Special effects alone gets this to a 4 rating

Rating: 4/10 (6 April 2010)

The good :- Wonderful special effects.
The bad (mild spoilers) :- This was a thinly veiled version of American's colonising Western USA. Anyone who doesn't see the indigenous population of Pandora (and this name in itself demonstrates a terrible lack of imagination) as being representative of the indigenous tribes of north America must be blind. They live in tribes, they wear the same style of clothing, similar hairstyles, they ride around on horses, they have an elderly male leader of each tribe, they believe in a connection to the Earth and animal spirit world and the biggest give-away of all : bows and arrows!!! And what is all the fighting over? A substance called "Unobtainium". Cameron, simply hang your head in shame.
The Plot (major spoilers ... clearly) :- A technologically superior race (Cowboys) come along and drive the indigenous population (Indians) off the most precious piece of land. A thicko of a marine (yet more stereo-typing) lives and falls in love with the indigenous population for three months knowing that they're going to be driven off their land and never gets around to letting them know. Actually, the more I write, the more I realise how annoyed the laziness of the plot writing made me. Are the movies only for morons now? Are those of us with a memory or education not allowed to watch films with action in them? There are many books out there with better plots that could have had the Avatar CGI, 3D and hype treatment. Also, can someone explain to me why anyone would name such a planet "Pandora"? It's like someone naming a new cruise-liner "Titanic"!