Last night, James Cameron’s long-awaited 3-D epic Avatar premiered in London. The AP reports that the audience responded with applause and cheers when the movie—about humans taking on avatar forms and exploring an alien world—ended, and that many in attendance were left “breathless”. Stars Sigourney Weaver and Zoe Saldana were on hand to walk a special blue carpet. Though Avatar doesn’t premiere until next week, early reviews have been leaking out, and some indicate that the word “breathless” might not be so overblown after all: Variety‘s Todd McCarthy writes that it’s “…a film of universal appeal that just about everyone who ever goes to the movies will need to see.” The Hollywood Reporter writes, “…movie magic is back!” Empire magazine calls it “…a hugely rewarding experience: rich, soulful and exciting in the way that only comes from seeing a master artist at work.” The Times UK calls it “…an overwhelming, immersive spectacle.” And Screen International writes “It’s an unprecedented marriage of technology and storytelling which is on the whole remarkably successful.” On the negative side though, the Guardian calls the movie “…baggy, longwinded and, for all the light-speed imagery, just not quick on its feet.”
Dec 11
2009
08:52 AM ET
'Avatar' premieres in London, early reviews are out
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I am so excited to see this movie! I really hope all the hype for it has been worth it and that it really be a moment of cinema magic, which I feel has been lost as of late.
If Avatar replaces Adam Lambert in the entertainment news, I’ll be so happy.
Me too.
I’ll just be glad when EW can talk about a movie besides Twilight.
“And in entertainment news, Twilight made another 1.2 million this weekend at the box office… along with some other flick named Avatar…”
Where does Adam Lambert come into this? Unless this movie is about sucking delicious sausage, his name should not be brought up.
you lovestartin contraversy dont ya? that just sounded so discriminative and Im not even surprised you said it cuz your a predictable robotic hater. And guess what?! you probably doubted avatar would be as good as it was supposed to be before the comic con footage made people sketchy, but I never did cuz im not a dum dum. And this movie WILL be the most talked about thing for a while. stupid american civilians thinkin they know a good movie. saw and law abiding citizens yall liked , but where the wild things are you didn’t get?stupid dum dum american citizens! always know how to reveal yourselves as the idiots you are. I.E. – electing Bush for a second term? hahahahahaahahah dum dum dum
um, law abiding citizen sucked…WTWTA was great.
I hope this was meant as satire.
It must have been satire. Why else would the author accuse Americans of being “dum” while displaying such poor spellilng and grammar skills?
Nick, Dum-Dum is actually the correct spelling of the slang for dumb. (definition: Slang for a stupid person; a dolt; ex. Republican)
That may be true, N8, but considering the rest of his spelling and grammatical errors, I don’t thing that Clay here actually knows the slang spelling of anything.
I’m officially excited to see this in IMAX 3D.
Absolutely!
Suck on that, haters! Even James Cameron’s worst movies are better than most of the drivel that comes out of Hollywood. How anyone could doubt Avatar would be mind-blowing is beyond me.
Good for you crispy, I hope you get your cover in 3 weeks. Oh, snap! You don’t subscribe anymore! heh
Hah! Well, I’m not the type to say “told ya so.” Who am I kidding? I am totally that type! Bring on the Avatar cover… I will not rest until I see a blue Na’vi alien spearing Sandra Bullock in the gut.
Mmmm, now that paints a pretty picture. heh
I’d love to send you my copy when the issue comes out, since you so hastily cancelled after being shaken down by teenage vampires – but I’m married to a geek who will likely be as giddy as you will be to see it.
I’ll buy it at the newsstand. But if there’s a “Team Anyone” on the newsstand cover, I will find the nearest pasty-looking hipster with disheveled hair and Hot Topic accessories, and I will punch him in the throat.
…and steal his studded belt and run away. heh
What bad movies? I don’t remember him doing any bad movies.
I thought True Lies left a lot to be desired. But I was speaking relatively of course, the man hasn’t made a “bad” movie.
If True Lies is the absolute worst the man has done, that’s pretty damn fabulous.
I liked True Lies. My least favorite movie of Cameron’s is Titanic. The first half was way too long, and I don’t think the dialogue had to be so sappy.
Cannot wait! Looks amazing, immersive, inventive, imaginative, and epic.
Hell yeah! I’ve got my imax tickets in NYC on opening day!
I have been tired of the hype about this Avatar since Comic Con. Glad to see one reviewer mentioned story tho. That has been missing in any of the early talk about this movie. All the CG in the world ca’t save a crappy story (or complete lack of one). And I thought that humans were taking on avatars to fight on the alien world not “explore” it. Not sure if they are invading of helping.
Wait-is this the SAME James Cameron that directed Titanic, Terminator, Terminator 2, Aliens and True Lies? I wasn’t sure b/c the previews are so unclear…
Awesome sarcasm, Sarah. LOL
so i guess you’re going to see it?
lol win
SO EXCITED! Seeing it opening day in IMAX in Madison, WI. Got my tickets about a week ago.
Still, no Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, or Lance Henriksen, so how awesome could it be?
“That’s it man, game over man, game over!”
here comes the hype. I’ll wait for the actual audience reviews when the movie actually comes out to see if i want to see it.the trailer hasnt interested me enough to see it.
It is actually the only movie I have wanted to see in the theater and everything and it looks like there is the philosophy and science fiction of the Terminator movies with the love type story of Titanic. I know I have seen two distinct trailers, the first looks cool, but the one focusing on the solider in the wheelchair story, well, I can see getting weepy with that story.
I’ve heard from a couple friends who saw it that the script’s a little clunky (think Titanic) but the 3d aspects just about live up to the hype. Love or hate Cameron, he takes the craft of movie-making seriously.
I’m really looking forward to seeing Avatar. It’s not often that movies are as completely bad as the worst reviews or as good as the most gushing reviews.
“Battlefield Earth” was.
Are you kidding me? “Battlefield Earth” is hilarious, I recommend everyone see it. I think “Bloodrayne” comes a close-second. These are movies that may be trashed by critics, but people still need to see anyways.
I am so excited for this film.Really I am.My kids and I have always loved Fern Gully and now we have one for grown ups.LOL
That’s hillarious! FernGully was awesome and I hadn’t thought of that but now I am rolling thinking of that!
AFAIC that\’s the best awnser so far!