Avatar: Well Done, Mr. Cameron! Doff Your Hat and Take a Bow!

Well...this review comes a bit late in the day -- actually in the eleventh hour, to be honest -- but then I had to make Avatar go through the rigors of my test. And what was the test? I am back after watching the 3D version for the third time, shelling out obscene amounts for the tickets each time...and, does the movie still amazes me enough to go for a fourth time? Does it pass the test? With flying colors, mate! Damn! I cannot get past that shell plunking right into my face. Okay, for the first time, it was a surprise, and as that third shell in the first of the two major fight sequences in the movie is fired from the screen towards the audience, I coudn't help but take an evasive action...BUT...man, I was prepared the second and third time, and still that shell got me every single time. Huh! Such is the charm of the movie, with so many sequences of sheer directorial brilliance and striking the right chord with the audience that you can't help but stand up and applaud James Cameron.

Everyone's aware of the plot...actually quite straight-forward, with a tribe called Navi on a planet called Pandora in danger of being run over by the greedy and inhumane humans from Earth. And what do the humans want? Ubtonium...a super-precious reserve. Natuarally, there has to be two camps of good guys and bad guys. And Good guys mix with the original inhabitants as their avatars to get to know them better, while the bad ones want to obliterate the entire race with their massive holocaustic weapons. The good guys, lead by Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) ultimately win and bad guys are sent back to Earth! That's the whole plot...but boy! With James Cameron at the helm of affairs, be prepared to be transcended to a different world altogether. And mind you...it's just not the special effects that make this movie so special, but the sensitivity and effortlessness with which the emotions are brought that makes this one an outstanding piece of art. You can't help but fall for the pugnacious yet charming Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). Watch her hiss at the enemy and then watch her kiss her man...and you know what I mean here!

Cameron, with a history of best-of-the-generation action sequences what with The Terminator, Aliens, True Lies and much more, does it in a grand manner once again with Avatar. With monster bazookas and frighteningly humongous gunships, there is simple no other option but to be in awe of the grand spectacle. The action sequences are absolutely delectable and in-your-face, literally.

A word about the performances. Both Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana have given a good performance...nothing outstanding, but yes, impressive, nonetheless. Sigourney Weaver, too is in good form.

Any weak points? Well...you might argue about the length a bit, but for me it was not an issue at all! I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment!

This is one of those movies that change the course of movie making and inspire a whole new generation to think beyond the ordinary when it comes to moviemaking. Thanks Mr. Cameron for your most sincere efforts, and yes...I am gonna test your that damn shell for the fourth time as well! Easy...isn't it...for you to make people reach out to their pockets so easily. But then you deserve it. So Well Done, Mr. Cameron! Doff Your Hat and Take a Bow!