I can't tell you how much flack I have received from people for not liking this movie.
I didn't hate this movie, I just found it seriously disappointing after all the hype. I was very up for seeing it, I love sci fi and, as an artist myself, I love special effects - as long as there is a story, dialogue, characters and a plot to go with it.
So, let's take a few moments out of talking about Dodd, Dorgan, Teabaggers and terrorists and opine on a dumb movie.
I've had other people admit that they didn't like it very much either. And I've had some admit it privately, like they are afraid to say it out loud.
I feel a lot like Elaine on Seinfeld after seeing the English Patient (which I hated a lot more than Avatar, I must admit).
My thoughts on the movie are that it is visually stunning. I didn't see it in 3D, but should a movie have to be seen in 3D to make it a good film? I don't think so. I thought the acting was bad. I thought the dialogue was inane. I thought the plot was Dances with Smurfs. Sigourney Weaver as a big blue smurf was.....disturbing.
Actually, I didn't think the blue people looked all that real. I've been more impressed with special effects in other movies. I thought the effects in Benjamin Button were superb. I felt the aliens in District 9 seemed more real than the blue people.
I've had people tell me seeing Avatar was like seeing Star Wars for the first time. Please. Star Wars was charming. It was funny. It had engaging characters that you cared about. It showed us something completely new. (I know Lucas admits he stole a lot of the plot, but it wasn't from a very well known bunch of other movies)30 years later there is a store in my area that sells Star Wars memorabilia exclusively.
I don't think this movie will stand the test of time. It's not going to be seen in 3D again after a couple of months and when it's in people's living rooms on DVD it's going to have to stand on it's merit as film, not just a 3D phenomenon.
So, what did you think about it? If you loved it, fine. If you didn't, I want to know about it. I want opinions. I give it about a 6.8