Avatar

Director James Cameron

Producers James Cameron, Jon Landau

Production company Lightstorm Entertainment

US distribution 20th Century Fox

International distribution Fox International

US release date December 18

Worldwide gross to date n/a

Best picture chances

Star Wars picked up a best-picture nomination. So did each of The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. If they can do it, there is no reason why Cameron’s opus Avatar will not. Breaking new cinematic ground in the way technology impacts storytelling, the film will win over many Academy voters who vote for spectacle. This is the Academy, after all, which gave best-picture Oscars to The Greatest Show On Earth, Around The World In 80 Days, Ben-Hur, Lawrence Of Arabia, Out Of Africa, Dances With Wolves and Titanic. Avatar has been nominated for a Golden Globe for best picture (drama).

What Screen said

“An epic film born entirely of Cameron’s imagination, Avatar uses tailor-made technology to create the most astonishing visual effects yet seen on screen and blends them seamlessly into a mythical sci-fi story about an ancient civilisation fighting the encroaching human

Mike Goodridge