The Five: Reasons to See 'Avatar' This Weekend

So the time has finally come for the rest of the world (beyond the critics and press) to feast on James Cameron's Avatar. We've spent the past week reading what all the critics had to say, with some very positive reaction (the effects are awesome!) and some very negative reaction (the story is way lame!). But now it's your turn to see the film, and discuss it at length with your friends, family and all of us here at Fandango – and to help you decide whether to fork over those hard-earned dollars or not, here are five reasons why you should see Avatar this weekend.

 

1. The Visuals – I don't think it's a secret that the main selling point of Avatar are its groundbreaking visual effects. Halfway through the film you'll be amazed that it was all created with computers, because some of these effects are so real and so lifelike – especially the Na'vi aliens, whose physical movements and facial expressions are beyond anything that we've seen before from these types of special effects. It's pretty hard to describe – you just have to see it to believe it.
2. The Little Moments – One of my favorite things about Avatar is that James Cameron populated his film with a handful of really small quiet moments that pop with so much color and emotion that you can't help but fall instantly in love with them. Most of these scenes arrive as Jake (Sam Worthington) is off discovering new parts of Pandora and its other-worldly plant life, and you'll know when they occur because most likely you'll be overwhelmed with a calming sense of peace and beauty. Enjoy these moments – they're what truly "make" this film.
3. The 3D – There have been rumors floating around that the 3D in Avatar is "vomit-inducing". Well, let me squash that right now because this 3D is about as smooth as I've ever seen it. And trust me on this one; I'm totally one of those weak-ass dudes who get motion sickness from just about anything. That being said, there wasn't one moment during Avatar where I felt even the tiniest bit nauseous. The 3D here is brilliant, bold and beautiful – and it's really the only way to see the film.
4. Stephen Lang – The big baddie in Avatar is exactly that: a big baddie. But his over-the-top can-do military attitude is so obnoxious and so much like a combination of every military figure we've ever seen on screen before that it just makes the performance completely memorable and totally worth the price of admission alone. Trust me, you'll be quoting this guy for weeks.
5. The Final Battle – Obviously a big, two-and-a-half-hour James Cameron film has to culminate with an epic battle, and the 20-minute fight at the end of Avatar is beyond awesome. Without spoiling it for you, let's just say it's so immersive and action-packed that you'll totally feel like you're right there fighting alongside the characters.