Writer: Nur Safina Othman

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Watch this if you liked: "Jurassic Park"

It has been 12 years since we last saw James Cameron's feature film on the big screen. The last being "Titanic", a 1997 film which earned the record as the highest-grossing film in history up till this day. It was reported that Cameron wrote the script to "Avatar" almost 15 years ago, but had to put the filming on hold until modern-age technology was able to bring his imagination to life.

"Avatar" centres on Jack Sully (Sam Worthington), a U.S. marine who is paralysed from the waist down. He is recruited to travel to a planet called Pandora, where it is inhabited by an indigenous population known as the Na'vi, which takes on a human-like form but with a tail, blue complexion and a height that is 10 feet tall. Jack soon participates in an Avatar programme, whereby he will inhabit the body of a genetically-engineered Na'vi hybrid known as an Avatar. While his existence in the world of Na'vis has its own agenda, chaos erupts when the humans begin to attack their peaceful habitat in order to pillage their natural resources.

Australian actor Sam Worthington successfully delivers his part perfectly as a down-right humanitarian who is brave and loyal. Initially supposed to help Colonel Miles (Stephen Lang) destroy the Na'vi's homeland, we soon witness him embrace the Na'vi race despite not actually being one. Furthermore his strong feelings for the beautiful Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) made him willingly sacrifice anything for her, even betraying his own kind. As for Zoe Saldana, she holds her stand as a patient and wise teacher towards Jack as she slowly guides him to become one of them. She too has her fair amount of action sequences with her enemies. Stephen Lang's performance does not fall below the bar of excellence as a colonel who tries to destroy the Na'vi race. Without fail, he makes sure audiences form an immense hatred towards his actions.

Throughout the film, viewers will be at awe towards the gorgeous, other worldly imagination of Pandora, unusual wild animals, and also during Jack's transformation as an Avatar. The visuals throughout the movie are no doubt stunning; however the story lacked originality.

If you're hoping that dishing out some extra cash for the 3-D version would to be worthwhile, that won't be necessary as there aren't many 3-D pop-out effects. Nonetheless, audiences will be entertained visually throughout the film. Maybe after this, James Cameron will shift his status from the "King Of The World" to "Master Of The Universe" as he manages to create amazing films throughout his involvement in the industry.

Cinema Online, 14 December 2009