I'm generally of the opinion that Americans need to see a ultra-expensive, hi-tech, special effects movie, great only as eye candy, like we need more war and greedy big corporations. But that's what's nice about Avatar, is that it has some of the most amazing special effects you'll ever see, plus a message re. things like war, corporate greed, cultural understanding, and saving the environment. I risked the violence to take my two boys (10 and 8) and I'm glad I did. Afterwords they were just as talkative about those issues as they were about the effects and life forms on the planet. The only down side is a completely mailed in performance by Sigourney Weaver.