A_AT1 New_JJ Eden_NP1 ,_, Both_RR Cosmic_JJ and_CC Cinematic_JJ With_IW "_" Avatar_NP1 "_" James_NP1 Cameron_NP1 has_VHZ turned_VVN one_MC1 man_NN1 's_GE dream_NN1 of_IO the_AT movies_NN2 into_II a_AT1 trippy_JJ joy_NN1 ride_NN1 about_II the_AT end_NN1 of_IO life_NN1 --_NN1 our_APPGE moviegoing_JJ life_NN1 included_VVD --_JJ as_CSA we_PPIS2 know_VV0 it_PPH1 ._. 
Several_DA2 decades_NNT2 in_II the_AT dreaming_NN1 and_CC more_DAR than_CSN four_MC years_NNT2 in_II the_AT actual_JJ making_NN1 ,_, the_AT movie_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT1 song_NN1 to_II the_AT natural_JJ world_NN1 that_CST was_VBDZ largely_RR produced_VVN with_IW software_NN1 ,_, an_AT1 Emersonian_JJ exploration_NN1 of_IO the_AT invisible_JJ world_NN1 of_IO the_AT spirit_NN1 filled_VVN with_IW Cameronian_JJ rock_VV0 'em_PPHO2 ,_, sock_VV0 'em_PPHO2 pulpy_JJ action_NN1 ._. 
Created_VVN to_TO conquer_VVI hearts_NN2 ,_, minds_NN2 ,_, history_NN1 books_NN2 and_CC box-office_JJ records_NN2 ,_, the_AT movie_NN1 --_NN1 one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT expensive_JJ in_II history_NN1 ,_, the_AT jungle_NN1 drums_NN2 thump_VV0 --_NN1 is_VBZ glorious_JJ and_CC goofy_JJ and_CC blissfully_RR deranged_VVD ._. 
The_AT story_NN1 behind_II the_AT story_NN1 ,_, including_II a_AT1 production_NN1 budget_NN1 estimated_VVD to_TO top_VVI $230_NNU million_NNO ,_, and_CC Mr._NNB Cameron_NP1 's_GE future-shock_JJ ambitions_NN2 for_IF the_AT medium_NN1 have_VH0 already_RR begun_VVN to_TO settle_VVI into_II myth_NN1 (_( a_AT1 process_NN1 partly_RR driven_VVN by_II the_AT publicity_NN1 ,_, certainly_RR )_) ._. 
Every_AT1 filmmaker_NN1 is_VBZ something_PN1 of_IO a_AT1 visionary_JJ ,_, just_RR by_II virtue_NN1 of_IO the_AT medium_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB Mr._NNB Cameron_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS directed_VVD the_AT megamelodrama_NN1 "_" Titanic_NP1 "_" and_CC ,_, more_RGR notably_RR ,_, several_DA2 of_IO the_AT most_RGT influential_JJ science-fiction_JJ films_NN2 of_IO the_AT past_JJ few_DA2 decades_NNT2 (_( "_" The_AT Terminator_NN1 ,_, "_" "_" Aliens_NN2 "_" and_CC "_" The_AT Abyss_NN1 "_" )_) ,_, is_VBZ a_AT1 filmmaker_NN1 whose_DDQGE ambitions_NN2 transcend_VV0 a_AT1 single_JJ movie_NN1 or_CC mere_JJ stories_NN2 to_TO embrace_VVI cinema_NN1 as_II an_AT1 art_NN1 ,_, as_CSA a_AT1 social_JJ experience_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 shamanistic_JJ ritual_NN1 ,_, one_PN1 still_RR capable_JJ of_IO producing_VVG the_AT big_JJ WOW_UH ._. 
The_AT scale_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE new_JJ movie_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ brings_VVZ you_PPY into_II a_AT1 meticulous_JJ and_CC brilliantly_RR colored_VVD alien_JJ world_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 fast_RR 2_MC hours_NNT2 46_MC minutes_NNT2 ,_, factors_NN2 into_II that_DD1 wow_NN1 ._. 
