'Avatar': What is Na'vi for awesome?

Review by Matt Crouch

*What you are about to read is a cinematic review. Each movie is critiqued based on its rating-pending (PG or R), Genre (Comedy or Thriller), the acting, the score, the plot, and the overall quality of the movie. Hence, just because there are explosions, blood, or you think George Clooney/Megan Fox is "hot" does not mean it's a good film. Or does it. ... You be the judge.*

‘Avatar' (2010)

CAST

Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel Moore

Director:  James Cameron - "Terminator," "Titanic," "True Lies" "Aliens"

Written by: James Cameron - All of the Above. ... And, yes, "Avatar 2" in 2014.

STORYBOARD

In the future, Jake Sully (Worthington), a paraplegic war veteran, is brought to another planet, Pandora, which is inhabited by the Na'vi, a humanoid race with their own language and culture. Those from Earth find themselves at odds with each other and the local culture. Sam is eventually sent to help convince the indigenous Na'vi to leave there homes so that the humans can acquire rare minerals that are worth millions back on earth. Jake earns the respect and love of the Na'vi by becoming one of them in the form of an avatar. He then is torn between his two different lifestyles: human and Na'vi.

THE DISPOSITION

James Cameron is the king of epic, 100-million-dollar blockbusters. Every movie he does, there always ends up being a list of directors that try and follow him. But few can come close.

From the first minute of the movie, you absolutely knew this movie was solely going to be about two things: special effects and weird stuff we've never seen before on the big screen. And they're done that almost to perfection. I'll admit, there were a few "effect glitches," but for a movie first of its kind, it's pretty darn amazing.

Aside from the incredible CGI, I have to say the plot was a little weak. The whole time you're just wondering, "When are these ‘Blue Man Group aborigines' going to realize they're being duped and start going all cannibalistic on them?" You knew it was just a matter of time for the plot to reveal itself. But nothing new or out of the ordinary. Just think, if I were to tell this story to a blind man, would this movie be as cool? Of course not. I think no matter how great it was to watch this film, there were major writing "holes" in the script that kept you from getting too personal to the movie. And as viewers, that's not what we want.

So I guess be thankful that you're not blind, and that you can enjoy this cinematic spectacle. ...

"I LOVED IT!!"

If you're like my fiancé. She said it was like "Pocahontas" mixed with "World of Warcraft."  I initially called her a dork, but then realized she was right.

4 out of 5 stars