‎Avatar (2009) directed by James Cameron • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

Avatar

2009 Directed by James Cameron

Enter the World of Pandora.

In the 22nd century, a paraplegic Marine is dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission, but becomes torn between following orders and protecting an alien civilization.

Sam Worthington Zoe Saldana Sigourney Weaver Stephen Lang Michelle Rodriguez Giovanni Ribisi Joel David Moore Wes Studi CCH Pounder Laz Alonso Dileep Rao Matt Gerald Sean Anthony Moran Jason Whyte Scott Lawrence Kelly Kilgour James Patrick Pitt Sean Patrick Murphy Peter Dillon Kevin Dorman Kelson Henderson David Van Horn Jacob Tomuri Michael Blain-Rozgay Jon Curry Luke Hawker Woody Schultz Peter Mensah Sonia Yee Show All…

162 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by AHAB ★½ 35

James Cameron's next film is just going to be footage of him squealing with glee, naked, touching himself, in a pile of your hard earned money, on a greenscreen backdrop, in 3D, mocking you for spending so much cash to see his hokey movies. You'll love it and it will break all kinds of records and James Cameron will then buy the moon.
Review by DirkH ★½ 53

...Right. Ok, so I'll be honest. The first time I saw this I thought it was a technological masterpiece and was blown away by what I was watching. I rated it 4 stars.

Now, watching it at home on the small screen, I had to struggle to finish it. I was bored out of my skull. Sure, it is still a feast of well made CGI and innovative technology and I applaud Cameron for it. But he should have thought about the plot a bit harder. Just a tad.

Still, the plot is what it is and doesn't do justice to the visual achievements, but that's not what irked me about it now. This film's ego is too big. It…
Review by Juan Tarrio ★★½ 17

The most overrated movie of all time.
Review by jose ★★★★ 3

still can't believe ryan gosling exposed the artist for using the papyrus font for their posters asdfjfkgkl
Review by SilentDawn ★★★★★ 30

100

Theatrical Cut

Interconnected humanism. Arguably Cameron's strongest in regards to his immaculate blend of tech fetishes, romantic sweep, high-concept ideas, and classical structure/discipline. A big brain and brawn and heart collage, and just plain ravishing adventure. Cameron is a pro at basic, fundamental mechanics; fluid, gripping, efficient exposition, gradual succession of set-piece intensity, sturdy characterization, and mixes of genre. "It's just Pocahontas!", they say. Excuse me, but does your precious Pocahontas (ignoring the common knowledge and reliance on the mythic idea of the 'hero's journey' for centuries) have giant-bowie-knife-wielding-mech-suits battling alien creatures? Or massive native arrows plunging through mean little men as they desperately try to uphold their capitalistic escapade? Or dragons, connected and controlled through nature's constant flourishing…
Review by SilentDawn ★★★★½ 33

James Cameron's Avatar, above all else, is a transporting and utterly breathtaking experience. Let's face it, whether you were for or against this movie from the beginning, you cannot deny the miraculous and wondrous scope of the entire project. In terms of the hype and build-up for the film's initial release, there has never been a film that was as-talked about and water-cooler friendly than Avatar. Hell, I remember going to see the film opening night on the biggest screen possible in 3D, and at least three people that I knew were there. It was an event, one that brought the collective moviegoing audience together for a ride that hasn't been bested in modern cinema.

Now, I'm just going to…

Recent reviews

Review by oeufboy ½ 1

this is the worst movie of all time
Review by Addison ★★★

Yikes, this was worse on rewatch.
Some great effects but other than that very overlonged story and very lacking in depth and characters and acting and almost everything else. (Other than direction and cinematography.)
Man I used to worship this film, lol.
Review by Moviephil4315 ★★★★

Despite being the highest grossing film of all time, I have only seen Avatar through bits and pieces on TV. I finally have seen the full film and I think it's very good.

Sure it does move into unoriginal territory at some points (particularly with the villain) and the movie is way longer than it should be but Avatar contains a solid story, good characters and gorgeous visuals that makes it a solid film worth watching.

Also congrats to Zoe Saldana for being the first actress to have 2 films cross the 2 billion mark at the box office.
Review by Bill Borowski ★★

I haven’t really thought about this movie since I last saw it about 7-8 years ago. For whatever reason it popped into my head and I decided to revisit it. I honestly didn’t remember much about it, so I went in with an open mind. I don’t hate it as much as I used to, but I wouldn’t say I like it. It’s mainly just a below average science fiction film that has one of the greatest science fiction directors helming it. Who knows maybe the next four movies will be something special, but I doubt it.
Review by faith ★★

no one wants 5 more of these
Review by MollerFilm ★½

It has cool visuals but the story is bland and uninteresting. Stuff just happens and the characters are boring and uninteresting. why not just kill them off, I don't care...

The only thing this movie has going for it is the visuals which don't matter. Good Visuals don't ruin a movie but if the story isn't good I don't care. I don't care in the slightest. The story, the characters is what makes a movie... not the visuals...

one exception would be the new Blade runner but Blade runner has AMAZING visuals and an interesting story with beautiful images and competent directing. It's a better movie...
Review by Borja Jimenez Santos ★★★★½

La verdad es que casi diez años después los efectos especiales siguen siendo mejores que muchas producciones actuales. Argumentalmente es un pastiche de Pocahontas y Ferngully en el espacio, pero es muy entretenida para sus casi tres horas de duración y fue un auténtico fenómeno en su momento.

Algún día llegarán las secuelas.
Review by Nissnn ★★★½

A beautiful looking world and a story that gets you, but there is a very clear line between good and bad people in this movie, that could be a bit more complex
Review by jacob bromm ★★

Overrated piece of garbage. Fern Gully has the same plot without the alien hentai. CGI was alright.