Friday, November 20

• Avatar Shows Off Its Human Hardware

  Avatar promises to clock in at nearly three hours of screen time, so there's a lot of footage for the studio to mine without giving it all away. Still, there have been a remarkable number of featurettes and previews lately. But as long as they keep coming up with interesting new angles on the movie and new glimpses of life on this alien world, as they do here, it's still well worth the look.

  The latest offerering highlights the technology and science of the humans who are setting up a mining camp on the alien moon Pandora. It's an insanely hostile environment, so weaponry and vehicles have to be pretty impressive to keep humans alive. As director James Cameron put it earlier, they are facing off with the teeth and claws of the Garden of Eden.

  Here he shows us that the humans aren't exactly without teeth and claws either, with their airships and guns — and especially their amp suits. These are the 16-foot-tall human-operated robots capable of hand-to-hand combat with Pandora's powerful fauna. Even with all of this technology, though, not all of the humans are going to survive, as the base's matter-of-fact chief of security (Stephen Lang) informs new recruits.

  
  

  Posted 11/20/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Stephen Lang | Avatar

Tuesday, November 17

• New Avatar Featurette, Clip, and TV Spot

  With Avatar now just about five weeks from its much anticipated debut, the marketing tsunami has begun in earnest. First up this week is a featurette offering interviews with the cast and crew that continues to try and frame the movie for the widest possible audience. After all, they have to rake in half a billion dollars just to break even.

  With this marketing goal in mind, director James Cameron says he wants to avoid having audiences pigeon hole Avatar as science fiction. Instead, he says, it's more of an "action-adventure fantasy." Or as he puts it later, "kind of the Garden of Eden with teeth and claws." Avatar's featurette includes all sorts of new action footage to back up his spin.

  Next, we have a new clip showing Jake (Sam Worthington) testing out the powers of his new avatar body against a thanator. Doesn't seem like such a good idea, even if you are blue and nine-feet tall. Cameron earlier described this particular beastie as a creature that could eat an alien for dessert.

  If that's not enough, an extended fourth TV spot for the movie is now online, and it too features plenty of new footage, laying out the storyline in considerable detail.

  
  

  Posted 11/17/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Sam Worthington | Avatar

Friday, November 13

• South Park Reworks Avatar as "Dances with Smurfs"

  Even a month before it comes out James Cameron's Avatar has a big enough profile — and more than enough hype — to become a terribly tempting target for satire. The director, himself, has admitted that the movie is essentially a re-imagining of Dances with Wolves set against the landscape of an alien moon.

  In the hands of the profane youngsters at South Park, this is easily translated into "Dances with Smurfs," in which a Glen-Beck-inspired Cartman befriends little blue people threatened by hostile developers anxious to get their hands on some precious, unobtainable smurfberries. Perhaps echoing the controversy over whether Cameron lifted the Avatar story from a vintage sic-fi novel, a version Cartman's own story ends up on the big screen, adapted without permission by none other than James Cameron.

  Warning: As you'd expect from the South Park gang, the video includes some "blue" language.

  
  

  Posted 11/13/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Dances With Wolves | Avatar

Monday, November 9

• TV Spots Position Avatar as Action Flick and Family Adventure

  It looks like Avatar is trying really hard to be all things to all people. And with an unprecedented half-billion dollars in the balance (according to a New York Times estimate of the movie's budget), it's no wonder.

  Aiming to solidify Avatar's appeal as a straight-up action adventure flick, the studio has released a 30-second TV spot that's all action, with almost none of that messy dialogue and romance stuff — lots of machine-on-alien violence set to a staccato beat. Not quite Transformers, but it gets the job done.

  A second TV ad takes a completely different approach, spotlighting the magic of discovery on an alien world overloaded with eye candy. The tagline:

  Welcome to a place beyond your imagination. A place where wonder lives and adventure rules.

  It's all much more in the style of Jurassic Park, with new footage of Pandora's bio-luminescent flora and fauna. The commercial also downplays that nearly everything there is willing and ready to eat you.

  And if, despite all the angles, Avatar doesn't quite deliver the payday expected, 20th Century Fox still has what it's calling a "secret weapon" up its sleeve: also slated for December release is Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel.

  
  

  Posted 11/09/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel | Avatar

Thursday, November 5

• International Trailer and Commercial Unveil New Avatar Footage

  The latest international trailer for Avatar is a bit shorter than the U.S. version that was released earlier and is, for the most part, a remix of footage seen there. However, there are some new scenes — glimpses of some new creatures, a significant exchange of glances between Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), and the firebombing of the Na'vi village. All that, plus some very dramatic sounding Japanese narration.

  A few more bits of new Avatar footage also pop up in a Coke Zero commercial that seems intent on suggesting that drinking this product will cause hallucinations of Pandora to bleed out of your computer. We saw a similar approach earlier in a weird Avatar-infused Japanese commercial for Panasonic. In any case, this time we get some pretty cool shots of Ney'tiri commandeering a Thanator.

  <

  
  

  Posted 11/05/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Zoe Saldana | Sam Worthington | Avatar

Thursday, October 29

• 7-1/2 Minutes of Avatar: New, Second Trailer Plus a Featurette

  You may have seen it in theaters already, but today 20th Century Fox released its epic 3-1/2-minute trailer for James Cameron's Avatar online.

  Additionally, we've found a 4-minute featurette that takes you "behind the scenes." It makes the movie look absolutely incredible, and shows you a lot more of the movie's story and scale than what was teased in the trailer.

  
  

  Posted 10/29/2009 by Jim

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

Tuesday, October 27

• Zoe Saldana Talks Avatar, The Losers, and Star Trek 2

  Zoe Saldana is certainly getting her fanboy credits in order. There's James Cameron's upcoming Avatar later this year, the comic book adaptation The Losers next year, and a Star Trek sequel likely arriving in 2012. Saldana spoke with E!Online and revealed she has watched some scenes from Cameron's much-anticipated Avatar.

  Just last Friday, I went to Fox and Jim was able to show me scenes along with [composer] James Horner's music incorporated in it. O-M-G is all I'm going to say.

  Saldana was a little more forthcoming about The Losers, which follows a CIA black ops team seeking revenge after being left for dead, that co-stars Watchmen's Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

  I play a toughass broad — sort of like a viper, snaky girl. Guys find it really sexy when they see a girl hanging from wires with guns. They even like it more when there's a girl-on-guy fight and it looks like she's kicking his ass. Jeffrey Dean Morgan was such a gentleman. He was like, "Zoe, you can kick my butt any day."

  Saldana is hoping to kick some butt in Star Trek 2 as well, which looks like it may happen sooner than later.

  We're working on it. They were calling to see where we were going to be and how my schedule is next year. Just that was worth me doing a cartwheel when I got the phone call, because I cannot wait to put on the suit and go back to the Enterprise, take my shirt off, and be with all those yummy guys.

  
  
  Next Showing: Avatar opens December 18

  Posted 10/27/2009 by Ryan

  Related: James Cameron | Zoe Saldana | Jeffrey Dean Morgan | Avatar | Star Trek 2 | Star Trek

• Did James Cameron Steal the Avatar Storyline?

  A controversy has erupted over whether James Cameron borrowed the plot for his upcoming epic (from a story from the golden age of science fiction) without crediting the author. Although Avatar has been touted as one of the few originals amidst a tidal wave of remakes, the similarities between Cameron's movie and Poul Anderson's now rather obscure 1957 novella Call Me Joe really are striking.

  No one expects a movie plot to be completely without influences. In fact, filmmakers have been fairly up front about the fact that Avatar draws on a Pocahontas narrative. But this goes a bit beyond the usual unaccredited borrowing, if the summary of Anderson's book on io9 is any indicator:

  

  Like Avatar, Call Me Joe centers on a paraplegic — Ed Anglesey — who telepathically connects with an artificially created life form in order to explore a harsh planet (in this case, Jupiter). Anglesey, like Avatar's Jake Sully, revels in the freedom and strength of his artificial created body, battles predators on the surface of Jupiter, and gradually goes native as he spends more time connected to his artificial body.

  To top it off, the feline creatures on the cover of some copies of the vintage 35-cent paperback look an awful lot like Cameron's blue-skinned alien Na'vi.

  No word yet from Anderson's estate on possible legal action. The situation does have a precedent, though. The pugilistic sci-fi writer Harlan Ellison won an out-of-court settlement with Cameron over the ideas behind the Terminator franchise, eventually getting an "inspired-by" credit and a financial settlement.

