For the record, I didn't hate "Avatar."
In fact, when I reviewed the film Dec. 17, I gave it a 2½-star rating, which is at least a slight endorsement.
I praised the movie for its "innovative use of motion-capture technology, virtual backgrounds, computer-generated characters and vehicles and other digital trickery," which I said made it "a feast for the eyes."
However, I wasn't nearly as thrilled by 2½-hour-plus running time, its awful dialogue, its wooden leading man (Aussie Sam Worthington), or its unoriginal, derivative plot — which freely borrowed from such earlier movies as "Dances With Wolves" (1990) and "FernGully: The Last Rainforest" (1992).
I am amused by all the accompanying hyperbole, though. Some fans and writers have declared "Avatar" to be the best movie of the year, and not just the best science-fiction movie.
(In my book, that latter distinction belongs to "Star Trek" and "District 9," both more consistent and solid pieces of storytelling and filmmaking.)
And what I find really funny is how forgiving movie audiences — particularly science fiction and fantasy aficionados — can be when bad storytelling is accompanied by visual splendor. What I like to call "bells and whistles."
The excruciating dialogue and unconvincing romance subplot in "Avatar" — as well as its wooden leading man — could have come directly from the recent "Transformers" sequel, which has been heavily criticized.
Of course, that film made a lot of money.
Also, the excruciating dialogue and unconvincing romance subplot in "Avatar" — as well as its wooden leading man — could have come directly from George Lucas's heavily criticized "Star Wars" prequels as well.
Of course, those films made a lot of money, too.
While I'm at it, the excruciating dialogue and unconvincing romance in "Avatar" — as well as its wooden leading man — could have been torn directly from the "Twilight" movies, which is a favorite whipping boy for elitist science-fiction and fantasy fans.
Of course, those films made a lot of money as well.
HE'S KING OF THE … WELL, SOMETHING.
Cameron is his own worst publicist. He's become the P.T. Barnum of filmmaking and constantly oversells his product.
But as "Avatar" further demonstrates, he's not a particularly good screenwriter.
Just go back and watch either of his "Terminator" movies. They're so ridiculously overplotted that they require narration and expository dialogue in futile efforts to explain all the details.
I'M NOT JUST A CAMERON "HATER."
My favorite of Cameron's feature films to date is 1994's "True Lies," a fun action-thriller starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Cameron has talked about making a sequel, and I hope it happens.
A follow-up could force him to focus more on live-action performances and on character interactions rather than just playing in his new digital "domain."
That's the hope at least.
e-mail: jeff@desnews.com