We saw the Real3D version of James Cameron’s epic Avatar last night. It was one of the best theater experiences I’ve had in a long time. The plot reminded me of a strange mix between Fern Gully and The Matrix. The battle scenes are rivaled only by The Lord of the Rings. Really. Some scenes were almost too epic, actually. I found myself almost at a point of sensory overload several times.

I feel like it lived up to the hype, personally. The visuals were hands down the best you could possibly ask for and aren’t likely to be topped any time soon. Cameron said he was out to put George Lucas and Steven Spielberg to shame. There’s no question that he accomplished his goal. I think Michael Bay is probably in a corner somewhere crying, too. As if that weren’t enough, the sound was also powerful and unique – especially when it came to the Navi language.

Of course, the story and dialogue are really what matter – and both put just about every other science fiction movie I’ve seen in recent years (other than District 9) to shame. The quality of writing in this movie was phenomenal. You really develop an attachment to the characters, which is a nice departure from the typical crap that Hollywood has been churning out lately.

All in all, there’s really nothing bad to say about Avatar. If you’re planning to see it, however, you must see it in a 3D theater. It’s worth a few extra bucks. Trust me. It wouldn’t have been the same experience had we not gone that route.