Table of ContentsTable of ContentsThe spectacle holds upThe story is better than you rememberZoe Saldana is incredible in itFebruary is a terrible month. It has a few OK holidays, and at least its short, but in much of the country, it is cold, dark, and terrible. If youre looking for something to do on one of those miserable February days, weve got a movie that might be perfect.Even though it and its sequel are two of the highest-grossing films ever made, Avatardoesnt have a sterling reputation. The film was a groundbreaking theatrical experience, sure, but does the movie really hold up when youre just watching it on your couch? It absolutely does, and here are three reasons you should make time for it this month:Recommended VideosWe also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max,andthe best movies on Disney+.RelatedAvatar | Official Trailer (HD) | 20th Century FOXAvatarcame out in 2009, so it would be understandable, and even forgivable, if much of the CGI didnt hold up today. Instead, Avatarwill leave you wondering why more movies dont employ CGI to create colorful, vibrant worlds that feel real.Avatar: The Way of WaterAvataris a reminder that, when its done well, CGI can feel just as vibrant and real as anything else on a movie screen, and just as importantly, that great CGI can stand the test of time. Pandora is just as inviting as ever.20th Century StudiosThe main knock onAvatarhas always been that its story is a little basic. ItsDances With WolvesorPocahontas,a tale of a white man going native and ultimately battling against the culture he was once a part of.All of thats true, but James Cameron can make these familiar narrative beats feel fresh and distinctly emotional. You might have seen the fall of Hometree in half a dozen movies before, but Cameron manages to capture that moment with a sense of scale and raw hurt that are basically unmatched.20th Century StudiosThe other gaping hole many have highlighted in Avataris Sam Worthington, the films lead. And its true, that performance is certainly not the best thing about the film. Sitting right next to Worthington, though, is a truly incredible motion capture performance from Zoe Saldaa, who plays Jakes romantic interest Neytiri.Neytiri may start as something of a stereotypical savage warrior princess, but she evolves into something much more ruthless and fascinating as the movie progresses. Saldana understands how the mo-cap is reading her perfectly and knows just how much to emote so that we always know exactly what her character is thinking and how shes feeling.StreamAvatar on Disney+.Editors Recommendations