Effects_NN2 are_VBR special_JJ --_NN1 the_AT story_NN1 ?_? 
Not_XX so_RG much_DA1 Blue_JJ fairies_NN2 and_CC giant_JJ flying_JJ lizards_NN2 :_: This_DD1 is_VBZ ,_, in_II a_AT1 nutshell_NN1 ,_, what_DDQ Avatar_NP1 --_NN1 James_NP1 Cameron_NP1 's_VBZ eagerly_RR awaited_VVN ,_, self-proclaimed_JJ cinematic_JJ game-changer_NN1 ,_, the_AT supposed_JJ future_NN1 of_IO movies_NN2 --_NN1 boils_VVZ down_RP to_II ._. 
OK_RR ,_, so_CS they_PPHS2 're_VBR not_XX technically_RR fairies_NN2 ._. 
They_PPHS2 are_VBR a_AT1 blue-skinned_JJ ,_, 10-foot-tall_JJ race_NN1 of_IO vaguely_RR feline_JJ aliens_NN2 known_VVN as_II Na'vi_NP1 who_PNQS live_VV0 on_II the_AT planet_NN1 Pandora_NP1 and_CC have_VH0 a_AT1 physical_JJ and_CC emotional_JJ connection_NN1 with_IW the_AT natural_JJ world_NN1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 can_VM literally_RR plug_VVI into_II animals_NN2 and_CC trees_NN2 through_II the_AT nerve_NN1 endings_NN2 of_IO their_APPGE braided_JJ ponytails_NN2 ,_, and_CC they_PPHS2 do_VD0 n't_XX just_RR hug_VVI trees_NN2 :_: They_PPHS2 actually_RR meld_VV0 with_IW them_PPHO2 ._. 
But_CCB really_RR ,_, all_DB that_DD1 's_VBZ missing_VVG are_VBR wings_NN2 and_CC some_DD magical_JJ powers_NN2 to_TO make_VVI the_AT Na'vi_NN1 into_II mystical_JJ beings_NN2 worthy_NN1 of_IO Oz_NP1 ._. 
The_AT story_NN1 of_IO Avatar_NN1 is_VBZ rooted_VVN in_II science_NN1 fiction_NN1 and_CC fantasy_NN1 (_( and_CC ,_, inevitably_RR ,_, in_II Joseph_NP1 Campbell_NP1 )_) ,_, but_CCB the_AT movie_NN1 emits_VVZ a_AT1 distinct_JJ la-la_FU land_NN1 vibe_NN1 ._. 
If_CS anyone_PN1 other_II21 than_II22 Cameron_NP1 were_VBDR behind_II the_AT camera_NN1 ,_, the_AT film_NN1 would_VM probably_RR be_VBI a_AT1 disaster_NN1 of_IO Howard_NP1 the_AT Duck_NN proportions_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB without_IW Cameron_NP1 ,_, Avatar_NP1 would_VM not_XX exist_VVI ._. 
Not_XX even_RR George_NP1 Lucas_NP1 is_VBZ better_JJR than_CSN Cameron_NP1 at_II incorporating_VVG new_JJ filmmaking_JJ technology_NN1 into_II his_APPGE pictures_NN2 ._. 
Whatever_DDQV faults_NN2 Avatar_NN1 may_VM have_VHI --_JJ and_CC there_EX are_VBR many_DA2 --_JJ the_AT movie_NN1 succeeds_VVZ in_II immersing_VVG you_PPY in_II a_AT1 photorealistic_JJ ,_, painstakingly_RR detailed_JJ world_NN1 more_RGR fully_RR than_CSN any_DD science_NN1 fiction_NN1 movie_NN1 before_RT ._. 
Watching_VVG Avatar_NN1 in_II any_DD of_IO its_APPGE incarnations_NN2 (_( the_AT 3D_NNU version_NN1 adds_VVZ considerable_JJ depth_NN1 and_CC dimension_NN1 to_II the_AT image_NN1 ,_, although_CS the_AT glasses_NN2 start_VV0 to_TO grow_VVI heavy_JJ after_II the_AT two-hour_JJ mark_NN1 )_) is_VBZ an_AT1 undeniably_RR transporting_VVG experience_NN1 ._. 
