Mind blowing, yet seen before

Rating: 9/10 (25 December 2009)

I give this film a 9 out of 10 just because it was so fantastic to watch (in 3D), enthralling, mind blowing, emotional, and there aren't many films where the end credits roll, and THE AUDIENCE STARTS CLAPPING.
However, there are two things that bug me about this film (and it isn't the military General that you truly hate, despise, and would love to see his guts painfully strewn everywhere). No, it is character development. I feel like I was emotionally attached to the aliens as a species, and I felt nothing for the humans. I don't know if it was the cast, but I didn't find any particular character I liked, or felt for, or rooted for. (thankfully the emotional context was high enough to compensate for that). Sam Worthington didn't particularly impress me.
The other thing was the fact that a few weeks ago I saw the film "Battle For Terra" - which coincidentally had almost the same plot. Humans invade planet to get what they want - they can't breathe there - and are willing to destroy an alien species to get what they want. The politicians/scientists want to negotiate and the military wants to dominate. Of course, one human soldier is taken in by the aliens and is forced to take sides.
Both films are different in look and back story, yet similar in context. Both are good.
Sound familiar?