Great visuals, average fantasy-story

Rating: 7/10 (13 April 2010)

I had to write a review, after seeing this movie standing so high in the IMDb top 250. For the visual effects, this is surely an astonishing breakthrough in movie history, and this part I do agree on.
However, I think movies like the matrix or lord of the rings - staying in the fantasy genre - have a way stronger storyline as avatar. You could even easily place this setup in Iraq (that's what the political message also is partly off course); the only thing it'd miss is the visual entertainment that makes it such a hit.
That is why I decided to give this movie a 7 out of 10. I was doubting between a 7 and an 8, but for the 8 it's just not strong enough.
So, if you purely look at the story and the way too obvious political message, I'd just give it an average 6. Entertaining, but flat. The spacey colors, 3d-effects and 'emotions' it will effect on kids (those poor blue creatures are all gunned down by those angry soldiers and they can't do anything, boohoo) add a bit but doesn't make it able to compete with movies such as requiem for a dream, which is rated only 0.1 point higher.
Conclusion, a visual spectacle with a strong (political) message but not a movie that belongs in the top ranks for it's easy-going fantasy story.