Avatar is possibly the most beautiful CGI movie ever!

[Reasonable]

heruamon said:

BTW, somebody mention it before, and it's worth mentioning again...

Monday's $ = $16,385,820

3rd biggest EVER for a non-holiday monday, and the only films higher are TDK and POTC...some pretty amazing company to be, so I think the legs issue is going to be moot. I'm really glad for Cameron, as he took a huge risk with this film, and it paid off royally. Avatar was worth the hype, as I've never seen anything so beautiful on film.

I had to add these quotes from THR: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i1002148bbd34e1b5d8c0e8f768154290?imw=Y

Hollywood insiders, recognizing the technical leaps involved, already have begun applauding. None other than Steven Spielberg has called "Avatar" "the most evocative and amazing science-fiction movie since 'Star Wars.' "

That is some sweet praise from Spielberg, and the Avatar effect is going to be far and wide.  Maybe Lucas will let somebody do a KOTOR movie, using this tech.  The awards front is looking pretty good as well with these comments: 

"Right now, the number that's being bandied about is nine -- drawn from a menu that includes best picture, director, visual effects, editing, art direction, sound, sound editing, score and song. (Cinematography, costumes and makeup are more of a stretch, given how much of that work was done digitally.)"

I had the wrong category...it art direction, not cinematography.  Best picture might be a stretch, but the mroe I tohught about it, best director is definitely something the Academy might want to reward Cameron with.

I doubt Avatar will get any of the mainstream awards this time around, but the technical awards should be a lock.  We'll see, but Oscar voters seem to shy from bestowing the big awards to the same director twice and Cameron got a pretty big haul with Titanic.

I suspect Avatar will get some decent nominations, but only pick up the technical stuff (and maybe song).  Best picture and director would be a stretch IMHO - although the academy does love the themes in Avatar.

I doubt it will get any acting nods.  The live action roles are simply to cliche and stretched to be plausible while I doubt the academy will consider the 'performance capture elements' that seriously.  Personally Zoe Saldana, as noted in most reviews, probably does deliver the best performance in the film via her 'performance capture' but I suspect there will be plenty of real world performances that easily surpass any chance she might have.

I think though Cameron is safe on the money front, although I doubt Avatar will get anywhere near Titanic, for a variety of reasons.  But with that start, good reviews and the general perception 'you have to see this in 3D'  I think it will easily make enough to be profitable.