Your jaw will meet the floor.

Rating: 9/10 (30 January 2010)

I wasn't going to bother seeing Avatar: I was afraid that it couldn't possibly live up to my expectations as far as the visuals were concerned, and some reports had also been been rather critical of the plot, likening it to 'Dances With Wolves', only with aliens.
But inevitably, all the talk of mind-blowing effects and jaw-dropping 3D was enough to finally reel me in, and I'm pleased to say that, once again, James Cameron has succeeded in delivering the goods—and then some.
Those who have maligned Avatar for its condemnation of war instigated by greed, or given it flak for its tree-hugging sentiments should get a grip: if Cameron wants to use his projects as a forum for his beliefs (and let's face it, he's not exactly alone in his opinions) then he can go ahead—surely what matters is that the film doesn't suffer for it. And Avatar doesn't.
As a piece of 100% slam-bang, in-your-face, holy-cow-how-did-they-do-that, OMG-did-I-really-just-see-that entertainment, it is near perfection: the plot brilliantly combines pure imagination and wonder, incredible white-knuckle action, and genuine pathos; the acting is incredible, with the cast giving superb performances, even when given a massive CGI makeover; and Cameron's use of his advanced, state-of-the-art 3D technology is simply incredible, the design of which draws inspiration from many sources—most notably, perhaps, certain progressive rock album covers from the 70s.
On a purely personal level, I also loved the fact that both Sigourney Weaver and Michelle Rodriguez were in the film: they're unlikely bits of totty, I know, but Weaver still has a certain something, even at the age of 60, and Rodriguez has made the hot tough-chick routine all her own.
Until someone takes an even mightier leap into the cinematic unknown, developing all the more dazzling techniques to wow an audience (and I'll hazard a guess that that person will be Cameron again), Avatar has set the bar for stunningly beautiful fantasy entertainment.