Great computer effects; weaker story

Rating: 7/10 (22 February 2010)

The following review contains a spoiler
IMO,the CGI (computer generated imagery) was stunning and worth the price of admission. I loved the animals, and especially the plants and plant-like creatures floating through the air like luminescent small jelly-fish/dandelion seeds--as well as many other plants. The floating mountains, the vegetation, the flying creatures were excellent. The fear of heights it induced in viewers was breathtaking.
I got tired of wearing the 3D glasses and having my face slapped so hard, so continually with 3D effects. For ME, except for the novelty of seeing some of it that way, it would've been fine--even better--to see it in 2D.
The story line was both kind of interesting but by far it's weakest part; it felt like it primarily served as an excuse to serve up all the special effects.
For the story line, Cameron used elements from many historical explorations of the more technologically advanced "civilized world" taking, raping, the resources of aboriginal tribes--oft repeated, whether with the Incas, Aztecs, Caribbean islanders, American Indians, African cultures (e.g., the Congo), Pacific Islanders, wherever. His avatar characters even resembled (IMO) some facial features of North American Indians.
A key difference or variation: this time the aboriginals successfully resisted being exploited and drove the intruders out--albeit under the leadership of a defecting intruder and the help of a few of his like-minded compatriots.
Also, in quite significant ways, I thought Avatar echoed a great many of the themes, conflicts and outcomes in Miyazaki's animé film "Princess Mononoke"--except Cameron does with CGI what Miyazaki did with hand drawn art. (If you've never seen "PM" I highly recommend it; it's not my favorite Miyazaki but very worthwhile and a deserved favorite of many.)
Since avatar's are so very common in computer games, I do wonder if Cameron might be playing on computer gamers' fantasy desires to make the transition to their avatar and leave their worldly bodies and abilities behind? (I notice on IMDb's discussion forum, some people say they've seen the 3D version 12-16X!!!! -- I suspect these must all be computer gamers.) I also suspect that avid computer gamers will be almost universally those most delighted with "Avatar" while we others will be less so.
There were some plot holes.
The most bothersome to me was that whenever the hero, Jake, was back in HQ sleeping, eating, reporting, etc., his avatar body was unresponsive--functionally dead. Over 3 months? Every day for 90 days? Without causing suspicion or alarm to the native Na'vi people??? And it was announced that all the life forms on the planet--Na'vi, animals, plants--were in communion with each other in a symbiotic relationship but little was made of this.
The ultimate battle scene went on much longer (was it 2 hours? or 20 minutes? whatever) than I thought it deserved. How many war machines, how many explosions, collisions, how many Plexiglas windows and bodies do I need to see pierced, blown to smithereens, when I already have no doubt of who's going to win? Or was this some embedded promotional advertising for the coming release of "Avatar: the Computer Game" ??
Interesting CGI & special effects = 10 stars
Story line, narrative, used as the vehicle to display said special effects = 5 stars