Early Buzz: James Cameron's 'Avatar'

While the official Avatar Day took place back in August, the unofficial Avatar Day is today, as critics from across the country (and in London) will be seeing James Cameron's Avatar for the first time, one week before its official debut. As I write this, the film's premiere is getting underway in London and the first press screenings are letting out. The London critics had to sign a piece of paper promising not to review the film until Monday, but with so many screenings here in the states, it's a bit sketchy as to what precautions are being taken here. Needless to say, reactions are beginning to pour onto the web. Will Avatar really change the way we watch movies? Let's take a look ...

"... the terrible film that some had been anticipating had not materialised. It was good ... There is, though, a certain amount of suspension of disbelief needed when watching Avatar. Cynics might sneer at the plot ... There is more shock and awe in this movie than almost any other." - The Guardian

"Everything feels real. It's as if Cameron has happened upon this alien world and got his camera out ... It is overwhelming, and that is because you are emotionally tied up in the characters and the story ... James Cameron has described his new filming process as "emotion capture". And it's a boast he lives up to." -- The Sun

One critic who wished to remain anonymous for now: "Was not as thrilled by Avatar as my colleagues; eye-popping visuals, but story is Dances w/Wolves + District 9; I preferred District 9."

From Twitter:

@petershall: "The AVATAR buzz is an understatement. That movie was unbelievable."

@dmann11: "Holy effing crap!!! Avatar was FREAKING AWESOME KICK ASS SWEET!!!!!"

@TheGate: "For the record 'Avatar' was worth the $400 million, and no it is not even remotely "vomit inducing".

@gholson: "Spectacular. A visual feast and the new benchmark in cinematic world building."

@chasewhale: "Just finished AVATAR. Special effects were top notch. The movie ran a little long for my likings but I liked it!"

@comingsoonnet" "Okay, about Avatar?.... WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW! Unbelievable... amazing."

@MikePereira21: Was blown away by Avatar! For 150 minutes, I was a kid again. Thank you James Cameron! BTW, the groundbreaking 3D was mindblowing."

@rejects: "I'm not supposed to talk about Avatar... That said, it was a spectacular experience. Like nothing I've seen before."

More after the jump ...

@markwalters74: "Just saw AVATAR. Not allowed to talk about it yet. Not allowed to say how it's an amazing visual feast, or that Jimmy C's still got the gift."

@massawyrm: "So I just got back from a movie. It was pretty great...if by pretty great I mean OMFGHOLYF**KINGSH*TOMGOMGOMG. Because that's what it was ... Oh, and if I hear one more "Dances with Wolves" joke I'm gonna throw up in my mouth. Has no one seen DUNE? Because this was DUNE. In a good way ...You have officially been to your last Con in which blue people, spoken Navi and the word "hometree" were absent."

@firstshowing: James Cameron is a freakin' genius! I can't say much but wow, I loved it. #Avatar was phenomenal, pretty much blew me away

@DrewAtHitFix: I think the most accurate way to say it would be OMFGOMFGOMFG. Or words that effect. #avatar

@EDouglasWW: I'll take my chances with Fox legal.... Avatar was amazing, I loved it!

@rejects It's impossible to say that something is a "gamechanger" or that it will "redefine" movies. But I can say that I've seen something I've never seen before. And that I've seen something that shows the potential for the craft of filmmaking in this new century.

@sizemore So *that* was James Cameron's AVATAR. Holy f**king f**k.

@JonTT Avatar = outstanding. Really. Truly. See it. Soon.

@slashfilm I'm not allowed to say anythng about what I thought of Avatar, but saw it in a screening room with neill blomkamp, who didn't sign an NDA. He loved it... I will say this, it's hard to disagree with Neil :)

@LarsenOnFilm First Impression: Avatar. Stronger story than I expected, amazing visuals. Still no need for 3-D though. Full review next week.

@simonpegg Avatar ........................ tweetless. Just tweetless in the best possible way.

@johndollin Such a small word to describe a huge film 'EPIC', I entered a dream and didn't want to return. 3D just made it all the more real.