Ellington

CASEY PHILLIPS: "Titanic" may have been director James Cameron's romantic magnum opus, but "Avatar" is clearly an apology to action fans who waited 18 years for a suitable follow-up to "Terminator 2."

Like most nerds, I swooned when "Avatar" footage was shown at the San Diego Comic Con in July. The blended CGI/live action visuals surpassed the huge hype that had built up during the film's incubation, and the battles between blue-skinned Na'vi and humans in mechanzied battle suits were visceral.

Seeing the full 2.5-hour sweep in 3D (an absolute must for once) was the type of grandiose experience film fans long for.

The alien world of Pandora is fully realized, down to tiny details on the prismatic flora and fauna, and the visuals are bound to sweep every relevant award category.

Despite breaking no new ground in terms of characterization or story arc, "Avatar" was completely engaging, start to finish.

HOLLY LEBER: The effects of "Avatar" are stunning, no doubt. I agree wholeheartedly that it's bound to rack up visual awards come March. Unlike my partner-in-crime, however, I was neither engaged by the story of military scientists battling the New Age-y Na'vi, nor by the romance between a female member of the tribe and a paralyzed Marine in his able-bodied, cerulean form.

There's a difference between liking a film and recognizing its merits. "Avatar" has a lot of merit; I just didn't enjoy it.

CASEY: Admittedly, the story, while ably told, is predictable and hardly a revolutionary experience on par with the visual effects. Still, the casting is solid, particularly Stephen Lang, who plays a grizzled, chest-thumping colonel out to force the Na'vi to leave by any means necessary.

Even though the love story is similarly tried and true, the aforementioned marine, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), and Na'vi huntress/shaman, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), have a slow-burning chemistry I found endearing.

HOLLY: They had some chemistry, yes, or as much as can be put forth when both characters are blue, feline-looking and mostly naked. I just didn't really care about them or any of the other characters. The movie was spectacular to watch, but nearly three hours is enough time. This one won't be added to my DVD collection. That's not to say it's a bad movie, because I actually think aspects of it were stellar; it's just not my cup of tea.

CASEY: I thought no other sci-fi film this year could surpass "Star Trek," but I was wrong. "Avatar" is every bit as good and, as an original property, fundamentally more impressive.

HOLLY: Apologies if we're perpetuating gender stereotypes here, but it takes a lot for a sci-fi film to earn my deep affection. This one, a tour de force of special effects, gets my nod of approval, just not my love.

E-mail Casey Phillips at cphillips@timesfreepress.com and Holly Leber at hleber@timesfreepress.com.

Holly Leber & Casey Phillips

REVIEWED THIS WEEK

* Movie: "Avatar."

* Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang and Michelle Rodriguez.

* Rating: PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking.

* Synopsis: Humans send in a marine in a genetically engineered alien body to learn the ways of a culture they wish to relocate so they can harvest a valuable resource.