As you’ve probably heard, the visuals in this movie are amazing. Just like in Avatar, the visuals alone justify reason enough to see the movie. Again like Avatar, this movie’s major weakness is in its story. In fact, the fairytale type of story is barely there; it mainly exists just for Alice to have a primary goal.

Other than the visuals, a major strong point are the performances. Saying that Johnny Depp (as the Mad Hatter) is a good actor is a gross understatement. He is one of the greatest actors working today, and he shows it here.

Helena Bonham Carter gets laughs as the Red Queen, Alan Rickman’s voice work is immediately recognizable as the Caterpillar, and Stephen Fry adds another level of creepiness to the Chesire Cat. By contrast, Anne Hathaway and Crispin Glover seemed a bit dull in their roles. Also of note was how surprisingly good newcomer Mia Wasikowska was as Alice. She has a great screen presence and holds her own against the rest of the pros.

I’m a great fan of Tim Burton (the director) and most of his movies, but this one seemed to lack a certain heart, soul and excitement that needed to be there to make this film truly great. Visuals and acting can only do so much; without a strong story and high energy, this film sadly never reaches its full potential.

The central problem with the story is its appalling lack of originality. The plot, and moment after moment in this film, is ripped from previous movies with reckless abandon. No person who has seen such movies as Dances with Wolves, the Last Samurai, Pocahontas (Dis.) or any number of other movies should be surprised at any part of the story here. The plot is simply an excuse to string together a beautiful canvas of rich, detailed digital fantasy art. Soldiers are portrayed here either as self-hating pansies or narrow-minded bad asses. The Na’vi are portrayed as a race in perfect balance with the world around them, rather than as products of natural selection with their own defects. Count me as someone who wanted to see a story which had real characters with real people in them, or a twist in the story I didn’t see coming. I have a few moral qualms with the story as well, which plays out not as a message about tolerance of differences or peaceful coexistence, but as a racist ballad where the sacred Na’vi have been perverted by contact with the infernal humans and it is the humans that need to be eradicated or exiled.

This is a movie you will want to see if eye-popping visuals and vivid detail at all appeal to you. But if you’re looking for a compelling story that you haven’t seen before, look elsewhere. As sci-fi, District 9 is a much better movie, and I would say even Star Trek has the edge on a compelling story line.

There are scenes and individual shots that pop with ethereal beauty. It’s worth seeing for that reason, but I don’t think it’ll be as fun after multiple viewings. The great thing about “Star Wars” was the characters: Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, R2-D2, Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and so on. They embodied the other-worldliness of the story, taking the weight off the effects.

In thirty-two years, I don’t think anyone will remember “Jake Sully.”

From the trailer, I already knew this would not be the typical Disney-Pixar film. First of all, the lead character is a cantankerous elderly guy! I was really curious how this story would flow. And true to Pixar’s amazing record of film-making, “Up” belongs up there with the best of them.

That wordless montage on the evolution of the relationship between Carl and his wife Ellie from childhood to old age was beautiful and very touching. Maybe kids will not get affected, but certainly adults will be hard-pressed to hold back their tears in these few minutes that start of the film.

The “spirit of adventure” upon which the love affair of Carl and Ellie was founded was finally realized when Carl was pushed to the wall by modern developments around their house. Carl had no other recourse but to go for broke and bring their house to the edge of Paradise Falls in Venezuela, as Ellie always dreamed since her childhood. He did this in the most original way, only possible in an animated film like this.

The relationships Carl builds with his unwitting stowaway boy scout Russell, and later the strange bird Kevin and talking dog Doug, were slow to build up. But again, in true Pixar fashion, the power of true friendships shines through adversities encountered. Great story-telling indeed. This is a movie truly for all ages to enjoy. Do not miss it! The 3D is not essential for you to fall in love with it.