Avatar: Review By mazinger76

Watching Avatar on opening night in 3D Imax made me realize once again why I love going to the movies. It's easy to say the FX and CG were the stars of the movie, but, it's only part of the magic. I've been a fan of James Cameron since The Terminator. He gets it! He understand the story is first and foremost and everything else in the movie is to help tell the story. He understands pacing, lighting, angles, music, sound, acting, the look, etc...His mad scientist mind wrapped in the shroud of an artist allows him to do what he does best: make brilliant movies!

I felt like Jake Scully (Sam Worthington) sitting in the theater being transported to another world. The scientific and technical world melding with a very naturalistic society on a distant planet in 2154, brought many themes that are present on on our own plant today. Mining for profit, removing native people to cash in on corporate greed, using Black Wateresque mercernaries, it's all happening here and now. It has been for hundreds of years. Like Columbus conquering the Indians even though he saw how harmonious the Indians were in their land. Columbus' first instinct was overpowering the natives with steel, the bastard!

Cameron had a lot to say in this movie, if you don't get the messages, then you miss out on part of the true experience of this movie. If you simply gawk and the beautiful images Cameron provides, it's not a bad way to spend a few hours either. The 3D made the experience better with out being too in your face. The 3D enhancing the emotional connection I think. Seeing Jake's eye when he is in the "tanning bed" is beautiful in 3D Imax!

All in all the movie is a mixuture of Dances with Wolves, The Last of the Mohicans, Aliens, The Abyss, Gorillas in the Mist,, and Braveheart. I wonder if that's why the Na'vi were blue? The story was beautiful. The acting was great. The special effects and visuals were the most stunning I have ever seen. I for one can not wait to see the sequels. This is the new standard.

James Cameron is in the pantheon of great directors and modern story tellers. Avatar was a gift, and when the box was opened, what was inside, was wonderful.