Avatar (2009)
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A paralyzed veteran must navigate a dangerous alien world and a burgeoning conflict between humans and indigenous inhabitants.
The story
In the mid-22nd century, Earth faces resource exhaustion, leading humans to colonize the moon Pandora to mine the valuable mineral unobtanium. The expansion of the mining colony threatens the existence of the Na'vi, a humanoid species indigenous to the moon. To interact with the Na'vi, humans use 'avatars'—genetically engineered hybrid bodies remotely operated from human brains. Jake Sully, a paraplegic Marine, is recruited to join the Avatar Program. After being attacked by wild animals and rescued by a Na'vi woman named Neytiri, Jake is taken to her clan. He must navigate the complexities of the Na'vi culture while the human military prepares to seize a rich deposit of minerals.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 2154, the Resources Development Administration (RDA) mines unobtanium on the moon Pandora, which is inhabited by the Na'vi. Jake Sully, a paraplegic Marine, joins the Avatar Program and becomes a pilot for a genetically engineered Na'vi body. While in his avatar, Jake is attacked by wild animals and rescued by Neytiri, a member of the Omaticaya clan. She takes him to her people, where he is initiated into their society. Meanwhile, Colonel Miles Quaritch leads the RDA's security force, pressuring Jake to reveal the location of the Hometree, which sits atop a rich mineral deposit. Jake and Neytiri fall in love as Jake becomes integrated into the clan. When the RDA threatens to destroy the Hometree, Jake is forced to reveal his role as a spy, leading to his and Dr. Grace Augustine's capture. After a chaotic escape where Grace is fatally wounded, Jake regains the trust of the Na'vi by bonding with the legendary Toruk. He unites the Na'vi clans to fight the RDA. During the ensuing battle, the Na'vi and their allies face the RDA forces. The tide turns when wild animals join the fight. In the aftermath, the RDA is expelled, and Jake is permanently transferred into his avatar body with the help of the Tree of Souls.
- First release year
- 2009
- Runtime (minutes)
- 162
- Production countries
- United States; United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- James Cameron
- Writers
- James Cameron · writer
- Cast and characters
- Sam Worthington · Jake Sully; Zoe Saldaña · Neytiri; Stephen Lang · Colonel Miles Quaritch; Michelle Rodriguez · Captain Trudy Chacón; Giovanni Ribisi · Parker Selfridge; Joel David Moore · Dr. Norm Spellman; CCH Pounder · Mo'at; Wes Studi · Eytukan; Laz Alonso · Tsu'tey; Sigourney Weaver · Dr. Grace Augustine; Dileep Rao · Dr. Max Patel; Matt Gerald · Corporal Lyle Wainfleet
- Genres
- science fiction; action
- Themes
- clash of cultures; environmentalism; anti-imperialism
- Tone and mood
- epic; immersive
- Premise and plot tags
- space exploration; alien world; resource scarcity; biological engineering
- Franchise connections
- Avatar
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised its groundbreaking visual effects, though the plot received criticism for being derivative. It broke several box office records, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time at the time of its release.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 81% · scale: percentage · review count: 335; Metacritic · score: 83 · scale: 100 · review count: 38
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Awards · Best Picture · 82nd · nomination; Academy Awards · Best Director · 82nd · nomination; Academy Awards · Best Art Direction · 82nd · win; Academy Awards · Best Cinematography · 82nd · win; Academy Awards · Best Visual Effects · 82nd · win; Golden Globe Awards · Best Motion Picture – Drama · win; Golden Globe Awards · Best Director · win; Saturn Awards · Best Science Fiction Film · win; Saturn Awards · Best Director · win; Saturn Awards · Best Writing · win; Saturn Awards · Best Special Effects · win; Critics' Choice Awards · Best Action Film · win; BAFTA · Production Design · win; BAFTA · Special Visual Effects · win; St. Louis Film Critics · Best Visual Effects · win; St. Louis Film Critics · Most Original, Innovative or Creative Film · win
- Production trivia
- The film's production design included a team that consulted with a professor of plant physiology.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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