Avatar

Amazing. Beautiful to behold and full of wonder. (I’m not being sarcastic.) It’s full of enlightening juxtapositions and contradictions. Filmmaker James Cameron loves all things military: protocol, barking orders and uniforms. But based on the themes of almost all of his movies, he detests the military industrial complex, and sticks-it to war mongering and imperialism as often as he can. He loves machines and metal, but also biology and life. He loves weapons, but he’s also a sucker for a sappy love story. It’s all in Avatar, and he is absolutely DETERMINED to give you your money’s worth.

The story is pat, there’s no doubt. It’s Pocahontas or Dances with Wolves. But the story almost HAS to be standard so we the audience will find something familiar to hang on to while filmmakers inundate us with so many new concepts and creatures in an entirely brand new world. Archetypes are archetypes for a reason. Star Wars did it. Blade Runner did it. Who Framed Roger Rabbit did it. But even if the story in Avatar is by-the-numbers, the science fiction concepts are off the charts, original, and untried. Substantial screen time is dedicated to introducing and expounding on the ecosystem of planet Pandora, the unique setting which can best be described as having a singular central nervous system for every living thing on the planet. Neopagan symbolism is everywhere, as is the very transparent allegory to the war in Iraq. Performances from the principal cast are top notch, especially considering the unique technical challenges to this kind of acting. Unfortunately, there is an evil, one-dimensional military dude who comes off as ridiculous. But you have to have a villain, I guess, and maybe Paul Reiser wasn’t available.

It’s an absolute must-see in 3-D. See it now -- it just won’t be the same on video. The previews on TV make it look corny and videogamey, but in the theater it’s truly stunning. And it’s not just eye-candy. Perhaps one of the most emotional moments, as cheesy as it sounds, is when a certain, special tree gets wiped out. My heart sank. Yes, it’s long. Yes, at times, it’s sappy and clichéd. But I’ll be damned if it’s not the best value around for seventeen dollars.