Avatar...what's the hype?

Before there was a big hype about Avatar, especially the 3D version...I was one reluctant friend who was asked to go watch Avatar...geez another sci-fi movie.

Then comes this hype and everywhere people's like talking about how Avatar was an idea conceived many many years ago but coz of technology limitations they can't produce it...bla bla blaa...so what the heck, i'll watch it. Provided it must be in 3D...i'm a sucker for 3Ds.

So here I am, a couple of hours after Avatar. Well...it's very original (apart from the fact that I can't help relating to The Matrix where one's in another dimension guided only by the power of mind). I'm impressed by the technologies, but not so much of the storyline. Pretty predictable, saving mother-nature of another planet so on and so forth, with some love touches added here and there.
3-hours is pretty long to put me through a 3D movie with that heavy specs on.

Gimme another 3 hours, I'd still prefer LOTR. But it's a brand new experience in movie watching I'd say.