A magnificent film that shows James Cameron’s genius. With imagination, a screenplay and computer effects worth ten Oscars, I think it has not received the appreciation it deserves. Avatar creates an entirely new planet, atmosphere, ecosystem and language from scratch. Its screenplay is so carefully constructed that it works whichever way you read it, from imperialist interventions such as the US war in Iraq to the genocide of Indigenous peoples in the Americas. This remarkable film also explores different species’ relationships with nature. Through the Na’vi people, Pandora’s ecosystem, the transfer of memories and recollections through what is called “bonding,” and a communications network in the planet’s vegetation resembling the brain’s synapses, it brings the natural cycles of our own world into view.
The film won Best Motion Picture and Best Director (James Cameron) at the 67th Golden Globe Awards. Nominated in nine categories at the 82nd Academy Awards, it won three Oscars: Art Direction, Cinematography and Visual Effects. During its theatrical run, the film also overtook Titanic’s record to enter the ranks of the highest-grossing films of all time.