Black and White and Blue All Over

By now a lot of people have seen James Cameron's Avatar, and a much larger number have formed an opinion about it. Anticipation had been building for months, as people were excited by the prospect that ultra-realistic computer animation would combine with dazzling 3D technology to produce a different kind of movie than anyone had ever seen. It's generally not a good sign when the buzz is about the technology behind a movie rather than the story within it, and in the case of Avatar the worries are justified. There's no question that the moviemaking is truly impressive; not only is it a great technological achievement, but Cameron is an accomplished storyteller. The film is long but never ponderous, the set pieces are thrilling, and one's heartstrings are tugged at all the right places. As a bonus, the acting is fantastic -- Sigourney Weaver's gruff scientist in particular is a ...