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[iFett]

Couldn't decide on which dimension to watch Avatar in, but I settled on good ol fashioned 2D. 

Fantastic movie - loved it. 

[DoctorPadawan]

I saw this in 3D on Friday afternoon and loved every second of it.  The story, while simple, is engaging and you find yourself really caring for the characters and their journey.  It definitely adheres (at least in part) to Campbell's archetypal "hero's journey" structure, and I think that is going to be a large part of the film's success in word-of-mouth reviews. 

Technically speaking, the animation on the Na'vi is very well done, and at times you forget that you're looking at CGI (or at least I did).  The environments are absolutely stunning (even if they did remind me, on many occasions, of Felucia), and the 3D is never really used in a Johnny LaRue fashion; that being said, the sequence where Jake and the Banshee choose each other in the floating mountains could probably inspire some vertigo-like symptoms if you're not into heights.

But yeah, I enjoyed the film overall.  Visually stunning, a good archetypally-based story, and good performances from the entire cast make this worth watching, IMHO.  I'd rank it as my third favorite film of the year, behind "Up" and "District 9."

[Darby]

I saw this yesterday - and it is truly amazing.  Movie of the year.  The CGI is the best its ever been.

[iFett]

the sequence where Jake and the Banshee choose each other in the floating mountains could probably inspire some vertigo-like symptoms if you're not into heights.

I had a similar experience while viewing the scene - in 2D.

[Phrubruh]

I wish I could see it but we've boycotted James Cameron movies since seeing Titanic.

[IncomT65]

I wish I could see it but we've boycotted James Cameron movies since seeing Titanic.

  Well, that's only the first you'll have to boycot then (after Titanic).

I saw it last night, in 3D. I didn't get frontal headaches, like with Ice Age 3D. So that's a good thing. The story is indeed pretty straight forward, but just like a pr0n movie, that's irrelevant. It's all about the effects, baby! And Cameron has really raised the bar on that level. Damn! Stunning detail and design all the way! The 3D adds to that, but not much. I dunno, I think I'll grow tired of jellyfish floating in front of you pretty soon.

Personally, this one is my fourth favourite Cameron movie, True Lies and Tita-.... er.... Aliens, T2 and T1 claiming the top 3 spots.

[Nathan]

Saw it at the midnight premiere. The plot is FernGully crossed with Dances With Wolves, with a liberal dose of the evil corporations from Aliens -- in other words, predictable as hell but somehow it feels right and it works. And, of course, the effects are spectacular. Large stretches of the film are CG, and the rest is completely seamlessly blended with the live-action. Great vehicle and beast designs also. Basically the most immersive CG environments I've seen period.

[Morgbug]

Saw it at the midnight premiere. The plot is FernGully crossed with Dances With Wolves, with a liberal dose of the evil corporations from Aliens -- in other words, predictable as hell but somehow it feels right and it works. And, of course, the effects are spectacular. Large stretches of the film are CG, and the rest is completely seamlessly blended with the live-action. Great vehicle and beast designs also. Basically the most immersive CG environments I've seen period.

That's a great analogy with FernGully.  I saw it while we were waiting to go to the airport on Tuesday (wife and daughter saw Princess and the Frog) and it was ok.  I was kinda torn by the whole mix of plots and how to summarize, but that works really well. 

I don't know that I'll own it and I'm sure not keen on the boost in movie prices for the privilege of wearing uncomfortable glasses but I don't feel bad paying the $10.50 to see it, so its not without merit.  Perhaps not a resounding endorsement but I think it worthwhile seeing in the theater. 

[Phrubruh]

Ok. I broke my boycott of Cameron movies last night and saw Avatar. I know I suck. Anyway, let me start by saying the graphics where great! It will look fantastic at home on blu-ray. Lots of great detail on the aliens. Much better motion capture models than Christmas Carol or Beowulf. They didn't look like the walking dead. I could see the aliens breathing. Lots of good explosions and action. The drop ships look like something out of Aliens. Lots of cool toys.

On the down side, the plot was a video game plot. No depth or detail. Awful story that could have cut about an hour and no one would have noticed. This was the same problem I had with Titanic. Too much running up and down the ship while it was sinking with no advancement of plot. What was with the name of the mineral the evil corportion was after? Unattentium? Please. That good for a fill in the blank in the script but they should have come up with something better during the shooting.

Sorry folks, this is just Pocahauntus in Space.

[BillCable]

I saw it as well this week.  I wasn't overly impressed by anything.  It was a pure "emotion" film rather than a "thinking" film.  In that I was disappointed... I was expecting much more from this supposed "pure sci-fi" film.  It was decent, don't get me wrong.  You felt good at the end with what happened and rooted for the good guys.  But the characters couldn't have been more typical.  The plot couldn't have been more basic.  And it's nothing I'd rush out and see again for the effects.

[Scott]

Caught this today as the annual Birthday movie extravaganzaa.  I liked it, didn't love it.  The effects as everyone has said were great, the villians were uber villians and the good guys were uber good guys.  Great action, cool scenery.  Didn't care the preachy political stuff but eh...I was entertained.

[Scott]

I will add that the ALice in Wonderland 3D trailer was absolutely awesome.  For the most part, I'd say most of the 3D experience has been not too keen.  I really haven't thought wow that is awesome in 3D.  That trailer though was trippy and totally showed a true 3D look to it. 

[BillCable]

Funny thing... people have gone on an on how Cameron created this amazing ecosystem for the planet.  All the way up the food chain, they said.  With all that praise I only ever recall one thing killing one other thing for food...

Yesterday I watched The Dark Crystal on Blu-ray with my kids.  Jim Henson created 10 times the ecosystem I saw in Avatar... almost 30 years ago... with puppets.  His felt like a far better realized and complete alien world.

[Rob]

I caved in and saw it today. 

I think overall it was pretty stunning.

[Pete_Fett]

I saw this last night with my wife. We both enjoyed it. It wasn't a "deep" movie or a movie with a complex plot, so in that aspect I would say that the movie falls a little short.

Heck - on a macro-level, I knew the plot of the movie just based on the trailers - so for me it was really more of seeing if the plot was going to play out exactly like I imagined it would - which it did.

I thought the performances that they were able to create from the Na'vi was fantastic.

I'm glad I saw it on the big screen and in 3D which was a nice touch as well.

I wouldn't run out to see it again, but simply in support of the tech behind the movie, I'm glad it's doing well. I think world-wide it's made $750 million so far, which is great.