Avatar Reviews

Big-budget, special effects nut; James Cameron’s most recent film, Avatar is just what the geeks asked for, and is pretty much exactly what I would’ve predicted it to be. Titanic was brilliant, and also featured a good chunk of over-the top extravaganzas showing beautiful CGI and the model of the Titanic Ship, which were beautiful through and through, no doubt. I loved every bit of that film. James Cameron was behind that? Hmmm, but it had a storyline, weird right? I thought so. Terminator was great too, and the storyline in that one impressed me. Other than those, plots are NOT this guy’s strength, to say the least.

What’s shown on screen for two and a half hours will undoubtedly impress and bedazzle shallow moviegoers, or people who enjoy films with NOTHING but amazing CGI and action packed scenes that seem very redundant. I’m not disrespecting those who loved this movie. I just look for more than robust explosions and cool looking creatures. The whole plot was clearly lazily written, and obviously the people behind the film were relying on the imagery and CGI to impress, and score big at the box office. Well, it succeeded in both areas, at least for the majority of the people who saw it. These days, character development, acting and a storyline don’t suffice as a good movie. There are those who enjoy real films, opposed to Hollywood money-grubbers, including me, but they’re few and far between. I highly respect them; actually, I admire them, as about seventy percent of the viewers are thirteen year olds or potheads, who’d have absolutely no clue what a good film was if it they had one put directly in front of them.

Having said that, Avatar isn’t a bad film necessarily. It isn’t even “average” on my scale, but it has its moments. The first 30 or 40 minutes are very entertaining, developing the main character; Sam Worthington relatively well. I liked the premise at first, and it seemed really cool. It then descends into a general “unknown planet" romp with every formulaic element you can think of, including a love story that forms between one of the avatars and a human. I’m also not a fan of Weaver, so that surely did not help. Now, I enjoy all genres of films, but this was just silly. I will admit, the visuals are AMAZING, however that’s the only real positive thing about this movie. I give tons of credit to Cameron for implementing gorgeous visuals. But, he forgot two of the most important parts of a picture, a real plot and interesting characters.

Bottomline: I don’t understand the positive reviews, the hype, or the amazing things people claimed to have seen. This is easily one of the most overrated, overhyped and over discussed films I’ve ever seen.

4.5/10

First of all, I have seen only the 2D version of the movie, in the movie theatre. Second, this is my first official review in Listal, so bear with me.

Avatar is annoyingly controversial movie. When I went to movies I had very low expectations. I'm a fan of Star Wars and I was expecting something like the new episodes: a blast of visual effects. And I got it and it was so extreme. The world took me in and I fell in love with Pandora.

They say the plot is not original at all. In the movie theater I didn't see that so called unoriginality at all, for some reason. Maybe it was because of the athmosphere it created. Maybe because the movie was good indeed. Pocahontas my ass! Even if Avatar is so called "rip off" or a copy from other movies, it still beats the hell out of all those where Avatar is supposingly a copy! But I did not see it. I only saw a new wonderful world with new creatures, robots, technology, love, and athmosphere.

I have seen thousands and thousands of movies and I have to say Avatar one of the best. No doubt they made it for ten years, it shows! The reason I love this movie is because it's visually stunning, the acting is great, it has my favourite actors, the scifi value is magnificent, and it got me emotionally and took me to its undescribably athmosphere. Highly recommended!

Avatar has been hyped for months or maybe even years seeing as there were speculations of new effects that will supposedly take us into a world where we had not been before and where we would feel like we're there. Also, it is James Cameron's first feature length film since Titanic in 1997 and that became a giant success both critically and box office takings. Plus that was the biggest blockbuster of all time so expectations were exceedingly high for Avatar to possibly repeat history or maybe even surpass Titanic. Guess what? It was certainly worth the 12 year wait and most certainly surpassed Titanic with the effects, the realism and the box-office takings but to be perfectly honest, for me it didn't quite with some acting and screenwriting.


