Goal For The Green

Retail sales of AVATAR Blu-ray and DVD Discs have exceeded 6.7 million units, since its launch last Thursday, Earth Day April 22,2010. It is currently,on pace to be the best selling title in recent history.

The extraordinary initial sales for AVATAR are clearly a game changer for the Blu-ray format. Blu-ray players for the first time, are surpassing DVD players, at retail outlets across the country as fans are upgrading their systems to experience the best picture and sound quality available.

This is the ultimate high definition experience for home viewing audiences. The April AVATAR Blu-ray and DVD release, features the film and corresponding menu, utilizing the disc’s entire storage space in order to provide the highest quality picture and sound. Avatar is an action-adventure journey, of self-discovery that dramatically demonstrates how human invasion almost destroys the balance of life, on the planet Pandora.

Avatar, is the 2010 Oscar® winner of Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, and Best Art Director. At the 2010,  Golden Globes®- Avatar, won for Best Picture Drama and Best Director- James Cameron. AVATAR, is the highest grossing film of all time, taking in over $2.7 billion, in worldwide box office sales.

Written by James Cameron,the Canadian creator of  Terminator 2, and Titanic, Cameron produced the film, with his long-time collaborator Jon Landau. The stars of AVATAR, include, Sam Worthington, Zoë Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Wes Studi and Laz Alonso.

In the opener, Jake Sully, has a recently deceased brother. Tom was a scientist, who was to be part of a high-level program, that was overseen by corporate and military strategists. Jake is a paraplegic, marine war veteran. Tom and Jake, were identical twins, and therefore, were exact genetic matches. This is the reason that Jake, is presented with the unique opportunity to take over his brother’s contract, with the corporate military entity, known as RDA.

Jake is then transported to the military out-post, on another planet called Pandora, 4.3 light-years form Earth. The planet is inhabited by the Na’vi, a humanoid race, with their own language and culture. It is a place where people form Earth, find themselves at odds, with each other and the culture of humanoids on Pandora.

Soon after his arrival on Pandora, Jake learns  about the plan of Parker Selfridge, (a greedy corporate RDA figurehead) to drive the Na’vi off their homeland.  The reason, to mine for a precious mineral, worth millions on Earth.  It is scattered in abundance, throughout the rich woodlands of Pandora.

In exchange for a surgery that will fix Jake’s legs, he agrees to gather intel, for the cooperating military unit, led by Marine Colonel Quaritch. The plan is to infiltrate the Na’vi people, with the use of an “avatar” idintity.

Humans are unable to breathe the air on Pandora. The Avatar program, enables people to link with their own avatar, which is their own genetically bred human-Navi clone (hybrid). Human consciousness, is projected into the avatars, in order to blend into the humanoid race of the Na’vi. Through his Avatar body, Jake is able to walk again. He bonds with the native tribe, and quickly falls in love with the beautiful Neytiri. All the while, the ruthless Colonel Quartich, moves forward, with his desire to exterminate the Navi people. Jake, is then forced to fight back, for the fate of the Na’vi people, and for the love of Neytiri.

While some points of the plot, may have been a little predictable, the visual effects more than compensated. Star Wars was the greatest film, of it’s day. However, this movie was made for Blu-ray and 3D viewing.  It is a viewing experience, like NO other! The transformation from human to avatar, was absolutely amazing, beautiful and believable.  Seamless and flawless, are the only words I can find, to describe the quality of the transformation. Clearly, there is something in this movie that will appeal to everyone, and at every age.  There are many messages that can be taken away from this film.  But, I don’t want to interject anymore than I already have, as each person will have their own opinion.  It is WELL worth watching, in my opinion.

For my family, it was pizza night, and watch AVATAR.  My two grandchildren, (ages 5 and 9) watched the entire movie.  It kept their attention for the entire time(2hr.42min).  My husband, is an ex-marine, and could totally relate, to the military aspect of the film. He didn’t want the movie to end.  That is saying a lot, because he didn’t think, it was going to be his kind of movie. He was a prime example, of shock and awe!  We were all glued, to the most beautiful visual experience we have ever seen!

The door is left open, to the possibility, of perhaps another visit to Pandora.  If that happens, I know this is one family, that will eagerly wait in anticipation, of more AWESOME viewing pleasure.