Movie review...Avatar(light spoilers)

This was an interesting movie. I saw it the other day and I can say I was impressed. Thinking about it afterwards...well I've got fixed feelings about it.
Let's make this logical

1. Story/Story development

Well...the story is quite the pile of cliches. Typical hollywood, rise-fall-rise again story. Of course a braindead marine who became part of another culture, and of course the disappointments and satisfactions of love.
But is the story really a cliche? At first glance it is, definitely. At least viewing this movie with 21st century eyes(eyes which saw many movies) it is definitely predictable and sometimes even ironically funny. But let's not forget that Cameron had this story in his pocket for at least a decade. After he did Titanic he announced the making of avatar, and he even had the script already which was released on the net back then. So judging from this, it may have transformed into a typical story by now, but back then it still had some substance. Apart from that, the story is well-built up, probably becuz of the very stable background in both the culture of the Navi and their world.
I can't say the movie is boring even if it is predictable. These minuses I mentioned above don't even take birth in ones mind, becuz the entire movie is based on action, dynamic progression, but if at some points the pace is slow the effects and the music covers for it.

2. Characters

The characters are in close relation to the story. The story being predictable and obvious, the characters become predictable as well. The hero is a soldier and like a soldier in the end he has to choose between the obedience of a soldier and free-will and personal judgment. Guess what he did...
Her female counterpart is a fanatic defender of her culture, being the daughter of the leaders of the village(another stereotype). The villain are the corporate bastards and their hired mercenaries who are old war-horses who don't give a shit about preserving life. So nothing new until now...
Probably the only thing which made the hero interestinf was the fact that he was a cripple, and with the help of his avatar, he managed to live his life again. I think that was a cool move and gave the movie funny moments at given moments.

3. Setting/Background/Effects

I added effects to this category, becuz 60& of the movie is done digitally, that includes the Navi homeworld, in it's entire beauty.
This is the category in which the movie impressed the most. Back then even Cameron said it as well...he didn't want to direct this movie unless the technology permits him. I won't enter into technological details, but as U know the movie has a normal version and a 3D version as well, so the costs were great, but I say it was worth doing it. It is absolutely breath-taking. U must see the movie in order to understand it. The concept behind the whole fauna and flora of the planet, it's people the Navi...very stable and spectacular background, no wonder though, cameron had years to develop it.
The Navi have their own language, characterstics, the howeworld has distinct plants and animals. These stuff were developed by specialists in their own field(language specialists, botanists, anthropologists etc.)

4. Music

Of course these huge movies with great preparations behind them and with great impact, are accompanied by great music. Theatrical, instrumental, sometimes rock is used, or slow romantic. The music is always good, if one likes several music genres.

All in all, it seems like the movie gets a 7/10. But that's my opinions. Even if the story was created years ago, I still cannot "forgive" that it's predictable and bulit upon stereotypical characters.
What pumps up the movie's mark are the points I mentioned at 3. and 4.

Enjoy the movie if U haven't seen it...I hope this short review won't spoil the pleasure of watching it, actually I'm sure it won't, but still...have fun, U must see it
Trailer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeh2KILn7O4&feature=fvst

I still can't say that I am psyched to see it. I am not dogging you or trolling your review, it is quality. But, my problem lies in the cliches you refer to in the review. I can't get over the contrived story. For Cameron to pen this and say "I wrote this script", without admitting that the plot and basic story came from other movies, if not literature, is crap. They made this in the 1940s without special effects. It was called Lawrence of Arabia. There was also the Shogun miniseries on TV. Hollywood so needs some originality.

I hate to sound so bitter, in the end I am sure I will end up watching this sometime. I just don't see myself going out of my way.

Yep UR right...many elements come from other movies...he admits that he has elements form some movies(forgot the titles)...but hell...that's no excuse...sadly the great impact movies don't have a genuine story nowadays...2012...whatever...I went to see the effects only...and it's only worth to see it in a cinema...same with this one...

what got to me in this movie was the navi culture and the carefully constructed background...I like fantasy worlds a lot(hence I love manga,anime and palying gothic)...that was great...but even in this field I recognized some copies...I mean if somebody played warcraft 3 it's impossible to not recognize the navi as night elves and their tree as the World Tree

This movie is not to be seen for the deep story...more like effects and creativity...I didn't see the 3D version and I was impressed by it, so maybe people who didn't see it so far should watch it in 3D

This was seriously a brilliant movie and I can't wait for it to come out on Blue Ray

Cameron said if the movie will have succes, he might do sequels at least 2...

Oh really? Awesome!

well, there are movies that i see for the effects, but i don't know. this one just doesn't float my boat, even as into fantasy stuff as i am. i would rather see a good (which hasn't happened yet ) D & D movie. that would be all CGI. it isn't cameron, and it isn't the studio. I am just sick in general that things are recycled. even the aspects of this movie that look cool, don't outweigh my apprehensions on this one.

Yes, very cliche I agree.
I just saw this movie last saturday, and Pocahontas is what came to mind.

I agree with you bene, that the cripple part was cool, incorporating some present day stuff into the movie.

When all is done and said, you should see it, but pretty much just for the amazing special effects. I LOVED the robotic walkers and the hover-crafts that the humans used, and the plants and stuff in the forest were all really cool.

Yep...those were the things I liked, too....especially the connection with the nature of the navi homeworld...that was a great and one of the few original idea...and the fact that the hole planet was more evolved than a human brain great stuff...

About the robots and stuff...it was really dramatic when they destroyed the big tree

i watched it in 3D XD whahaa it was really nice...when i first heard of the name of the movie, actually i thought it would be the thing avatar the last wind barrier something like that hahaha but it's way way different haha