Page 13 Evye The Lion’s Eye : February] 3, 2010 plaB O n Entertainment The Next Gen of Movies, Really? James Cameron’s Avatar By Chris Dilenno - Lions Eye Staff Writer - cad5241@psu.edu Remember the first time you saw Poca- hontas? What about the second time? What about the remake that they made fourteen years later that made all the Indians blue, advanced the ‘Europeans’ weapons and upped the ante on the special effects? Of course, I’m talking about the current movie sensation that is Avatar. Written and di- rected by James Cameron, Avatar tells the story about a company that hires a ~ militia to extract a rare ma- terial, cleverly named “un- obtainium,’ from a planet ~ known as Pandora, where a race of people know as the Na’vi have inhabited for centuries. The material is essential bolstering the wealth of the company due to the dying economy of - the Earth, but there isn’t an explanation as to why it seems that this is the only company trying to obtain it. : The main charac- ter, Jake Sully (Sami Wor- thington) is put in the body of one of the Na’vi in order to garner information from them without seeming threatening, though the Marines base is in the middle of the forest and the human Na’vi wear human clothes. Sully integrates with the Na’vi and gains their trust eventually, even falling in love with the daughter of the chief, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), and implying one of the most ques- - tionable sexual situations I’ve encountered in any movie lately. But Sully is not totally clued into the entirety of the plan, which is to basically devastate the entirety of the planet until ey re able to obtain unobtainium. I won’t ruin the ending for anyone because it’s a total shocker if you’ve never seen a movie in your entire life or if you're five years old. Despite the countless comparisons you could make between this movie and a few of its predecessors, aforemen- tioned-Pocahontas and Dances with Wolves, the out- Jake Sully (Sam ao in his Na’vi body, and Neyer (Zoe Saldana) prepare for battle. - Photo courtesy of htp: //scifibloggers. com/ "rage hardly compares with the fact that the story is pretty much a direct rip-off of a science fiction story that was written by Paul Anderson in 1957 about a disabled man who tests the body of a different life- form to explore the surface of Jupiter (did I mention that Sully is a paraplegic?). : The major drawbacks of the movie are its predictable writing and glaring plot holes, but if you’re able to look past all of that, you get a movie that has some of the most amazing special effects of any movie ever created. Now, I can hardly knock James Cameron for being as shallow as he was in the creation of this movie. Why? Because he knew all of you would see it and love it based on the spe- cial effects, the love story and the allusion to Native Americans that makes it so easy to root for them (Get it? We took their land the first time. Now they’re going to put up a bigger fight.). When it comes down to the bottom line, film-making is essentially about money and this movie is taking in ridicu- lous amounts which puts a win in the Cameron column of undeserved satisfaction. It will also (and has already started to) win many awards because it’s so user-friendly and seems to whisper quietly in your ear that thinking is for people who don’t under- stand the beauty of cinema- tography, mythical trees and explosions. The 3-D didn’t really do much for me in the way of advancing the special effects, but they were hardly necessary. They were still incredible, which they should be, considering the almost five hundred million dollar budget they injected into this thing. What worries me is that people say Avatar will take movies into the next generation. I, and many people I know, do not want movies to sacri- fice plot and substantial writing for lush scenery and special effects. Enjoy your wins, Mr. Cameron, but please understand that they may come at a cost that would make Hitchcock roll in his grave. | - oo O r O S C O p e S . Lo eb r U J ry By Ashley Carpenter - Lion's Eye Staff Writer - ancl45@psu.cdy Aries March 21 to April 19 An idea may motivate you to take immediate action, but mind how you go! There continues to be a lot of activity in your work and health zones. This week you will begin to see an improvement after all your recent efforts. Sat- urday may bring a lot of emotion to the surface, so expect issues that have been pushed under the © oprpel to demand your attention. Taurus April 20 to May 20 The good news is that Tuesday may end three weeks of delays and misunderstandings that have affected your love life. On Sunday, Mercury and Mars aspect Uranus in your social zone, which suggests that other people, may be instrumental in your success by giving you support and feedback. You may be thinking about taking a risk, too. Saturday will bring bright and powerful dreams your way. Gemini May 21 to June 20 If you have been waiting for Mercury retrograde to end before putting your house on the market, you can now go ahead - the process of buying or selling should go that much more smoothly. As emotions may run high this week, so try not to do Syiing impulsive that you might regret. Cancer June 21 to July 22 If you have felt frustrated by the recent turn of events allow yourself to catch up and to get back into the race. You could also find yourself getting quite emotional about an issue that has been bothering you lately. Try not to make a snap decision, nor do anything you might regret. You may be inspired by a book, a conversation, or even a course to aim for higher things. Leo July 23- August 22 This week, your finances continue to be in focus. Thankfully, Mercury will turn direct on Tuesday, which means that any delays in this area should soon be sorted out. Saturday marks the start of a fast- paced weekend in which you seem to be ready to take it to the limit. Virgo August 23 to September 22 Mercury, your ruling planet, turns direct this week, mean- ing you can now go ahead with all kinds of projects that have been delayed. Ideas will be plentiful and the more you are willing to network and socialize, the easier it will be to resolve your problems. Libra September 23 to October 22 A Full Moon in your relationship zone on Saturday means your feelings may be very intense at this time - try not to overreact. An idea may be forming in the back of your mind, and you may be wondering whether to go ahead or not. It may seem so appealing that you are ready to risk it all. Scorpio October 23 to November 21 There have been many changes in your social life re- cently, which has encouraged you to think about the kind of people you hang out with. While you adore your old friends, your new friends have that special something and you can’t help going back for more. Sagittarius November 22 to December 21 A Full Moon in Aries means you can reap the rewards for your creative and entrepreneurial efforts. If you feel emotional about your love life, don’t act on the spur of the moment. Wait a few days first. Capricorn December 22 to January 19 If you are doing a lot of travelling, you will be glad to know that Mercury turns direct. This should put an end to any delays you have had to endure. From Tuesday on- ward is it safe to start legal proceedings, sign documents, and commit to projects and contracts. . Aquarius January 20 to February 18 There is a possibility of lucrative deals if you play your cards right. The Full Moon in Aries on Tuesday means any issues or misunderstandings that remain unresolved may come to a head. Don’t overreact - it will not help. Pisces February 19 to March 20 Mercury will aspect Mars twice over the coming week, which may coincide with a new love affair that gets off to a passionate start. The attraction between you may be intellectual at first, but this will soon change to someting much more physical. Courtesy of www. horoscopes.com
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