I saw AVATAR on opening day on non-IMAX, non-3D. I thought it was the most visually stunning, non-stop action, touching romance story I had (literally) ever seen. For me its a story of re-birth focused on one individual, Jake Suli, but also focused on both our society and on the Na'vi society. I found my initial experience of watching the movie just about overwhelming - particularly the musical score and the imagery of a totally alien world that made six legged horses, and humanoids that were ten feet tall ... all believable.
THEN... on the second day of release I saw AVATAR in IMAX-3D... Instead of seeing a spectacular movie - I was part of an alien world and the struggle on it between good and evil.