One thing I loved about Avatar 2 was its central message: family and spirituality ("religion" for those repelled by the word) are the only redeeming institutions in the face of soulless, insatiable consumerism.
The first film felt more collectivist: our tribe of good people vs your tribe of bad people. Environment good, capitalism bad. The central struggle in Avatar 2 felt more true on a soul level and less propagandistic.
Excellent write up. I was not familiar with the term "fearless fantasy" but I think you nailed why Marvel movies are so emotionally void.
Avatar 2 was the first time I filled the twitter trope of “Mom who asks you about a major character in the 3rd act”. Visually, I could not tell the difference between the two sons. I think my brain is so finely tuned to human features that when you give a man blue skin, pointy ears, and a snatched waist I get all turned around. They looked the same. I can’t believe I’m saying it but a contrast in character design was needed for me to understand the basic coming of age arc of each son.
Fearless fantasy on the big screen needs great sound and music, something impossible to do on a water world. Stuff a viewers ears with wax and Disney’s “Fantasia” or David Bowie’s “Labyrinth” lose a lot of their fantasy. Having a character underwater has the same effect. There’s just not a lot to hear.
Marvel has surrendered any fearless ideals about sound design. Movie goers know they’ll be hearing cinematic base and crashing metal. Wales are a musical species here on earth and I wish James Cameron would have done more with alien wale-song. We’ll never know what fantastical notes an alien wale could produce as the movie limited their sounds to exactly what a viewer would expect.
an alien whale song would have been beautiful, to characterize the whales as hyperintelligent even more. I think one the characters even talks about the whales composing symphonies. great idea
One thing I loved about Avatar 2 was its central message: family and spirituality ("religion" for those repelled by the word) are the only redeeming institutions in the face of soulless, insatiable consumerism.
The first film felt more collectivist: our tribe of good people vs your tribe of bad people. Environment good, capitalism bad. The central struggle in Avatar 2 felt more true on a soul level and less propagandistic.
Excellent write up. I was not familiar with the term "fearless fantasy" but I think you nailed why Marvel movies are so emotionally void.
Avatar 2 was the first time I filled the twitter trope of “Mom who asks you about a major character in the 3rd act”. Visually, I could not tell the difference between the two sons. I think my brain is so finely tuned to human features that when you give a man blue skin, pointy ears, and a snatched waist I get all turned around. They looked the same. I can’t believe I’m saying it but a contrast in character design was needed for me to understand the basic coming of age arc of each son.
Fearless fantasy on the big screen needs great sound and music, something impossible to do on a water world. Stuff a viewers ears with wax and Disney’s “Fantasia” or David Bowie’s “Labyrinth” lose a lot of their fantasy. Having a character underwater has the same effect. There’s just not a lot to hear.
Marvel has surrendered any fearless ideals about sound design. Movie goers know they’ll be hearing cinematic base and crashing metal. Wales are a musical species here on earth and I wish James Cameron would have done more with alien wale-song. We’ll never know what fantastical notes an alien wale could produce as the movie limited their sounds to exactly what a viewer would expect.
an alien whale song would have been beautiful, to characterize the whales as hyperintelligent even more. I think one the characters even talks about the whales composing symphonies. great idea
Really enjoyed binging some of your reviews today, these are excellent.