Avatar re-release reminded me why it is the biggest movie of all time.

We joke about how Avatar had no lasting impact on pop culture, and it does seem odd that this film came out of nowhere and became the biggest movie in the world, then disappeared for 13 years.

I decided to watch the re-released since I had not seen the movie since 2010, and it dawned on me. This movie is 100% a cinema experience. I remember seeing it in 2009 five or six times in theaters and then buying it on Blu-ray the day it came out, but I have no memory of ever watching it at home.

I was blown away all over again watching it in theaters in 3D. We get used to rushed and thoughtless CGI in movies today. (looking at you, MCU) Even the ones the films that take pride in their VFX (Dune, Gravity, Blade Runner 2049) are working with slower, more contemplative stories. These films don't want to draw attention to the visuals and instead relegate it to the shadows or the background while focusing on the humans and drama. (Not that that is bad. Those are some of my favorite movies).

Avatar is out in full force, begging you to look at every inch of the screen, every detail, every pixel. The 3D isn't subtle. It's immersive, and it leans into it every chance it gets. No wonder its relevance died when it left theaters because that's the only way to enjoy it 100% truly.

The story/characters are not bad, but nothing compelling—no mind-twisting plot like Inspection or crowd-pleasing payoffs like End Game. It is one thing that we don't get much of anymoer, and that is earnest in its story. We got that in Top Gun, and that movie became huge, but most of our films today are cynical and self-aware. (How many MCU movies joke about a character's name being silly?). Avatar puts its heart on its sleeves, and when you pair that with its stunning visual effects and great use of 3D, it's no wonder, everyone saw this movie 50 times in theaters.

It's like riding a rollercoaster vs. watching FPV GoPro footage of a rollercoaster.

submitted by /u/Dylan_Gio
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