The effects in Avatar are obviously mind-blowing and out of this world and no wonder it took two years to complete after filming and despite that it does get a strong 5-stars, I have to go ahead and name the flaws within Avatar so here goes. We never really knew what the plot was until we saw it but now after watching it, the story takes a lot from Pocahontas and Dances With Wolves so it's almost a sci-fi mixture between them two and I thought that the script was a bit cheesy at times. Despite those flaws, I do admit that the film blew me away and I was stuck in Pandora for 162 minutes and loved every second of my adventure. The 3D experience was obviously outstanding but I think it was suitably released for the Avatar experience to be almost like real but after Avatar's release, there are more films released in 3D that quite frankly don't even need to be so 3D has become rather overhyped now in just under a year.


When his brother is killed in a robbery, paraplegic Marine Jake Sully decides to take his place in a mission on the distant world of Pandora. There he learns of greedy corporate figurehead Parker Selfridge's intentions of driving off the native humanoid "Na'vi" in order to mine for the precious material scattered throughout their rich woodland. In exchange for the spinal surgery that will fix his legs, Jake gathers Intel for the cooperating military unit spearheaded by gung-ho Colonel Quaritch, while simultaneously attempting to infiltrate the Na'vi people with the use of an "avatar" identity. While Jake begins to bond with the native tribe and quickly falls in love with the beautiful alien Neytiri, the restless Colonel moves forward with his ruthless extermination tactics, forcing the soldier to take a stand - and fight back in an epic battle for the fate of Pandora.


Sam Worthington already made his mark in the same year with his appearance in Terminator Salvation alongside Christian Bale, Bryce Dallas Howard, Helena Bonham Carter and others but he stars in another blockbuster but in perhaps the blockbuster of blockbusters. I liked his performance as Jake Sully but there were some (but not loads) moments where his acting felt soulless and cheesy but Sam did suit Avatar and I could feel the strong love between Jake and Neytiri. Zoe Saldana was incredible as Neytiri! I think what was so extraordinary about her was that despite she is a massive blue creature, you can't help but find her attractive and damn near fall in love with her as you watch it. She had more of a chance of an Oscar nomination than Sam Worthington did but I don't think she deserved it as much as any of the other actresses who were nominated. Sigourney Weaver returns in a James Cameron film and in a huge way. I think her performance was the best from all of the actors in this film and I think she should have been nominated for an Oscar. She was previously in Aliens that was directed by James Cameron and it was great to see her return in a James Cameron film once again. Stephen Lang was good as Colonel Quaritch but I find him too similar to Governor Ratcliffe in Pocahontas. They are both greedy, possessive and are desperate for power no matter the consequences.


James Cameron, you may be a director of science-fiction, taking pride on expanding on the audience's imagination and creating or extending science-fiction franchises. Avatar may be his most successful film but I do still prefer both Aliens and Titanic. The development of Avatar began in 1994 and Cameron wrote the script from January-April 2006 so the planning took 12 years but the filming and post-production lasted almost 3 years and after seeing the film with the effects, art direction and cinematography, no wonder it took so long to make and prepare but it damn sure was worth it. Cameron did deserve the Oscar Best Director nomination but wouldn't have deserved to win just like the film itself probably only would have deserved Best Picture for the effects blowing away the audience. James Cameron, you may be an amazing director, producer and editor but I have to admit you can't write film screenplays that well. One thing that was quite annoying in Avatar was when there was swearing involved. I mean, yeah everyone swears but it is set in a world over 100 years into the future and on a few occasions, it was sometimes like it was Sam in the film, not Jake Sully. So there were some cheesy moments in the script.


Overall, Avatar is a visual masterpiece that blew me away despite its flaws. Watching Avatar at the cinema in 3D and/or on blu-ray on a big flat-screen TV is perhaps the ultimate film experience. James Cameron has created something that I would call a landmark for its effects but it isn't his best film for me. It is one of the best films of 2009 and the fact it was released in the last month of the last year in the noughties, it showed that times are going to change so who knows what film will blow us away in the next 10-20 years. I can't wait for 2014 and 2015 when the two Avatar sequels are released so we can see Jake and Neytiri return and enter the world of Pandora in 3D on two more occasions.

