I really think they are overestimating this film big time. Not one person I know has even heard of it, and when I show them the original trailer, they don't seem to be that interested in it. At this point, I think the only reason I know about this movie is because I try to follow film news...

Unfortunately, I have to agree. Most people I talk to who are the casual middle-of-the-road movie goers don't know anything about the film (maybe this is good right now?) or think it's outdated. By that I mean greenscreen overkill and cg characters are now crutches in blockbuster cinema and no matter how refined it gets, it'll never have the same punch as those first innovating films.

One reason why the trailer shouldn't have been online. I was very unimpressed by the trailer. But you're right, if you don't follow the news and tech you probably haven't heard of it. It's really something you have to experience in its proper setting, true IMAX and in 3D. I know people bash it for being like this. "A great movie plays well across all mediums and shouldn't be tailored to one medium or the other." Well I really don't care in this case. It works great in IMAX 3D and I will see it that way. I believe the lack of marketing(if you want to call it that) is a good thing for Avatar. I predict it to build incredible steam via word of mouth. We will see.

Maybe FOX is trying to rekindle the Star Wars (1977) marketing campaign: do nothing and get lucky due to word of mouth. Non film worshipers have never heard of Avatar, or they say "oh, you mean that M. Night Shyamalyan flick coming out?" Why didn't FOX provide 3-D glasses, free of charge, only for the previews, of say X-Men Origins: Wolverine? Get the hype out there nice and early.

I think everyone who reacts negatively to this movie does not understand what an amazing thing James Cameron has done. This will not be another mindless CGI fest that everyone is labeling it as. He wrote the story for this movie 14 years ago and developed state of the art 3D technology, the likes of which the movie world has never seen before. This movie will change the face of modern cinema as we know it.

Story 14 Years in the Making + New Cutting Edge Tech + One of the greatest sci-fi directors ever = Win

All you nay sayers will be eating your words in 2 months.

I was one of the people who got to go to the premiere for Avatar in 3D. I didn't really find anything that spectacular about it. Alot of others left saying the same thing - Big Deal. It isn't as great as all the hype that is going on about it. We left feeling we all missed what we went there to see. They say it cost between $200-300 million to make this. I hope all the hype helps him get the money back he's put into it. However, it doesn't look like a movie that someone spent 14 years on, that much money on, and really because of the actual size of the 3D screen set ups in theatres, we were told we still wouldn't feel all of that NEW CUTTING EDGE SPECIAL EFFEECTS. The screens are not exactly built for what he is trying yet. He is trying something for the future. So it doesn't look any different truly than most other 3D depictions of the 1/2 animated, 1/2 live action genre. It truly won't change the face of modern cinema as we know it - at least not for awhile anyway. Theatres have to be willing to put out alot of money as well to help accomodate the type of film he's making, a regular 3D screen still isn't the right type of screen to show Avatar on. I don't see that happening any time soon. Theatres putting out the money to accomodate his films will raise the prices for the public seeing them. Then people won't want too. I am not saying your wrong. Cameron is a great director, but I did go with others to the 15-20 minute premiere and I didn't find myself excited after it was over. Actually there were alot of Jar Jar Binks jokes floating around amongst the people there. I kind of was fascinated by that. I guess it was the body style of the Aliens and the face shape, big feet etc. Maybe Jar Jars distant - very distant cousins I don't know. But I do hope the movie is what you wish it to be and that you have a good time.

The first trailer was shown when I went to watch Where The Wild Things Are and from what I could tell it got a pretty negative reaction.

To be honest, I'm not excited for this at all.

I agree. It looks lame and I'm hardly going to rush out to see it. I really don't see how it's going to get over.

This is so weird. I was just thinking to myself before I came here that it's time for a new Avatar trailer. I wonder if there will be one. Well, obviously there is now. I can't wait. I can still recall those 15 minutes I saw a few months ago vividly. What an experience that was. C'mon Dec 18th!

What movie will it be attached to? Or will it be for every movie that comes out this week? Most likely Cirque du Freak and Saw right? I dunno.

I don't want to see a movie about an ugly blue guy and his ugly blue girlfriend.

People were fine with an ugly green couple for Shrek.

