Avatar is a film whose technical breakthroughs are undeniable. The first note in my notebook says “looks awesome”, and the rest of the movie certainly did not hamper that initial reaction. When you see this film, you'll see where the absurd amount of money James Cameron stuck into this project went. The visuals in this film would be fabulous without the added effect of 3D, but with it, I was taken aback by some of the breathtaking scenes on display. I am not of the point of view, however, that technical breakthroughs are to be handed out Oscars. Those are meant to be reserved for imagination, storytelling, visual direction, and acting. Don't get me wrong, this film is not devoid of these in the least. It possesses all in the amounts that a blockbuster such as this should. It would simply be a shame if this film became decreed the greatest film of all time.

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The basic premise is that the most expensive mineral in the universe, used for who knows what, absurdly called Unobtanium, sits directly underneath the village of a peaceful, yet fierce if provoked, tribe of blue people called Na'vi. Private military contractors are called in, led by Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), and in conjunction with a team of scientists they attempt to persuade the Na'vi to move. The lead scientist, a botanist played by Sigourney Weaver, wants to help the tribe, but knows that if they do not migrate, they face annihilation. Technology is available that allows people to control Na'vi versions of themselves, or avatars, in order to better interact with the locals. The newest recruit in the program is Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a partially paralyzed ex-marine who initially cooperates with the military commanders, but is enthralled by the way of live of the natives, and is increasingly hesitant to help destroy it.

The majority of the acting in the film appears to merely be there to serve its limited purpose. What flaws the characterizations have, it is not the actors' fault, but rather the writer's. Most characters are fairly wooden. Some of Jake's struggle between the ideologies is very genuine, but the lack of diversity in his character holds him back somewhat. The one actress that refuses to be held back is Zoë Saldaña, whose performance as the protagonist's native love interest shines through as very genuine. It is difficult not to feel her anguish at the brutality of the humans.

The ideas expressed in this film are fairly stock ecological/anti-imperialist ones. While it is obviously commendable that the film admonishes the treatment of Na'vi, it expresses no new ideas  or points of view. The connection the natives share with their surroundings is sublime and heartfelt, but once again, does not break through the territory of the well-explored. The one genuinely interesting facet of this was, I found, the tension between the military and the scientific mindsets. While the scientists are obviously 'the good guys' here, it is, in the end, an ex-marine that gets things done. While the marines are largely cruel and inhuman (including a particularly one-dimensionally character whose single line, “Get some!” is growled at least five times in this film), the scientists are largely ineffectual and impotent. The answer came in the form of force, but this is force in response to a genuine, human emotion from Jake. This is in contrast with the Colonel, who is so inhuman, in several scenes he shows he doesn't need to breath to live. There is also a hint of racism coming from him (he at one point accuses Jake of being a race traitor), but this is, perhaps mercifully not elaborated on.

This movie is definitely a spectacle, and I'm not going to tell anyone to not see it. It is far from perfect either, and lacks real deep ideas but for those seeking a thrill, a visual experience, this is the movie for you.