Pointless by-the-numbers movie with stereotypical characters and unaffecting acting all around. Didn't need to be made. The novelty of the CGI wears off quickly and then there's another 2 hours of movie to slog through. I was expecting better from James Cameron. So many years in development and yet almost nothing creative in it. It seems with CGI there's even less room than usual to change things as you go along when it becomes apparent they're not working. But the script, written by Cameron, was quite bad to begin with. He must have just been given free reign due to his past successes, and, given the commercial success of Avatar, will probably be again, unfortunately, with no one daring to tell him anything sucks or that its been done better before and he needs to either come up with something new or find someone who can. The story was so derivative and simplistic I felt like rolling my eyes and had to make myself finish it. I'll certainly be screening his future movies more carefully, no matter how much money they make.

The most overrated film of all time. Hands down.
"How So?" "I'll tell you.
At first the concept is intriguing and quite interesting. Blue clone weird tribal people from another planet? However about..oh I don't know 5 minutes in, you can see the ridiculousness up ahead. Sam Worthington has no emotion until the last minutes of the film and overall did not pan out to be the 'up and coming' star everyone made him out to be. The CGI of the AVATARS, could not have looked more stupid, to be honest. The whole film looked like it was on a freaking computer.
James Cameron, overall douche but great director, did a decent job portraying what he envisioned the film to be. However this film is so political it makes me want to vomit. You can just sense the anti-oil, anti-rich sentiment in the film with the Govt. looking for that certain mineral..I forget the name. It's disgustingly 'hippie-tree hugging-Earth is GOD" type film.

Overall I probably would have enjoyed the film if weren't: for the UNBELIEVABLE hype which bugged the POOP out of me, political statements, terrible acting(other than Zoe Saldana) and crappy CGI. In a nutshell it's HORRENDOUS.

I'm beyond confused by those who have said that, despite being a visual masterpiece, James Cameron's AVATAR is lacking in the story/plot department. Making that statement about this film is like having a a massive truck sitting right in front of you and claiming that all you see is open air. Here's what the truth is: AVATAR is a monumental masterpiece in every sense of the word. It is a supreme triumph of cinematic technology, an enormously fun piece of mainstream entertainment, and an expertly-realized work of social commentary. Not since Peter Jackson submerged us in Middle Earth have I felt so entranced by a cinematic location, and not since Gollum have 100% CGI characters been so convincing, emotionally affecting and impressively well-crafted.

I'm rarely impressed by achievements in the special effects department, because I just happen to be the type of person who is more biased to appreciate solid dialogue and acting. But even the least visually perceptive person won't be able to avoid being enthralled by Pandora and its inhabitants. This place is way too spectacular. I should also state here that I didn't watch the film in 3D (but you can bet I will when I go see it again in a few days), yet I was still thoroughly amazed by the visual experience of AVATAR.

There must be something wrong with those who failed to see that AVATAR does, indeed, have a more-than-solid, complex plot. Then again, the subliminal undertones in AVATAR's plot are precisely geared towards examining the things that are wrong with a lot of people who live in today's world, so perhaps it makes sense. Most mainstream films will envy the depth reached by AVATAR in its thematic examinations. This movie deals with (1) lack of awareness for environmental concerns, (2) close-mindedness towards other cultures, (3) the sneering evil that can come from greed and from engagement in military combat, and (4) faith and spirituality. If you've seen the trailer and you think it's unlikely that a movie with "blue aliens" can possibly cover all that ground, go experience it. Notice how I said "go experience it," and not just "go see it." AVATAR is a 2-hour-and-40-minute experience that is teeming with intelligent social commentary. One may feel discouraged by the film's conclusion in terms of where it "places" humans, but there's no ignoring the accuracy of the observations made by the film.

