James Cameron had better make sure he brings his A game!

Rating: 7/10 (16 November 2009)

Dear Mr. Cameron,
Mr Emmerich just raised the bar on what special-effects look like in terms of "reality", and by doing so has issued your AVATAR a direct challenge. My question is, can your film meet this challenge?
OK, it ain't a great movie. Does that really surprise you? Roland Emmerich's such non-classics as GODZILLA, INDEPENDENCE DAY, THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW, and the utterly turd-tastic 10,000 BC.
But, a lot of us bought tickets, so he got another chance ...
And this time, he hits a solid home run (though it may be an inside-the-park home run). Roland throws all he has learned about massive, earth-destroying special effects on the big screen and a large chunk of it sticks. There are several bravura sequences in this huge, HUGE film. Since the film is short on any real plot, and the acting does not go much further than the talented Chiwetel Ejiofor saying "oh my god" ominously (though, the humor brought by Oliver Platt, Woody Harrleson, and John Cusak is greatly appreciated). And let's face it, you didn't buy this ticket to see any acting ... if you did, you made a big blunder.
And finally, two other nice touches ... and here is my SPOILER (telling you what you WON'T see in this flick) ...
---------------------------- SPOILERS ---------------------------------- ---------------------------- SPOILERS ----------------------------------
1- You will NOT see any leftist "we-killed-the-earth" discussion here ... the cause of the problem is identified and, rather than pointing fingers (which is what we do in real life), these characters simply take action.
2- Citizens of NYC, you are spared. That's right, this may be the first film in many, MANY disaster films that does not show the destruction of The Big Apple. Mr. Emmerich actually shows filmmakers that there are other iconic monuments around the world that one can crush with massive special effects.
So, go see the film for what it is ... a really big, technically excellent ride of a film. If you want to see acting, buy a ticket for AN EDUCATION instead.