I went to see Avatar today for the second time. This time I took the wife because I wanted her to be able to see it in 3D because I do not think that seeing it on Blu Ray in a few months will do the film justice. To put this into perspective, I have not seen a film twice in the theater over the last 10 years that I can remember. We hardly ever go to the movies and I can count the number of movies I have seen on the 'big screen' in the past 2 years on both my hands. For myself, paying $13.50 to go see a movie a second time is pretty much unheard of, however I didn't bat an eye at seeing Avatar for the second time. I went with Joel the first time to see it on New Years Day and pretty much was floored. I knew it was a great movie because over the next few days I kept thinking it was better and better, rather than my usual glass-half-empty storyline analysis trying to pick apart the story. At the time of leaving the movie after the first viewing, I couldn't decide if I had just seen an amazing movie, or if I had just seen a really well done movie in 3D. 3D being the "cake topper" to the experience. After seeing it again today, I firmly believe that I was correct in saying that the Blu ray version of this film, while still being a great film, will not near do it justice. At dinner my wife and I were discussing with my parents (who my mom has seen the film once, and my dad twice) how to really describe the appeal of the film.

I think that the film can be summed up in once scene. (Spoiler alert) There is a very very short (20 seconds) scene that shows two 8ft tall blue aliens with tails, making sweet sweet love under a translucent willow tree. If you took this scene out of the movie and showed it to 100 adults randomly who had never seen the movie, I think you would get about 50% chuckles of bewilderment, 48% would give you a very strong "What on God's Green Earth are you showing me?' (ie WTF?) and the other 2% would ask you "What kind of Furry convention is this filmed at?" The reason that this scene is so critical is that to the people that watch the movie (this scene is probably about 2 hours in) no one will bat an eye at the scene. People will literally watch this scene with as much (or without as much) question of a love scene in any other drama that they watch this summer. It will not seem odd/cheesey/poorly-done-to-advance-the-story in any manner. That is how good James Cameron is at getting people to a point where they are ignoring amazing effects, spectacular views, rediculous technology and pretty much the best 3D green screening in a movie to date and focusing on the characters. Avatar has the ability to push ALL of that to the back of the viewers mind and STILL have you thinking that the two characters in the context of this movie are having a love scene (vs having a weird ass alien mating scene). The movie is that good. I don't think that the overall story is really that amazing, nor is the dialog/screenplay, but the character development is great, and the world seems so alive and so vivid that you forget that you are watching a movie and honestly believe you have a secret view of a situation.

I had always heard that other directors loathe Cameron because at this point studios usually give him an unlimited budget and an unlimited timeline when he is making his films. As I understand it he is also an asshole perfectionist on the set and demands a lot out of his actors. The acting is great, I think Sam Worthington does a great job, I also thought Giovanni Ribisi did a superb job as the soulless company man and Stephen Lang as the Colonel. The environment, which is as much a character as any, is perfectly detailed and absolutely amazing. There are two films that when I tell people I have never seen I am usually met with gasps, Gone with the Wind and Titanic. I honestly don't really care to see either of them in the future also, but after seeing Avatar for the second time I have to admit I am questioning the latter.

I have a feeling there are tons of people out there like me who feel that it is an experience in and of itself in 3D and that they must get other people to the movie theater to witness it. I also have a feeling that in a few weeks we will see this as the top grossing movie of all time.

It is an amazing film, and the 3D experience is worth every penny. I only wish my daughter was a little older so that she would understand it and can view it in big screen 3D also. Great film.

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