Pandora's Box

I experienced James Cameron's Avatar in 3D today at a local IMAX.  This is a wonderful film that transports the viewer to the planet Pandora where the military is on hand to assist a corporate concern in acquiring a rare mineral that brings a fortune and only exists on the planet.  The reason the military is on hand is Pandora's residents, the Na'vi, live over the mineral and are somewhat territorial. 

Scientists have created avatars that allow them to transfer themselves in the form of Na'vi to the planet's surface in hopes that they can mingle with the inhabitants and learn the ways of their culture.  Jake Sully, an paraplegic  ex-marine, sees his twin brother killed just before he leaves for Pandora to release his own avatar among the Na'vi.  Because Jake is a match for his brother, he has been chosen dispite his complete lack of lab training.

This film is a fantastic mixture of visual, aural and mental film making at it's finest.  Cameron shows us again that a Special Effects driven film can be more than eye candy.  The characters are done so well that I often forgot I was watching CGI creations.  James Horner created a dramatic score for a film that really benefitted it.  The triumvirate of ILM, Weta and Stan Winston Studio brought the world of Pandora to life in very convincing fashion. 

The art design was amazing. Pandora looked like Roger Dean's art from his many Yes albums of the 1970s, which is not a bad thing at all.  It was perfect.

Avatar should be seen on the big screen, in 3D at an IMAX theater if at all possible.  This is the only way to experience this wonderful work of art.  Seeing it on anything less than a movie screen is really missing out.

 I give Avatar four and a half Billys.