James Cameron Offers Wonderful Visuals in This Effective Sci-Fi Film

Rating: 7/10 (1 November 2010)

Avatar is not a sci-fi masterpiece, but it is a good film. Several marines are sent to Pandora to discover the whereabouts of a precious mineral. Jake Sully is one of those marines. While being transferred into the mind of his avatar, he meets an alluring alien named Neytiri. The two fall in love and later endure conflict, mating, and the ways of her colony. Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana give solid performances and have great chemistry as Sully and Neytiri, respectively. The story is clichéd, but it is executed so well that it is able to draw you in for most of its running time. The final action sequence is enthralling and tense, the way an action sequence should be. James Cameron proves to be an amazing director; it is very difficult to make a film as complex and visually captivating as this. Despite its over-length, Avatar is a gripping, surprising, and genuinely romantic sci-fi film. It isn't the best picture of 2009, but it certainly is one of the best. These visuals will inspire other filmmakers for ideas in the future.