Over two years in the making, and countless more in development, James Cameron's Avatar is just over a week away from release, and still, no one has a clue if it's any good or not.
In fairness, if any director has earned the benefit of the doubt it's James Cameron. His first feature film since Titanic in 1997, Cameron has developed a form of shooting that he hopes will soon become the industry standard for epic action movies. Shooting entirely in digital, the film was made especially for the 3D format, but will be released in traditional 2D also.
It looks predictably stunning, and fans and critics all over the world are bracing themselves for what is sure to be a frantic debate, regardless of the quality of the production. The hyperbolic excitement that precedes its impending release can only hurt the film, as some are expecting a life-changing experience. Its effective trailer does look suitably atmospheric, but life changing experience Cameron's Avatar is unlikely to be.
I'm off over to London tomorrow to have a gander anyway, as I interview some of the key folk behind the production (hopefully Cameron included), and will have my review on Friday.