If you haven’t seen Avatar yet, my only question to you is, Why Not? If you needed a reason, I have 10 of them right here. Read on to find out what you are missing out on..

Having seen this epic film for the second time now, I can only praise Avatar for its immense quality in all areas, and so I have decided to break it up a little to give you a better idea as to why you absolutely Must see this film.

1. Avatar’s Success: You will have heard all the media hype about Avatar, all the records that this film has broken, so let me break it down for you. Up until now, James Cameron’s Titanic has been the best selling film of all time, and has held this position for over a decade. Avatar – also by James Cameron – has smashed the success of Titanic, and is now the best selling film of all time. Titanic produced its success in a number of months, whereas Avatar has achieved better results in just weeks. For a film that cost around 500 million to make, it has reeled in billions, making it a huge success story.

2. About the Story: Without giving too much away, it involves the human race trying to take valuable resources from the Na’vi tribe on the planet of Pandora, stopping at nothing to get their hands on it. This is the very basic outline, and is a story much like movies to date, but this is so much more than just another alien movie. If you think you have seen it all before, you a very, very wrong. Prepare to be impressed.

3. Characters: Without question, there have been many movies to date in which you can really feel a connection with the characters involved. You feel their pain and share in their joy. Avatar is no different. Admittedly, the first time I saw this great film I was transfixed on the visuals and special effects. The second time I saw the movie I was much more in tune with the story and the characters, and I have to say, it is very believable, and completely engrossing. I’m not ashamed to admit I shed a tear or two. The cast lead by Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana, as well as good performances from Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang, really puts you in touch with Avatar, and helps to make the whole story very real.

4. Special Effects: Do I really need to mention the special effects? Words do not do this film justice. When Lord of the Rings was released, the effects were simply incomparable to anything else, and to this date, the trilogy remains my all time favourite film/s. Avatar not only comes very close to reproducing these stunning effects, but in my eyes, it surpasses them on many occasions. I was left starring at the screen almost paralysed by the visuals, and I wanted to reach out and jump into Pandora. It is quite simply breathtaking, and has to be seen to be believed.

5. Breakthrough Technology: Keeping along the same lines, the technology used in creating Avatar is unique, and allows for near perfect recreation from human to computer-generated character. The production of Avatar involved many cameras and body suits with markers to capture the movement of the actors. A camera fixed to the face of each actor also mapped out the facial movements using markers along the actor’s facial muscles. All movement was relayed directly into the computer onto the character’s face and body, meaning very true-to-life animation. It required a good level of acting skills for the cast, who were effectively acting in the dark, with no environment to play off. Credit has to go to the cast for this, who showed incredible imagination. Hopefully this technology will open the door for many more films of this calibre in the future.

6. Music: Again, it wasn’t until seeing the movie for the second time that I really took any notice to the music or sound effects. The first time is so compelling, that you are really appreciating the sound without realising it. The second time I saw Avatar, I could really hear what was going on all around me, and it certainly added to the atmosphere and the emotion being portrayed on the big screen. The sound is awesome to put it bluntly.

7. Its 3 Hours Long!: Indeed the film is quite long, and it may seem like too long for some people. Maybe you cannot sit for this amount of time watching one film. It’s completely understandable. I on the other hand wished the film was longer, or at least I wouldn’t have been disappointed if it were longer. The truth is, I could have watched the stunning visuals all day long. In terms of how long the film is, I have to say, it does not feel this long at all. By the time you have introduced yourself to the film, characters and story, and by the time you have settled into this wonderful world of Pandora, you have already been sitting for over an hour. The action and the magnetic plot soon bring you to the finale. You will feel like you have seen an epic film, and you will struggle to take it all in, but you will not feel like you have been sitting for 3 hours. The fact that it is 3 hours makes it another reason to see this film in my opinion.

8. 3d: I’m not going to go into this in any depth, except to say, if you do go and see Avatar – and quite frankly if you don’t then you are missing out – then I would suggest seeing it in 3d. You have to see it in 3d. The cost of the entrance fee may seem steep, but it is so very worth every penny, and was not enough to dissuade me to see it for a second time.

9. Is it a Child’s Film?: Many people who have not seen the film, but have seen the trailers, are under the misconception that it is a nice children’s film, a Disney story if you like, but let me tell you, that is very far from the truth. In the UK Avatar is rated as 12A, and I would agree that parents of young children should use discretion, but it is a film aimed at the majority. The suspense and the action will have everybody on the edge of their seats. The romance and intrigue needs to be understood, and the language and scenes of sexual content, although few and far between, need to be addressed if you have little ones. But the kids will love it, just as much as the adults will adore it. Its not a Disney-type film, its an epic film with as much for the kids to enjoy, as for the adults.

10. My Final Point: If you are still not convinced – and I would be shocked if you fall into this category – but all that I can do now is point you in the direction of the Official Avatar Website to see pictures, trailers and information on the film. If this is not enough to convince you to see this groundbreaking film, then let me tell you; everybody I know who has seen the film has loved it, more than loved it. Those who were dragged to see the film kicking and screaming loved it. Those who were not sure about it but saw it anyway loved it. When you walk out of that cinema after the film, all you will hear is overwhelming praise from everyone around you. You will be speechless, but you will want to talk about this film to everyone who will listen.

Avatar is an immensely feel-good film, and I cannot stress enough that you should see it. If you honestly do not like the film, or left feeling underwhelmed, then you are in the minority, and I feel for you, but the chances are you will simply love this film.

Don’t take my word for it, See It!

Please note, I am not part of Avatar in anyway, and have no deal with the makers of Avatar to increase ticket sales. I only wish to express my personal opinion on what I feel is a film worthy of the awards it has already received.