AVATAR (A)

Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez and Giovanni Ribisi

Story: Jake Sully is a former Marine confined to a wheelchair. But despite his broken body, Jake is still a warrior at heart. He is recruited to travel light years to the human outpost on Pandora, where a corporate consortium is mining a rare mineral that is the key to solving Earth's energy crisis. Because Pandora's atmosphere is toxic, they have created the Avatar Program, in which human "drivers" have their consciousness linked to an avatar, a remotely-controlled biological body that can survive in the lethal air. These avatars are genetically engineered hybrids of human DNA mixed with DNA from the natives of Pandora... the Na'vi. Reborn in his avatar form, Jake can walk again. He is given a mission to infiltrate the Na'vi, who have become a major obstacle to mining the precious ore. But a beautiful Na'vi female, Neytiri, saves Jake's life, and this changes everything. Jake is taken in by her clan, and learns to become one of them, which involves many tests and adventures. As Jake's relationship with his reluctant teacher Neytiri deepens, he learns to respect the Na'vi way and finally takes his place among them. Soon he will face the ultimate test as he leads them in an epic battle that will decide the fate of an entire world. (20th Century Fox)

Rated: PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking

Bottom Line: While nothing groundbreaking in the story-telling department – It’s basically DANCES WITH WOLVES in space – AVATAR benefits from glorious visuals, solid acting, breathtaking scenery, mind-blowing creativity, dizzying high-action battle sequences and the ability to flat out entertain. It’s not the best movie of the year…just the best movie to see in theaters in the last 30 years! If you thought Cameron rocked the cinematic boat with TITANIC twelve years ago…wait ‘til you feast your eyes on this one!

DVD/Blurays released next Tuesday (12/22):
DITRICT 9 B+
500 DAYS OF SUMMER B