Go see Avatar. See it in 3D. If possible, see it in IMAX 3D.

With Avatar, James Cameron (Titanic, Terminator) has taken movie making into new territory. Since it’s been out for a few weeks, it’s likely you have heard or read about it already. So my interest in writing this review is to take a slightly different angle.

Avatar’s extraordinary success is possible because of the elegant convergence of all the films components. While there has been much said about the 3D technology, which is amazing, it would mean nothing were in not married to a great story. In this case, the hero lives in two bodies and worlds, his paraplegic ex-marine body and an Avatar created using his twin brother’s genome. His home planet Earth is a world of corporate greed and surprise, an energy shortage. The planet of his destiny, Pandora, is a magical place of extreme beauty and danger inhabited by the Na’vi, highly spiritual warriors.

The people of Earth predictably having failed to tend to their planet, need to mine Pandora for a mineral that generates energy. The corporate masters of Earth are not concerned about the welfare of the Na’vi who happen to be living on the largest deposit of the mineral. This is the point where this reviewer points out that Avatar’s story relates both to our recent financial meltdown and Columbus coming to the new world. Things just don’t seem to change do they?

Our hero, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) takes his brother’s place in the Avatar program following his untimely death from random violence. Because his DNA is identical, he can step in and “drive” his Avatar in a sort of mind meld courtesy of a machine that resembles an MRI. Where everyone involved in the Avatar project are scientists, Jake is a Jar Head, a warrior. His participation is not embraced. The project director, Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver) is less than happy about Jake taking his scientist brother’s place but is forced by the corporate fathers to take him anyway.

The force of evil is embodied in the character of Col. Miles Quaritch fiercely and convincingly played by Stephen Lang. He’s in charge of security but he’s itching for combat. In his eyes the Na’vi are blue savages in the way of the mission. His little army is armed to the hilt and he can’t wait to deploy his men and weapons. In his mind, Sully, the soldier is in the Avatar program to gather intel for the inevitable war with the Na’vi, not to live among them and persuade them peacefully to move from their home making way for the mining operation.

The equally evil Parker Selfridge is played by Giovanni Ribisi; the corporate director of the mining project and true weasel. To Selfridge, the Avatar program is window dressing. He’s a mountain top miner who is after the minerals and couldn't care less about destroying the planet or its people.

Cameron’s vision of Pandora is what makes the 3D animation so extraordinary. The images explode with richness. It’s world of bright color and light where every insect, plant, dragon, horse and floating mountain is the most visually interesting you can imagine but not over the top (sharply contrasted to the corporate world of grey and green camouflage). Every creature and plant is exotic and beautiful. Everything on the planet is connected by a universal energy. Pandora is the embodiment of beauty, nature and ecology. On Pandora, Sully’s life is a sensory rush. He’s able to run like never before; a warrior unbound.

As Sully spends time with the Na’vi, particularly his female mentor Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), he gains respect for them and their culture. He becomes involved and conflicted. He becomes a Na’vi warrior and falls in love.

The movie and story are constructed extremely well taking the viewer between both worlds through the eyes and ears of Jake Sully. Early on I’m thinking, how can this guy live in both worlds every day? It’s got to be playing with his brain! Well of course! That’s the point!

When you find yourself caring about the characters, even in CG, you know the story is working. Sam Worthington’s performance is convincing and makes you feel his character’s experience the story in both worlds. Col. Miles Quaritch could have been a cartoon cliche but Stephen Lang gives him enough humanity to make you believe.

One last thought folks; we are talking James Cameron. This is an action movie and it doesn’t disappoint.