Avatar seems a lot like the animated feature "Battle for Terra" (Spoilers)

[NewJeffCT]

that came out a few years ago - peaceful aliens encounter hostile humans attempting to displace them, but one good-hearted human helps the primitive aliens fight back & win.

I got Battle for Terra for rental a few months back from my local Red Box, so I remembered the plot.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0858486/

[rcrush]

1. It seems like a lot of movies

Kind of like Battle for Terra with some Dances with Wolves with some Ferngully with some Smurf Village in there.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. Yeah.

I figured somebody read the script and rushed the much cheaper and easier "Battle for Terra" through production while they were still working on Avatar.

I think that happens a lot. That's why you occasionally get movies with identical plots released closely together, one with high production values and a lot of anticipation, the other cheap.

The Matrix and 13th Floor and Dark City.

Antz and A Bugs Life.

Armageddeon and Deep Impact.

Etc.

[NewJeffCT]

3. Or, the recent Alice in Wonderland on SyFy

and the upcoming Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp.