Student Film Reviews

Film reviews from theaters, couches, and film festivals

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1. Siana Duran 10.13.14 / 3pm

   I personally really enjoyed this film in 3-D and thought it was a great use for the effects. I remember going to see this film multiple times in the theater. It was totally worth the few extra bucks to see it, I thought the 3-D was super simple and extremely effective. Instead of everything popping out at you it was very subtle. I’ve heard a lot of people dislike the film because it was a high tech/ alien version of Pocahontas, but I didn’t see it that way at all. I loved all of the actors in that film, loved everything they have done before so I felt like they were perfect. The story itself I thought was really cool, although since its release I have only watched the extended edition or the director’s cut. I thought that they added and explained so much, like what happened at the school. I like your summary of the film but the music and design of this film was phenomenal. It speaks on levels besides that of the film, its directed to us; here and now. We are hurting the world around us and need to fix it before we lose it all. I’m not going to lie, I loved the glow factor in the entire film. I’m extremely excited for the second one.
2. JD Heard 04.02.15 / 11pm

   I really enjoyed this movie and I remember watching it in theaters and thinking about how amazing the special effects were as well as how the filmmakers managed to make a place so far off become so lifelike. CGI is truly an art and they managed to capture that perfectly in this film. However, I thought the story was kind of dry and lacking in much substance, however the audience doesn’t really care because of the huge amount of eye candy that the film provides. Overall I think this is a good review because it is unbiased, however there was not enough detail- it seemed as though there could have been more to say.
3. Sarbjot Singh 06.06.15 / 1pm

   I saw this movie in the theaters the first time and it was amazing. I had never seen a film with so many special affects technologically done. Also the story was very interesting and related to humankind. The film having a human perspective and an “alien” perspective really told two different stories. As in when humans find a new place they tear down trees and destroy a natural habitat for many animals. This was shown in the film by the story of how a general dropped down many bombs to clear out the beings that were staying there. The landscape was used in a way, which it produced many feelings for the audience and persuaded some sort of danger. This used the 3-d effect in there favor, making the audience feel like they were going on a ride but were actually were safe.
4. Armando Meza-Casillas 07.28.17 / 11pm

   I really liked this film and the double perspective it gave to the audience. It was really sad to see that jake could not walk but when jake was connected to his avatar and induced into sleep mode, it was cool to see him interacting with a new body with full use of his arms and legs.  Although, he was employed by the RDA Corporation which is bent on destroying Pandora, policing of the moon is conducted by the Marines.  Jake takes it upon himself to fight Colonel Quaritch and the spying on the indigenous population (the Na’vi). This film has to be vivid creation of a fantasy world.
5. Jenna L Warner 03.19.18 / 10pm

   James Cameron’s Avatar is one of my favorite movies. When it came out in theaters I saw it twice, both in 3-D and on a regular imax screen. I would have to agree with Kathleen Amboy that watching it in 3-D was fun, but did not make it better and actually preferred to watch it in imax. Regardless of how it is watched, I believe this movie is phenomenal. I think that this film was visually groundbreaking. I remember watching “Avatar” for the first time and thinking: “I have never seen anything like this before”. I was amazed by the close attention to detail the post production team paid. I felt like I was right on the planet Pandora, instead of watching it from a screen.
6. Raymond Brown 07.21.18 / 9pm

   James Cameron’s Avatar is probably a top five film for me. Before watching it i did not know what to expect but it absolutely amazed me. The visual effects were astounding and that only made the story so much better. I agree that the 3d was probably just a way to make money and did not need it at all it was amazing with out it. I disagree with you a little bit because i think all the characters were superb, all of them even Sigourney Weaver’s character. Overall i love this film.
7. Jennifer Zurlinden 07.21.18 / 10pm

