I have heard the movie Avatar talked about a lot in terms of the amazing 3D graphics and potentially hidden messages in the plot.  A few radio shows even had callers give their opinions of the plot and these possible messages.  Let's face it, James Cameron isn't exactly a Conservative.  Cameron is a Hollywood Liberal.  I have finally seen the movie and must admit the hype is well earned.  I viewed the 3D version which was visually SPECTACULAR.  The movie is really two different stories.  The main story is 75% of the total movie and involves a paraplegic Marine controlling a Na'vi Avatar.  The Marine meets the Na'vi Chief's daughter, learns their customs, falls in love, etc...  A very familiar plot via Dances with Wolves.  Good stuff!  The second story is essentially about the military-industrial complex.  An entity that Liberals believe exists now (and Rep Ron Paul (R-TX)).  This complex rapes/pillages the world of Pandora purely for profit, kills whoever stands in the way, etc.. The two stories intersect, but Cameron could have made the 25% just about anything else and still had an amazing flick. Perhaps the movie time would have been 120 minutes instead of 165 minutes, but still a great movie.  I have heard most people mention they didn't mind the military-industrial complex portion because the soldiers were mercenaries, employees of the corporation, not the government, etc...  I found immense issues with the portrayal of the military-industrial complex.  The first is rather comical.  The movie specifies no year, but humans have the ability to travel vast distances across space.  The ability to make a paraplegic walk, etc...  However, the soldiers are using what appear to be mostly 20th century small arms.  Bullets?  How in the heck are we still using bullets and not lasers or some other futuristic munition?  Look towards Aliens for help James!  LOL...  Actually, Cameron can't because he made the same mistake in that great movie, but I digress...  The biggest issue with the military-industrial complex is the fact Cameron made it EXIST.  An entity that doesn't exist now is assumed to exist in the future.  "Big Business" will never have their own military force.  The correct portrayal in the movie would have been a human colony on Pandora with some government military protection, etc...  Perhaps the colony is there to study the planet, etc...  A marvelous planet at that!  I also took issue with the "mercenaries."  Cameron assumes hundreds of ex-military personnel would "sell out" for profit.  Given the high level of honor in our military, Cameron's "Big Business" would have to use ex-soldiers from the UN "peacekeeping" program.  USA soldiers would not sign on for what Cameron creates in the movie.  I must admit though that Sam Worthington's character was a hoot.  A "blood and guts" type.  Too bad that intensity wasn't saved for a WWII flick.  I think the last great flaw in the movie is the military/native conflict.  Dances with Wolves was based upon American history and the expansion west.  Avatar is purely fiction, but Cameron interjects his own twisted ideology as a means to add a "non-fiction" element.  I give Avatar 3.5/4 stars though...