Its_APPGE scope_NN1 is_VBZ evident_JJ in_II an_AT1 early_JJ scene_NN1 on_II a_AT1 spaceship_NN1 (_( the_AT year_NNT1 is_VBZ 2154_MC )_) ,_, where_CS the_AT passengers_NN2 ,_, including_II a_AT1 paraplegic_JJ ex-Marine_JJ ,_, Jake_NP1 (_( Sam_NP1 Worthington_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 gruffly_RR sensitive_JJ heartthrob_NN1 )_) ,_, are_VBR being_VBG roused_VVN from_II a_AT1 yearslong_NN1 sleep_NN1 before_II landing_VVG on_II a_AT1 distant_JJ inhabited_JJ moon_NN1 ,_, Pandora_NP1 ._. 
Jake_NP1 is_VBZ woken_VVN by_II an_AT1 attendant_NN1 floating_VVG in_II zero_MC gravity_NN1 ,_, one_MC1 of_IO many_DA2 such_DA aides_NN2 ._. 
As_CSA Jake_NP1 himself_PPX1 glides_VVZ through_II the_AT bright_JJ cavernous_JJ space_NN1 ,_, you_PPY know_VV0 you_PPY 're_VBR not_XX in_II Kansas_NP1 anymore_RR ,_, as_CSA someone_PN1 soon_RR quips_VVZ (_( a_AT1 nod_NN1 to_II "_" The_AT Wizard_NN1 of_IO Oz_NP1 ,_, "_" Mr._NNB Cameron_NP1 's_GE favorite_JJ film_NN1 )_) ._. 
You_PPY also_RR know_VV0 you_PPY 're_VBR not_XX in_II the_AT gloom_NN1 of_IO "_" The_AT Matrix_NN1 ._. "_" 
Though_CS it_PPH1 's_VBZ easy_JJ to_TO pigeonhole_NN1 Mr._NNB Cameron_NP1 as_II a_AT1 gear_NN1 head_NN1 who_PNQS 's_VBZ more_RGR interested_JJ in_II cool_JJ tools_NN2 (_( which_DDQ here_RL include_VV0 3-D_JJ )_) ,_, he_PPHS1 is_VBZ ,_, with_IW "_" Avatar_NP1 ,_, "_" also_RR making_VVG a_AT1 credible_JJ attempt_NN1 to_TO create_VVI a_AT1 paradigm_NN1 shift_VV0 in_II science-fiction_JJ cinema_NN1 ._. 
Since_CS it_PPH1 was_VBDZ first_MD released_VVN in_II 1999_MC ,_, "_" The_AT Matrix_NN1 ,_, "_" which_DDQ owes_VVZ a_AT1 large_JJ debt_NN1 to_II Mr._NNB Cameron_NP1 's_GE own_DA science-fiction_JJ films_NN2 as_II31 well_II32 as_II33 the_AT literary_JJ subgenre_NN1 of_IO cyberpunk_NN1 ,_, has_VHZ hung_VVN heavily_RR over_RP both_RR SF_NN1 and_CC action_NN1 filmmaking_VVG ._. 
Most_DAT films_NN2 that_CST crib_VV0 from_II "_" The_AT Matrix_NN1 "_" tend_VV0 to_TO borrow_VVI only_RR its_APPGE slo-mo_JJ death_NN1 waltzes_NN2 and_CC leather_NN1 fetishism_NN1 ,_, keeping_VVG its_APPGE nihilism_NN1 while_CS ditching_VVG the_AT intellectual_JJ inquiries_NN2 ._. 
Although_CS "_" Avatar_NP1 "_" delivers_VVZ a_AT1 late_JJ kick_NN1 to_II the_AT gut_NN1 that_CST might_VM be_VBI seen_VVN as_CSA nihilistic_JJ (_( and_CC how_RRQ !_! )_) ,_, it_PPH1 is_VBZ strangely_RR utopian_JJ ._. 
It_PPH1 does_VDZ n't_XX take_VVI Jake_NP1 long_RR to_TO feel_VVI the_AT good_JJ vibes_NN2 ._. 
