I cant believe I still havent seen this
Me neither. It is tough for us to get out to movies much anymore since our daughter was born (no family especially close to babysit or any of that), and we just haven't gotten a chance to see this yet. I have to admit, I'm curious - especially after the enormous success - but aside from that I'm kind of dumbfounded why this is such a crazy big movie as well. A few months before it opened I didn't know if it would make its money back (since it cost so much), but it seems to have accomplished that just fine. I know that inflation numbers aren't ever considered, but it stings sometimes hearing that Avatar (or previously, Titanic) were/are the number one movies of all time. It was nice when Star Wars was at the top of that chart .
Brian, trust me, when you see this, you'll know. I saw it in IMAX, so I don't know how much of a difference there is comparing that to the regular 3D version. If you've got an IMAX theater nearby though, I highly suggest checking it out on that. It's more expensive yes, but man you'll be blown away by the effects.
There are many times you feel you're right in the movie. I saw many a people swatting away flirtering bugs or ash as it floated by. And just the sci-fi escapism you get with this movie. No doubt by now you've seen the floating mountains, while those are a sight to see and similar ideas have been in several stories of the genre before, there are many other things that take it to a whole new level. The luminous forest is awesome, the creatures are fantastical as they should be in a story of this kind.
Don't think you're going to see something in comparison to SW. Think you're going in for a new visual experience. Don't try and compare it, just enjoy it.
I like many other did.
The story itself is familiar and similar to stories we've seen in the past, just told from a different perspective. So don't look to that as anything ground breaking. Good old George himself "used" to say a movie with special effects and not a story isn't really a movie. He's come to recant that even if privately as evidenced much by the PT. Avatar is similar in that respect that the story while important isn't the driving factor. Though, if you don't feel at least some emotion for what happens in the movie, well I'd be surprised.
Get a qualified babysitter as soon as you can, because this movie will not translate on the small screen as it is on the big screen. This is a must for a theater going experience.