felt this movie in my gut - I swoon for Avatar

Rating: 10/10 (9 January 2010)

The first couple of previews I saw of this film were visually catching but did not entice me because I'm a story person and it seemed like a "cute" movie but not my thing. Oh... but when I start hearing from everyone that this is the best movie they have ever seen and will go back to see it again and again... I had to admit that maybe I'm being too judgmental on the big blue creatures I know nothing about.
In the first 2 minutes of the movie I assumed the position: slack jawed in awe and oblivious to everything else for the next 2 1/2 hours.
The direction the story went in the beginning with Neytiri, Jake and the Navii seemed typical. She doesn't trust the outsider but saves him anyway. Mother sticks her with the job to teach him their ways which she is reluctant to do. Their time together turns into a courtship. It was so visually appealing though that it kept away the feelings of boredom I usually get from this story line.
I love Jake's journey to becoming a warrior for the Navii. All the leaps of faith dropped my heart in my stomach. Flying in the treetops and complete lack of fear. His reactions to the terrifying creatures around him changing. His growing respect and reverence to all living things. Realizing that humans never had anything to give but everything to learn from the Navii.
That is when the story changed for me and took on new depths culminating in the epic battle for Pandora. I was on an emotional roller-coaster. Angry, frustrated, scared, sad and conversely, ecstatic, joyful, relieved, crying for every reason and for no reason and completely in love with the Navii, Pandora, and Avatar.
I will see it again and again.