Avatar: Best Picture of 2009

Holy F*cking Sh*t!

Those were the first three words that came to mind as I exited the theater. "Avatar" is essentially everything I want in a movie. The pro-environment, anti-war message only adds to the incredible technology that was invented to create the world of Pandora. It is incredibly entertaining, and even with a running time of 160 minutes it doesn't drag at any point. The only people who may be disappointed are the ones that don't care for Science Fiction, or the people that will buy the 7th "American Pie" movie just to see the boobs.

I thought "The Dark Knight" was the best film I saw in 2008, though there were others that were close behind. "Avatar" is far and away the best I've seen this year. Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" is a distant second, followed by the rest.

Sam Worthington reminds me a lot of Oscar-nominated actor Mark Wahlberg. He does a good job portraying the film's protagonist, Jake Sully, who is a paraplegic that cuts a deal with Col. Miles Quaritch. Sully must reveal information about the Na'vi people in exchange for an expensive surgery to repair his legs. The conflict revolves around Quaritch who is hell-bent on destroying the land of Pandora in order to dig up its resources.

Seeing this film in IMAX 3-D was definitely the way to go. Probably the best part was that it didn't have the feel of a regular 3-D movie. Writer/Director James Cameron didn't abuse the capabilities. Usually, there are at least a couple times an object is seen flying toward the screen just to show the audience that their glasses actually work. Cameron doesn't do this. He used the 3-D technology just for the audience to get closer to the action and experience the breathtaking colors and complexity of Pandora.

This film is unlike any I've ever seen. It works as a dramatic film and action/adventure. It is no doubt the best 3-D film ever. The innovation of this technology raises the bar for anyone trying to make a film of this caliber. And James Cameron is once again "King of the World."