  
  

  Posted 10/27/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Harlan Ellison | Avatar

Friday, October 23

• Second Avatar Trailer Debuts

  Suddenly, we are awash in sneak peeks from Avatar.

  The second trailer for James Cameron's long-awaited sci-fi epic hits theaters today. Theaters, but not the Internet, at least not officially. It will be playing in front of Amelia starting today, but isn't supposed to be posted on the 'net until next Thursday, October 29th.

  Of course, given the enthusiasm of some of its cheerleaders, a low-quality trailer-cam from an advance screening has already leaked onto YouTube. No telling how long that will be up before the studio has it pulled. In any case, the quality is certainly not high enough to resolve lingering questions about whether the movie can live up to the all the hype surrounding it.

  It does, however, seem designed to meet other criticisms of the first trailer. There is a clear attempt to show that this is not just a special effects extravaganza, and the basic elements of the plot are laid out in a fair amount of detail. They didn't forget the eye candy though. The trailer features lots of shots of the Na'vi and all sorts of other alien life forms, along with snippets of some epic battle scenes.

  On top of that, a few more high-res pictures of the blue-skinned Na'vi and their avatar imitators have been released, as well as a second video from the Avatar game that being developed in tandem with the movie. The first game video featured the human invaders killing off alien critters. This one features the Na'vi.

  
  

  Posted 10/23/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

Monday, October 19

• James Cameron's Avatar: Between Testosterone Movie and Chick Flick

  The New Yorker has the goods on James Cameron. Everything you ever wanted to know. And everything you didn't. All in a mere 11,000 words or so.

  For those unwilling to wade through the full version, we recommend the Vulture Blog, which summarizes some of the scarier and more entertaining bits. (Hint: Just don't tell him "no.")

  However, we did pull the following insights about Cameron's evolution of his much-hyped upcoming sci-fi epic Avatar from the full article.

  With Avatar, I thought, Forget all these chick flicks and do a classic guys' adventure movie, something in the Edgar Rice Burroughs mold, like John Carter of Mars — a soldier goes to Mars.... Of course, the whole movie ends up being about women, how guys relate to their lovers, mothers — there's a large female presence.... I try to do my testosterone movie and it's a chick flick. That's how it is for me.

  Of course this isn't to say that he's entirely done away with the macho one-upmanship. Although he hired a team of artists to render most of his ideas, Cameron took a more hands-on approach to designing one of Avatar's more deadly critters, as lead creature designer Neville Page explains:

  The thanator is the baddest, meanest predator the planet had to offer. As Jim put it ... thanator can eat an Alien for dessert. He wanted to outdo himself, outdo the Alien Queen.

  Proving perhaps that you don't always need testosterone for badass inspiration.

  
  

  Posted 10/19/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

Monday, October 5

• Zoe Saldana Says Avatar Film Tech Gave the Actors "Freedom"

  While actress Zoe Saldana "doesn't appear photographically" in Avatar, according to director James Cameron the sophisticated CGI technology developed for the movie allowed Saldana's performance to shine through her digital character, giving it "heart and soul." While many actors have complained publicly about the difficulties of working against a green screen on other heavily CGI pictures, Saldana told CanMag that the the technology behind Avatar actually helped her acting experience.

  After you get used to it, it is the most amazing thing because you're not working in a movie where you have to pause yourself and they have to light again and you have to start all over again. We would do a scene from the beginning to the end every time. As an actor, you can only be so lucky to do that.

  We had this freedom. When you take away a set, when you take away the hair and the makeup, you just leave the actors working with a director and you have all day. You have all day to talk and Jim is that kind of filmmaker, director that he will stop. He will sit down with you and if it takes a three hour discussion in terms of how big a monster is this beast that we're talking about, in order for me to adjust my levels of fear or aggressiveness, it was about going into the computers and getting all these pictures and talking extensively to us so by the time we got back on the Volume, which is what we called the set, we knew what was in our minds. It was being a child again. It was being a child again and not limiting your imagination.

  Avatar also stars Sam Worthington, Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver, and Giovanni Ribisi.

  
  
  

  Avatar - Trailer

  Visually stunning trailer for this science fiction film

  Posted 10/05/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: James Cameron | Zoe Saldana | Avatar

Friday, October 2

• James Cameron Waves His Magic Wand on Avatar

  

  When James Cameron first began to speak publicly about his upcoming 3-D sci-fi movie Avatar, he said that the biggest challenge of the feature was avoiding the "uncanny valley," a "creepiness" that is created when "something approaches human (in appearance) but isn't quite there." As the release of Avatar draws nearer, more and more images and clips are being released and Cameron spoke with CanMag about the technology behind bringing the blue alien Na'Vi to life.

  We spent a lot of time on the character design and we based them closely on the actors. We found out in our very early testing, going back almost four years with this, that the closer the architecture of the face was to the actor playing the character, the better the performance translated.

  So, we cast actors that, in the case of let's say Zoe [Saldana], for example. In theory, she doesn't appear photographically in the film but we wanted to the character to be based on her, the way her mouth and face and eyes look and then we just kind of stretched and dilated it. Her eyes are four times the size of a human eyeball by volume. They're huge. We knew that being driven by the performance that she gave that it'd still have heart and soul which was the critical thing. I think that after the first few minutes you forget that they're blue. I mean, really, it was a fine line to walk between making them too alien.

  The ideal movie technology is so advanced that it waves a magic wand and makes itself disappear. I think that's what we tried to do on Avatar.

  Avatar was written and directed by Cameron and also stars Sam Worthington, Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver, and Giovanni Ribisi.

  
  
  Next Showing: Avatar opens December 18
  

  Avatar - Trailer

  Visually stunning trailer for this science fiction film

  Posted 10/02/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: James Cameron | Zoe Saldana | Avatar

Thursday, October 1

• Avatar: Footage Screened, Pictures Released, and Sequel Teased

  More footage from James Cameron's new sci-fi epic Avatar was screened at Fantastic Fest last night. While largely extended versions of scenes that were shown earlier at Avatar Day, there were two completely new clips. One of a chopper touchdown in the jungle and another of Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and Jake (Sam Worthington) on the branch of one of the 1,000-foot trees that the alien Na'vi inhabit. For those not concerned about spoilers, MarketSaw has a detailed play-by-play.

  New hi-res photos from the movie, including some amazing close up shots of the Na'vi, have also been released. Some of the pics have been out there before, but not like this. You can see the pores in the skin. Pretty impressive, considering it's all CGI.

  Finally, during an interview with the French magazine Le Film, producer Jon Landau offered up a tantalizing hint about what might be in the sequel.

  If the public likes Avatar, [a sequel is] a possibility. After all, here we are exploring the surface of the planet Pandora. The interior remains to be seen.

  
  

  Posted 10/01/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Zoe Saldana | Sam Worthington | Jon Landau | Avatar

Monday, September 28

• More Indirect Previews from the World of Avatar

  More footage of Avatar (the game) surfaced recently at the Tokyo Game Show. From what we can see in a 2-D version of the three-minute sequence that debuted there, the alien environment continues to be eye-poppingly alive with color — and danger. Not as deadly as for the human invaders, though, who are tasked with blasting all the beasts they encounter, much like in any other first-person-shooter game. Join the military, meet interesting creatures, and kill them. Hmm. Not exactly on message for the movie, which centers on Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) going native and championing the indigenous people at the expense of his former compatriots.

  Still, the movie and the game are being developed in tandem, so this footage should offer a pretty authentic preview of the movie's landscape. And the wildlife is hardly defenseless, as the game-player's encounter with a nearly unkillable rhinoceros-like creature demonstrates.

  More direct previews of the movie are reportedly coming soon. The second trailer is rumored to feature "more than three lines of dialogue," glimpses of a future earth, and scenes of Pandora's bio-luminescent night life. In the meantime, though, we will have to make do with a couple of new pieces of concept art.

  
  

  Posted 09/28/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Sam Worthington | Avatar

Monday, September 21

• Another Image and More Footage from Avatar

  The studio has released a high-res image of Avatar's Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang) whose dire warnings of the dangers of Pandora were featured on the movie's viral website. Close up, he definitely has the look to match the message. Outfitted for battle in the alien environment with a big gun and a breathing mask, he sports an impressive and mysterious scar that hints at first-hand knowledge of just how deadly life there can get.

