[ludovicotek]

I just saw the 3D Imax screening of James Cameron's Avatar. This movie is going to be big.

They screened roughly 15 minutes of the film, all from the first half of the movie. Each scene ran for a couple minutes, building up to a point where something big was just about to happen, before cutting to black followed by the next scene. It might sound a little weird, but they gave the viewers just enough to wet their appetite without giving it all away. But trust me, they did show some amazing footage.

I'll admit that I was not too impressed with the teaser trailer released online. Let me rephrase that. I thought the footage in the trailer looked amazing, I just was not blown away by any of the CG stuff, especially the blue Navi. I've been hearing how the CG is so lifelike and like nothing we have ever seen before. I didn't get that after watching the preview online. Watching the footage in person on a big screen in 3D is whole other story.

First of all, the quality of the 3D is exceptional. 3D is little more than a gimmick in my book. It's cool and all, and I'll watch a film in 3D if I get the chance (I loved Up in 3D) but I've never experienced a film in 3D that blew me away. Avatar blew me away. It truly feels like you are right there in the action as you are watching. There were scenes that took place in a jungle where I swear I could almost smell the soil and foliage. The environments are incredibly lush, detailed and wholly convincing.

The filmmakers have created a planet, Pandora, where the story takes place. They have thought about every detail so absolutely that you are sure it is a real place. From the fauna to the flora, everything is completely thought out. They really went of their way to think about how things would work in this particular ecosystem. There are bio-luminescent plants that glow beautifully and my eyes had to widen to take it all in. They are truly giving us things we just have never seen before on film. There are floating land masses that appear to be straight out of a video game but appear so photo realistic I never questioned if they actually existed. In my mind they did. I was so swept up by what was unfolding before my eyes that I never had a chance to question it.

Then there are the Navi. The big blue indigenous race of the planet Pandora. They were what I was most skeptical about. The teaser trailer left me a little let down in this regard. I still think that they look a little fake to me. Maybe fake is not the right word. I was just aware that they were indeed created in a computer. But I'm not sure if it is because I know that they were or if it was because they are so convincingly real and alien that I can't accept any other explanation. It's kind of like gore in horror movies. The more outrageous and gory the more real it appears. But if you ever see footage or pictures of real travesties it looks more fake. Thats the best way I know how to describe it. I will say this: the animation in flawless. The way the characters move is real. Their facial expressions and nuances are like no other character created with CG, ever. After seeing the Navi onscreen for a few minutes they became as real to me as everything else. The detail that went in to creating them is astonishing.

And the Navi have some really interesting abilities concerning how they interact with other creatures. There is just so much thought and detail that has been put into this film that it is mind boggling. I can't wait for the film to open on December 18 so I can see the full version. It is of course going to be released in normal theaters as well, but if you have the option, see it in 3D. If you have an Imax near you, even better. You will not be disappointed.