Avatar

For the longest time, going to the movies has been an empty experience for me. The combination of ridiculously high prices, small screens, poor quality projection and the sound from the next theater of the multiplex bleeding into my theater have all made going to the movies a chore, instead of a treat. Indeed, for the last seven or eight years, my preference was to stay home and wait for the DVD.

There have been some exceptions, of course. "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy was made to be seen on the big screen. But for the most part, going to a movie theater and paying anywhere from $50-70 for a movie that might suck has not been something I enjoyed.

It wasn't always like that. My love for movies developed at an early age for me, and I became a full-fledged film buff while I was in high school. I'll never forget the wonder and delight I experienced the first time I saw such movies as "Lawrence of Arabia", "Planet of the Apes", and "2001: A Space Odyssey." They weren't just movies, they were experiences. I was taken to a new world, and I was totally removed from my reality and surrendered to the magic of the movies. I never got over that sense of wonder. And that, of course, is what has been missing from my movie-going experience lately.

So, with that cynical approach, I went to go see James Cameron's "Avatar" in IMAX 3D. I really wasn't sure what to expect, I am generally turned off by hype toward anything. And 3D movies, with those stupid glasses you have to wear, never really impressed me. It always seemed like just a gimmick.

Until now. All those expressions I used above, the "magic of the movies", "the sense of wonder" was all there right up on that huge screen. The 3D was tremendous, it didn't detract from the movie but added to its effect. By the time the movie was five minutes old, I forgot I was wearing the glasses. The IMAX screen is so large that you can be swept in if the film is good enough. And the movie itself? It was simply wonderful.

At a length of two hours and forty-five minutes, it is not a minute too long. I never found myself squirming or looking at my watch. I was completly engrossed and totally engulfed by this incredibly entertaining film. Like the original "Star Wars", it is not a "deep" or "important" drama with compelling performances, but an enthralling and exhilarating entertainment. It has a wonderful plot, which pulls you in and touches you to the core. And, unlike many movies, it has a climax which pays off.

But it's the look of the movie which makes it such a cinematic milestone. You are transported to an alien world, the likes of which has never before been rendered so well in a movie. Every shot is rich with detail and wonder. The CGI and other animation effects are seamless. Everything looks so real and believeable. A whole new world is presented, with humanoids and animals that all look so real and believeable. It is all so breathtaking.

It's been a long time since I felt like I got my money's worth at the movies. Finally, with "Avatar" in IMAX 3D, I can honestly say it was worth every penny. Thank you, James Cameron. Nice job.