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View Date: 1/31/10

This movie is about a group of scientists studying native flora, fauna, and sentient beings on a world this is being mined for the government. The other group of aliens to this planet is military. The scientists use avatars, or artificially generated beings linked with an individual’s DNA, to interact with the native species.

Prior to leaving for the new planet, one of the scientists die, leaving behind an identical twin that is ex-military. He takes his brother’s place on the expedition and first acts as security for the science team. On his first endeavor into the forests, he is attacked by a native beast and becomes separated from his group. No one expects him to make it through the night, as the military fears the native creatures, but he is taken in by the Navi, the native sentient species. He winds up learning more about the Navi than anyone had before, and provides details that can both help and harm both the natives and the visitors.

This was a very long, complex movie filled with many themes. It felt that there was some animosity toward the US government expressed through the portrayal of the military as well as the corporate entities represented on the planet. There was also the dichotomy between using nature in a symbiotic manner versus exploiting nature for selfish gains.

Visually, this film was stunning. I saw it in 3D, and I must say it was the best I have ever seen. There was so much 3D, and it was very noticeable. Even the smallest thing, like a spark or a leaf, would jump out at you or look like it was coming from behind you. Really, truly beautiful.

Overall, I thought the movie was good and visually spectacular. It did get a little too preachy at times for me, and it probably could have been shorter.

10 words or less: Movie OK, but visually stunning.