'Avatar' trailer igniting fans

By Sarah Sluis

Fox released the trailer for Avatar this morning, and it's confirming that this movie will be the must-see event in the holiday movie season. Since 25 minutes of the film were released at Comic-Con, and 15 minutes

of footage will be previewed tomorrow to those who received their IMAX

tickets, awareness and twittered first impressions are already rising, a good four months before its release.

The trailer opens with a technically stunning image of a space station and plane (a more polished version of Star Wars), and then segues into a series of aerial shots over the Na'vi planet, covered in acacia trees. Then we see Sam Worthington, who plays a paralyzed ex-Marine, rolling out of a ship in a wheelchair. In a laboratory, he sees his animated avatar floating in liquid before undergoing a process by which he inhabits the form. The rest of the trailer is a build-up montage of battles and hints of Worthington's relationship with a Na'vi woman (Zoe Saldana). Cameron claims to have had the idea for over fourteen years, but held back from making the movie until he could create a believable alien that audiences could identify with. The blue aliens in the trailer are tinged with the patina of CGI, but those who have seen the 3D images at Comic-Con, on a big screen say they look more realistic in a theatrical setting.

Cribbing from an Internet-supplied plot synopsis (potential spoilers included), the story of Avatar is strikingly similar to that of Pocahontas: a man befriends the natives (or, in this case, becomes one), and is won over to their viewpoint as he also becomes romantically involved with one of them. When the two sides enter into a conflict, he's forced to make a decision.

The story of a mole who changes his sympathies is a familiar one, and can be found in every genre, from spy movies to romantic comedies. There's a reason it sticks around: beneath a superficial premise there's an opportunity to make deep, thought-provoking commentary on the groups involved. Sci-fi movie District 9, which opened last week, also involves a human who becomes alien, and in the process starts to advocate for the "others."

James Cameron is working off an incredibly strong template, and this focus on story and action should broaden the appeal of Avatar to a wide range of viewers. Fox is marketing the movie with the tagline "by the director of Titanic," which

alludes not only to his most successful film, but also its

similarity to the new one. After all, Titanic, is as much an action film as a historical romance, just as Avatar seems to be not just a sci-fi action film, but a story about the perils of technology and colonialism.

IMAX showing a 16-minute first-look at 'Avatar'

By Sarah Sluis

In an unusual but not unprecedented move, a 16-minute sizzle reel of Avatar footage will be shown in over 100 IMAX theatres next Friday, August 21. A similar, slightly longer reel was recently shown at Comic-Con in San Diego. While originally 20th Century Fox's plan was "Show up, and we'll show you the clips," they have wised up to the potential crowds, and opted for an Internet-based clicking contest. Tickets will be given away at 3pm EST Monday, August 17th to the fastest clickers.

Why would a studio give away so much footage? From one perspective, it clearly shows they're confident about Avatar. I also suspect that this is a move to combat studio fears about having a big-budget movie that's not based on a "pre-sold" title. There was no Avatar comic book, best-selling novel, historical event, or television show. The idea is unproven, and people often don't want to risk the unfamiliar. Teased with sixteen minutes of Avatar, people will start talking more about the premise. Maybe part of the surprise will fade, but more people will be interested in seeing the film. It's a double-edged sword. I love the buzz and anticipation that comes before seeing a much-hyped movie, but when it fails to deliver, I'm more disappointed at seeing a "good" movie that was supposed to have been "great." Going into a film assuming it will be horrible, or a straight-up genre picture, can often make you appreciate the ways it has gone above and beyond your minimal expectations. While I hope to catch a glimpse of some Avatar footage before its release, for me, the pre-sold aspect of this movie is writer/director/producer James Cameron. I loved Terminator, Aliens and Titanic. Cameron's movies have connected with fans, who see them again and again, and most people in America have seen these films, no small feat. That he was able to achieve success with both a historic romance/disaster and sci-fi action films makes me respect him even more. 20th Century Fox will release the film during the winter movie season, December 18, 2009, so hopes are high that Cameron can deliver an unforgettable film that will become part of our cultural shorthand.