Avatar praised in early reviews

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FLY AWAY: A scene from Avatar.

PCUKER UP: A scene from Avatar.

LOOKING UP: A scene from Avatar.

ROBOT WAR: A concept drawing from Avatar.

GUN BATTLE: A battle sequence is shown in a scene from the upcoming James Cameron film Avatar.

YOUNG LOVE: Actors Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana star as their digital characters Jake and Neytiri in Avatar.

OPPOSITES ATTRACT: Actors Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana star in a scene from the upcoming James Cameron film Avatar.

HOLD STEADY: Avatar star Zoe Saldana poses for a portrait.

CAUGHT ON TAPE: Zoe Saldana and Canadian director James Cameron strike a pose.

SQUARE EYES: Visitors wear 3D glasses as they watch a preview of Avatar in San Diego.

STAR POWER: Sigourney Weaver arrives for the World Premiere of Avatar at a London cinema in Leicester Square.

BOW BEFORE HIM: James Cameron arrives with his wife Suzy Amis for the world premiere of his latest movie Avatar in London's Leicester Square.

ON THE FRINGE: Joel David Moore arrives for the world premiere of his latest movie Avatar in London's Leicester Square.

FIRST LOOK: Laz Alonso arrives for the world premiere of his latest movie Avatar in London's Leicester Square.

STIFF UPPER LIP: Giovanni Ribisi arrives for the world premiere of his latest movie Avatar in London's Leicester Square.

BIG EFFORT: Avatar and Lost star Michelle Rodriguez is planning to join the anti-whaling movement in the Antarctic.

ALL SMILES: Zoe Saldana arrives for the World Premiere of Avatar at a London cinema in Leicester Square

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James Cameron's long-awaited Avatar, one of the most expensive films ever made, takes off this week in an awe-inspiring display of Hollywood power that has revolutionised cinematic special effects.

At a cost of about US$400 million to make and market, the Oscar-winning director of Titanic has created a lush world of dense forest, floating mountains and tremendous creatures in a computer-generated spectacular that transforms much of the cast into giant, blue-skinned humanoids.

The movie, which premiered in London on Thursday and begins landing in theatres worldwide next week, represents a huge risk for the 20th Century Fox studio that backed it and is being watched closely in Hollywood for its impact on the future of movies, special effects and expansion of new 3D technology.

"It's absolutely cinema, but I think cinema redefines itself every few years with new techniques," Cameron told reporters in Paris before the film's launch.

Beyond dazzling audiences with visual effects that plunge the viewer onto the planet Pandora 4.4 light years from Earth, Avatar provides a familiar mix of romance, action movie thrills and an old-fashioned battle between good and evil.

"The more fantastic the subject ... the more recognisable and universal, the relationships and people need to be," Cameron said.

Avatar shows the forest-dwelling Na'vi fighting for survival against a rapacious colonial mining operation bent on moving them away and stripping their planet.

A crippled ex-Marine is chosen to make contact with the mysterious people as an avatar, a remotely controlled body, which allows him to move freely in the alien world where he falls in love with a Na'vi princess.

SCIENCE FICTION TECHNOLOGY

What makes Avatar stand out, however, is the appearance of its three-dimensional forest scenery and the seamless interaction of the human cast with the animated world.

Rigging his actors with specially developed cameras to register every gesture and facial expression as they moved about a bare stage, Cameron and his technical team blended their images into the computer-generated world of Pandora.

"The science fiction of the technology was more science fiction than the story," said Sigourney Weaver, star of Cameron's film Aliens, who plays a scientist in Avatar.

"You're aware that a lot of work is going on around you, but you, the actor, just have the responsibility of being in the moment and being in the world," she said.

Cameron, who created many of the special effects with Lord of The Rings director Peter Jackson's studio Weta Digital, said the most daunting problem was to ensure the effects did not overwhelm the film and disconnect audiences from the story.

But in Hollywood, performances matter less than results at the box office, and the film industry is closely watching "Avatar" for its impact on film costs and the expanding of 3D technology.

For Fox, a unit of News Corp, the movie represents a huge risk because typically big-budget movies have a fan base from books or other material, like the Harry Potter movies.

