Avatar

Author: James Cameron

The top-grossing film when it was released, it's a bit light on originality, but man is there a level of visual interest you will seldom find. The story of Pandora, the Na'vi, and the lengths humans will go to for conquest isn't the deepest you'll ever see, but the way director James Cameron uses amazing 3D cinematography, an enchanting score, and the kind sweeping action that always marks a Cameron film, it more than makes up for it. The special effects are what folks tend to talk about, but when you've got a cast including Zoe Saldana, Wes Studi, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, and Michelle Rodriguez, you really are putting out the star power! Maybe the best part of Avatar is the lengths Cameron went to get his vision made. There were several technologies invented to allow particular camera movements in the CGI, and even a new form of greenscreen shooting. The Na'vi language was not merely a throwaway faked language, but a fully created language with syntax, vocabulary, and grammar. This is a film that was constructed, and thrilled audiences all the way to the bank! Why it's on the list: A really fun movie, and one that will take your breath away more than once.