The Avatar Apocalypse and the Eventual End of Great Movies

Where would movies be without technological advancements? Imagine what it would be like without the continuous shots pioneered in Birth of a Nation (1915) or without the sound pioneered in The Jazz Singer (1927). The problem has come now with Avatar. While the previously pioneering movies were milestones in terms of technical achievements, they were also great movies. They had great stories, and great actors. In the age created by Avatar, the story is cast aside as a minor element only there to serve the special effects supervisor. As for actors, the computerized blue people will probably replace actors in the next thirty years. Movies will be done entirely on a computer, each simply seeking to outdo the previous hit's 3-d imaging. The real human emotions will be lost as will the magic in the touch of a skillful director and the vitality of the screenplay writer. The worst of it is, that many claim that Avatar is the greatest film of all time. Sure it impressed us with special effects, but did it make us cry like Citizen Kane, laugh like Dr. Strangelove, surprise us like Vertigo, engulf us in a man's ascent to power like The Godfather, or make us feel the pain of a defeated people like Gone With the Wind. Avatar cannot match up to any of these classics, because Avatar lacks the heart that connects us with movies. The important question for us to ask is if we are willing to sacrifice the genuine emotion that can be portrayed in films for a few tricks.