Occasionally there is a movie that changes the playing field. Avatar is such an experience. In my lifetime it was "2001 A Space Odyssey" another was the first "Star Wars" movie. Then more recently "Saving Private Ryan". For the most part these movies are watermarks of technical prowess. But that is a shallow observation. These are not my favorite movies of all time, but they are most memorable for how they changed the industry. The director uses these technical ability to sell a story that otherwise would not be believable. Avatar sucks you into the screen and sells you a world that doesn't exist. Then tells you it's story convincingly. Wow!