  Some new footage from Avatar has shown up as well, and in the strangest of places — a Japanese Panasonic ad. A blissed-out Japanese lady comes upon a TV in the park and it just happens to be playing a scene featuring one of the blue-skinned aliens soaring over Pandora's colorful alien landscape on a pterodactyl-like beastie. Happens every day.

  
  

  Posted 09/21/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Stephen Lang | Avatar

• Avatar Makes a Recruiting Pitch

  A new viral promotion for James Cameron's sci-fi epic Avatar has popped up online. Framed as a recruiting pitch for the AVTR Program's base under construction on the alien moon Pandora, the site leads off with upbeat messages about "building a bridge between two worlds" and the like.

  However, a quite different impression of what recruits are up against leaks through in a short video of tough-as-nails Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang) giving his no-nonsense introduction to the many hazards of life on Pandora. Bottom line: You are not in Kansas any more, and you just might want to be packing some very heavy weaponry.

  Also included are some concept drawings of the base and news updates detailing, among other things, exactly how many layers of defenses need to be put in place to defend against Pandora's beautiful but deadly environment.

  
  

  Posted 09/21/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Stephen Lang | Avatar

Friday, September 18

• New Moon's Already Breaking Ticket-Sales Records

  If you want to be among the first fans to see New Moon when it's released on November 20, here's hoping you've already bought tickets.

  Yesterday the LA Times reported that 64 days before the movie opens, 63 New Moon showings had already sold out — enough that Summit can claim its movie is "selling out screenings earlier than any other movie to date."

  To provide some comparison, tickets for James Cameron's much-anticipated Avatar went on sale 10 days earlier than those for New Moon ... and not a single showing has yet to sell out. Good thing Avatar releases nearly a month later, on December 18, as it appears there's no way for Cameron to avoid with this cultural "iceberg."

  
  
  

  The Twilight Saga: New Moon - Trailer

  Dakota Fanning joins the cast

  Posted 09/18/2009 by reelz

  Related: James Cameron | The Twilight Saga: New Moon | Avatar

Thursday, September 17

• Avatar Game Featurette Released

  Earlier today, Empire posted a new featurette for the Avatar game, which director James Cameron and producer Jon Landau developed with Ubisoft in conjunction with the upcoming movie, due on December 18. In it, Cameron speaks about the uniqueness of the project.

  This is the first time I've really been involved with a game from the inception of the movie project. What they said to us was, "We want to make a game from inside your thematic ideas, outwards." ...So we figured let's build one world and create two ways of enjoying it, simultaneously: separately and in parallel.

  We have to admit, the visuals are pretty stunning and the production team seems to take great pride in the work. We'll have to wait and see whether the eye candy actually translates into a quality gaming — and moviegoing — experience. See the full featurette below.

  
  

  Posted 09/17/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: James Cameron | Jon Landau | Avatar

Friday, September 11

• James Cameron Returns to the Deep for Sanctum

  Following the incredible success of his film Titanic, James Cameron traded the bright lights of Hollywood for the bio-luminescent glow of deep-sea creatures. The director spent nearly a decade making documentary films in the depths of the ocean and developing the 3-D Fusion Camera System that is making the teaser footage of his latest theatrical release, Avatar, look so spectacular.

  Apparently, Cameron hasn't had his fill of the deep. He's producing the underwater 3-D drama Sanctum, directed by Alister Grierson from a script by Andrew Wight and John Garvin. The movie was inspired by an actual near-death experience Wight had while diving in underwater caves. Sanctum will begin filming later this year in Australia and is currently slated for a 2010 release.

  
  

  Posted 09/11/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

Wednesday, September 9

• Anatomy of Avatar's Aliens

  In an interview with io9, concept designer Jordu Schell explained how he came up with the design for Avatar's alien Na'vi. Starting the process he was given a rough sketch of what director James Cameron wanted the Na'vi to look like:

  I knew that they were humanoid, that they were blue-skinned, that they were cat creatures, but that he very much wanted them to retain a humanoid, human-faced element to them.

  And in the case of Neytiri, the main female character who ended up being played by Zoe Saldana, he says Cameron wanted her really sexy — in an exotic feline alien with blue skin and a tail sort of way.

  Beyond that, Schell hints that there are still some otherworldly surprises hidden the Na'vi anatomy:

  There are definitely some things about them that are more than just meets the eye ... I mean, they don't split open into gigantic demon creatures or something, but you'll definitely see aspects of them that are unusual and cool and unique to this particular creature.

  While waiting for these surprises to be unveiled, you can check out this new image that shows off Neytiri's long legs, and tail, keeping in mind that she's supposed to stand over 9 ft. tall.

  
  

  Posted 09/09/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Zoe Saldana | Avatar

Tuesday, September 1

• Avatar Editing Done, Cameron Devotes Himself to Polishing Visual Effects

  In an extended interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, director James Cameron revealed that he has pretty much completed editing on Avatar and the studio is pretty happy with the result. So, now he is on to fine-tuning the visual effects 24/7.

  In the most important respects as a director, I'm 100 percent done because the film is shot and edited.... My job for the next few months until we deliver at the end of November is more as a visual effects person, working to make sure that the shots look real, that they're all up to an even standard.

  Here, he seems to be for the first time directly addressing concerns that some of the special effects in the trailer were still a little too cartoonish. He indicates that at least some of the footage is going to get a significant upgrade.

  It's just a question of getting in some of the remaining scenes from what we call template level where it looks like a video game up to the level of photo-realism.... The process is quite labor intensive. I'm working 14, 16 hours a day but all the major creative decisions have been made.

  Although part of the problem with the trailer was undoubtedly a level of hype about the special effects that no mere movie could ever satisfy, Cameron is still promising a game-changing experience that will go well beyond what we saw with Gollum in Lord of the Rings. It's definitely going to be a busy three months.

  
  
  

  Avatar - Trailer

  James Cameron Directs

  Posted 09/01/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

Thursday, August 27

• First Look at Sigourney Weaver's Alien Avatar

  A bunch of scans from Empire's cover story on Avatar have popped up on line (via MarketSaw). They offer (among other things) a first look at Sigourney Weaver as a blue-skinned alien hybrid.

  After the trailer debuted last week, there had been some complaints that Sam Worthington's avatar didn't look enough like him. You can check out some stills of him from the magazine and decide for yourself. For Weaver though, the resemblance is not really in question, as is evident in side-by-side photos of her as human and alien. They also show off one more cool aspect of inhabiting an avatar: You get to be younger.

  You can also check out a couple of close-ups of Zoe Saldana as a Na'vi. No side-by-side comparisons though, since the character she plays is an alien native, not a human-Na'vi hybrid. And for those who just can't get enough, there is a second batch of photos as well, including a nice group shot in the jungles of Pandora.

  
  

  Posted 08/27/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Sigourney Weaver | Zoe Saldana | Sam Worthington | Avatar

Monday, August 24

• What Happened on Avatar Day?

  Avatar started out the year with more exclamation points than any mere movie could possibly deliver. Wild suggestions that the new 3-D technology it was deploying had found a new way to penetrate your brain like some kind of alien drug filtered into even the normally more sober New York Times. Reviews of footage screened for limited audiences at Comic Con and elsewhere drew similar, awestruck reactions for the most part.

  The hype did work to a certain extent. When the trailer arrived on Thursday, it quickly became the most watched ever on the Apple website, with more that double the number of hits of any of its predecessors. Reactions, though, were decidedly more mixed when it turned out that Avatar really was only a movie and probably not a life-changing experience. Of course the trailer was only 2-D, but reactions to the actual 3-D footage shown in theaters on Avatar day remained mixed, although on the whole a good deal more positive.

  A common complaint is that the aliens, however cool, still look too much like something out of a video game. Lots of others remain captivated though, and it is after all a James Cameron movie. So it remains to be seen whether Avatar can pack theaters in the numbers needed to justify its enormous budget this December. A lot no doubt will turn on something that was not so much on display on Avatar Day: the quality of the story it tells.

  
  

  Posted 08/24/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

Thursday, August 20

• Avatar Trailer Premieres

  After all the waiting, the trailer for James Cameron's Avatar is finally here. It's hard to tell from the 2-D version just how much of the hype is justified, but what we can see is pretty amazing. Right off the bat there's a pretty clear difference between seeing a production still of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) coming face to face with his avatar and seeing footage of the same thing.