Like_II Neo_NP1 ,_, the_AT savior-hero_NN1 of_IO the_AT "_" Matrix_NN1 "_" series_NN played_VVN by_II Keanu_NP1 Reeves_NP1 ,_, Jake_NP1 is_VBZ himself_PPX1 an_AT1 avatar_NN1 because_CS he_PPHS1 's_VBZ both_RR a_AT1 special_JJ being_NN1 and_CC an_AT1 embodiment_NN1 of_IO an_AT1 idea_NN1 ,_, namely_REX that_DD1 of_IO the_AT hero_NN1 's_GE journey_NN1 ._. 
What_DDQ initially_RR makes_VVZ Jake_NP1 unusual_JJ is_VBZ that_CST he_PPHS1 has_VHZ been_VBN tapped_VVN to_TO inhabit_VVI a_AT1 part-alien_NN1 ,_, part-human_JJ body_NN1 that_CST he_PPHS1 controls_VVZ ,_, like_II a_AT1 puppeteer_NN1 ,_, from_II its_APPGE head_NN1 to_II its_APPGE prehensile_JJ tail_NN1 ._. 
Like_II the_AT rest_NN1 of_IO the_AT human_JJ visitors_NN2 who_PNQS 've_VH0 made_VVN camp_NN1 on_II Pandora_NP1 ,_, he_PPHS1 has_VHZ signed_VVN on_RP with_IW a_AT1 corporation_NN1 that_CST 's_VBZ intent_JJ on_II extracting_VVG a_AT1 valuable_JJ if_CS mysterious_JJ substance_NN1 from_II the_AT moon_NN1 called_VVN unobtainium_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 great_JJ whatsit_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ an_AT1 emblem_NN1 of_IO humanity_NN1 's_GE greed_NN1 and_CC folly_NN1 ._. 
With_IW his_APPGE avatar_NN1 ,_, Jake_NP1 will_VM look_VVI just_RR like_II one_MC1 of_IO the_AT natives_NN2 ,_, the_AT Na'vi_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 new_JJ identity_NN1 that_CST gives_VVZ the_AT movie_NN1 its_APPGE plot_NN1 turns_VVZ and_CC politics_NN1 ._. 
The_AT first_MD part_NN1 of_IO Jake_NP1 's_GE voyage_NN1 --_NN1 for_IF this_DD1 is_VBZ ,_, above_II all_DB ,_, a_AT1 boy_NN1 's_VBZ rocking_VVG adventure_NN1 ,_, if_CS one_PN1 populated_VVN by_II the_AT usual_JJ tough_JJ Cameron_NP1 chicks_VVZ --_NN1 takes_VVZ him_PPHO1 from_II a_AT1 wheelchair_NN1 into_II a_AT1 10-foot_NN1 ,_, blue-skinned_JJ Na'vi_JJ body_NN1 ._. 
At_RR21 once_RR22 familiar_JJ and_CC pleasingly_RR exotic_JJ ,_, the_AT humanoid_JJ Na'vi_NN2 come_VV0 with_IW supermodel_NN1 dimensions_NN2 (_( slender_JJ hips_NN2 ,_, a_AT1 miniature-apple_JJ rear_NN1 )_) ;_; long_RR articulated_JJ digits_NN2 ,_, the_AT better_JJR to_TO grip_VVI with_IW ;_; and_CC the_AT slanted_JJ eyes_NN2 and_CC twitchy_JJ ears_NN2 of_IO a_AT1 cat_NN1 ._. 
(_( The_AT gently_RR curved_JJ stripes_NN2 that_CST line_VV0 their_APPGE blue_JJ skin_NN1 ,_, the_AT color_NN1 of_IO twilight_NN1 ,_, bring_VV0 to_TO mind_VVI the_AT markings_NN2 on_II mackerel_NN tabby_NN1 cats_NN2 ._. )_) 
For_IF Jake_NP1 his_APPGE avatar_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ he_PPHS1 hooks_NN2 into_II through_JJ sensors_NN2 while_CS lying_VVG in_II a_AT1 remote_JJ pod_NN1 in_II a_AT1 semiconscious_JJ state_NN1 ,_, is_VBZ at_RR21 first_RR22 a_AT1 giddy_JJ novelty_NN1 and_CC then_RT a_AT1 means_NN to_II liberation_NN1 ._. 
