Searingly beautiful, formulaic in parts, yet skillfully told

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2009)

Of course there has been lots of gushing about this film and of course, the usual bunch of nay-saying. But I can't help but feel the people who dismiss the clichéd characters, lack of action, wishy washy mysticism are kind of missing the point.
Firstly, Avatar is stunning, the 3-D really immersing you into Cameron's futuristic world. The CG is gorgeous, the flora and fauna rendered with such care and attention to detail that I fell in love with the planet of Pandora as much as I did with the Nav'i. (I now have two weird crushes on blue women - the first being Smurfette)
So now to the characters... The plot... Yes, we've seen it before. Simplistic boo-hiss bad guys, a formulaic love story. But is it not told with superb skill? Creating just the sort of old fashioned emotional spectacle that is sorely missing in today's cinema? People whooped, people hollered. I admit I got a little misty eyed. And I was honestly surprised to find that much spiritualism, mysticism and old fashioned love and beauty in such an ass-kicking blockbusting sci fi epic. Anti-imperialism too.
And that I liked.
Ain't enough of that in today's cinema, or at least, there ain't enough of that, done well, in today's cinema. - A sci fi action drama film with emotional depth, fascinating characters, a truly enchanting landscape and a really, really, genuinely good message. Go on. Leave any cynicism at the door and enjoy a true spectacle. As those who sneer or completely overlook the simple, beautiful message in this film, have no magnificence in their soul.