So, let me rave about Avatar, that new movie that came out by James Cameron?  That epically amazing one?  Yeah.  That one.

For those who have no idea what it's about, here is a small attempt at a spoiler free description:  

It's something close to 200 years into the future, and humans have burned through our resources here on earth, so we have ventured out in space to find other means of energy.  Through their searches, they found a planet they named Pandora.  This planet contains the mineral Unobtainium (spelling may be off, but the word looks remarkably close to the word 'unobtainable' doesn't it?).  So they invaded, created a base and started digging it up.  The movie specifically follows Jake Sulley, a wounded marine that is paralyzed from the waist down.  He gets the chance to go to Pandora, and be a driver, someone who is linked to an Avatar - a creature that looks like the native people to Pandora.

The people of Pandora are called the Na'vi.  They're a very spiritual community that worship and live in tandem with their world.  Thus enters conflict between the humans and the Na'vi.  The humans want to dig up (basically destroy) Pandora, while the Na'vi fight them to keep the land that is rightfully theirs.

So, Jake goes in as one of them, and is accepted as one of them, though grudgingly, and slowly acclimates to being one of The People (capitalization isn't a mistake).  I would continue more detail, but I don't want to ruin too much more, cause... well... if you want to know more about it, go see it.  Just know there is a big battle for you action buffs out there, it won't disappoint.  And to add my own two cents in, see it in 3D.  I can't imagine seeing this movie in 2D, I think it'd make it way too flat.  The world of Pandora deserves to be seen in 3D.

Now, for my rave on the film.  I've seen it twice now, and the second time did not disappoint.  It was so very good.  It's just very interesting in how everything in the world of Pandora ties together, and I love the Na'vi.  The beauty that their world offers, I forget that it doesn't really exist.  When the credits rolled I was sad that it didn't really exist.  The world that was created was so dynamic, it was something I could find myself easily falling into, wanting to research and know more about (thank goodness there is actually a book, a "field-guide" that was created for the movie, I already ordered it off amazon).

Now, if you haven't seen reviews or anything on the movie, you won't hear the criticism that is following the movie.  One thing I've seen a ton is that it's just a pretty, predictable movie.  I disagree, I can't really put all my thoughts into words, but the movie is so much more than just something that is "pretty".  Sure, its' beautiful, but you have to think about all the details that go into creating such a thing, everything that had to be thought out.  It's just very interesting, and intricate.

The other criticism I've seen is the racism that is apparently prevalent.  Part of me wants to say "duh" because I believe that is slightly the point, and Cameron has even talked about the themes in the movie weren't supposed to be hidden.  There are ideas and themes in this movie, and I think many just have to get over them.  One thing that I do see some credit is the idea of the "White Man's Burden" where the white man feels the need to come in and save them.  Which, admittedly, Jake does come in and save the people, but I don't see it as he feels the need cause he's white.  I think it was because he did fall in love with the forest and the people (that's a reference to a direct quote from the movie).

Yay for tangents.  I could keep going if I wanted. Just go see it. It's really great.