In the 22nd century, a paraplegic Marine is dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission, but becomes torn between following orders and protecting an alien civilization.
The narrative would be ho-hum without the spectacle. But what spectacle! Avatar is dizzying, enveloping, vertiginous ... I ran out of adjectives an hour into its 161 minutes.
– David Edelstein,
New York Magazine/Vulture,
21 Dec 2009
fresh:
I had the feeling coming out of this movie that I haven't felt since maybe I was eleven years old in 1977 and I saw Star Wars for the first time.
– A.O. Scott,
At the Movies,
21 Dec 2009
rotten:
It's a remote-control movie experience, a high-tech "wish you were here" scribbled on a very expensive postcard.
– Stephanie Zacharek,
Salon.com,
18 Dec 2009
fresh:
The most-hyped movie of the year just about merits it.
– Amy Biancolli,
San Francisco Chronicle,
18 Dec 2009
fresh:
Big money, big risk, pretty big reward. That's been his consistent pattern, and it's high time to give credit where credit is overdue: James Cameron delivers.