Avatar has no built-in audience, and its effects are costly. A Fox spokesman said it required US$237 million to make and US$150 million to promote.

When Cameron made Titanic for Fox, he drew sharp criticism for its high cost, but the 1997 film made US$1.8 billion at global box offices and remains the highest-grossing film of all time.

Last month, Fox studio boss Jim Gianopulos told Reuters he had "no doubt" of making a profit.

If Avatar is a big success in 3D, industry watchers expect more theatres to install the new technology quickly and more directors to make movies in the medium.

Early reviews are strong. Show business newspaper The Hollywood Reporter called it a "jaw-dropping wonder".

- Reuters

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Hamish   #17   02:22 pm Jan 19 2010

I saw it last night in 3D with some mates.I had been in two minds about going as I wasn't feeling flash and knew it was going to be very late by the time I got home(8.30pm session).However,the tickets had been purchased which forced my hand.....and YES I am glad I went.I have never seen anything quite like it...visually stunning,the CGI effects did not "dis engage" me,the basic plot although recycled from the likes of "Dances with Wolves","Last of the Mochicans" and even "Star Wars" had those good old universal themes which lets face it everyone can identify with (even though the Vatician has deemed them simplistic).I judge a movie by whether it either holds me or moves me.This did both.As a sheer cinematic experience I highly recommend it to everyone.

PS To those blinkered arthouse film buffs where misery and gritty reality seem to be their preferred themes.....sit back,put on the 3D glasses,smile and go along for the ride!

Fan   #16   08:56 am Dec 23 2009

The best movie of ALL time!!!! It was awesome!!! Exceeded espectations, thought it was going to be a bit long to keep me amused, but it was the best!

Simon   #15   03:45 am Dec 20 2009

Avatar was very enjoyable. I'd Rate Avatar the best Sci-fi/action of the year. A lot of thought has been put into the effects and it is well paced for a 3 hours. I hope there will a few more films to follow this one! Think of how much money must be flowing into our film industry in wellington because of films like this one! Don't see this in 2D! See it how it was intended! 3D!!!

Elizabeth W   #14   09:32 am Dec 18 2009

I went to see Avatar under sufference as my friend was mad keen to see. Oh, how I suffered nearly three hours of sheer boredom. Leaving the cinema all I wanted to do was to emit a loud scream.

Kent   #13   02:10 pm Dec 14 2009

Woohoo...yeah...mind blowing...

Just another waste of what was it? $400 million kiwi..crikey, and theres famine in the world but we pour millions into jar jar binks meets futuristic smurfs on planet melmac..

Imagine a James Cameron film that didnt take 5 years to make,and 50 zillion dollars worth of CGI..oh thats right,it would never happen!!!

Maggie   #12   04:09 pm Dec 13 2009

paul#3- LOL:) Either that film or Battle for Terra. Truely terrible films! Looks like the storyline has been regurgitated again for AVATAR! When they so called BUZZ/HYPE starts pushing the ground breaking VFX, tends to say the storyline/script/dialogue is not upto par. Personally, I'll wait for the film to appear on SKY in 10-12 months time.

jimbo   #11   05:23 pm Dec 12 2009

Yaaaa but what about Peter jackson's lovely Bones being totally TRASHED by the US and UK critics....arent you guys up with the main news? It's all over the web! Savage reviews from LA TIMES, NEW YORK TIMES, SALON, NEW YORKER, VILLAGE VOICE, London Times, Guardian ...you wont belive how BAD they say this movie is ...go to rotten tomatoes and see for yourselves! cheers Jimbo, Cheetah's friend

http://au.rottentomatoes.com/m/1189344-lovely_bones/?page=1&critic=approved&sortby=date&name_order=asc&view=#contentReviews

lee   #10   03:35 am Dec 12 2009

I cannot wait to see the visual effects and Sam Worthington.

Scott   #9   09:30 pm Dec 11 2009

Me too! We are the first country in the world to see it!

luke   #8   05:26 pm Dec 11 2009

I have no patience with special effects movies. The effects do overwhelm the story (if there is one), and you're left with the feeling of being ripped-off. They date almost as quickly as they are seen, and provide endless hours of amusement for future viewers. However movies with a story live-on for an eternity.

I'm prepared to be disappointed.