Synopsis: In the year 2154, we've reduced earth to a brown, resource starved planet, and need to mine our minerals elsewhere. We've discovered a distant world, named Pandora, that takes 6 years to fly to, that is rich in the mineral "Unobtanium". Apparently this rock sells more "20 million a kilo", which I will assume is slightly more than the trade value of graham crackers. The RDA- a private military organization- are running things on Pandora. The Na'vi are an indigenous people who just happen to live on the biggest deposit of the rock for hundreds of miles in any direction. The humans have built host bodies with human and Na'vi dna, and through neural link machines, people are able to "pilot" their bodies, or "avatars". (IE- you play the online sensation, "World of Everquestcraft", your character is your avatar). Plot ensues.
Loved: 3D that was subtle and never overdone. Totally immersive environments. Amazing animation. Excellent direction. Great music. Basically everything you want from a movie. I'm still blown away. Its nearly 3 hours long, and when it ends you want it to keep on going. The Na'vi are so real that they seem more real than the humans. Pandora is breathtaking. Avatar was an experience, not just a movie. All the theories about how it was going to be awful we not true. Even the previously dumb "Papyrus" font worked well. (Subtitles in 3D are cool.) Its cool to see movies finally taking things from video games, and not only the other way around. 3 quick things that were direct lifts from games: The "Scorpion" helicopters (Halo series- Pelicans and Hornets), the RDA mechs (loads of games- notably Dawn of War (Tau XV8s and Marine Dreadnaughts), the Viperhound (?)- six legged crazy predator- Warcraft.
Hated: Well, the preview for "Piranha 3D" made my head hurt.
Verdict: This movie reminds me of Lord of the Rings. I felt a certain way after seeing those movies, and thats how I feel now. Totally immersed, amazed, and wanting to see it again. I wonder how well 3D will transfer to Blu-ray, because thats how I want to see it next. 2d may look fine, but you'll never feel like you're in a room or on Pandora. 10/10
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