When_CS the_AT ride_NN1 is_VBZ over_RP ,_, though_CS ,_, you_PPY 're_VBR still_RR left_JJ hungry_JJ for_IF a_AT1 movie_NN1 ._. 
Like_II Titanic_NP1 ,_, Avatar_NP1 is_VBZ a_AT1 10-cent_NNU1 script_NN1 writ_VVN large_JJ and_CC awe-inspiring_NN1 through_II sheer_JJ directorial_JJ vision_NN1 ,_, but_CCB this_DD1 time_NNT1 ,_, Cameron_NP1 does_VDZ n't_XX have_VHI historical_JJ events_NN2 and_CC two_MC remarkable_JJ performances_NN2 to_TO fall_VVI back_RP on_II ._. 
Instead_RR ,_, we_PPIS2 get_VV0 Jake_NP1 Sully_VV0 (_( Sam_NP1 Worthington_NP1 )_) ,_, a_AT1 paraplegic_JJ marine_NN1 who_PNQS travels_VVZ to_II Pandora_NP1 via_II an_AT1 avatar_NN1 image_NN1 that_CST allows_VVZ him_PPHO1 to_TO blend_VVI in_RP with_IW the_AT locals_NN2 ._. 
His_APPGE human_JJ bosses_NN2 --_NN1 a_AT1 short-tempered_JJ scientist_NN1 (_( Sigourney_NP1 Weaver_NP1 )_) and_CC a_AT1 short-tempered_JJ colonel_NN1 (_( Stephen_NP1 Lang_NP1 )_) --_NN1 have_VH0 differing_JJ motivations_NN2 for_IF helping_VVG Jake_NP1 succeed_VVI in_II studying_VVG the_AT far-flung_JJ scenery_NN1 ._. 
On_II Pandora_NP1 ,_, Jake_NP1 befriends_VVZ a_AT1 Na'vi_JJ warrior_NN1 (_( Zoe_NP1 Saldana_NP1 )_) who_PNQS teaches_VVZ him_PPHO1 the_AT rules_NN2 of_IO her_APPGE strange_JJ planet_NN1 --_NN1 and_CC also_RR falls_VVZ in_II love_NN1 with_IW him_PPHO1 ._. 
The_AT pacing_VVG in_II Avatar_NP1 is_VBZ surprisingly_RR measured_VVN :_: Cameron_NP1 takes_VVZ his_APPGE time_NNT1 introducing_VVG us_PPIO2 to_II the_AT wonders_NN2 of_IO the_AT planet_NN1 ,_, gradually_RR peeling_VVG back_RP the_AT layers_NN2 while_CS constantly_RR inventing_VVG creatures_NN2 and_CC landscapes_NN2 for_IF your_APPGE eyes_NN2 to_II feast_NN1 on_RP ._. 
You_PPY watch_VV0 the_AT first_MD half_NN1 of_IO Avatar_NN1 in_II a_AT1 state_NN1 of_IO blissful_JJ rapture_NN1 ,_, because_CS Cameron_NP1 has_VHZ the_AT directorial_JJ chops_NN2 to_TO go_VVI along_II21 with_II22 the_AT special-effects_NN2 trickery_NN1 (_( this_DD1 is_VBZ an_AT1 exceptionally_RR well-edited_JJ movie_NN1 )_) ._. 
He_PPHS1 doles_VVZ out_RP the_AT eye-candy_NN1 gradually_RR ,_, and_CC the_AT thrill_NN1 of_IO discovery_NN1 sweeps_VVZ you_PPY along_RP ._. 
After_CS about_RG an_AT1 hour_NNT1 ,_, though_CS ,_, the_AT realization_NN1 starts_VVZ to_TO sink_VVI in_CS21 that_CS22 the_AT story_NN1 of_IO Avatar_NN1 is_VBZ n't_XX going_VVGK to_TO live_VVI up_II21 to_II22 the_AT complexity_NN1 of_IO its_APPGE backdrop_NN1 ._. 
