Avatar Will Hurt Locker

Avatar and The Hurt Locker. Of all the nominees for the Best Picture Oscar, these two are arguably the most deserving, for similar and different reasons. First of all, they are both war movies that speak volumes about the present situation. The intensity that they both deliver is extremely palpable, but sometimes I wonder which film was able to do a better job at intensely enveloping me in a believable world. Maybe the The Hurt Locker, because the sound editing and the shaky camera make us feel as if we were really in Iraq, and we know that Iraq actually exists? Or is it Avatar, because the 3D experience of Pandora is insanely realistic even if it is a made up world? In the end, isn't Pandora a verdant Iraq?

Again, let me reiterate: the 3D imagery in Avatar is monumental. Half of the reason to see this film is the genius creation that is Pandora; sea-like plants and trees made up of neurons are intriguing to say the least. Add to that 3D enhancement and you have incredible depth that virtually transports you to the Garden of Eden. I never knew I would be so enthralled with floating tropical islands. Anyways, I was reading the British film magazine, Sight & Sound the other day and the editorial said that Avatar would win the Oscar because it would symbolize the rebirth of cinema through 3D enhancement; a reason for people to return to the theaters. I beg to differ. Avatar, has a lot more to offer than amazing graphics.

The Hurt Locker is not just a war movie. It is a psychological portrait of a soldier. Avatar is not just a war movie. It is a love story, a coming of age story of a soldier, a fantasy film, a political thriller, an activist film that denounces a military complex and criticizes our capitalist society (and yes, I realize the movie itself is a product of capitalism, but sometimes you have to use the system in order to beat it). It is the cinematic culmination of an entire movement that defines our current generation: Environmentalism. And that is why it will win the Oscar.

Critics say that Avatar lacks originality, and the statement has some truth. Dances with Wolves, and Fern Gully are films with similar story lines that come to mind. One can compare Avatar to Pocahontas for goodness sake. So what? The imagery is incredibly overwhelming that to add a complex story line on top of that would have been ridiculous. But at the same time I don't understand why many people don't see that although the story may not necessarily be original, it is the retelling of the story -the way that it is retold that matters the most. The fact that a language was created for this film, the fact that the N'avi have organs that help them connect with the souls of other beings, and the fact that the trees are made up of neurons that retain memories is fascinating. Also, the obsession of living through a dream is another incredibly intriguing element. In fact, I wish they had elaborated more on this subject.

Now, let me be clear. I am little biased towards Avatar, one reason being is that I can personally relate to what happened in the film...its very a long story. But my story is not the only one. History can attest to that. And the relatability of Avatar maybe another reason why it has been so appealing to people all over the world.

By the way, if Inglourious Basterds does not win Best original screen play, and if Christoph Waltz does not win Best Supporting Actor, there will be riots in the streets.