Avatar: Do NOT consider this movie on DVD!
Yesterday, I finally got around to seeing the Avatar movie in the theatre, in 3D. I expect most people have seen it by now, but if you have not, do not under any circumstances consider waiting until it comes out on DVD!
Why? Two major reasons. The first, is that the epic visuals and vivid colours are made for the movie theatre and you will never experience the same level of absorption into the world of Pandora on even the most expensive 65″ LCD TV. The second, and more important reason, is the 3D experience. Forget everything you think you know about gimicky, and unrealistic 3D films that are typically shown at theme parks. This is a genuine, natural 3D that quickly makes you forget that you are watching a movie and that you are not right there in the world. On a DVD you will never appreciate how much of the movie you are missing without seeing the flora, trees, mountains, wildlife and aerial flying scenes in 3D. I firmly believe that if you watch this movie even in Blue-Ray, you will miss as much as 60% of the experience. Don’t pass up the awe you will have of this movie in its intended, 3D theatre format. Seriously!
I am thrilled that James Cameron is taking the lead in the future of entertainment with his declaration that all his future movies will be 3D. I am sure other directors and studios will follow, and all movies will be in 3D less than 5 years from now.
Coming out of the movie, my first reaction was that the world of Pandora and its scenery and creatures would make an amazing Online Roleplaying Game. The fact that the Na’vi (indigenous humanoids in the movie) were blue-skinned just made me think of dark-elves in EverQuest. I would not be surprised if the game rights had already been sold. Sign me up for the beta!
My later thoughts were that the technology used in the movie to implant the mind and senses of a human into the alien Na’vi, is sure to be the future of entertainment and gaming 20-30 years from now. How amazing would it be to “log on” to a game, and to find yourself in the body of your character with every sense telling you that your alien body is your own and the experience is unrecognizable from real life? This theme was explored earlier this year in the “Surrogates” movie, and I am sure once science finds a way to interface computers directly with every part of the conscious mind, this form of gaming/entertainment will at last become reality.
“May you live in interesting times,” a Chinese philosopher once said. I think we do.
