"Avatar" review: Cameron's return lives up to everything he promised!

WOW!!! What an absolutely INCREDIBLE movie!!!

James Cameron is absolutely, completely, and totally BACK from his twelve year hiatus after the gi-normous success of "Titanic"!! And it looks like he has another monster hit on his hands that could also turn into Golden Globe and Oscar gold.

This not just a visual effects film. Although those effects are so realistic and so layered, surrounding you with the world that is Pandora. "Avatar" is very much a character driven story. Sam Worthington, Zoë Saldaña, Michelle Rodriguez, and Sigourney Weaver are all excellent, and their chemistry with one another is key to how great this movie is. Speaking of Ms. Weaver, it's great to see her saddling up with Cameron again for another high tech adventure in space. Even though she's more of a supporting character, her part is the backbone of what is good and right in dealing with the Navi. For Worthington's character, this is a job he never asked for, but the actor perfectly takes us through it's amazing lengths and breaths. For Saldaña, here is an endearing and soon to be iconic character in another high profile movie this year (the first was this past summer's "Star Trek"). She's got to be flying high right now.

Yes, we've seen this basic tale done before. But that never hurts the amazing way in which it's told and ultimately played out. I have to say the character CGI is the most realistic ever portrayed in a motion picture. Very early on you begin to forget that you're looking at a computer generated being and feel like you're actually gazing at a real flesh and blood Navi native; the eyes, the hair, the skin, the physical movement, are so very rooted in the physics our eyes understand as REAL. Of course all of this is brought even more to the forefront when viewed in 3D. So I strongly suggest anyone who hasn't seen it yet...SEE IT IN 3D!!

Once again, James Cameron takes aim at the evils of technological corporations, represented here by a military force from Earth who want to wipe out the Navi to secure a precious mineral under their homeland, and the importance of cherishing and connecting with what's most important; one another and the home we inhabit. That connection is another wonderful element of the story. How we and the life around us / under our feet are connected. Something that's lost on the 'alien military' who just see money and greed. The technology that the military wields is another innovative aspect of this movie. One original design in particular that I loved is the giant combat suits that react and mirror the operator's virtual command glove movements. These are really kick-ass! The colonial marines could have used these in "Aliens".

The score is also beautifully done by James Horner, who previously worked with Cameron on "Aliens" and "Titanic". There's only a scant moment or two where you can here his signature sound, as well as a familiar "Wrath Of Khan' motif he continues to use.

"Avatar" is a love story, a war movie, a fantasy, a cautionary tale, and a vibrant new doorway into the future of cinema and visual effects. Cameron broke new ground with the creation of the T-1000 in "Terminator 2". He once again adorned the mighty Titanic with a life and realism that could not have been accomplished, even just a few years before. Now, he's going to have everyone in the entertainment industry stopping, turning their heads, and wondering what they'll need to do to grasp. mold, and shape with their own hands what the King Of The World known as James Cameron has brought to the table known as 'the movies'.

In the meantime, I can't wait to see "Avatar" again! Absolutely in 3D! BTW, the runtime is 2 hours and 50 minutes. But you never really notice it. The only thing I had a slight problem with was how heavy the 3D glasses were. Had to adjust them a time or two during the course of the film. That's minor though. GO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!