Awesome

Rating: 9/10 (28 December 2009)

Well the wait is finally over. Avatar promised groundbreaking special effects and whilst I'm sure it delivered in that regard, it's true majesty lies in the story it tells.
It's a simple story in many respects. A native population threatens the operations of the human race, so we seek to 'remove' them by any means necessary. The natives are apparently savages who stand in the way of progress- how many times have we seen that scenario play out in human history? The unique thing here is that thanks to advanced science we can create alien bodies and put our minds into them- hence the title Avatar.
The human cum alien then meets the natives in a bid to learn about them and find a peaceful solution to the crisis. He is also secretly gathering military intel, so that if things turn ugly the natives can be dealt with in the swiftest possible manner.
Of course, no plans ever go smoothly and our hero finds himself becoming attracted to the life the natives lead, and finds himself falling in love with one of them. He 'finds himself' amongst these natives and decides to rebel. Nature triumphs over imperialism and all ends happily. Clichéd. certainly, but executed in breathtaking fashion.