  The trailer starts out focusing on images of the human invaders and their world, their robots, their machines, etc. Next we get some shots of the process of linking a human and the hybrid avatar. Then finally the trailer brings in some action sequences from the jungle moon Pandora itself. One real standout is a totally amazing scene of a nearly naked alien Na'vi climbing onto the back of a colorful but menacing winged creature and riding off into the sky. Definitely a trailer worth watching more than once.

  
  

  Posted 08/20/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Sam Worthington | Avatar

Saturday, August 15

• James Cameron Discusses Avatar's "Uncanny Valley"

  When James Cameron introduced footage of his new 3-D sci-fi film at the San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), he said that the idea for Avatar had been in his head for more than 14 years. However, he waited a decade to begin developing the project because he had to wait until technology caught up with his imagination.

  The footage shown featured many scenes of the Navi, feline-esque denizens of the planet Pandora, rendered in incredible photorealistic CGI. Cameron, tight-lipped about Avatar until SDCC, recently admitted that creating realistic characters was the "biggest challenge of the film."

  No matter how much art and technology we threw at this thing, if it wasn't in the eyes of the characters — if you didn't see a soul there — it would just be a big clanking machine.

  We've seen movies never quite get out of the uncanny valley. That's a reference to a negative effect that is created when something approaches human (in appearance) but isn't quite there; it creates this creepiness. Our goal right from the get-go is that we had to get over the uncanny valley. These characters have to be real, they have to be alive. And what the actors do has to come through 100%.

  Cameron is offering the public a free screening of 16 minutes of Avatar on August 21 at 101 IMAX theaters in the United States and Canada. The event, dubbed "Avatar Day," will feature an introduction by Cameron and new footage not shown at SDCC.

  
  
  Next Showing: Avatar opens December 18

  Posted 08/15/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: James Cameron | Zoe Saldana | Sam Worthington | Avatar

Friday, August 14

• Sam Worthington Confronts His Alien Alter Ego in Photo from Avatar

  Up till now, we've seen some enticing concept art and an alien face on a poster, but finally fox has released the first official photo from James Cameron's Avatar. In it we see Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) with his human-alien hybrid avatar floating in a tank behind him like some sort of fetal elf in the womb. The image is from a scene early on in the movie where he's introduced to his avatar for the first time.

  While inhabiting this new body, Sully, a former Marine paralyzed from the waist down, will be able to walk again, finding freedom and a tempting new life on the alien moon Pandora. Of course, there's a catch. He gets into the avatar through a mental link, and the link is only temporary.

  
  

  Posted 08/14/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Sam Worthington | Avatar

• "Avatar Day" Free Preview Details

  

  Director James Cameron announced at the end of his Avatar panel at San Diego Comic-Con that fans would be treated to an opportunity to screen free footage of his latest epic August 21, which he dubbed "Avatar Day."

  With "Avatar Day" just a week away, 20th Century Fox has finally announced details about this historic event. Beginning on Monday, August 17 at noon PST, thousands of tickets will be given out on a first-come, first-serve basis for screenings of 16 minutes of Avatar footage at 101 IMAX venues across the United States and Canada. There will be two showings, one at 6:00 PM and another at 6:30 PM, and the footage will include an introduction by Cameron and scenes not previously shown at SDCC.

  During the SDCC panel, Cameron described himself as a "dreamer" and said that he created Avatar for all of the other dreamers out there. He introduced the Avatar footage with these words:

  How many of you have ever wanted to go to another planet? Second question: Are you ready to go to Pandora?

  
  
  

  Update on James Cameron's Avatar

  Avatar sets sail with a $200,000,000 budget.

  Posted 08/14/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

Tuesday, August 11

• James Cameron Promotes Avatar as a Doorway to Something New

  Like The Matrix, Avatar has the potential to open up audiences with the "shock of the new" director James Cameron tells the LA Times. It's not a familiar franchise like Star Wars or Harry Potter, and there are no novel or graphic novels to set expectations in advance. This lack of brand recognition makes it harder to sell the movie to audiences initailly, but on the other hand, he explains, it offers some exciting possibilities:

  ... we're not going to be playing against expectation. They aren't going to be viewing us as a disappointment or letdown before the movie even starts. This is a doorway and they don't know what's on the other side. We're going to open it for them.

  With all the excitement about the movie at Comic-Con, it's pretty clear that the fantasy and sci-fi fans are all pretty much sold on the prospect. Getting the wider public to believe this is a "must-see" movie remains a challenge, though. And it is about to get tested big time on August 21, 2009, now dubbed "Avatar Day," when select 3-D theaters around the country offer a free 15-minute sneak peak at what has gotten all those fanboys buzzing.

  
  

  Posted 08/11/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

Wednesday, August 5

• Sigourney Weaver on the Lightness of Being an Avatar

  In James Cameron's Avatar, Sigourney Weaver plays Dr. Grace Augustine, a veteran botanist who mentors the protagonist, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), during his introduction to the alien moon Pandora. Like Sully and all the other humans, she has to inhabit an avatar, i.e. a human-alien hybrid, in order to survive the deadly environment they encounter there.

  Weaver explained in an interview with IESB that getting into her avatar was more than just a matter of changing her look:

  One of the fun things about my character is that she's so unhealthy. She's so driven. She never sleeps. She chain smokes. She doesn't eat. When she's on Pandora, she has this light, young body, and she can jump from tree to tree. She's free. She has no aches or pains. One of the things that I worked on was the impact of coming back into your human body, when it's not in great shape. That's something that Jim and I discussed, coming out of the link, having been such a free and physical spirit, and then going back to your body, which is falling apart. That was very humbling, each time. Grace was very aware that she was running out of time.

  The contrast turns out to be even more overwhelming for Sully, who is paralyzed in his human form, and is eventually confronted with a choice that may mean abandoning his avatar forever.

  
  

  Posted 08/05/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Sigourney Weaver | Sam Worthington | Avatar

Tuesday, August 4

• Sigourney Weaver's Avatar Character Inspired by Her Teachers

  

  Despite having appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows, actress Sigourney Weaver has become forever linked with Ellen Ripley, her character from the Alien series, and because of this has herself become an icon of tough, resourceful woman in cinema. Weaver returns to science fiction this December in James Cameron's long-awaited return to feature filmmaking, Avatar, a 3-D smorgasbord of alien landscapes and fantastic creatures.

  During the Avatar panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Weaver said that a lot of the credit for her career and for her portrayal of Dr. Augustine, a botanist studying xeno-plant life on the far-off world of Pandora, can be attributed to the strong women who inspired her in her youth:

  

  ... to wonderful women teachers in my school who devoted their lives to trying to help us (women) feel like we could do science. And one of the things that moved me most about Dr. Augustine was that Jim (Cameron) created this brilliant woman scientist who had thrown everything over to study the flora and fauna of Pandora and to understand the Navi way of life.

  And, for me, it was such a treat just to even begin studying the plant life. It was very meaningful to me — I never did that well in science, but I was always so eager to learn it, and I feel I got a second chance.

  Avatar was written and directed by Cameron and also stars Sam Worthington, Michelle Rodriguez, Zoe Saldana, and Giovanni Ribisi.

  
  
  

  Update on James Cameron's Avatar

  Avatar sets sail with a $200,000,000 budget.

  Posted 08/04/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: James Cameron | Sigourney Weaver | Avatar | Alien

Thursday, July 30

• A Gun and a Message from Avatar

  Empire has posted a new on-set photo of director James Cameron testing out one of the airship guns from his upcoming sci-fi epic Avatar. The gun certainly looks cool, though oddly this contradicts the movie's anti-technology message. As Sam Worthington, who plays one of the humans invading and destroying the alien moon Pandora, put it:

  It's a movie about bullies ... the humans have come to tear into the Na'vi planet and stripmine it. We're telling a story that's relevant now. It's filled wtih typical James Cameron messages, especially technology overrunning us all, which is what nearly all his movies are about.

  Certainly the aliens that they encounter are not impressed by the weaponry.

  
  

  Posted 07/30/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Zoe Saldana | Sam Worthington | Avatar

• Titanic to Set Sail in 3D?

  Empire caught up with Titanic mastermind James Cameron at Comic-Con and the talk inevitably turned to a 3D version of his epic disaster movie. When asked about the possibility, Cameron said:

  "We're going to do Titanic in 3-D! We've already done a 90 second clip of it and it's phenomenal and gorgeous, so that's going to be the project for next year. It's a conversion of it, not native photography; we can't go back."

