things. If they do, they are "annoying blowhards." Displaying strong *positive* emotion about something is the worst thing anyone can do, and it is up to the Hipster Douchebags to deride, sneer & mock them.
Posted by Some Old Nobodaddy on December 20, 2009 at 1:27 AM · Report
75
This movie was incredible. Lindy is one of the more entertaining reads in Seattle. Keep it coming. I read Lindy things and laugh out loud. Apparently some people are jealous, or they are taking themselves WAY too serious.
Posted by Avid Reader - Movie Goer on December 20, 2009 at 7:34 PM · Report
76
HEY 71

Remember in Titanic when that guy falls of the ship and his legs hit the propeller and he goes into a cart wheel on his descent to the freezing ocean.

That was AWESOME. I laughed.
Posted by johnwayneradtke on December 21, 2009 at 7:21 AM · Report
Posted by Drew2u on December 21, 2009 at 8:30 AM · Report
Dances with Marmots 78
Everyone who faults Lindy West's style for being, well, stylish, or childish, or for its hipster contrarianism... look, we get it. Go back to messily beating off to a Raymond Carver collection or dryly chortling over Masterpiece Theater or whatever it is you people do. At least Lindy's is *aware* of her distilled-4Chan, post-liberal-arts-degree, white-privilege-conscious prose, unlike the douchebagels over at pfork.

I mean, c'mon. What, you want Mudede to review everything instead?
Posted by Dances with Marmots on December 21, 2009 at 11:16 AM · Report
79
@32- As someone in the bicycle industry, I also groaned at "Unobtainium." That joke is ancient.
Posted by dwight moody on December 21, 2009 at 2:42 PM · Report
80
I think this is a pretty perfect review. Any more words would be a waste of breath--I don't care who the reviewer is. The movie is what it is: fun. Even Lindy herself agrees that the script and plot leaves much to be desired. But if you want to check your brain out for 3 hrs and give your eyes a treat, then Avatar is a fine choice. You may think it's a simple formula, but making an enjoyable brainless action movie is tougher than it seems. (See: Transformers and GI Joe for examples of how to do it wrong)

To me a movie review should tell me why or why not I should watch a movie--whether it's entertaining or thought provoking. Otherwise, it would be a film school-style analysis of the technical aspects of the film that I couldn't give a rat's arse about.
Posted by jinushaun on December 21, 2009 at 5:51 PM · Report
Gospodean 81
The film was visually gorgeous, and technically flawless.
I just wish Cameron wasn't such a piss-ant primadonna that he can't recognize that his films would be THAT MUCH BETTER if he'd hand off the scripting to someone else. There were so many times that the dialogue had me chuckling in embarrassment (Could he really be serious? Is he having a laugh?). By the end I had a headache, but I wasn't sure if it was because of the 3D or all the eye-rolling I was doing. Surely $300M could've purchased a decent script? Jeez, I bet Harold Pinter would've risen from the dead and written it for that price.

And the critique: I'm not overly impressed by the review. I prefer being addressed as if I were an adult, most of the time.

@42 and @55: Prepare yourselves...all the subtitles are in Papyrus.
Posted by Gospodean on December 21, 2009 at 11:32 PM · Report
82
@78 I didn't realize 4Chan was giving out post-liberal-arts degrees now. If that's the case, There are clearly not enough Tay Zonday references in the review to qualify her for a Master's, which would bring your whole "Lindy is aware" argument into question.

Posted by j.lee on December 22, 2009 at 1:13 PM · Report
83
your articles eat dog shit.
Posted by schmindy on December 22, 2009 at 2:07 PM · Report
84
I think Sam Worthington burned a hole in my sexual reproductive organs.
Posted by Stacie917 on December 22, 2009 at 4:23 PM · Report
85
Excellent review.

I thought Cameron must have read the same science fiction I did as a lad (strong Andre Norton flavor, with a dash of Poul Anderson).

It was pure S.F.
It was pure Art.
It was pure pro-ecology.
It was pure 3D.
But most of all, it was pure anti-imperialism.

Great flick.
Posted by sgt_doom on December 22, 2009 at 5:16 PM · Report
(still) Grrrl 86
#7: Dances with Smurfs. Right ON.

Awesome funny review, Lindy. I emailed it to some friends in the sticks who were hesitating seeing this psychedelic CGI-fest.

And the movie was totally awesome. Good news: the right-wing nut columnists at the NYT are already dissing the flick for its "heavy-handed enviro/pantheism message" (READ: Hollywood=devil worshipers). Any movie that pisses the Right off is worth seeing.
Posted by (still) Grrrl http://heartseamonkeys.blogspot.com/ on December 22, 2009 at 7:06 PM · Report
87
Great movie. Crippled gamer guy withdraws into his virtual world where he joins a mythical pure-of-heart race of noble savages to overthrow other white males who are more powerful, brutish, and evil than he is, the guys he has to rub elbows with in the real world when he's not plugged into his fantasy game. There's the fairy tale ending where he becomes his avatar and the bad guys are forced to leave the planet (that should appeal to people who are not satisfied with how real history plays out).