   This very well thought out review does the movie Avatar justice. I remember when I first saw this movie, as a lover of scifi and fantasy this film was a dream come true. So, the idea that its sequel will come out in a little over two years is amazing. I found the reviewer’s take on the 3D aspect of this film interesting because I had never considering that 3D could become a part of the plot of the film. I always thought of 3D as more of just an additional mise-en-scene element because of its ability to create a stronger connection with the audience viewing the movie as more realistic and less of an act.
8. Jacob Valencia 10.19.18 / 7pm

   The film, Avatar, was full of amazing graphics and three-dimensional effects. It makes sense that the film took ten years to develop considering the length and the quality of this sci-fi-fi adventure. I agree with the idea that 3-D effects are only a mechanism to create more profit, but the director did a fantastic job at incorporating the technique to create an amazing film. The intricate plot alone causes the audience to imagine what life would be like on the Pandora moon. The fact that most of the film is captured in life-like animation makes the concept of the film more intriguing. It allows the audience to experience life as an extraterrestrial being and explore the idea of life outside of earth.
9. Syagalaty 03.02.20 / 11pm

   Avatar is easily one of my top 5 favorite films. The visual effects were incredible with amazing actors and performances. When I first watched the film I was really young and loved it. Still after all of these years it ceases to amaze me. The script was really well written and the characters were obviously really thought out. I thought that the take on the 3 D aspect of the film was interesting. I agree with the fact that it could have just used to make more money. People love films to feel more interactive. I think that the film was just as amazing without.
10. Bertelle Law 06.11.22 / 8am

    I have seen the film Avatar many times and each time I admire the film production more than before. I have not seen the film In 3-D but I can imagine it’s a great enhancement, because without the 3-D effect the film still gives me that effect. I thought the film followed the classical Hollywood narrative with it including aspects of loss, love, and rebellion. I enjoyed the high tech effects and the storyline, and I’m very excited for the second film set to come out at the end of this year! Your comments of the film not needing to be 3-D makes me wonder if the next film will be 3-D or not.
11. Natalie Elenes 10.21.22 / 11pm

    Avatar is a film that to me is as visually stunning from the first time you see it to the fifth. I remember loving this movie when it was released and upon the announcement of the sequel I decided it was time to watch it again. I attended the re-release in theater which was only available in 3D, and I must admit that I don’ believe it adds much to the film. I think that the realism of the CGI is truly what makes this film so immersive and enjoyable, you begin to forget that the movie is fiction because the storyline feels so real.
12. Nicholas Tait 11.12.22 / 7pm

    Avatar review,
    This movie was ground breaking because it was one of the first to have such advanced CGI. Toward the middle and the end of the film The shots got shorter. There was also more of a pan on the shots while they were usually small zoom ins.
13. Emily Cornwell 06.24.23 / 11pm

    Personally, Avatar is my favorite movie. This movie was groundbreaking for the movie industry because of the advanced technology that was incorporated in the film at the time. I remember the first time watching it, I was amazed at how real the avatars looked and found the plot to be interesting which kept me intrigued. The film portrays life like animations which creates a connection with the audience. Overall, I believe you had a great response to the movie.
14. Cale Patla 11.07.23 / 2am

    Avatar is a groundbreaking film that changed the tide for the sci-fi world. Through use of new cinematic technologies like the dual camera technology and loads of CGI, the viewers were immersed in a practically fully built world. The amount of detail was immense. This focus on Pandora’s environment and creatures creates an abstract reflection of our own world and what we do to it through mass production and development. I feel this film hit home for many people as James Cameron carried this Gem of a film. I believe you made a proper assessment of the film and its developers.
15. Nicole Martinez-Velasquez 03.14.24 / 11pm

    Avatar is an amazing blockbuster film, especially for being a movie from the early 2000s. What makes this movie a blockbuster is that it was able to portray the filmmaker’s vision so well, had incredible cutting-edge technology, provided a gripping narrative, and had clever promotion. This all worked together to make “Avatar” a box office hit and cement its legacy in the history of film production. Also, commenting on your thoughts about having this movie in 3-D is actually, in my opinion, a bonus. This attracts a whole different group of audience members (primarily miners) to the theater for an entirely different experience.

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