If you’ve ever read a history book, sci-fi novel or watched an anime, I doubt much of Avatar will take you by surprise. The premise is quite predictable.
A more technological advanced culture swaggers in and tries to stake a claim on the resources and land occupied by those they deem to be–conveniently, less evolved than themselves.
The ensuing conflict and cross-cultural, romantic entanglements are not unexpected.

Here’s the thing to note about Avatar: the plot is not the point. To be honest, a more complex plot might have caused me some major brain overload. Really, how much awesomeness can a single human being absorb all at once?

The sheer beauty of Pandora is staggering. The night world that James Cameron and his team created is rife with an abundance of bio-luminous plant-life and strange and vicious animals. It’s nothing short of spectacular. I could watch Avatar in 3D a hundred times and never get tired of being immersed in it. This is the kind of film that sci-fi fans have been waiting to see for a very long time. I hope it’s the start of a whole new movie-making trend.

I really appreciated the thoughtful approach to the mysterious nature of Pandora. The planet itself as a sapient being possessing a deeper well of consciousness that connects every living being on the planet, hearkens to our own forays into the realms of esoteric cosmology and scientific speculation.

Sam Worthington was perfect for the role of Jake Sully. At first I wondered, who the hell is this Sam Worthington? Never heard of him. In any case, I was impressed by his performance. Jake’s frustration at being a wheelchair-bound, former soldier versus the exhilaration of being able explore new possibilities and test the potential of a flawless and stronger body is gripping. I can’t think of anyone else who might have carried off this role so well and made quite the same impression.

Zoe Saldana is a talented lady who first got my attention in Star Trek. She really breathed life into Neytiri. The fierce and earnestly spiritual Na’vi becomes Jake Sully’s mentor, then love interest. She is the one who leads him the defining moment, both for him and her people.

Stephen Lang was brilliant as Colonel Miles Quaritch–the hard-nosed veteran whose conscience seems to have completely eroded a long time ago. He comes over a bit over-the top but he’s got the baddassery to back up the cocky brutishness. I really hate when my villain gives the hero hell throughout a story, only to wimp out  and ruin the climax. Not this guy–he grabs the role by the horns and rides it hard all the way to the bitter end. Hats off to him!

Sigourney Weaver is a magnificent talent. She has always struck me as the sort of actress who easily slips into her characters’ roles without letting her self-awareness get in the way of an impeccable performance. As the brilliant and acerbic Dr. Grace Augustine, she portrays a frank, good-hearted individual who garners the affection of both the Na’vi and the audience.

Despite the awesomeness of Avatar, there was some minor lameness that I found impossible to dismiss.

The misuse of unobtainium is a bit of an insult to any sci-fi fan’s intelligence. When Mr. Corporate Lackey first whips that out I thought: haha! They went there–cheesy but kinda clever. I thought that he was being geekily witty and that would be the end of that. Then, they used it again and I realized that they were dead serious. They were really freaking calling it unobtainium! Seriously? Of course, that’s a minor slip–nothing more than briefly getting one’s foot stuck in one’s mouth. Cringe-worthy but forgivable.

The mercenary operating a mecha and getting all gung-ho and letting out and uber manly “Yeah – get some!” as he mercilessly guns down brave Na’vi armed with bows and arrows, had me nearly falling out of my seat. In any case, he gets trampled by stampeding rhino-beasts and I was thereby appeased. Satisfied harrumphs from my fellow audience members indicated that I wasn’t the only one mollified and willing to forget this brief descent into idiocy.

In any case, the Na’vi were beautifully portrayed. The live-saving ritual scene was a bit contrived but it was beautiful, nonetheless. As it turns out though, I was watching Macross Frontier somewhere around the time I went to see Avatar for the second time. For the life of me, I now can’t stop thinking of the Na’vi as pre-technological Zentradi!

Avatar is all about the experience. I can’t help but laugh every time I read or hear someone ranting about out scientifically inaccurate this movie is. The operative word in Science and Speculative Fiction is FICTION. I know that somehow–Dear Cynic, you’ll find a way to dredge up that imaginative and child-like side of you that still has the capacity for Suspension of Disbelief. You may then manage to sit back, take a deep breath and allow yourself to be awed and thoroughly entertained by something truly wondrous.