The River Green

3D movies are weird. The glasses fit over my own and apparently caused a resemblance to Roy Orbison. Getting used to the way the movie looked and the 3D effects were difficult to get used to and the warning on the package stated that if you started to feel strange, you may be experiencing a seizure. Yikes. Almost immediately, the main protagonist has to adjust to his new alien body. I felt a connection to him because I was trying to get used to the 3D aspects.

Overall the movie was good. I liked the way the alien culture was created using aspects of both native American and African cultures- both strongly identified with nature. The effects were amazing, and the 3D was great. Due to the nature of how the movie rendered in 3D, it was impossible to tell if the computer animation was realistic; the entire thing looked like a viewfinder and even the 'real' people looked animated.

The central antagonist was very much over-the-top and I thought the role as a composite, was not properly averaged out over political, military and corporate evils, but rather simply added up. The actual corporate token character was too weak.

It was all very imaginative and the environment aspects were incredibly original.

During the progress of the story, I felt that certain portrayals betrayed suspension of disbelief. There already is so much to suspend, that even the slightest departure from a realistic human condition, provides an element of utter disbelief.

Another part of the movie that sort of bothered me was the romantic scene. So, here we are on this world with large blue beings with tails and a 'bonding braid', who have connections to animals and even the planet itself, and you are trying to convince me that all there is to intimacy is light kissing? I was expecting something strange or a higher intimacy level. It seemed like 'The People' had a closer bond with their horses than with each other. It was all very strange.

Even with all of the plot difficulties and character establishment issues, it was still an amazing movie with a powerful message. I'm not convinced it should have been nominated for 'Best Picture,' though.

Labels: movies