  He also expressed interest in giving Terminator 2 the 3D treatment, saying it "could be fun because I think that's a film that stands the test of time for me." Is a bigger, better Titanic something you'd like to see? Or is Leonardo DiCaprio in 3D too much for anyone to sit through? We're sure Kate Winslet wouldn't get too many complaints...

  
  

  Posted 07/30/2009 by Jenny

  Related: James Cameron | Kate Winslet | Leonardo DiCaprio | Titanic

Friday, July 24

• Cameron's Heartfelt Introduction of Avatar at Comic-Con

  

  Despite being four years in the making, there has been scant little information released about the film that marks director James Cameron's long-awaited return to feature films. Until now...

  Cameron personally introduced Avatar to approximately 6,000 fans in Hall H at the San Diego Comic-Con. Cameron likened himself to the fans in the audience, saying:

  I figure this is a place where I can speak from the heart because, you know, I feel like I'm one of you guys. I make movies because I love movies, because I'm a fan of fantasy and science fiction and other worlds.

  He said that he was always a dreamer, even as a kid.

  I grew up in a little town in Canada called Chippewa. Population was about a sixth of the number of people in this room right now. And, you know, even though my body was trapped in Chippewa, my mind was roaming the galaxy thanks to Bradbury and Clark, Sturgeon, Heinlein, and shows like Star Trek. Yes, the first two seasons. And, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

  These are the things that blew my mind when I was a kid, when I was that 14-year-old boy riding a school bus, reading a book a day, science fiction book a day. So, this film, really, after a hiatus of doing deep-ocean exploration for seven years, coming back to feature filmmaking, this film has been made for that 14-year-old boy that's still very alive and well in the back of my mind.

  So, I know I share with you that love of fantasy and science fiction and other worlds.

  However, Camero said that he didn't want to tell any more about the movie or the story so that he could "hold back something for the fun of the voyage." Before leaving the stage he asked:

  How many of you have ever wanted to go to another planet? Second question: Are you ready to go to Pandora?

  After thunderous applause, the lights went down and the crowd was treated to nearly 25 minutes of fully actualized 3-D footage of Avatar. All of the major characters were introduced, as well as a number of bizarre creatures and environments on the planet Pandora. In a word, the footage was "incredible."

  Cameron returned to the stage after the footage was aired and introduced the producer, Jon Landau, and cast members Zoë Saldaña, Stephen Lange, and Sigourney Weaver, who said, "This is the movie you've been waiting for."

  As a final announcement, Cameron declared August 21st "Avatar Day" and said that a "global audience" will be afforded a free screening of 15 minutes of Avatar at IMAX and 3-D theaters around the world.

  
  
  Next Showing: Avatar opens December 18

  Posted 07/24/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: James Cameron | Sigourney Weaver | Avatar

Monday, July 20

• Transformers Tops Titanic

  The above headline is true ... in China.

  China Film spokesman Weng Li recently announced that director Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is the new all-time Chinese box-office champion, soundly defeating James Cameron's Titanic. The first Transformers movie didn't come close to Titanic's $52.7 million record, with ticket sales of only $37 million. But its sequel earned $58.5 million, making it the new leader by a wide margin.

  To protect locally produced films, China has a quota system in place that limits the number of foreign-film releases to approximately 20 per year. Despite this, Hollywood films have already had a successful run in China, with Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and Terminator Salvation already topping the $15 million mark this year — the Chinese equivalent of "blockbuster" status. China currently has approximately 4,100 screens, and Transformers: ROTF received a wide release because of the absence of any major motion picture competition.

  According to BoxOfficeMojo.com, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has earned $364 million domestically, with an additional $383 million earned internationally. This pales in comparison to the overall ticket sales for Titanic, which earned $600 million domestically and $1.2 billion internationally.

  
  

  Posted 07/20/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: James Cameron | Michael Bay | Transformers | Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | Titanic

Friday, July 17

• Preview of Comic-Con Avatar Footage

  

  Gerrad Hall is a correspondent for ReelzChannel TV's Movie News and occasionally shares stories from the field.

  We just got to see nine scenes from director James Cameron's HIGHLY anticipated Avatar along with several other members of the press. Bottom line? Pretty damn stunning! And understandable why he's taking his time to make this a ground-breaking movie.

  Cameron wrote the script before filming Titanic and has kept details of the storyline quiet. Here's what we can tell you: Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation) plays Jake Sully, a 20-something, paraplegic ex-Marine. When presented the opportunity, he goes to work for a corporation that wants to mine a material called Unobtainium on the planet Pandora. Problem is the planet's inhabited by the Na'vi — 10'-tall, skinny, blue, alien-like creatures. The natives refuse to help mine the material, so the corporation creates hybrids using DNA from humans and the Na'vi. These are the avatars. Sully's estranged identical twin brother had enrolled in the program years earlier, but died. Because he has the same DNA, the corporation recruits Sully to activate and control the avatar that was created for his brother.

  From here, it's an incredible journey on Pandora, which is full of monstrous creatures — one had the nose of a hammerhead shark and the body of a rhinoceros, others are amped-up, fierce versions of what seem like dogs and tigers — along with floating jellyfish-like creatures, mid-air suspended waterfalls, and vibrantly colored plants and flowers. Avatar's alternate world is a sight to behold.

  Co-producer Jon Landau introduced the material, explaining why Cameron waited to make Avatar until the technology was right: He didn't want to use motion-capture (like that in Beowulf and Disney's upcoming A Christmas Carol) because he felt it lacks the letter "E" emotion. Rather, image-based technology was used here. And Cameron shot with a virtual camera, so when looking through the view-finder he would see a low-resolution version of the characters — not the actual actors.

  Gotta say, we had no idea what to expect of this movie. Given the release-date extensions, and knowing the attention to detail Cameron puts in his work, we hoped not to be let down. And what we saw did NOT disappoint.

  If you're going to Comic-Con, be ready to be amazed!

  
  

  Posted 07/17/2009 by reelz

  Related: ReelzChannel Movie News | James Cameron | Sam Worthington | Jon Landau | Avatar

Thursday, July 16

• Cameron Urging More Theaters to Convert to 3-D for Avatar

  James Cameron is a man with a mission. He has a revolutionary new 3-D movie to show and not enough theaters ready to show it. So today he is going to attempt a mass conversion.

  A select group of the nation's leading theater owners will be treated to "a full court press" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre today, in an effort to get them to deploy more 3-D screens. Part of the bait to be dangled during the five-hour meeting will be an advance look at a 20-minute clip from Avatar.

  It is the highest profile and — with a budget of nearly $240 million — by far the most expensive 3-D movie ever made. It is also one of the most anticipated, with nearly all early reports on the movie gushing with praise and awe.

  Much of the hype surrounding Avatar concerns the revolutionary new 3-D technology that will be seen for the first time in this movie. And although Cameron insists that it will be a great film no matter the format, he is clearly very eager to have audiences see the film the way he really intended — in 3-D. Right now the numbers just aren't there, though. Only about 2,500 screens in the U.S. are 3-D ready, not nearly enough to meet demand if moviegoers flock to theaters for Avatar in anything like the numbers anticipated.

  
  

  Posted 07/16/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

Wednesday, July 1

• Avatar Banners Tease an Alien Face

  Banners for James Cameron's Avatar have started popping up on the streets of San Diego in anticipation of Comic-Con, which will take place there from July 22-26. Although the details have not been confirmed yet, it's widely anticipated that Cameron will show off some of the same eye-popping 3-D footage from his new sci-fi epic that recently wowed industry professionals. At a minimum, the banners confirm rumors of a major presence for the movie at the convention.

  The banners feature a close-up of the face of a Na'vi, the alien species whose struggle against invading humans is at the center of the Avatar story line. As in a recent description of the Na'vi by someone who saw the earlier footage, it's the eyes that grab you:

  ... luminescent (living) blue tall people with a lot of Lion influences in the face. They're about 10ft tall, so think more like double/triple the size of humans. They all seem to have long hair in a braid and a tail best described as lionesque ... Their eyes are a lot bigger than human eyes, and bright yellow. It's also one of the features that most draws you into believing this world.

  This beautiful teaser banner definitely leaves you wanting to see more.

  
  

  Posted 07/01/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

Wednesday, June 24

• First Screening of Avatar Footage Wows Audience

  James Cameron unveiled the first footage from his highly anticipated sci-fi epic Avatar for a select audience of 1000 or so at the CineExpo in Amsterdam, and the hype just isn't going away. What had everyone so worked up in anticipation is a revolutionary new type of 3-D technology that the movie will be showcasing.

