Amazing experience

Rating: 9/10 (19 December 2009)

Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but if someone doesn't find the movie Avatar beautiful, then please check their pulse as they might be dead - that or they've been watching so many movies they've gone numb. This movie sets a new threshold of eye candy and special effects and single-handedly justifies IMAX and the resurgence of 3D. Wow!
The criticisms of this film that I've seen circle around the script being plain and the plot being too familiar. Both could have been more dynamic, granted. However, why does familiarity with a plot have to be a negative? Is A Christmas Carol or It's a Wonderful Life too predictable for you to ever watch again? Will you never see another Shakespearean play or Greek tragedy because you know the stories? No, because that's missing a very simple fact: stories that reveal the human condition and move us in deep ways need not be complicated and hold resonance for us even after repeated viewings. The movie is like Dancing with Wolves? At a very general level, yes. But who cares so long as the story moves us? I fear most movie critics just watch too dang many movies to give any new movie a fair shake; if I watched as many as they do I would have a chip on my shoulder going into the theater too.
Now the script, it could have been better. But it sufficed, and everything else more than made up for it. Anyway, I'm definitely seeing this film again while it's at the cinema - too awesome!!