Capsule: "Avatar"

"Gettin' some tail. Literally."

So Dustin and I booked it out to Barrington to get a chance at seeing "Avatar" at an IMAX, in 3D. And it was ... pretty good. It was a nice digital mock-up of the "Dances With Wolves" western. Throw in a coupla montages, some nice pro-native speechifying, and admittedly impressive CG, and ... you haz "Avatar."

In the press: Let's talk about all the stuff that kook Cameron's been bragging about.

The CG was great. Thanks to blue forms, I was impressed, not disgusted with the alien race humanity. Cameron was smart not to try and re-create humans. You know it's all computer, but really, you don't care ... but

- That's the problem. I will never truly be impressed by CG. I know this is bullshit purism talking, but, CG probably doesn't do it for me. When I'm aware of its presence, I nitpick. With "Avatar," it became so insturmental that I didn't care. Smeagol will forever be the greatest visual effect. And I guess I had the same problem with "King Kong." For all the technical genius, I just don't feel for the stuff on a visceral level, like how I used to feel about Cameron movies. When Arnie jumps in a jet for "True Lies," it's so ridiculous, but also barely in the realm of the real. And I like that.

- Story's fine, if you like that thing.

- Action's fine.

- Narration's weak.

- Actors had a good time.

- I more or less had a pretty good time.

- Oh, and the "+" comes from my respect for the craft. There's a lot of blue, green and purple up on screen, but, it's interesting enough. I believe you James Cameron. You made it all on computer.

But wait: there's more.

- Is this the beginning of the re-emergence of 1990's movies? Pro-environmental Clinton era happiness? Is this a wannabe movie for the Obama age?

- Dude, the alien sex scene was pretty awesome.

- Sigourney Weaver looked sorta hot as a 10-foot blue alien. Seriously. Check it.

- Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington are interesting young leads, with great promise.

- Cameron's adjusting to a new age of film-making. Can't wait for his next.