I wish I saw the film everyone else saw. I really do. Instead I saw a pretty boring, predictable action/adventure film that felt like it had some sort of pro-facebook agenda.

"But What of the visuals?"

Anyone who says the visuals are half-assed or cheap looking must be delusional. The film looks great. An undeniable fact. The character design choices are up for debate but you know the artists who worked on the film gave it their all.

I just wish the story was good.

It's a pretty dull story. The reason being I could not connect with any character. Jake, Grace, Quaritch. None of them. They are pretty flat. Jake should be a guy you root for. He's the guy that pretty much determines your enjoyment of this movie and he's just, boring. There was no time for their to develop the excitement for a guy who is about to walk again for the first time in years. That's a big deal! Instead, a couple of minutes into his Avatar body, he starts running.

"But Dustin, you're just supposed to shut your brain off and enjoy it.'

How am I supposed to grasp the religious, allegorical, metaphorical themes in the movie when my brain is down? What good does that do for movies in general? I will enjoy a popcorn flick as much as the next guy, but I'll take a thought provoking movie as well. it balances out. Avatar had some themes it wanted to work out, or at least make you connect with and it left me cold.

** Slight Spoiler Ahead!! **
For example, when Quaritch has his men take down the hometree, it's pretty clear that scene was based on the September 11th attacks. It's supposed to be heart wrenching and terrifying, and yet I sat there emotionless. I knew what Cameron was trying to do and I just didn't take. Of course that was later in the film. By that point I knew this film was not for me.
**Spoiler ended**

Again, all it takes is some way into the world. Something to make me care about what is going on. The best character in the film by far was Zoe Saldana's Netyiri. She has real emotion. She felt like a complex, interesting character. I kind of wish she was the main character. In fact, I think the main character should have been a female soldier from the start. Cameron is amazing with females with both Ellen Ripley, and Sarah Conner respectively under his belt. Why not round it out with one more kick ass female? We need them now more than ever. Buffy' gone, that chick from Twilight is a bit mentally/emotionally unstable, The Bride killed Bill so there's no need for her services. I just think he missed out by not having a charismatic main character.

The emotional range of the Nav'i are being touted for connecting with the audience. I just don't understand what the big deal is when Pixar has been making digital characters emote for 15 years. Did anybody see Up? Did you not cry? I mean, wow. What a movie.

Here's one thing I won't do. I won't belittle anybody for liking the movie. I've never done so unless you liked Transformers 2, but other than that, to each his own. I can't say I walked out of the movie and saw kids with their parents begging them to rush to Toys R Us to get the Avatar action figures. I don't think it will have a cultural impact or anything. The visual effects in film from now on will probably look impressive, but unfortunately Avatar uses it's visuals to hide behind a below average script.

The only reason you won't like this film is if you hate children. It doesn't teach you a life lesson, nor does it tell you what's right and what's wrong. It doesn't dumb itself down for easy consumption, but it isn't on some high end pedestal. There's no villain or pop culture references or musical numbers. Although there is a pretty nice original soundtrack.

The movie is fun, scary, heartfelt, heartbreaking, sincere. It's just a great movie.

Go see it this Friday.

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Now, it's bad to steal people. Plagiarizing is stealing. Everyone over the age of 4 knows that.

Is an homage stealing? I always thought the idea of an homage is you're blatantly and rather openly basing your drawing/illustration/film on an existing piece of work that makes the audience go "Oh that's from *insert title*!" You make the references known and you give credit to the origial artist. There's a problem when you don't make a note of the original source so your fans mistake it as completely original. Problem is in this day and age, if you plagiarize, you will get caught faster than ever. Would you really risk it?

Think about it people. One mistake like this throws your entire career, either just starting out or a pro, into doubt. Everyone will go back and maybe start to see that what they thought was once original is in fact the work of a thief. It's a hard label to clean yourself of. So use common sense, and if you don't, you will get found out.