If everything I said in the last paragraph seems boring, have no fear, because the unrelenting brilliance of AVATAR isn't limited to expensive visual effects and deep subject matter, but rather, it uses those two elements to provide for what is without a doubt one of the best pieces of mainstream entertainment of the decade. AVATAR features a final battle sequence that wows to no end and puts to shame the poorly-edited, loud and annoying bullshit that the makers of TRANSFORMERS tried to pass off as entertaining action sequences. If you think a battle in which one side wields firearms and the other wields crossbows doesn't have a shot at lasting more than a few seconds or at being remotely interesting, wait till you see this.

Sam Worthington has sure made a name for himself this year, with his turn in TERMINATOR: SALVATION, and now here, though his starring role in AVATAR is certainly what I hope will carry him into projects that are every bit as great as this. He has an extremely tough job as the main character, with a lot of different considerations to balance at the same time, and he handles himself remarkably well. Huge props to Zoe Saldana for acting in two sci-fi films this year, both of which put together easily qualify as some of the most fun I've had in a movie theater this entire year. The magnificent Sigourney Weaver is a pure delight to watch; she has some lines that could've easily tempted her to go over the top, but she doesn't lose believability for a second. I cried for her character. When an actor or actress accomplishes something like that, he/she can't go without accolades. Giovanni Ribisi and Stephen Lang BOTH avoid the trap of becoming cookie-cutter villains, something that is incredibly difficult in this sort of film. In fact, I don't think I could've ever envisioned Ribisi in the role of a greedy capitalist and I'm surprised by how easy it was to believe the character. The biggest surprise, though, comes from Michelle Rodriguez, who starts out as your standard, badass military gal, yet eventually turns into the heroine everyone cheers for. I cried for her, too.

I have no problem waiting another 12 years if this is what we can expect from Cameron. TITANIC was one of the most ravishing, entertaining pieces of melodrama I've ever seen, and AVATAR is one of the most amazingly well-concocted entries to the science fiction genre to ever grace the multiplex screens. It's a genre that is mostly recognized in the technical categories at award ceremonies and rarely ever in the main categories. AVATAR is immensely worthy of recognition in both. The technical prowess, emotional depth and unabashed entertainment are all of the highest imaginable caliber. I reserve perfect scores for films that do more than just move me - I give them to movies that totally rattle me and pierce my soul. That's what this film did to me. I can't wait to experience it in 3D.

Wow. I'm trying to find the word to describe this movie without sounding like a cheesy douche. The story was a cross between the story of the Native Americans, and the 1999 movie "Tarzan". I know that sounds weird, but it's true. The special effects were just amazing, the final battle had my eyes glued to the screen, nothing could take my eyes off of it. Now I'm not sure how to end this review so here's my opinion for you: See this movie in theaters while you still can, you won't regret it. 8.3

Avatar.. Now i now why people where in the past so excited over movies like the first Star Wars in 1977 - There are people outside who say the story is just a rehash of other movies - i say, avatar took some elements and rearranged them to something new.

From the Acting to the Music and the World creating... Never before i was captured that much by a movie. And NEVER before i watched a movie more then 2 times in cinema.. Avatar i watched 6 Times :)

Love how Jake Sully got turned by the world around him, how he finally fell deeper and deeper to the magic around him - Avatar is a film with a big sense of wonders. I recommend it so much, it has all elements which are needed for a brilliant watching experience. Action, Not too cliche lovestory, good story and music and Effects.. Avatar is simply perfect..

Highly recommended by me.

From a technical standpoint, Avatar is an ace film. James Cameron has created such a diverse and immersive world in Pandora and deserves kudos for all the special effects work. Stunning and beautiful!

If only he had spent more time on the story, we wouldn't have gotten a re-hash of Dances With Wolves. The human villains are so poorly fleshed out to the point of being caricatures. Why was the desire for the unobtanium worth such actions? There were so many times when I was shaking my head going "Oh you silly humans" with the themes of "Corporations Are EVIL" and "Military Might - AT ALL COSTS".

Though our major characters: Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) had more depth I was most impressed by Saldana's performance. Sam Worthington did a decent job though Na'vi Jake rocked more than Human Jake.

Avatar works best when it focuses on the Na'vi and I honestly think that with an Earth-like film, Avatar would have been much more interesting.