Avatar (2009) ****1/2

Jake Sully and Neytiri

An achievement. A milestone. A breakthrough. I can say all these things and they would not overrate what Avatar simply is. Other movies have done 3D but James Cameron, like a god, has created a living, breathing world out of the process. Having experienced it tonight in IMAX 3D, never have I felt more lost in a world. There were shots and scenes that momentarily had me believing I was there. Never have I felt this way with any other movie. Ever. No matter how great a film may be, I always know in the back of my head: this is a movie. It is as Jake Sully comes to believe: the dream is becoming more a reality, the reality more a dream. As of right now, Avatar is the epitome of postmodern in cinema.

However, the one gripe I have (and it's a very minor gripe) is the 3D in motion. There was a bit too much motion blur for my taste. Particularly in the first 15 minutes or so. Perhaps I wasn't used to the 3D look. After all, it's not very often I watch a 3D movie - let alone one I actually want to watch. The ironic thing is the 3D was at its best when most subtle. It had an inexplicable immersive quality to the images. Like depth of field but with... more depth.

Now that I've got that out of the way, there is another aspect of the film that had me just as captivated: the culture, the people. Their dress, language, and sense of cohesion with their world evoked the Native spirit. The sources of the story undeniably drew from the history of the Natives as well. How the more technologically advanced society came along and drew blood whenever these people got in the way of what they wanted. It is exactly what is at stake in Avatar. It is an old story to be sure and the movie has received quite a bit of flack for its derivative plot but I feel that is one of its strengths when viewing the overall picture. After all, this isn't about the story. This is about the experience. And the experience of living among the Natives is one of the great pleasures of Avatar (as well as realizing Wes Studi is voicing one of the Na'vi). No one thinks about the story when you mention The Jazz Singer. You think of it as that movie that had sound. This one isn't going to be any different decades from now.

I can imagine real Native audiences watching Avatar and coming away with a sense of pride for who they are. In fact, I believe they will. Movies, in a traditional sense, have always been ideal representations of our reality. The way we wish the real world was. Well, I could see Native people walking away from this movie empowered. Inspired. After all, movies can do that, can't they? I believe all marginalized populations (and the majority) should watch Avatar. And let the experience instill hope, passion, as well as compassion. For me, the film really is that powerful.

Skinwalkers (2002) ***1/2

Leaphorn (Wes Studi) and Chee (Adam Beach)

Adapted from a Tony Hillerman novel, Chris Eyre takes a step out of his comfort zone and tries his hand at a (cultural) thriller. The story, although entertaining, is pretty standard fare. However, the attention to Navajo people and details keeps this one from becoming forgettable. In fact, for a genre that tends to emphasize twists and turns, the focus on characterization and culture in this movie is refreshing.

The basic plot follows a string of murders involving victims who are medicine men. There are sacred paintings done in blood to go along with them. Chee believes there could be some connection to the skinwalkers (evil shapeshifters) of Navajo stories. And thus, their pursuit for the murderer begins.

I will not go into further detail in terms of plot. There's actually quite a lot going on despite the familiarity of the story. Besides, what is more intriguing is the deeper conflict going on between tradition and modernity - more specifically, native medicine and white medicine. The movie is utterly predictable. But this ongoing (and very real) conflict is what gives the movie legs to walk on.

Finally, I commend Eyre for taking on genre and populating it with native people. It is much like the film Better Luck Tomorrow (starring Asian-American actors) in that the story is old hat but it is made new by giving the main roles - traditionally filled by white actors - to others. Of course, it is admirable to create unique stories with minority actors. But to change cultural perceptions of people, one must be willing to make changes to the established system. And tackling established genres like these opens doors for actors of color to do the same kinds of roles in more mainstream productions rather than the same Injun, straight A student, cholo, or rapper because Hollywood will realize more and more that we can do them - and more importantly, that audiences will respond positively to such change.