Racist... Or rather, species-ist!

@Peter

I keep subscribing to the comments, leave the site, cone back to this page and itkeeps saying I'm not subscribed to the comments.

i was curious- is the $75 million just for the 3d screens or does that include non-3d screens as well

Avatar will be the box office bomb of 2009. Who is REALLY anticipating this? $75 million opening?!?!?! Doesn't this thing have to make $500 million just to break even? The hype machine is well into overdrive......

And why are they attaching this to freaking Saw VI or Cirque de Crapola?

2012 is going to "steal" the F/X crowd.

I don't get why people LOVE TO HATE this movie? Just STFU and watch the damn film, or don't watch it BUT SHUT UP.

exactly.

I'm waiting to see this trailer to make any comments. I can understand people's skepticism towards the movie but now it's gotten too far. It must be the fanboy way.

i think you need to maybe wait till the second trailer comes out before making big comments like Avatar being the box office bomb of 2009.

a.) The movie isn't out yet, and the marketing has barley go into gear.

b.) I'll admit that the movie looks okay but I don't want to under estimate the power of James Cameron. It's sad that we are, but I have faith in him.

Why can't the trailer be before 2012 as well?

I have an idea. Why don't they market this trailer with "This is it", the Michael Jackson movie.

If only, because that blue cat dude picture on this post looks like MJ himself (look at the way that shiny hair falls over his/its face! Please tell me I'm not imagining the resemblance).

Something tells me you're on to something here. They're probably circulating the trailer for this reason itself.

That's what I'm thinking they're doing. Trailers are only sent out midweek for Friday showings, and This Is It opens on a Wednesday.

It amazing how much Fox has royally fucked up the marketing of this film. It's a damn shame too.

Cool a thundercats movie!

First of all, Peter, i don't think it will open close to $75 million, and even if it dose, movie gross are usually dropping on is second weakend, and Avtar had a quite large budget to regain (250 million, was it?). Now, to earn his enormous budget back it would have to open to $100+ million or stand still in the box office for a long time, but how on earth could Avatar do that if only a week after it would have to face Sherlock Holmes?

I went to Avatar day. I was underwhelmed by the 3-D. Then again, I'm not a big fan of 3-D and can agree 100% with Rian Johnson's views on the subject. The 20 or so minutes of footage was very interesting and THAT should've been the trailer. It's a fun James Cameron movie. It's what I've missed in Hollywood the last 12 years. I'm pretty excited for this movie, but like most 3-D movies, I won't feel left out if I see it in 2-D. It still looks good in 2-D.

I think this film has had enough hype and probably didn't need to be on those big 3D movie events. We would surely be sick to death of it by now! I personally think this film is gonna be epic, and will only view it in a real 3D IMAX cinema. For all those nay Sayers who thought the teaser was shit, I suggest you do what peter said and actually watch it in a real IMAX cinema. Until any of you have done this, you can't really comment. May I also note that I hate hype, it can destroy a film and have noticed that Avatars hype train has thankfully slowed down a little over the past few months.


Or is that just me?

May I also note that I sound like a tool!!

Just went to target today and saw they had Avatar toys. Not a single one had been touched from the look of it.

the marketing of this film hasn't even begun...just wait till Thanksgiving in the US...you wont be able to get away from it...and as soon as Fox starts talking about "From the Director of Titanic..." EVERYONE will know what Avatar is and will be convinced that they MUST see it...TV shows, mags and newspapers will be full of articles about 3D and Avatar etc...the industry will try to make it an 'event'...it's not just Fox that has a stake in the success of Avatar - the entire film industry is watching and waiting and hoping for big numbers because they're all gambling on 3D as the future for big profits...

I want to believe that as well, but it doesn't seem like any one from the general public cares about this film, even if it is "an event".

my post isn't about the present but about the very near future.

Somebody did point out the very next week is Sherlock Holmes. Everybody is already looking forward to that film. It looks like a ton of fun. I think, no matter how well it does opening weekend, Sherlock Holmes will crush Avatar second weekend.

Cuz I remember before Titanic came out the General public was all crazy about that movie. In fact most people hated on it making jokes about how we all knew the ending "The ships going to sink right". Saying Jim Cameron is crazy for making a 100 million dollar love story where everyone knows the ending.

