More fantasy than good sci-fi

Rating: 7/10 (23 December 2009)

All the special effects money can buy cannot override a soulless script. It exemplifies why the French consider American films sophomoric and vacuous. The same story could be sold to a Saturday morning, cartoon show for the infantile. Maybe it was intended just for kids.
The effects were great, but the sci-fi elements were mostly mere fantasy. Pandora is a moon-planet apparently in orbit around a Jupiter-like planet which can only mean substantial time in pitch black darkness. Didn't Cameron consult anyone knowledgeable in science? It looks pretty to the eye but it embarrasses reason. Since so much attention to detail was shown regarding the technology used to project the neurological soul to an avatar, why any less detail given to celestial mechanics?
Nonetheless, the beginning scene depicting hyper-sleep technology almost caused a lost of bowel control, it was so awesome.
A Man Called Horse is a far better story of whitey eventually recognizing the far, far, far, far, far nobler characteristics of indigenous people. Maybe Avatar is today's representation of that idea. If so, it sure cost a lot more to get the same idea across.
The ceremonial dance by the natives reminded me of a MGM musical. About 2 hours into the film I closed my eyes for a short break.