Avatar Reviews: Movie PRAISED In First Impressions As 'Imaginative, Absorbing'

The first Avatar reviews are in, and they're overwhelmingly positive.

On Rotten Tomatoes, 83 percent of Approved Tomatometer Critics rated Avatar positive. The early consensus read: "It might be more impressive on a technical level than as a piece of storytelling, but Avatar reaffirms James Cameron's singular gift for imaginative, absorbing filmmaking."

Michelle Orange of Movieline applauded the director, noting "as a showman Cameron will not be denied."

Amy Biancolli of the Houston Chronicle wrote that Avatar is "a near-seamless blend of live-action and digitized footage that blasts us across the galaxy -- and blows our minds."

Todd McCarthy of Variety noted Avatar had both "breathtaking sights" and "narrative excitement."

MTV Music added, "You'd be hard-pressed to find someone unimpressed by the computer-generated coolness of the film. "

Even those who took issue with the film had positive things to say.

Tom Maurstad of the Dallas Morning News criticized the film's use of cliches, but admitted "Cameron knows how to get a bang for his bucks and fills the screen with dazzling sights."