Every few years, watching this simple film is a treat.

Rating: 7/10 (17 February 2020)

It's got the same balanced mix of cliché and easy watching pleasure as a Disney animation. Somehow it's a workable blend of military high-sci-fi in a Halo fashion mixed with the messages and visuals of something like a Miyazaki animation.
Its obvious dialogue and simple plotting allows breathing room for the pioneering CGI and 3D and even though it's got a hefty running time, it's breezy and not as bogged down as it's other blockbuster counterparts. (See: Any Transformers). Here the CGI and technology is used to create believable, breathable worlds with stunning photo-realism. It's a great push forwards instead of the prior sterile all-CGI worlds before.
Watching it on 3D Blu-ray for the first time, and it's really pleasurable. Considering it's influence on 3D, it doesn't push large objects such as characters to us. Instead the image is pushed beyond the window with sumptuous layers. It's always normal and always impressive. It's easy to forget you're watching 3D in a way that feels natural and is an absolute compliment. I think much of the reason 3D had failed is that many filmmakers neglect this subtle effect and instead push objects to us in obvious ways but like good score or photography, 3D is best used when it enhances and doesn't distract.
Remember Sam Worthington? Because I didn't. Considering he's proven himself largely hollow and charmless, here, with the right character, it's easy to see why Hollywood glommed on to him so quickly. His Jake Sully is inquisitive and childlike, always eager to try hard. Enjoying himself. Despite him being a Marine, it's a refreshing change to the macho hogwash or teen angst of its peers. Saldana is great also, understanding how expressive and appropriately animalistic and charismatic she needs to be.
But it's so obvious that Cameron wants to make Pandora the main character. And at that he has succeeded entirely in creating a world that I enjoyed visiting, learning more about, and want to visit again. Cameron has managed to create a world that is so utterly believable physically, which is the hardest part, with a sort of unified design and created ecology where I feel like I get it. The design overall is a little exaggerated much like in animation, the Robots are a little comical and everything is dialled up to 11, but why the hell not. The Na'vi faces are absolutely superb and flawlessly mocapped in a way that is hard to appreciate these days.
So the simplicity of Avatar, much maligned, is a strength in many ways I think. It's exactly like a fun rollercoaster; colourful, brisk and yet a little bit longer than you want it to be but when it's over you could maybe do it again.
Fun like a ride. I have to say I'm fully ready and willing for Avatar 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 and whatever plumb new depths of Pandora and forge new cinematic technology.