  The word from a 3-D skeptic over at Coming Soon is that it was "a jaw dropping experience." He describes a scene in which Jake (Sam Worthington) and Norm (Joel David Moore) mentally link with the human-alien hybrids (avatars) they will use to explore the moon Pandora, which is poisonous to humans.

  It's the third scene where my heart begins to pound like crazy. Jake and Norm will inhabit their Avatar for the first time. They enter some sort of capsule and – flash – their mind enters the blue creatures, now lying on hospital tables. And not before long Avatar Jake wakes up. And it took my breath away. I thought – just like you guys – that I've seen it all with Gollum, or The Hulk, but Cameron has done it again. These creatures seem so real, that within minutes you forget you're watching an enormous and very blue CGI character. Even the eyes are totally convincing. The characters have real personalities and a soul.

  And that's the reaction of a 3-D skeptic. Others are even more lavish with their exclamation points. The cheerleaders of the 3-D revolution over at MarketSaw are suggesting that the audience witnessed something historic that they can tell their grandchildren about.

  So when will the rest of us be getting a peek at this amazing new world that Cameron has created? Well, there are intriguing photos from the after-party including a shot of the bioluminescent forest on the moon Pandora at night. The resolution on the pictures is not quite good enough though to give a full impression of what the audience saw. And of course they are not in 3-D.

  The next public showing of Avatar footage is rumored to be at the San Diego Comic-Con at the end of July.

  
  
  Next Showing: Avatar hits theaters December 18, 2009

  Posted 06/24/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Sam Worthington | Avatar

Thursday, June 18

• New Images from the World of Avatar

  More otherworldly images from Avatar of the lush tropical landscape on the moon Pandora have surfaced. Alien creatures that blend into the landscape, mysterious arcs across the sky, a confrontation between alien and machine.

  Like most of the earlier images, these are from the Avatar video game being developed in tandem with the movie. However, since the development process of the two has been so deeply intertwined, these screen captures should be fairly representative of what we can expect from the movie. Enhanced, of course, by the revolutionary 3-D imaging process director James Cameron is taking out for its maiden voyage in Avatar.

  
  

  Posted 06/18/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

Wednesday, June 10

• James Cameron Joins Heavy Metal Sequel

  Last time we heard about the upcoming Heavy Metal sequel, directors Zack Snyder, Gore Verbinski, and David Fincher were added to the list of directors collaborating on the animated anthology, and now it looks like James Cameron will also direct a segment as well.

  FilmSchoolRejects spoke with Kevin Eastman, co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and editor-in-chief and owner of Heavy Metal Magazine, who offered this update:

  I've got breaking news that Fincher and James Cameron are going to be Co-Executive Producers on [Heavy Metal]. Fincher will direct one. Cameron will direct one. Zack Snyder is going to direct one and Gore Verbinski is going to. Mark Osborne and Jack Black from Tenacious D are going to do a comedy segment for the film. Three other directors have agreed but we haven't signed them, but they're equally as jaw-dropping. So we're on cloud nine to be working with such an amazing amount of talent.

  It is a pretty impressive list. And while "Co-Executive Producer" is not the most involved of movie jobs, Cameron and Fincher are clearly giving Heavy Metal all the support they can.

  
  

  Posted 06/10/2009 by Ryan

  Related: David Fincher | Gore Verbinski | Jack Black | James Cameron | Kevin Eastman | Mark Osborne | Zack Snyder | Heavy Metal | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Monday, June 8

• Avatar to Follow a Pocahontas Narrative

  Up until quite recently, all the secrets of James Cameron's Avatar had been sealed up tight, but now the floodgate really have begun to open. Most of the news has focused on the highly anticipated new type of 3-D experience the movie is expected to deliver. Now, on top off all this, /Film got a chance to talk to filmmakers at length at the recent E3 gaming conference and has come up with what appears to be, more or less, the complete story line for the movie. Here's a short version.

  Whereas Cameron's Titanic was built around a kind of Romeo and Juliet narrative, Avatar is a bit more Pocahontas with the alien Na'vi standing in for Native Americans, according to producer Jon Landau. One key difference, of course, is that Avatar is set on the distant moon Pandora, a place so alien and poisonous to human life that people can only enter and exploit the environment vicariously by linking their consciousness to a human-alien hybrid called an avatar.

  In avatar form, the movie's protagonist Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) manages to survive in the hostile environment and overcome the species barrier with the aid of a female Na'vi (Zoe Saldana) who saves him from one of the moon's native predators. She then teaches him to appreciate the alien world and its native people.

  This sets up a major conflict for Sully, who is dependent on his human colleagues for access to his avatar hybrid. Since he is controlling the avatar remotely, he can't stay connected with it forever. Thus joining the natives in their attempt to repel the invaders means that he has no way to return to Pandora or to the Na'vi he has come to love.

  
  

  Posted 06/08/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Zoe Saldana | Sam Worthington | Jon Landau | Avatar

Wednesday, June 3

• 14 Ft. Tall Avatar Robot Model on Display

  Another look at James Cameron's Avatar was just released, courtesy of the video game industry trade show E3. This time it's not just concept art, or video game screen captures. It's an actual AMP giant robot suit. This is apparently one of the power suits the human-alien hybrids on the moon Pandora jack their nervous systems into so they can move around in its dense, tropical environment. An impressive and practical design, it comes heavily armed but doesn't forget windshield wipers.

  
  
  Next Showing: Avatar arrives in theaters December 18, 2009

  Posted 06/03/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

Tuesday, June 2

• James Cameron Reveals Details, Images of Avatar

  At a press conference organized by the video game developer Ubisoft, James Cameron revealed all sorts of new details about the nature of the world of Avatar and how it came to be.

  Ubisoft has been involved in creating some of the CGI for the movie, and has also been developing an Avatar video game. Some images from the game, which have a very similar look to the recently released concept art, are now on line.

  In his talk, Cameron outlined the decade-long process of developing the project, which involved creating whole new cameras and got an inspirational push from the Lord of the Rings. About the movie, itself, he indicated that it takes place in the 22nd century on the earth-like moon Pandora. The air on the rain forest moon is not breathable by humans, so people have developed a hybrid between humans and the native Na'vi that can control various sorts of robots by "jacking" their nervous systems into them.

  Conflicts arise between these technologically dependent hybrids and the more natural and primitive Na'vi, who are described as being 10-feet tall and striped like a tiger. Sam Worthington's character develops sympathy with the Na'vi and is forced to choose sides at the end when everything comes to a climax in what Cameron describes as a huge, amazing fight scene.

  Another central theme of the movie parallels the technology used to make it: learning to see things from a different perspective. If the finished product lives up to even half the hype surrounding it, that is one thing audiences will definitely take away from the experience.

  
  

  Posted 06/02/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Sam Worthington | Avatar

Friday, May 29

• First Visions of the Highly Secretive World of Avatar

  There have been lots of things floating around the net purporting to be images or props from Avatar, James Cameron's highly anticipated and closely guarded new sci-fi adventure. Until this week, though, no official footage or picture has come out. Now we get our first look at the alien world of Pandora that he has created. Well, sort of.

  What we've got is a couple of pieces of official concept art. And it all looks ... quite otherworldly. Flying pterodactyl-like creatures soaring above what appears to be an Andean jungle landscape in pursuit of some sort of bio-tech helicopter. And then there is an image of a giant powersuit that allows its operator to move effortlessly through dense jungle and swamp.

  Of course this is all concept art and in the movie, itself, things might -- indeed necessarily will -- look quite a bit different. Filming is being done with a revolutionary new type of 3-D that has left critics and other directors who have gotten a chance to look at it salivating for more.

  
  

  Posted 05/29/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

Wednesday, May 20

• Avatar to Get Unprecedented Screen Time at IMAX Theaters

  The buzz surrounding James Cameron's Avatar just keeps on building. Even though there have been no trailers, not even a picture, from the sci-fi epic so far, rumors about how revolutionary its 3-D technology will be -- and the breathless reports of those who have been allowed to see some actual footage -- have kept the fires stoked.

  Now the New York Times is reporting that IMAX appears to be buying into the hype in a big way, clearing its screens for a potential, and unprecedented, three-month run. Just how unusual would that be? By comparison, even J.J Abrams' very successful Star Trek reboot got a mere two weeks on the IMAX circuit before having to make way for Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. The report is careful to note that this is not set in stone, and the scheduling could change. But for now it looks like a major vote of confidence for Avatar.

