Director James Cameron recently discussed the reasons he believes Avatar resonated with audiences worldwide.
Speaking with Collider, Cameron was asked why so many people connected with Avatar. "It took us out of our day-to-day problems," Cameron said. "It took us out of our day-to-day political discourse, and the chaos and disorderliness of real life. It took us to a place where there’s conflict, but there are also all sorts of important things going on. And it’s all through a lens of fantasy and science fiction." The director then stated that anyone, no matter where they are in the world, can find something to connect to in the movie. "Whatever culture you’re in, whether you’re in China, Japan, Europe, or North America, it didn’t matter. People saw some universality of their lives and these characters through this lens of science fiction."
Avatar, which became the highest-grossing movie of all time upon its release in 2009, revolutionized 3D technology. Speaking of the techniques used to create the film, Cameron continued, "And then, I think it was the physical execution. Because of the finish of the film, in the first few minutes, people just gave up trying to figure out how it was done. We mixed so many techniques that it took us years to develop, and they just surrendered to a sense of immersion in a world and in a fantasy."
In Avatar, Cameron introduced viewers to the beautiful world of Pandora, comprised of lush forests and scenic shorelines. Cameron told Collider. "As our lives progress, we come more and more away from nature. Society at large, anywhere in the world, is suffering from a nature deficit disorder of some kind, to some degree. The movie puts us back into that childlike wonder about nature, and about nature’s grandeur and complexity and beauty."
What Avatar Fans Can Look Forward To
The 2009 film is getting re-released ahead of the upcoming sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, which will see the return of actors Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang. While most of them will be reprising their previous roles, Weaver will not be playing Dr. Augustine, but Jake Sully and Neytiri's teenage daughter, Kiri.
The Way of Water is one of a number of sequels in the works in Cameron's sci-fi franchise. At D23 this year, the filmmaker announced Avatar 4 is already beginning production, as Avatar 3 was filmed back-to-back with The Way of Water. Details concerning the next two instalments in the saga have yet to be announced.
Avatar: The Way of Water releases in theaters on Dec. 16, 2022. The 4K restoration of the original Avatar will release in theaters on Sep. 23.
Source: Collider