Re-posting what I had posted on another forum before.
Avatar had great visuals effects with photo realistic looking characters and believable stunning CG environments. But I didn't care for the story nor for the characters.
For me District 9 did a better job with the story and action, the movie made me care for the characters and I loved the full blown action in the second half, it was my favourite movie of 2009.
I am hoping the Avatar sequels will be better. But one of the contributing factors for the box office success of the first film was that it had started the whole 3D craze that drove people to go and watch the movie. Many didn't go to see it cause it was Avatar, they went cause it was a 3D movie, but that 3D novelty has now worn off.
And though I have no doubt with the marketing push the sequels will still make millions, it just won't be a movie that regular people will be keen to discover like they did before, unless the trailers somehow really wows them.
And in comparison to the number of Hobbit & LOTR fans and their fandom in general, Avatar fans are miniscule.