James Cameron, Oscar-winning director of “Titanic” and self-proclaimed “King of the World” has found a new planet to conquer.
His next picture is “Avatar,” due in December. It’s the story of an ex-marine who is sent to settle and exploit an incredibly bio-diverse planet and ends up leading its indigenous inhabitants in a fight for survival.
(Leaked supposed early concept drawings may hint at why the marine feels attracted to the cause – or may just represent a fanboy’s fantasy.)
Very few details about the $200 million film have been released. “Avatar’s” first teaser (which is probably a fanboy creation) gives away none of the groundbreaking 3-D effects Cameron has reportedly developed for the film.
But a piece in this weekend’s New York Times collects some new intelligence from reputable sources as well as the blogosphere.
A writer from Time magazine describes the 15 minutes he saw:
“It was like doing some kind of drug,” he said, describing a scene in which the movie’s hero, played by Sam Worthington, ran around “with this kind of hot alien chick,” was attacked by jaguarlike creatures and was sprinkled with sprites that floated down, like snowflakes.
“You feel like the little feathery things are landing on your arm,” said Mr. Quittner, who remained eager for another dose.
The web is also rife with postings from people who say, somehow, they’ve seen the film (which isn’t likely to be finished anytime before Fall).
From NYT, again:
“The special effects were mostly drawings and cartoons, but they looked 3-D still,” wrote one “planetshane,” whose particular dream involved a pirated copy of an early version.
“It was the best movie I had ever seen,” the post continued.
That type of hype is nearly impossible to live up to, acknowledges the director.
“It can’t possibly meet expectations,” said Cameron in December. “I went out, got drunk over that.
But he still has a film to deliver. And it may be well worth seeing, given the film’s budget, the technological leaps and the fact that Cameron has pulled off the impossible before.
Shooting has been taking place in the old Spruce Goose hanger at Playa Vista where Cameron also filmed parts of “Titanic.” Visual effects are being done by Peter Jackson’s Weta Digital in New Zealand.
The NYT hints – and I think rightly so – that the first look the public will get at what Cameron’s been working on will come at next month’s Comic-Con in San Diego. How could he pass up such a perfect audience?
I, for one, hope to be there.