Just got back from Avatar at the IMAX in Birmingham. It was just phenomenal. The pace of the film was perfect - there were some bits where I was surprised at how quickly a scene would progress, but not in a bad way. It could have been a much longer film so 2 hours and 40 minutes did not drag one bit.
I have never seen a film like Avatar, that's for sure. The special effects and sound design I would say, are the greatest I have ever experienced in a film. Together they create a world that is just so.. easy to believe. I can't think of the words to describe it, but I have never seen a science fiction film that I have 100% bought into. For just under three hours, I felt like I was on Pandora.
I have also never seen a film that I have been so hyped for, that has completely blown my expectations out of the water. The storyline is nothing groundbreaking, but at the same time it wasn't as predictable as I thought it would be which was a pleasant surprise. I think it helped the film greatly that, apart from probably Sigourney Weaver, the bulk of the cast were not big names.
I could go on and on about it but I'd just bore everyone, I'm sure I already have. I will also say, that this is only the second film I've ever seen to effect me so deeply, physically and mentally (Requiem For A Dream being the other film).
Predictably, it gets a 10 out of 10 from me and happily sits as one of the greatest films I have ever seen.