Probably the greatest viewing experience I've ever had!

Rating: 9/10 (19 December 2009)

Before seeing this film I knew virtually nothing about it. For the last couple of years I sporadically heard about Cameron and "Avatar".. But nothing specific. The only thing I did know was that this movie was gonna be in 3D and that it cost roughly half a billion $.
With that in mind I reserved my seat a couple of days ago. Even though it was the 2 pm showing there was already a large crowd gathered at the movie theater. When I finally came to the counter I was asked to pay 12 ($17)instead of 11 indicated on the reservation form. Another  was charged as a "3 D Handling Fee". Just to compare "2012" which was of similar length cost me 9,6 ($13,70)..
Actually I wasn't mad after all that.. I just thought that after all the hype and the money I just paid this better be good..
The movie didn't waste a lot of time and jumped immediately into the story. Our hero "Jake Scully" is a crippled war veteran who was approached by some gentlemen and given a job offer since his identical brother died and they've already created an Avatar suitable to his (or rather his brothers) DNA. He awakens after a 6 year cryo sleep and lands on the planet. His brother was a trained PhD who was well suited for the mission. The mission being that this planet is inhabited by a race who is about 3 times the size of humans and co-exists with it's environment (an ability we sometimes lack).. The Teamleader, who is played by Sigorney Weaver is at first not happy about this but then again, they have this avatar ready to be used. So what is an avatar? An avatar is a artificially created entity, which in appearance looks like a local inhabitant of this planet and can be completely controlled by the human it was made for. Why do we have those? Simple, since the indigenous people of this planet are rather hostile when it comes to outsiders, it was thought that it might be a great Idea if we can be made to look like them. Why all the effort? Because they inhabit a part of the planet where directly under them is a large quantity of an immensely valuable substance. And nice people that we are, we first try to get rid of them with peaceful means.. But back to the story. On his first mission Jake get's separated from his colleagues and meets one of the locals, a female of course.. Well, I don't wanna spoil too much but they become great friend and he learns the ways of these people. I forgot their name because it wasn't really important..
What is the most important thing about this movie is that you forget pretty fast that you are watching a movie. You are inside these big forests who look nothing like forests here on earth because everything is illuminated and just looks magical.. The plot, while pretty slim, is rather engaging and you really want to know how it's gonna end..
Effects wise .. Hmm this is so hard because this movie feels more like a dream after you are finished. You see so many incredible things in that movie. During the movie I turned to my girlfriend and said "I can't believe this movie cost ONLY half a billion".. And I wasn't joking.. What you will see in this movie is unlike anything you have seen before and since it's so unique if you don't watch it you'll probably never see it again. Also, don't wait for the Blu Ray, because the 3D Effect employed was so great and is not doable on BD. You get Glasses from the Movie Theater but they are just slightly tinted.. Not red and Green like the cheapo ones you get with a 3D Movie you'll watch at home.. Well I tried to give you the main points of the plot.. But beyond that it's really rather difficult to explain.. It's even more revolutionary than T2 was in '91.. So if you have any love for movies at all, Go and watch "Avatar"!