Basically_RR ,_, greedy_JJ humans_NN2 want_VV0 a_AT1 mineral_NN1 found_VVN on_II Pandora_NP1 and_CC are_VBR willing_JJ to_TO commit_VVI genocide_NN1 to_TO get_VVI it_PPH1 ._. 
Avatar_NN1 is_VBZ The_AT New_JJ World_NN1 in_II outer_JJ space_NN1 ,_, or_CC Pocahontas_NP2 with_IW blue_JJ people_NN :_: The_AT entire_JJ movie_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT1 long_JJ buildup_NN1 to_II a_AT1 climactic_JJ 30-minute_JJ action_NN1 sequence_NN1 that_CST lives_VVZ up_II21 to_II22 Cameron_NP1 's_GE uncanny_JJ knack_NN1 for_IF placing_VVG his_APPGE heroes_NN2 in_II seemingly_RR unwinnable_JJ situations_NN2 --_JJ but_CCB is_VBZ still_JJ ,_, in_II the_AT end_NN1 ,_, just_RR a_AT1 gigantic_JJ action_NN1 sequence_NN1 ._. 
The_AT genre_NN1 elements_NN2 are_VBR all_DB there_RL :_: What_DDQ critically_RR wounds_VVZ Avatar_NN1 is_VBZ Cameron_NP1 's_GE inability_NN1 to_TO write_VVI better_JJR characters_NN2 ._. 
Most_DAT of_IO the_AT personalities_NN2 in_II the_AT film_NN1 are_VBR lifted_VVN straight_RR out_II21 of_II22 Aliens_NN2 ,_, including_II Michelle_NP1 Rodriguez_NP1 's_GE tough_JJ Latina_NN1 jarhead_NN1 and_CC Giovanni_NP1 Ribisi_NP1 's_GE weaselly_JJ pencil-pusher_NN1 ._. 
As_II the_AT villain_NN1 ,_, Lang_NP1 overacts_VVZ maniacally_RR ,_, while_CS Weaver_NP1 's_GE ill-defined_JJ role_NN1 seems_VVZ to_TO have_VHI suffered_VVN in_II the_AT editing_NN1 process_NN1 (_( Cameron_NP1 had_VHD to_TO whittle_VVI Avatar_NN1 down_RP to_II 160_MC minutes_NNT2 to_TO accommodate_VVI IMAX_NN1 theaters_NN2 )_) ._. 
Worthington_NP1 and_CC Saldana_NP1 fare_VV0 best_RRT ,_, even_CS21 though_CS22 more_DAR than_CSN half_DB of_IO his_APPGE screen_NN1 time_NNT1 (_( and_CC all_DB of_IO hers_PPGE )_) is_VBZ spent_VVN underneath_II Cameron_NP1 's_GE emotion-capture_JJ process_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ melds_VVZ the_AT actors_NN2 '_GE performances_NN2 with_IW computer-generated_JJ images_NN2 ._. 
The_AT love_NN1 story_NN1 in_II Avatar_NP1 --_NN1 the_AT element_NN1 you_PPY 'd_VM assume_VVI would_VM be_VBI the_AT most_RGT half-baked_JJ --_NN1 turns_VVZ out_RP to_TO be_VBI the_AT strongest_JJT thread_NN1 running_VVG through_II this_DD1 epic_JJ picture_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ constantly_RR enthralls_VVZ visually_RR but_CCB does_VDZ n't_XX engage_VVI your_APPGE brain_NN1 enough_RR ._. 
Cameron_NP1 's_GE accomplishments_NN2 as_II a_AT1 craftsman_NN1 here_RL are_VBR formidable_JJ ,_, but_CCB this_DD1 is_VBZ n't_XX quite_RG the_AT future_NN1 of_IO cinema_NN1 ._. 
Avatar_NN1 is_VBZ more_DAR of_IO a_AT1 prologue_NN1 --_NN1 evidence_NN1 that_CST you_PPY can_VM trick_VVI an_AT1 audience_NN1 into_II surrendering_VVG to_II an_AT1 artificial_JJ world_NN1 without_IW fixating_VVG on_II the_AT seams_NN2 ._. 
Now_RT we_PPIS2 just_RR need_VV0 a_AT1 story_NN1 worth_II all_DB the_AT trouble_NN1 ._. 
