Avatar is a stunning masterpiece of a film that is part Dances with Wolves, part Braveheart, and part Blood Diamond. The film never blends too much into any one of those films, but instead stands out on its own as a compelling story with visuals that will leave you drooling into your popcorn (so it's best to not share a tub of popcorn for this film).

The premise itself isn't very difficult to understand, it's really been told a million times and played out in real-life since the beginning of time. It's the "you have what I want" story, but this time with an interesting twist. We get to follow a disabled Marine who is given a chance to walk again, but this time as an avatar. He's macho, he's brass, and he's in for more than he bargained for. His mission begins as a fun adventure, or so he thinks, until he gets to know the inhabitants of this foreign planet. He quickly learns that the tribe isn't the enemy, but in fact he and his military brethren are. In the process he also falls in love with a cute local and he must decide between helping her and her tribe or following through with his mission and regaining the use of his legs.

Fearless Prediction: The Marine chooses to help the tribe instead of completing his mission so that he can be rewarded with the surgery that will allow him to use his legs again. He winds up dying in the end, but not before the tribe is saved, and he's planted a few kisses on the cute alien.

Predictive Score: 5 out of 5

Opens: 12/18/09

Rating: PG-13

Note: Predictive score is based upon how good we feel the movie will be. The Fearless Prediction is our prediction on what will happen in the movie, but not necessarily what will occur.