I’ve always found cover songs interesting. You take a song, that may or may not have been successful in its original release, and put a new spin on it. Sometimes the new spin is simply a different voice recording the original. Sometimes the spin is such an awful retelling that the song completely disappears, never to be heard again. Such was the case of Leatherwolf’s mid 80′s cheese metal take on CCR’s ”Bad Moon Rising”. It was so bad that even recalling it in my head for the purpose of this sentence gives me the shivers. But every now & then, a cover is recorded in such a way that it redefines the original. It is so completely different that it becomes the definitive version of the song. Such instances are rare, but when they come along, the music is something to behold. The most notable, to me anyway, of these songs is Jimi Hendrix’s version of Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower”. The Voodoo Chile himself did such a masterful job reinterpreting the Dylan classic, that Hendrix’s version is the one most associated with the song. There are other, not quite as famous, examples. Jeff Buckley’s version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”, Crosby, Stills, & Nash’s take on Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock”, and just about any Dylan song covered by the Byrds, fits the bill. The phenomenon is less prevalent today than in years past. Oh sure, covers are still being done, and some are done quite well, but there hasn’t been one of those game changers , the one you end up preferring over the original, in some time. This routine of covering originals isn’t limited to music though. The practice is very much alive in the film world as well, which brings us to the purpose of this essay.
I’m not a film critic. I’m too biased. I don’t go to movies looking for the deeper meaning, or many of the other things that critics all seem to look for in a film. I go to be entertained. I like to be told a good story. I like to forget 
about whatever’s occupying my brain for a couple of hours & get lost in someone else’s world. If I stumble upon a deeper meaning, or a greater truth along the way, well, that’s a bonus. Sometimes, the film’s deeper meaning is an advertising point, so you know going in, there’s the purpose of your enlightenment. Sometimes. it’s simply cotton candy, nothing of substance, but it tastes good and is fun to eat. I like many films and I don’t think I’m picky enough to be a good film critic. That is why it feels unnatural for me to be writing about a film I saw yesterday, but it made a big impact on my psyche, and I usually write about such things. It’s a way of getting my thoughts clear, and helping myself understand what I’ve seen. What I saw yesterday, was the cinematic equivalent of an incredible cover song, Jim Cameron’s Avatar
My friend Steve & I, both have similar criteria when judging a cover song. To be listenable, it better bring something new to the table. Avatar does that, and then some. What is the original being covered, you might ask? Avatar is a pretty close copy of Dances With Wolves. Now, Dances With Wolves was a great film. I love a good 
western and Costner delivered in spades. Cameron’s film has enough originality to it that it isn’t a note for note copy, but the themes and plot are so similar, that the comparison isn’t off base by the longest of shots. What makes Avatar different, noteworthy, and a redefinition of the story, is what Cameron has brought to the table. I’ll simply call it the visuals. I could go on for days, in detail, about the advancements in depth-of-field, motion capture, graphics, et al. Suffice it to say, the visuals, are simply stunning. Those of you of a certain age will remember walking out of the theater after seeing Star Wars for the first time, and saying “Wow” over & over again. Those of you of a younger age may have had a similar feeling after seeing The Matrix for the first time. This film had passages that had me literally trying to catch my breath. The last time a film left me breathless was “Saving Private Ryan”. The Omaha Beach scene pushed you back in your chair & didn’t let you breath until Tom Hanks & Co had safely secured their position. The difference was, Private Ryan was standard filmmaking portraying actual events with unflinching realism. Avatar takes your breath away because you’ve never, ever, seen anything like this before.
This isn’t a review, and I won’t recap the film except to say, if you’ve seen Dances With Wolves, then your familiar with the plot. It’s a commodity you’re familiar with, and have seen before. Cameron’s visuals are so involving, you’ll forget about any short-comings in plot. I saw it on a regular sized screen, in 3D, and was drawn in instantly. I’m now very excited about seeing it again in IMAX. The critics have taken to beating up on Cameron for his weakness in plot and dressing an old story in fancier clothes. I would submit to you, isn’t that exactly what Hendrix did with “All Along 
the Watchtower?” And now, is Hendrix’s version not the definitive version of the song? Hendrix redefined the electric guitar and how to use it. I think Jim Cameron has done the same thing for the cinematic experience. Go see this for the experience, see it with an open mind, and very widely open eyes. Go see it with the appreciation that you’re going to see something amazing…
…Because you only get one chance to see something for the first time.
2 Comments
Not sure why you didn’t include the brilliance of Tiffany doing “I saw him standing there,” I mean she had to change “her” to “him” to make that work. But I digress.
Visually Avatar was amazing. I saw it in New York City. People were literally reaching out to touch the screen.
The New York crowd was perfect for the film’s unapologetic liberal message as well. In fact, when Avatar faded to black an applause rang out.
No doubt some may have been applauding seeing something for the first time. Others, I’m sad to say, could relate to the overall theme: The U.S. military is evil. Oil makes human’s greety killers who have no regard for life. Nature is God. Man-made global warming is real and will one day leave us without a planet.
I too try and leave the big message behind when I go to the theatre. I too want cotton candy. But this was too in-my-face to truly enjoy. More and more Hollywood’s agenda spoils what could be great works.
It speaks to just how stunning this film was that I still enjoyed it, despite everything.
As usual great blog!
Tiffany?(shivers) In any event, Hollywood is liberal, always has been, always will be. Going to see some directors, you know, or should know, going in, that there’s a bias. Anyone who’s seen Cameron’s “The Abyss”, or even “Aliens” can tell you where Cameron is on the environment and the military-industrial complex. Corporate/military bad, natural world, good. That’s his bend, and I grant him that. If he kept making plain old films with the same message, I’d get tired of it, but he keeps raising the bar on himself. In the end, I’m entertained, and in the case of “Avatar”, completely floored by the technical advances. I guess there aren’t too many directors that keep you guessing these days. You may not be familiar with the wrapping, but the core is usually going to fall along the same lines. Thanks for reading!