Basic Plot: A computer hackers discovers his world is an illusion run by machines and enlists with human rebels in a war to save humanity.

Outburst: So I put these all together, because really these are best watched as a set. “WHAT!?” you say, “the sequels didn’t compare to the first, how could you?” Sure, when you watch it for visually stunning and original special effects, the later movies seem a little mundane. When you look at them as an attempt to elaborate on a philosophically cyclical construct presented in the first movie, they are enriching. If you don’t understand what I’m talking about, read more literature.

/CULT/DVD — Get it, love it, read more Socrates and Keats.

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Basic Plot: Humanity attempts to take over a alien planet. A disabled soldier is torn between the desire to follow orders and the need to protect the world he has come to be a part of.

Outburst: Am I the only person not totally blown away by this movie? Okay, so I didn’t get to see it in IMAX 3-D with the dorky glasses. The special effects are still stellar, but a few times I could tell where objects were placed or moved to enhance the 3D effect, just like in those ridiculous rides at theme parks. Once you get past all the glitz, the plot itself is rather mundane.

/CULT — Folks who want to paint themselves blue notwithstanding, this is just an average-good movie. It’s pure Hollywood entertainment.

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Wikipedia Entry: Avatar

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Outburst: As a born cynic, I could probably nitpik all day about trivial things (why does the Romulan ship look like something out of the Matrix; is all that Uhura ‘romantic interest’ nonsense necessary) but that would just be my fault-finding nature on overdrive. The movie certainly paid lip service to its fans (whether Trekker or Trekkie) in a humoristic series of lighthearted camps that didn’t pretend to be anything other than fan-pleasers… and yet I was still pleased by them, ridiculously so. Who would want a Trek movie where Kirk doesn’t tangle with a hot alien girl, get into fist-fights with alien baddies, and no one gets saved ‘unexpectedly’ just in the nick of time? Those aren’t even spoilers on my part; they are so much a part of the franchise.

And just as I was enormously pleased by the slightly campy, action-packed futuristic fun, so too will you be, even if you are only a moderate Trek fan. The latest edition of the popular series is a romp of a movie and certain to be a real crowd pleaser.

/DVD (3 of 3 stars) — A totally awesome movie you should definitely check out in theaters AND add to your Star Trek collection.

Official Site: Star Trek.com