Lindy West's review is not very good. She trashes the only female actor (I guess she doesn't like competition). She is also troubled by the "clumsy indictment" of the army. Maybe she is just uncomfy knowing that her attraction to big powerful thugs is shallow and wants to believe said thugs are actually heroes. Yes somewhere buried underneath the thick neck of that evil general is a heart that can be tamed haha.
Posted by sendmeamnesia on December 26, 2009 at 1:25 AM · Report
88
Uh 86, the NYT Film critic gave it a rave.....what you talking about?
Posted by Wild Bill on December 26, 2009 at 1:05 PM · Report
89
http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/mov… NYT Critic's Pick...."On the face of it there might seem something absurd about a movie that asks you to thrill to a natural world made almost entirely out of zeroes and ones (and that feeds you an anticorporate line in a corporately financed entertainment). But one of the pleasures of the movies is that they transport us, as Neytiri does with Jake, into imaginary realms, into Eden and over the rainbow to Oz."
Posted by Wild Bill on December 26, 2009 at 1:09 PM · Report
90
ALSO, 87, off thread, but which NYT columnist is "right wing?" (such an outmoded concept at that, the French notion of Right and Left), Krugman, Freidman, Dowd, Brooks?
Posted by Wild Bill on December 26, 2009 at 1:12 PM · Report
91
Uh, I meant 86, DOH!, Tuttle? Buttle? what does it matter
Posted by Wild Bill on December 26, 2009 at 1:13 PM · Report
emancipatrix 92
While I guess I did enjoy reading this review, I found it distractingly enamored with its own cleverness at times. Murder your darlings, Lindy!

I also don't get the animosity toward Sigourney Weaver (though her costuming in one segment was fairly ridiculous).
Posted by emancipatrix on December 27, 2009 at 3:50 AM · Report
93
Wow. A moldy ham sandwich is more of a salary then this reviewer deserves. Oh, Stranger why do you have to be so god damn cool all the freakin' time. Don't you get tired?

Also, it's weird that the majority of the chicks who are posting really, really like "Lindy" and the dudes who are posting are the most annoying hipster wanna-be critics that start every response to something you like by saying "yeah, but..." See the movie, like it or not and stop over analyzing everything! It's supposed to be over the top and fun. Remember that word, fun? You used to know it when you were a child until your dad beat it out of you.
Posted by ImGrate on December 28, 2009 at 9:31 PM · Report
94
Freaking fantastic film... in a word: Transformative. And I hate hyperbole, but this one chins the bar. See it in 3D.
Posted by jacobsonic on December 29, 2009 at 9:42 AM · Report
95
yeah, what Lindy said.
Posted by that's what I saw too on December 30, 2009 at 8:54 AM · Report
96
Jesus that was the most grating "review" I've ever read. You are not funny, you are not clever. Go fuck yourself. But I agree, Avatar is the shit.
Posted by Justin Is Great on December 30, 2009 at 5:14 PM · Report
97
Wow! Not only did i find this review insulting, it actually made me angry to the point where I actually had to post a comment on it. Granted, being a funny writer is something that is hard to achieve, you either have it or you don't, and Lindy West, god bless her heart, just doesn't have it. I think someone should sit her down and have a chat with her about how her reviews need to be a little more weighty and insightful rather than trying to be cutesy and funny by using stupid pop culture catch phrases such as "'bout it, 'bout it" and "realsies". I know Lindy is probably a bright girl so she should do herself and stranger readers a favor and write like one.
Posted by parkbench6 on December 30, 2009 at 11:55 PM · Report
98
Avatar ruled like no other move I've ever seen has ruled, and Lindy was right on. If I regret anything it's being such a big dick to you guys over petty bullshit.

Avatar's like the original Star Wars in terms of impact, at least it deserves to be. Even if it isn't, fuck you losers, I love it.
Posted by a friend on January 3, 2010 at 11:31 PM · Report
99
Yes, if James Cameron were to eat "Star Wars" and digest it, the turd that would come out of his ass might be labeled "Avatar". In terms of impact, that is(?)
God, what a hopeless piece of crap.
The animation in "Fern Gully" was more believable than the aweful CG in "Avatar". Disgraceful.
Seriously, pull that guys directing license.
Posted by gnxf on February 1, 2010 at 1:19 AM · Report
100
I understand the "Fern Gully" reference, but I picked up more of a "Pocahontas" vibe from Avatar. When the girl cat/alien took the avatar cat/alien to meet the chief, it was so damn predictable it the chief was girl cat/alien's father. story was ok, and the graphics were amazing of course (I saw it in 3-D and I felt it didn't add a damn thing to movie), but the chief's daughter angle made me lose respect for the whole thing
Posted by dawkins on February 3, 2010 at 5:53 PM · Report
101
How long has The Stranger been publishing articles scribbled by illiterate and gullible school kids who drink too much caffeine? I can't remember the last time I read such a boring review here. I hope this is just a passing phase!
Posted by Abcdef on February 6, 2010 at 1:28 AM · Report
102
I also thought I was going to hate this movie--saw one trailer and said, "That looks like the stupidest crap I've ever seen." Then I saw it, and loved it. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Couldn't stop thinking about it. Yes the visuals are great, but the story and the raw emotion of it knocked me on my ass. Your review is absolutely hilarious. Thanks for this! I like that you are at once realistic about the movies (I think purposeful) shortcomings, but still giving it the positive review it deserves, in a completely outrageous way. Good one. Hats off to you.
Posted by usfenderfsdlx on July 6, 2010 at 2:17 PM · Report
103
Cameron is simply a joke...global warming guru..ha ha ha..not even close..doubt if he has grade six
Posted by Tuxedo on September 14, 2010 at 8:52 AM · Report
104
Cameron is simply a joke...global warming guru..ha ha ha..not even close..doubt if he has grade six
Posted by Tuxedo on September 14, 2010 at 8:55 AM · Report
flowerkowski 105
I couldn't stop thinking that someone really liked the Pocahontas movie. Similar story done to death. The effects kicked ass though. Boring lame plot and dialog aside I would still watch it again for all the cool alien animals.
Posted by flowerkowski on September 18, 2010 at 1:25 PM · Report

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