The fact of the matter is the general public. The people who come in late to a movie and miss trailers and are not on websites like this. Aren't aware of movies until they are advertised during football, baseball, or they're favorite T.V show.

Agian, this isn't 1997. Dumb teenag-girls isn't gonna go see it multiple times.

No, but dumb teenage boys will.

absolutely correct goldfarb. i would like to know why Peter feels Fox is so late to the marketing table. i do not expect to hear much about this for at least another couple of weeks and then WHAM- holiday push. this film also seems primed for more post-release marketing than any features of recent memory. interviews with theater-goers who are wowed by the 3D, publicity related to what should be a huge opening, connections to people seeing Cameron's Titanic multiple times and keeping box office receipts sky-high, etc. perhaps the studio is planning on being "late" as Peter might call it, so as to emphasize the impact the film is supposed to have on the industry.

yeah...that's my thinking on it....additionally the film isn't finished - I have a bunch of friends at Weta - they've got until about the middle of Nov(+-), so another month of work, and a huge amount of work can be done in that time...

"connections to people seeing Cameron's Titanic multiple times and keeping box office receipts sky-high"

This isn't 1997, people isn't gonna see it multiple times.

oh, they isn't?

we're referring to the general publics awareness of Avatar - they will hear that it's from the same Director as Titanic and be more likely to check it out...

D- where else will you get the immersive experience of "game-changing" 3D on an IMAX screen? Netflix? Don't you think there will be so much to see that people will want repeat viewings just to take in the overwhelming CG? And on top of that, what if Cameron once again delivers a story we care about? Didn't the worst rated movie of the summer take in ka-jillions by people going back to the theaters for repeat viewings? If mindless effects is what makes money... I think you isn't going to thinking like this come December :)

Oh, and sorry for my English. Not that great, i know. I'm trying to be better.

I agree. I was a tween when Titanic came out. I'm 26 now. I wasn't really big into Leonardo DiCaprio, but I was big into love stories, so I went and saw it. And liked it. And saw it a few more times. I don't think the same will happen with this movie, though. Don't underestimate how much the "creepiness" factor can turn the general public off of a film.

For the record, I don't really care to see it. I've been hearing insane hype for this thing for a while now (I mean, I go to Comic Con every year) and I just don't understand why. I get that Cameron is head-over-heels in love with this movie - he spent like 45 minutes talking about the plot at E3, right? - but I'm just not feeling it.

I totally love sci-fi and blue aliens, too. Especially blue alien girls. (Mass Effect, anyone?) But something about this particular concept just isn't doing it for me. Maybe it'll win me over later?

man, people are jumping the gun making wild assumptions left and right. why don't we just wait for the damn movie to come out, and if you like it, then you like it, and if it doesn't break even, why do you care?

maybe the average joe doesn't know about it, but anyone who knows a fair amount about movies has heard of it, references to it have been dropped in dozens of interviews, most people who even WATCH trailers don't go online to talk about them, and the first trailer was cut terribly. it said nothing about the worth of the film or how good or not good it's going to be. my bet is that they cut a new trailer to give a better vision of the film.

if it is as amazing as everyone claims when you see it in 3d and IMAX 3d, then word of mouth will carry it far.

People confuse box office success to quality. I didn't said that i think that Avatar will be bad or anything. I just don't think it will succeed. Fox doing a terrible job in marketing it and it opens a week before Sherlock Holmes.

See, Cameron?
I'm sure WB would've done the marketing JUST fine.

But NOOOO. You had to go to FOX.
Where the marketing is PUUUUUUUUURE rubbish, right?

For once, I think Fox made the correct choice in holding off on the marketing. The VFX were clearly unfinished in the teaser trailer, which drew a lot of criticism. I hope the 3 minutes they put together consists of more than a montage of CG shots. Fox has a second chance to win me over, so they better make this one count.

You should be won over in the theater, not by a 2nd trailer. There are some pretty shitty trailers out there and they have turned out to be great movies. Also, I wouldn't count on FOX to do anything right. Just take a chance, shitty trailer or not.