Plugging_VVG into_II the_AT avatar_NN1 gives_VVZ Jake_NP1 an_AT1 instant_JJ high_JJ ,_, allowing_VVG him_PPHO1 to_TO run_VVI ,_, leap_NN1 and_CC sift_VVI dirt_NN1 through_II his_APPGE toes_NN2 ,_, and_CC freeing_VVG him_PPHO1 from_II the_AT constraints_NN2 of_IO his_APPGE body_NN1 ._. 
Although_CS physically_RR emancipated_VVD ,_, he_PPHS1 remains_VVZ bound_NN1 ,_, contractually_RR and_CC existentially_RR ,_, to_II the_AT base_NN1 camp_NN1 ,_, where_CS he_PPHS1 works_VVZ for_IF the_AT corporation_NN1 's_GE top_JJ scientist_NN1 ,_, Dr._NNB Grace_NP1 Augustine_NP1 (_( Sigourney_NP1 Weaver_NP1 ,_, amused_JJ and_CC amusing_JJ )_) ,_, even_RR while_CS taking_VVG orders_NN2 from_II its_APPGE head_NN1 of_IO security_NN1 ,_, Col._NNB Miles_NP1 Quaritch_NP1 (_( Stephen_NP1 Lang_NP1 )_) ,_, a_AT1 military_JJ man_NN1 turned_VVD warrior_NN1 for_IF hire_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 cartoon_NN1 of_IO masculinity_NN1 ,_, Quaritch_NP1 strides_VVZ around_RP barking_VVG orders_NN2 like_II some_DD intransigent_JJ representation_NN1 of_IO American_JJ military_JJ might_NN1 (_( or_CC a_AT1 bossy_JJ movie_NN1 director_NN1 )_) ._. 
It_PPH1 's_VBZ a_AT1 favorite_JJ Cameron_NP1 type_NN1 ,_, and_CC Mr._NNB Lang_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS until_CS this_DD1 year_NNT1 had_VHD long_RR been_VBN grievously_RR underemployed_JJ ,_, tears_NN2 into_II the_AT role_NN1 like_II a_AT1 starved_JJ man_NN1 gorging_VVG on_II steak_NN1 ._. 
Mr._NNB Cameron_NP1 lays_VVZ out_RP the_AT fundamentals_NN2 of_IO the_AT narrative_NN1 efficiently_RR ,_, grabbing_VVG you_PPY at_RR21 once_RR22 with_IW one_MC1 eye-popping_JJ detail_NN1 after_II another_DD1 and_CC on_II occasion_NN1 almost_RR losing_VVG you_PPY with_IW some_DD of_IO the_AT comically_RR broad_JJ dialogue_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 's_VBZ a_AT1 masterly_JJ storyteller_NN1 if_CS a_AT1 rather_RG less_RGR nimble_JJ prose_NN1 writer_NN1 ._. 
(_( He_PPHS1 has_VHZ sole_JJ script_NN1 credit_NN1 :_: this_DD1 is_VBZ personal_JJ filmmaking_NN1 on_II an_AT1 industrial_JJ scale_NN1 ._. )_) 
Some_DD of_IO the_AT clunkier_JJR lines_NN2 (_( "_" Yeah_UH ,_, who_PNQS 's_VBZ bad_JJ ,_, "_" Jake_NP1 taunts_VVZ a_AT1 rhinolike_JJ creature_NN1 he_PPHS1 encounters_VVZ )_) seem_VV0 to_TO have_VHI been_VBN written_VVN to_TO placate_VVI those_DD2 members_NN2 of_IO the_AT Michael_NP1 Bay_NN1 demographic_JJ who_PNQS might_VM find_VVI themselves_PPX2 squirming_VVG at_II the_AT story_NN1 's_VBZ touchier_JJR ,_, feelier_JJR elements_NN2 ,_, its_APPGE ardent_JJ environmentalism_NN1 and_CC sincere_JJ love_NN1 story_NN1 ,_, all_DB of_IO which_DDQ kick_VV0 in_RP once_CS Jake_NP1 meets_VVZ Neytiri_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 female_JJ Na'vi_NN1 (_( Zo_NP1 ?_? 
