"An incredible film journey which sets new limits for special effects"

Rating: 8/10 (15 April 2012)

Avatar is an incredible film journey which sets new limits for special effects and proves that James Cameron can make a really good film.
The story is set in the year 2154, a concept which made me edgy as futuristic Star Trek-style movies can be disappointing. This was not the case with Avatar. In 2154, humans discover a resource on a distant planet called Pandora. This resource sells for lots and lots of money. The only problem is that the local people, called the Na'vi, have their home right on top of the mine.
Our hero, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is a Marine whose twin was a scientist. When his brother is shot he is sent to Pandora to take his brothers place in the Avatar program. This is a system where 'avatars' are made with a combination of human DNA and that of the Na'vi.
Jake gets lost while on an expedition with the scientists in the Avatar suit. Luckily he is found by a local and trained in their ways. As he moves into their civilization he is torn between the Na'vi's simple ways and the destructive genocide of his own race. Of course the choice is simple. Now fighting a seemingly losing battle Jake must fight to help protect the locals and the flora and fauna of the planet.
This film is a triumph in many ways, it boasts the best visual effects I've ever seen. The movie is about 70% CGI as everything about Pandora and the Na'vi are computer generated. This is risky, but works extremely well in this case. Cameron decided to go for computerized aliens instead of the ridiculous people with make-up films like Star Trek have shown us for the past forty or so years. This is a success, with the avatar bodies and the Na'vi looking beautiful. These ten foot tall blue creatures are the best looking aliens I've ever seen.
While many films nowadays worry about just blowing stuff up and beginning to end action scenes Avatar contains action, but it pays respect to the plot and almost everything in the film. The 163 minutes go by quickly as the film simply blows you away. I highly recommend Avatar for everyone. If you get the chance to see this movie, shell out a few bucks more to see it in 3D, it's worth it.