  When will we finally get a peek at what has got insiders so worked up? It's only a rumor at this point, but MarketSaw is reporting the first trailer may open in front of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which hits theaters June 24.

  
  

  Posted 05/20/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

Thursday, April 30

• James Cameron's Avatar Praised by Steven Soderbergh

  It's been over a decade since James Cameron thrilled the world with his epic film Titanic. After producing several documentary films, the director of The Terminator and Aliens returns to science fiction with Avatar, a photorealistic CGI film in 3-D.

  Except for the rumors of ground-breaking technological advancements in filmmaking, a few images and a short synopsis about a wounded ex-marine and a struggle to exploit an alien world, there is little known about Avatar. However, if director Steven Soderbergh (Solaris) is to be believed, Cameron's fans haven't waited in vain. In a recent interview, Soderbergh said:

  I've seen some stuff and holy $#@%. It's the craziest $#@% ever.

  
  
  Next Showing: Avatar is scheduled to be released December 18
  

  Reelz Clip

  Avatar sets sail with a $200,000,000 budget.

  Posted 04/30/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar | Aliens | The Terminator | Titanic

• Predators Coming to Theaters in 2010

  What, AVP wasn't enough a reboot? It's true, despite both Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, a second reboot is underway, this time with director Robert Rodriguez serving as producer for the movie.

  AICN reached out to Rodriguez, who explained how Predators came into being:

  Way back before I did Desperado, I had taken a writing assignment for a sequel to Predator. With a nod toward [James] Cameron's Aliens I decided to call it Predators. I set it on a jungle-like Predator planet. Fast forward 15 years to when I got a call from Alex Young over at Fox, who had been digging around and found my original treatment. So the next stage is finding a writer and director to come in and work with us to bring it to life. Whether or not it will ultimately be based on the treatment or not is still unknown at this time.

  So while Rodriguez will not direct or write, he has plenty in mind for the movie:

  What I'd like to do with it is expand on ideas I dreamt up back in the original treatment, that had really expanded on the universe both the Predators and other species live in. We'd create new otherworldly characters while not taking away from the draw our main Predator has.

  
  
  Next Showing: Predators is set for release on July 7, 2010

  Posted 04/30/2009 by Ryan

  Related: James Cameron | Robert Rodriguez | Predators | Aliens | Predator | Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem | Alien vs. Predator | Desperado

Tuesday, March 24

• Sizing up the Expanding Terminator Universe

  Going into theaters to see Terminator Salvation, fans are going to be carrying in a lot of baggage. Just about everyone has seen some of the earlier installments. Many will have seen all of them repeatedly, and the recent TV offshoot The Sarah Connor Chronicles to boot.

  In a series of essays, Wired tries to get a grip on just what that enduring universe means on the threshold of its expansion. They include two takes on the continuing appeal of the Terminator him- or her-self, one from creator James Cameron, who sees the relentless machine as a timeless metaphor for encroaching dehumanization, and another from the executive producer of the TV series who finds in it very personal reminders of inexorable mortality.

  On top of this they provide a neat timeline of the evolution of the franchise and final thoughts on why the Terminator always comes back. Anything else you need in that baggage before you head into the theater? Oh yeah, guns. Visions of a future full of lots and lots of big guns.

  
  
  Next Showing: Terminator Salvation is coming to theaters May 21, 2009

  Posted 03/24/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Terminator Salvation

Friday, March 20

• Avatar's 3-D Aims to Blur the Boundries of the Real

  With spending on Avatar already clocking in at $200-million-plus and approaching an all-time record, it's high time that viewers get a peek at what all that money can do. There is no trailer yet, but a Time Magazine reporter did get to see some early footage that seems to live up to the hype about "the bleeding edge" of 3-D filmmaking that has been so much talked about. The reporter says that he:

  “...couldn't tell what was real and what was animated ... even knowing that the 9-ft.-tall blue, dappled dude couldn't possibly be real. The scenes were so startling and absorbing that the following morning, I had the peculiar sensation of wanting to return there, as if Pandora were real.

  Still not sold? Director James Cameron clearly is. He insists that, "Certainly every film I'm planning to do will be in 3-D." The barrier, so far, has been the limited number of theaters capable of showing such films. If Avatar really does turn out to be all that it's being made out to be, that may just be the jump start the medium needs.

  
  

  Posted 03/20/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

Thursday, March 12

• Cameron Debunks Avatar Trailer Rumors, Promises the Moon

  James Cameron pulled himself up out of the nitty-gritty of making Avatar to deny reports that his long-awaited sci-fi flick is in trouble. Rumor had it that Cameron had rejected at least eight variants of a debut trailer. Not so, he says:

  I have no idea where that [rumor] came from but I haven't rejected any trailers [yet] since I haven't seen any yet. They're still working on them for presentation, which presumably will be soon. ... Every once in a while, as we are absorbed in some intensely detailed discussion about sub-surface scattering or the way a tail is moving in the animation, I'll just stop and have this moment of clarity, as if seeing it for the first time. And I realize that's what the lunar astronauts must have felt like. They'd be in the middle of some complex set of procedures and they'd look out the window and go "Oh, yeah. That's the frickin' moon!"

  Scurrilous rumors now thoroughly debunked, we can all return to hoping that Cameron really can deliver the moon -- and a convincing vision of what it's like to see through alien eyes.

  
  

  Posted 03/12/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

• Terminator Salvation Stars to Swap Batman Role?

  Rumors about the third Batman movie are nothing new, and with director Christopher Nolan hard at work on his sci-fi thriller Inception, it's hard to believe anything written about a Batman 3 until Nolan or Warner Bros. make an official announcement. However, the Herald Sun reports that instead of Christian Bale returning as Batman, it could be his Terminator Salvation co-star Sam Worthington in the black cowl for the next movie.

  Why Bale would require replacing is curious, but the Herald Sun speculates that Bale's angry, expletive-filled, on-set outburst may have damaged his profile, necessitating a change. Of course, Worthington, like the Herald Sun, is Australian, so perhaps they're just creating a rumor to help boost what could be their country's next breakout star, with Worthington not only opening Salvation this May but also James Cameron's Avatar in December.

  What do you think? Should Bale get replaced?

  
  

  Posted 03/12/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Christian Bale | James Cameron | Christopher Nolan | Sam Worthington | Avatar | Batman 3 | Terminator Salvation

Tuesday, March 10

• Avatar to Let You See Through Alien Eyes

  There have been reported sightings of clips from James Cameron's 3D sci-fi epic Avatar at a toy fair in Germany and at a promotion for a company working on the photorealistic environment for the movie. Word is that it is "like Aliens, but from the POV of the Aliens." What they saw is rumored to be part of the standout visual effects piece of the film, a 12-minute sequence seen through the eyes of Jake (Sam Worthington) in avatar form running though, among other places, an alien jungle with trees the size of skyscrapers. Whether or not it will "melt your mind" remains a matter of some debate and probably has nothing to do with "a huge mushroom with a crystal in the middle" spotted in one of the clips. But everyone who saw it seems to have come away suitably impressed.

  
  
  Next Showing: Avatar hits theaters December 18, 2009

  Posted 03/10/2009 by Bill

  Related: James Cameron | Sam Worthington | Avatar

Tuesday, January 13

• A Tour Through the History of 3-D Movies

  3-D Movies are about to make a comeback in a big way in 2009. This Friday, My Bloody Valentine: 3-D hits screens, the first of a series of 3-D releases in 2009 that includes Final Destination 4, Monsters vs. Aliens, and, of course, James Cameron's hugely anticipated Avatar.

  For a look at how far the process has come, see A Tour Through the History of 3-D Movies, which recaps the highlights -- and lowlights -- of 3-D flicks.

  
  

  
  
  

  My Bloody Valentine 3-D - Trailer

  Edi Gathegi Stars - Releasing Jan. 16, 2009

  Posted 01/13/2009 by reelz

  Related: James Cameron | My Bloody Valentine 3-D | Avatar | Monsters vs. Aliens

Monday, December 22

• Cameron to Direct Forbidden Planet Remake?

  As we reported on December 2nd, Babylon 5 creator Michael Straczynski is currently hard at work on the script for a remake (or reimagining) of Sci-Fi classic Forbidden Planet. Now IESB.net is reporting that James Cameron may be interested in directing. The iconic director has been linked to the project before as far back as a decade ago on an AICN report in 1998.

