Let me first say that this is not the first movie made by James Cameron that starred Sigourney Weaver working for a company that was trying to mess with creatures that ought not to be messed with. (Funniest line from the movie, in my opinion "I have to take samples!")
That aside, maybe I just enjoy bad guys to much, but first of all, I want one of those shuttle thingies, and the marines should have and could have beaten the natives to a pulp. Yes, I know that this is supposed to be a counter to the Columbus story, but looking at it from modern ramifications that's just the way things go; If this movie had been released On September 12 2001, it would have been given generally negative reviews. If it was just the mineral they were after, then nuke the planet, go down in rad suits, and dig it out hassle-free.
Yeah, I support the villains way too much.
That said, I thought that Avatar was mediocre over all. The special effects were pretty and well-imagined, but they didn't aid the plot, which was in itself cliche and predictable.
Eh. I'd give it a 7/10