Saldana_NN1 ,_, seen_VVN only_RR in_II slinky_JJ Na'vi_JJ form_NN1 )_) ._. 
Mr._NNB Cameron_NP1 has_VHZ said_VVN that_CST he_PPHS1 started_VVD thinking_VVG about_II the_AT alien_JJ universe_NN1 that_CST became_VVD Pandora_NP1 and_CC its_APPGE galactic_JJ environs_NN2 in_II "_" Avatar_NP1 "_" back_NN1 in_II the_AT 1970s_MC2 ._. 
He_PPHS1 wrote_VVD a_AT1 treatment_NN1 in_II 1996_MC ,_, but_CCB the_AT technologies_NN2 he_PPHS1 needed_VVD to_TO turn_VVI his_APPGE ideas_NN2 into_II images_NN2 did_VDD n't_XX exist_VVI until_II recently_RR ._. 
New_JJ digital_JJ technologies_NN2 gave_VVD him_PPHO1 the_AT necessary_JJ tools_NN2 ,_, including_II performance_NN1 capture_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ translates_VVZ an_AT1 actor_NN1 's_GE physical_JJ movements_NN2 into_II a_AT1 computer-generated_JJ image_NN1 (_( CGI_NP1 )_) ._. 
Until_II now_RT ,_, by_RR21 far_RR22 the_AT most_RGT plausible_JJ character_NN1 created_VVN in_II this_DD1 manner_NN1 has_VHZ been_VBN slithery_JJ Gollum_NP1 from_II Peter_NP1 Jackson_NP1 's_GE "_" Lord_NN1 of_IO the_AT Rings_NN2 "_" cycle_NN1 ._. 
The_AT exotic_JJ creatures_NN2 in_II "_" Avatar_NP1 ,_, "_" which_DDQ include_VV0 an_AT1 astonishment_NN1 of_IO undulating_JJ ,_, flying_VVG ,_, twitching_VVG and_CC galloping_JJ organisms_NN2 ,_, do_VD0 n't_XX just_RR crawl_VVI through_II the_AT underbrush_NN1 ;_; they_PPHS2 thunder_VV0 and_CC shriek_NN1 ,_, yip_NN1 and_CC hiss_NN1 ,_, pointy_JJ teeth_NN2 gleaming_JJ ._. 
The_AT most_RGT important_JJ of_IO these_DD2 are_VBR the_AT Na'vi_NN1 ,_, and_CC while_CS their_APPGE movements_NN2 can_VM bring_VVI to_TO mind_VVI old-fashioned_JJ stop-motion_JJ animation_NN1 ,_, their_APPGE faces_NN2 are_VBR a_AT1 triumph_NN1 of_IO tech_NN1 innovation_NN1 ,_, with_IW tremors_NN2 and_CC twitches_VVZ that_CST make_VV0 them_PPHO2 immediately_RR appealing_JJ and_CC empathetic_JJ ._. 
By_II the_AT time_NNT1 Neytiri_NN1 ushers_VVZ Jake_NP1 into_II her_APPGE world_NN1 of_IO wonders_NN2 --_NN1 a_AT1 lush_JJ dreamscape_NN1 filled_VVN with_IW kaleidoscopic_JJ and_CC bioluminescent_JJ flora_NN and_CC fauna_NN ,_, with_IW pink_JJ jellyfishlike_JJ creatures_NN2 that_CST hang_VV0 in_II the_AT air_NN1 and_CC pleated_JJ orange_JJ flowers_NN2 that_CST snap_VV0 shut_VVN like_II parasols_NN2 --_NN1 you_PPY are_VBR deep_RR in_II the_AT Na'vi-land_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 's_VBZ a_AT1 world_NN1 that_CST looks_VVZ as_CS21 if_CS22 it_PPH1 had_VHD been_VBN created_VVN by_II someone_PN1 who_PNQS 's_VBZ watched_VVN a_AT1 lot_NN1 of_IO Jacques_NP1 Cousteau_NP1 television_NN1 or_CC ,_, like_II Mr._NNB Cameron_NP1 ,_, done_VDN a_AT1 lot_NN1 of_IO diving_NN1 ._. 