  Rumors of Cameron directing various projects have been swirling around the net a lot lately, but let's remember that he hasn't released a feature film since 1997's Titanic and has been tied to plenty of projects in the past that never saw the light of day, including Spider-Man. I wouldn't expect anything concrete until Avatar nears release.
  

  Still, it's an interesting idea and we'll be sure to let you know if we hear anything more.

  Source: IESB.net
  

  
  

  Posted 12/22/2008 by reelz

  Related: James Cameron | Forbidden Planet

Friday, December 5

• Sigourney Weaver Says Avatar Technology Won't Replace Live Humans Anytime Soon

  "I think the smart directors take everything from the living people," Sigourney Weaver told ReelzChannel of the performance capture work she's done on James Cameron's Avatar.

  The actress is currently promoting her narration work on the new feature adaptation of Kate Dicamillo's classic children's book The Tale of Despereaux, which releases in theaters nationwide December 19th.

  As with most of the cast involved on Cameron's highly secretive Avatar, Weaver isn't allowed to say much about the details of her character or the film. "My lips are sealed about the fabulous 3-D adventure of Avatar," Weaver told Reelz with a wry smile.

  As for the issue of whether Cameron's technology is evolved enough to replace actors entirely, Weaver doesn't see that ever being the case. "You know, it's true, for all of us as artists, there's a trust in this new technology. They do need to begin with real actors with beating hearts and rushing blood and working minds..."

  "Performance capture, they're using all of you, both physically and vocally. So there's no difference except that you get to scamper around covered with green dots and make believe that this is a gun and this is a tree. It's just like the way you do theater, so I felt totally at home."

  
  
  Next Showing: Avatar slated for release December 2009

  Posted 12/05/2008 by reelz

  Related: James Cameron | Sigourney Weaver | Avatar

Thursday, November 6

• Avatar To Be Released in IMAX

  20th Century Fox has announced that James Cameron's much-anticipated tale of alien possession and interplanetary war Avatar will be released in IMAX 3D on Dec. 18, 2009, the same day the movie will debut in conventional theaters. Cameron says that this is all part of his effort to "completely immerse the audience in a way that cannot be experienced anywhere else." And Greg Foster, the head of IMAX adds, "Every aspect of this film was meticulously designed for 3D, so when audiences experience this revolutionary film in an IMAX 3D theatre, they will feel as if they are actually IN the movie."

  The announcement is expected to give an additional boost to IMAX, whose flagging fortunes were recently rescued by The Dark Knight.

  
  

  Posted 11/06/2008 by reelz

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar

Wednesday, October 29

• Favreau Sees Bits of James Cameron's Avatar

  Iron Man director Jon Favreau has seen parts of James Cameron's highly anticipated Avatar and tells Ain't It Cool News:

  ...he's really pushing the boundaries on motion capture, he's integrating live action with motion capture and CGI. It takes a painstaking and technical approach to that. And he really wants to make it a very visceral, emotional experience and he's ... he's a bit of a P.T. Barnum in the sense that he likes to put on a big show.

  
  

  Read the full AICN interview.

  
  
  Next Showing: Avatar slated for release December 2009

  Posted 10/29/2008 by reelz

  Related: James Cameron | Jon Favreau | Avatar

Thursday, October 23

• Cameron's Avatar Follow-Up Already in Production

  Despite the lack of a firm date on James Cameron's Avatar, the long-absent director is already working on his next project, a 3-D animated adaptation of the manga Battle Angel. Looks like the legendary director is planning to get back on the scene in a big way after his lengthy layoff since 1998's Titanic.

  Concept artist Mark Goener spoke with Market Saw about the technical aspects of the project. The artist admitted to being largely under wraps via non-disclosure agreements, but offered praise of Cameron and his Lightstorm production company and said that he is working with production designer Martin Lang (Terminator Salvation, Titanic). He also indicated that, while the movie will pay homage to the original graphic novels, it will be altered to appeal to a more mainstream mass audience.

  Source: Market Saw

  
  

  Posted 10/23/2008 by reelz

  Related: James Cameron | Avatar | Battle Angel

Saturday, September 22

• Movie news: Ben Kingsley & Giovanni Ribisi

  Ben Kingsley's production company has bought the rights to Will, Christopher Rush's fictional novel about a deathbed meeting between Willian Shakespeare and his lawyer over his last will and testament. The movie, which will start shooting next year, will star Ben Kingsley as Shakespeare. No director has yet been named.

  In other news, Giovanni Ribisi has signed on to the cast of Avatar, the 3-D feature James Cameron is mounting as a long-awaited follow up to Titanic. He will be joining Sigourney Weaver and Michelle Rodriguez in the cast.

  Source: The Hollywood Reporter.

  
  
  

  The Dead Girl trailer

  Giovanni Ribisi can be seen in this movie on DVD.

  Posted 09/22/2007 by reelz

  Related: James Cameron | Ben Kingsley | Will | Avatar

Friday, August 3

• Movie news: Jennifer Aniston, James Cameron, and Sarah Jessica Parker

  Jennifer Aniston has signed to star in a new romantic comedy opposite one of our favorites, Steve Zahn (Reality Bites, Rescue Dawn).

  Management, written and directed by Stephen Belber (The Laramie Project), is about a traveling saleswoman (Aniston) who has a fling with a hotel manager (Zahn) who then decides to follow her around the country trying to win her love. Sounds like a pretty high-profile gig. We hope this means Zahn's star is rising!

  More news on James Cameron's long-awaited follow-up to Titanic. The live-action digital 3-D Avatar has added two new cast members: Michelle Rodriguez (Girlfight, Lost) and Stephen Lang (Gods and Generals, Niagara Niagara).

  Rodriguez will play an ex-Marine pilot and Lang a Marine colonel who must oversee the troops on planet Pandora.

  Finally, Sarah Jessica Parker has an indie flick coming out in advance of the Sex and the City movie we are all so eagerly anticipating. SJP stars as a dean at a New England college at the center of a racial hate crime investigation in Spinning Into Butter, adapted from Rebecca Gilman's play of the same name. It will premiere at next month's National Conference on Race, Reparation and Reconciliation in Atlanta.

  Source: Variety.

  
  

  Posted 08/03/2007 by reelz

  Related: James Cameron | Jennifer Aniston | Steve Zahn | Michelle Rodriguez | Sarah Jessica Parker | Stephen Belber | Stephen Lang | Spinning Into Butter | Avatar | Management

Thursday, July 19

• Date changes for Nanny Diaries, Monsters vs. Aliens

  The adaptation of the 2003 bestselling roman a clef The Nanny Diaries has had its opening date changed--again.

  The Scarlett Johansson comedy, which was originally slated to open months ago was originally moved to September 7. But now, thanks to a desire not to open against the potential Oscar-contender 3:10 to Yuma (a Western with Christian Bale and Russell Crowe), the opening date for The Nanny Diaries has been moved up to August 24.

  Juggling dates is traditionally not a good sign for a movie, but The Weinstein Company stands behind its product.

  Elsewhere in Hollywood, the opening date for the 3-D Dreamworks cartoon Monsters vs. Aliens has been changed to May 15--2009-- to avoid going up against Avatar, the first James Cameron feature project since Titanic.

  Monsters vs. Aliens is a remake of the 1950s movie, and will be directed by Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2) and Rob Letterman (Shark Tale). Avatar will feature CGI and live action.

  Source: Variety.

  
  

  Posted 07/19/2007 by reelz

  Related: Conrad Vernon | James Cameron | Rob Letterman | Scarlett Johansson | The Nanny Diaries | Monsters vs. Aliens | Avatar

Thursday, May 10

• T4 a go, Ah-nold and J-Cam a No

  Terminator 4 is coming, like it or not.

  Variety is reporting that the men behind the rights to the Terminator franchise, Andy Vajna and Mario Kassar, have sold the rights to a privately funded company named Halcyon, which sounds suspiciously like Cyberdyne to me.

  Halcyon Co. is headed by entrepreneurs Victor Kubicek (who looks a little like a young Michael Bay) and Derek Anderson.

  Neither James Cameron nor a post-governator Arnold Schwarzenegger will be involved in the project.

  Although the script isn't finished and there is no cast, director or start date, the movie is already being slated for a summer 2009 release date.

  What little is known about the storyline involves another iteration of John Connor, now in his 30's, leading the resistence against the rise of the machines.

  
  

  Posted 05/10/2007 by reelz

  Related: Arnold Schwarzenegger | James Cameron | Terminator Salvation