I went to see it last night. I thought it was a good movie. My own feelings about the hype surrounding this film isn't about the acting or the plot, it's about the 3D sfx.
Now I went in thinking having to wear these glasses on top of my own specs, along with getting my eyes to adjust to the 3D effect would irritate the cach out of me, but after a few minutes I forgot I was wearing them.
3D is being touted as the future for movie and TV productions, maybe it'll take off, maybe it won't, I hope it don't. it works for somethings like Avatar, but is there any benefit watching, say, Corrie or Eastenders in 3D?
Story wise it was time out of mind nonsense, if you want to loose yourself for 3 hours on another world, taking on their problems then it's great. But in terms of originality I'm afraid it was a little lacking. The actual Avatar thing was original, but the "White man wants our lanRAB so he's come to kill us" thing has been done elsewhere.
But saying that, if and when we do venture into space that is exactlly what is going to happen. I wonder if Avatar is set in the Alien Universe,
Also the gung-ho, kick ass Colonel Quaritch guy was so one dimensional and predictable, My Nephew told me that at one point he was expecting him to say "I ain't got time to bleed"
The Na'vi, their Language and culture I thought was well researched and executed, watching Neytiri teach Jake the Na'vi way's, seeing Pandora through the Na'vi eyes was beautiful. In the sequel which I would think will happen, I hope we get to see more of both.