Visually fantastic but disappointing story

Rating: 5/10 (30 May 2010)

James Cameron's "Avatar" is visually stunning and had some interesting sci-fi ideas (for example, animals of different species joining consciousness). The affirmation of ecology and harmony with nature is always welcome in a film. However, I found myself quickly disappointed with the pure story of the movie - it seemed filled with stock characters, conventional action movie plot lines, and a very predictable arc to the overall story.
The real kicker for me was that the filmmakers chose to make the human-like race of Pandora an almost exact analogue to Native American tribes. I almost groaned when they did that. That was a very unimaginative decision in an otherwise very imaginative movie, and it strained credulity. All of these elements made the movie difficult for me to watch at times. But I must admit the conclusion was exciting and satisfactory.
To sum up, if the viewer likes visually stunning epics, then he or she will love "Avatar." If, on the other hand, the viewer likes more careful attention to story and character development, "Avatar" will be rather disappointing.