Plot familiar, but film making is superb

Rating: 10/10 (25 December 2009)

I agree with other posters that the plot is familiar. There are elements of Aliens and Dances With Wolves as well as Ferngully and other Sci-Fi classics woven throughout.
However, the film making here is so spectacular and revolutionary, that I felt it was well worth the time and money. I saw it in 3-D IMAX. This is the ONLY format that this movie was designed for. If at all possible, you must see it in this format. The realism of the alien world and of the action sequences blow everything else I've ever seen completely out of the water. The story was engaging if not original, and while not advancing any new themes, it did express some old themes in fresh and exciting ways. The acting was remarkable in the sense that many of the characters were CGI motion-capture images, and given that limitation, the ease with which one becomes invested in the characters was outstanding.
I wholeheartedly recommend this film in 3-D IMAX format. It is hoped that someday, this technology could be put to use with a more original and incisive story, but Cameron has outdone himself again and should be commended for the effort.