James Cameron’s (Terminator, Aliens) highly anticipated smurfs-at-war epic Avatar is set to arrive in theaters and IMAX screens on Dec. 18. The sci-fi actioner boasts groundbreaking 3-D technology and an estimated $230 million budget.
Sam Worthington (Clash of the Titans, Terminator: Salvation) stars in the film as Jake Sullly, a crippled ex-Marine chosen to participate in the government’s Avatar program on the planet of Pandora. As humans aggressively mine the planet for resources, a native species known as the Na’vi plot a revolt to save their blue asses from extinction. Sully, who regains use of his legs while plugged into the Avatar system, soon finds himself forced to choose between his own kind and the love of a young Na’vi female and her family (think Dances with Wolves).
Of course, this being a Cameron film, many of you are wondering if you need to pack meals, medicine, and a toothbrush before heading off to the multiplex. Avatar runs 150 minutes (2 1/2 hours). Cameron, whose Titanic ran a whooping 194 minutes, kept the film’s length down to ensure that it would play on all IMAX screens, including those that have not yet been converted to digital projection and, therefore, can only support a 170 minute run time.