Or least that’s what Roger Ebert says in his review (now that he can finally publish it):
Watching Avatar, I felt sort of the same as when I saw Star Wars in 1977. That was another movie I walked into with uncertain expectations. James Cameron’s film has been the subject of relentlessly dubious advance buzz, just as his Titanic was. Once again, he has silenced the doubters by simply delivering an extraordinary film. There is still at least one man in Hollywood who knows how to spend $250 million, or was it $300 million, wisely.
The film, which opens in theaters this Friday, has been shrouded in secrecy since its inception. While many feared that end result could never live up to all of the hype, it currently sits at a comfortable 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 100% rating from top critics. The pretend James Cameron is stoked.
While Fox officially embargoed reviews until Monday, many critics have already published their takes on the film. Check out posts from Kirk Honeycutt at The Hollywood Reporter (“The screen is alive with more action and the soundtrack pops with more robust music than any dozen sci-fi shoot-’em-ups you care to mention.”), Owen Gleiberman from Entertainment Weekly, (“What it’s in the service of is the creation of a relentless ‘Oh, wow!” acid-trip videogame joyride.”), and Todd McCarthy from Variety (“Twelve years after Titanic, which still stands as the all-time B.O. champ, Cameron delivers again with a film of universal appeal that just about everyone who ever goes to the movies will need to see.)
We’re curious: Are you planning to see Avatar?