Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
Capturing Avatar is a feature length behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of Avatar. It uses footage from the film's development, as well as stock footage from as far back as the production of Titanic in 1995. Also included are numerous interviews with cast, artists, and other crew members. The documentary was released as a bonus feature on the extended collector's edition of Avatar.
Capturing Avatar is a competent but fairly standard making-of documentary, offering fans a deep dive into the groundbreaking technology behind Avatar's production. The interviews with James Cameron and the crew provide genuine insight into the filmmaking process, particularly the performance capture and 3D camera innovations. However, as a documentary it follows the conventional behind-the-scenes format without much structural or narrative ambition of its own. The 'plot' is essentially a linear production diary, and the ending offers little beyond a celebratory wrap-up. Its novelty is limited by the by-the-numbers making-of template, though the subject matter itself (Avatar's production pipeline) is inherently fascinating. Acting is not really applicable but interview subjects come across as passionate and credible. Cinematography is serviceable, mixing behind-the-scenes footage with polished clips from the film itself.