Avatar
To be honest, I was a bit apprehensive since most reviewers said it was over-hyped...
But truth is, its a PERFECT movie. From watching movies like Apocalypto, I realize that not all good movies need to unpredictable... Sometimes the predictablilty actually gives it a sense of safety. Its all about storytelling and scripting
I believe it's a perfect end to this decade, with a theme strongly focused on the two big things of the past 10 years, The war in Iraq and Climate change (More accurately, man's responsibility to defend the earth he lives in). The latter being a lot more subtle
The tribe seems to represent the human in perfect equilibrium with nature, hence a need for very humanoid aliens with low tech weapons in perfect harmony with their planet, in clear contrast to District 9 required very non-human looking aliens with superior tech and a lost planet - Pretty much from the same school of thought.
I personally, see it equivalent to Gladiator in putting together all the technolgies of the past 10 years and making a stunning, and yet strong, although straight-foward storyline. A good tribute to the decade, I think, by a director whose talent does not diminish in the least in this movie
The characters too are well done, the hero, although an archetype, is not stereotypical, with an ability to learn and yet remain courageous, the scientist-nature-lover also has a hard side to her classic form and the general is fricking Major Chip Hazzard, white hair, die-hard and all... Who can hate em!!
It also says something to the people of America regarding the native Americans - ALOT actually with very close resemblance between the natives of the planet and native Americans....
There was enough special effects in combat, camera glides and eye-candy, but enough to propel the plot rather than derail it, and unlike Final Fantasy, the Spirits within, the plot and conveyance of the story would appeal to anyone from 12 to 50, and the characters have a sense of humor this time around...
Hate me for saying it, minus rep if you would but Avatar, 2 thumbs up: 9.5/10