Reply #9: That guy really needs to get out of his basement and go camping for

[Cleita]

a weekend. Then maybe he might get what setting was about. I just came from seeing Avatar. I decided to take in the 11:30 AM matinee at our local multiplex, so I saw the 3-D wide screen version. My ears are still ringing from the too loud sound system but since the theater was fairly empty at that time and the kids were still in school, I got a choice seat with no one in front of me and no one kicking the chair behind me so I was able to give the film my full attention. I really enjoyed it as pure entertainment.

So for my humble critique, I once hung around with film students and this film is not only what is called a special effects film but this one is cross-bred with animation. I gotta say it was one of the best special effects films I have ever seen. Also, the animation was seamlessly integrated with the live action parts. Now if you hang around with film students you learn that the story and acting are secondary to the special effects in that genre and this film is pretty text book from that POV. The comic book good vs. evil story with boy meets girl romance is all that's really needed because the story is there only to keep you from getting bored while you watch one stupendous special effect after the other and a really good shoot'em up battle for the finale. I feel the forest they created in blending fantasy with real landscape in New Zealand topped anything I have seen before. I would have preferred if the make believe beasties would have had fur and feathers though. There was something creepy about them like hiarless Chihuahuas.

I say, well done. I don't know if I want to see this particular move again. There wasn't that many layers of meaning there to go back and look to see if you missed something, but I certainly would want to visit Pandora again in sequels because it's a magical place even if only on the screen.