Welcome to the third edition of Cling-Film, the bi-weekly series that presents you with films we feel you must “cling” onto for the ages. So far in our film-tastic journey, we’ve gone back to our youth with Woody and the gang in the original Toy Story. We spent some time in 1984 Detroit as we paid homage to the cult classic Beverly Hills Cop. So today’s time capsule has set a course for the land of Pandora as we pay tribute to James Cameron’s Avatar.
This high-flown science fiction film is turning 11 this weekend, and once again, we don’t have the funds to buy it a birthday present. But can you blame us? Christmas is just around the corner, and we need to save our pennies. Instead, we will be giving it a classic klingon... Or whatever language the Na'vi speak.
December 18, 2009, was the date that Avatar first came to the box office. To say it performed well would be an understatement. Until 2019 it was the number one film on the list of All-Time Worldwide Box Office with a total of $2.79 billion before being passed by Avengers: Endgame.
It would be hard not to call Avatar anything else other than iconic. At the time of production, it was light years ahead of anything else ever created. It rightfully so became an unforgettable phenomenon all over the world.
This film was like nothing ever seen before in the industry. Creator
James Cameron started the concept for it as early as 1994, where he wrote an 80-page treatment for the film.
Ultimately he came to the decision to delay the production due to the feeling the technology wasn't advanced enough to produce the film. Nevertheless, it was later created in 2009, where it thrived. Going on to win three Oscars and becoming an instant hit with film buffs. They were mesmerised by the advanced tech and innovative filming techniques that come to influence cinema, and 3D for years to come.
A huge set of sequels for Avatar have been announced, but have constantly been delayed, with the first sequel now hopefully set for December 2022. But, in the here and now. It's time to pay respect to the original story of James Cameron’s Avatar.
Moments we want to cling on to...
Jake Sully Catches The Great Leonopteryx
The fierce beauty of the Great Leonopteryx is spoken about with pride in the Na'vi lore and culture. This creature commands the Pandoran skies and is both loved and feared by the inhabitants of Pandora.
The special effects of Avatar were at the forefront of the film. This was skillfully shown by the creation of The Great Leonopteryx. A CGI creature that acted as a striking image for such an iconic scene.
When Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) takes control of The Great Leonopteryx, it was an incredible moment. He becomes a Toruk Makto, a Na’vi individual who manages to tame the wild beast.
By catching the creature, Jake and the rest of the Na’vi were able to gain victory on the Assault on the Tree of Souls as the great and powerful beast proved too strong for the humans.
Avatar The Final Battle
The final battle is an epic scene from Avatar where the Na’vi suffer heavy losses to their tribe. They must quickly recover as their entire existence is dictated by the outcome of the battle. Quaritch and his RDA forces are trying to slaughter the species and take their land due to it being rich in the valuable mineral- unobtanium.
This action-packed sequence is filled with everything you can imagine. Including an AMP robot suit that Quaritch wears for the battle, and Pandoran wildlife even joining the attack to help take the fight to the humans.
The battle ends as Quaritch prepares to slit the throat of Jake’s avatar. But he is stopped at the last moment by Neytiri as she saves Jake from suffocation while seeing his human form for the first time.
Avatar First Awakening Scene
Watching Jake Sully wake up for the first time in his avatar body was both terrifying and comical at the same time. During this scene, we got to witness the true capabilities of the technology used for the film.
This scene is our first introduction to the Na’vi environment, with its stunning visual concepts making a lasting impression.
Characters we want to cling on to...
Jake Sully
Jake Sully is a key component within the storyline for Avatar. Without his involvement, the film would certainly be missing something. Sam Worthington does a fantastic job of harnessing the energy it takes for the role and really helps morph Jake Sully into a special character.
What makes him such an interesting character is his backstory and what exactly led him to Pandora. It really helps add substance to the plot as we see this disabled ex-marine find his purpose once again by helping to save the planet and its people.
Miles Quaritch
Colonel Miles Quaritch isn't a nice guy. The villain of Avatar is willing to perform any dirty tactic to ensure the survival of his country. He has one goal and one goal only; to deplete Pandora of its natural resources.
The RDA Security Operations commander ordered the attacks on the Hometree of the Omaticaya Clan, and was certainly willing to stop at nothing to eradicate the entire Na’vi race.
What Quaritch didn’t know was that love always prevails.
Neytiri
Neytiri is the princess of the Omaticaya clan. She helps Jake survive on Pandora and eventually falls in love with him. Neytiri acts as a guide for Jake throughout the film and teaches him the culture of the Na’vi tribe.
Zoe Saldana does a great job in the role and was praised for her acting efforts when the film was released in 2009. Both Neytiri and Jake create a bond that is present for the entire film. The connection between the two gets stronger as time goes on, and watching Neytiri save the person she loves is a beautiful scene.
The Wrap Up...
This film made history when it was released, and it has to be considered a modern-day science fiction classic. Avatar fully deserves all the praise it has received over the years. The fact we are getting a sequel has people across the world excited. Getting to make a connection with the Na'vi and Pandora once more is going to be special.
We could never forget about Avatar, and we will be clinging onto it like Avatar’s cling onto the banshees for years to come.
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