Twelve years after the Oscar-winning director unleashed “Titanic,” the most popular film in history, the new feature displays the same strengths and weaknesses as that commercial juggernaut.
Cameron’s time away for over a decade from feature filmmaking has in no way diminished his skills as a creator of epic spectacle or tense action sequences. But it’s a pity that his narrative gifts aren’t nearly as formidable.
Cast
Jake Sully – Sam Worthington
Neytiri – Zoe Saldana
Grace – Sigourney Weaver
Col. Miles Quaritch – Stephen Lang
Trudy Chacon – Michelle Rodriguez
Parker Selfridge – Giovanni Ribisi
Norm Spellman – Joel David Moore
Moat – CCH Pounder
Eytukan – Wes Studi
Tsu’tey – Laz Alonso
Dr. Max Patel – Dileep Rao
Corporal Lyle Wainfleet – Matt Gerald
Credits
A 20th Century Fox release presented in association with Dune Entertainment and Ingenious Film Partners.
Produced by James Cameron, Jon Landau.
Executive producers, Colin Wilson, Laeta Kalogrios.
Co-producders, Brooke Breton, Josh McLaglen.
Directed, written by James Cameron.
Camera (Deluxe color, widescreen, HD, 3D), Mauro Fiore.
Editors, Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua, Cameron.
Music, James Horner.
Production designer, Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg.
Supervising virtual art director, Yuri Bartoli; lead supervising art director, Kim Sinclair; supervising art directors, Kevin Ishioka, Stefan Dechant, Todd Cherniawsky.
Virtual production art directors, Andrew L. Jones, Norm Newberry.
Art directors, Nick Bassett, Rob Bavin, Simon Bright, Jill Cormack, Sean Haworth, Andrew Menzies, Andy McLaren.
Costume designers, Mayes C. Rubeo, Deborah L. Scott.
Sound (Dolby/DTS), Jim Tanenbaum, William B. Kaplan; supervising sound editor/sound designer, Christopher Boyes; re-recording mixers, Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson,
Senior visual effects supervisor, Joe Letteri; Weta visual effects supervisors, Stephen Rosenbau, Eric Saindon, Dan Lemmon, Guy Williams; ILM visual effects supervisor, John Knoll.
Visual effects and animation, Weta Digital, Industrial Light & Magic, Prime Focux; visual effects, Framestore, Hybride, Hydraulx, BUF.
Animation supervisors, Richard Baneham, Andrew R. Jones; ILM animation supervisor, Paul Kavanagh.
Visual effects supervisors, John Bruno, Steven Quale.
Performance capture technology and production services, Giant Studios.
Conceptual design, costume and specialty props, Richard Taylor; Stan Winston.
Character design supervisor, John Rosengrant; lead creature designer, Neville Page; vehicle designer, Tyruben Ellingson; initial creature concepts, Wayne Barlowe.
Na’vi language created by Paul Frommer.
Stunt coordinators, Garrett Warren (U.S.), Stu Thorpe, Allan Poppleton (New Zealand). Associate producer, Janace Tashjian.
Assistant director, Josh McLaglen.
L.A. unit camera, Vince Pace.
Casting, Margery Simkin; initial casting, Mali Finn.
MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Running time: 163 Minutes.
Reviewed by Tim Grierson