20th Century Fox has requested that critics hold their reviews until Avatar opens next week, and I don't believe in biting the hand that feeds you. But I will say this: You have to give James Cameron credit for delivering what he promises.
After all the hype about Avatar's being a revolutionary work that would forever change the way films are made, the trailer released earlier this year suggested something far less radical: A gigantic geekfest.
And that is exactly what Avatar is: A mammoth, kick-ass spectacle about 10-foot tall blue aliens who ride around on giant flying lizards and commune with an entity known as the Tree of Souls. I acknowledge that premise is not going to sound all that appealing to a lot of people (basically, every woman I know; there's just no way this movie is going to come close to Titanic's grosses).
But Cameron - at a point in his career when he could literally make any movie he wanted - went deep and personal and made one from the heart. Whatever you may think of Avatar, you can't accuse Cameron of not dreaming big and taking huge risks.
And although the movie's 3D strained my eyes after two hours, the computer-generated imagery really does trump everything that has come before (the finished film looks much, much better than it did in the trailers). After Titanic, Cameron was King of the World. With Avatar, he is now the undisputed King of All Nerds.
I think you're on to something here: It will definitely be fantasy geeks who do the repeat business. Sure won't be all the chicks who paid to see Titanic more than once (like me).
Posted by: cs | December 11, 2009 at 04:48 PM
women ruin pop culture. every other chick flick is the worst most annoying movie of all time
Posted by: h | December 11, 2009 at 07:50 PM
Chicks will go see it, those who date the guys who like these geeky stuff. Of which there are PLENTY. This is essentially the men's revenge for being dragged to Twilight!
So I take it the movie is good then? Nice to hear. I am getting really pumped to see this finally.
Posted by: Juan | December 12, 2009 at 02:37 AM
Even though Aventura's AMC IMAX theatre is supposedly an ILIE, I'll see the film there anyway.
Posted by: Chris | December 12, 2009 at 02:39 AM
Great line about Twilight, Juan!!!
Women don't ruin pop culture btw - it wasn't us who made those last 3 Star Wars movies popular.
Posted by: cs | December 12, 2009 at 08:08 AM
Beg to differ, RR. Sam W. is hunka-hunka, and the romance is a very strong element in the film.
Posted by: Beepy | December 13, 2009 at 02:07 PM