Avatar (2009)

Technically this isn't a Disney movie, at least not yet, but since it is represented at the theme parks, let's look at Avatar.

The Movie:

Avatar is a science fiction movie written and directed by James Cameron.  Cameron chose the film as his follow-up to the 1997 movie Titanic, but at the time Cameron did not have the technology he needed to make Avatar.  By 2006, advancements in computer technology allowed him to proceed with the production.  Avatar was notably filmed in 3-D and helped to spark a revival in 3-D movies.  Avatar was critically acclaimed, especially for its pioneering effects.  It won the Golden Globe for Best Director and Best Picture, and it was nominated for nine Oscars, winning three (Art Direction, Cinematography, Sound Mixing).  Avatar is still the highest-grossing film of all time globally, and it held the domestic record until it was passed by Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

The story of Avatar takes place in the year 2154.  Jake Sully, a paraplegic former Marine is recruited to take his twin brother's place in a project on the planet Pandora when his brother is killed.  A company called RDA is on the planet Pandora to mine the rare material unobtanium, but the company is met with resistance from the native race, called the Na'vi.  A science unit within the RDA interacts with the Na'vi through the use of avatars, artificially created Na'vi bodies genetically tailored to their pilots.  On his first mission, Jake is attacked by a predator and chased deep into the forest.  There, he is met by Neytiri, who sees a sign from the living spirit of the planet Eywa.  Neytiri takes Jake to meet her people, where her father, the leader, has her teach Jake the ways of the Na'vi.  However, the Na'vi soon come under greater threat from RDA, and Jake is caught in the middle.

Avatar is a really good movie, especially the visual effects.  Watching it on a TV in 2-D isn't quite the same, but the movie still looks good none the less.  Sure, the basic story isn't that different from other movies that came before it, but the story is well told.  The acting is great all around, and with a cast including Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriquez, and Stephen Lang, that's no surprise.  You can't help but admire the creativity put into this movie.

The score to Avatar was written by the late James Horner, a while there isn't a memorable theme like his work in Titanic or Star Trek II, the score is still good and very fitting to the movie.  Horner did a nice job giving the Na'vi culture a unique sound.  There is a song over the end credits - "I See You," sung by Leona Lewis.

On an interesting note, this movie was almost a Disney movie, and it soon might be.  Fox produced the movie, and at first they rejected the project.  But when Cameron approached Disney and they agreed, Fox changed their minds, and since they had the right of first refusal, got the movie.  However, Disney is currently trying to purchase Fox, giving them the rights to Avatar, which works nicely, since they have an entire land for it in the parks.  Speaking of that...

Presence in the Parks:

In 2017, Pandora - The World of Avatar opened in Animal Kingdom at WDW.  Included in this land are the rides Avatar Flight of Passage and Na'vi River Journey.  I am looking forward to seeing this new land pretty soon.

Notably, Pandora is the first land in WDW inspired after a single movie or franchise.  Given the popularity of Harry Potter up the road at Universal, it's no wonder that Disney is starting to go in this direction.  I know a lot of people though Avatar was an odd choice when it was first announced, but by all reports this land is really well done.