It seems that my opinion is of the latter.
While the visual effects were phenomenal, the rest of the experience was subpar. It was basically the same as the first movie where you had 1 group with vastly superior technology but incompetent soldiers verses basically 2 avatars, not original and very predictable. Hopefully there can be a little more realistic details,then having like a sinking ship with all the spilled cargo, leaking fuel, bodies and the water is crystal clear, rapid recovery from oxygen defribration for example. It was overall a let down and not unique. Hopefully the follow up will be better.