The day has finally arrived. After a multimillion dollar production budget, months of geek hype, and a massive promotional campaign from Fox, James Cameron’s AVATAR has finally comes to theaters.

AVATAR is said to change to movie industry and cement the 3D format as the next step in filmmaking, and like director George Lucas, Cameron has worked to create an entire new world complete with its own mythology and history.

An article in POPULAR MECHANICS looks extensively at the new technology Cameron created to reach his vision, including a modified version of the digital 3D Fusion Camera System. (more)

Initial buzz from critics indicates that Cameron’s technological breakthroughs are an astounding success and that the filmmaker's gambles have paid off.

David Denby of THE NEW YORKER opens his review with, “James Cameron’s AVATAR  is the most beautiful film I’ve seen in years.” (more)

Indeed, the screen shots and trailers of AVATAR reveal a lush green planet known as Pandora. The idyllic environments in the film were created entirely through the use of digital technology and many are saying that AVATAR features the best use of CGI in film history. (more)

WASHINGTON POST critic Ann Hornaday writes that, “Cameron creates a seamless journey between the realistic and imagined world.”

One of the main criticisms of Cameron’s film has been its dialogue, but Hornaday challenges the naysayers. “Is the dialogue corny? You bet. Does the movie go kerblooey in its final moments, during a ferocious, explosive firefight that will leave your eyeballs bleeding? Uh-huh. But Cameron has delivered what he promised with AVATAR: an ambitious, fully immersive cinematic experience.” (more)

Fox, and Cameron, hope that the film wins big at the box-office this weekend. Will audiences agree with critics and find that Cameron has achieved what many thought was impossible? Only Monday’s return reports will tell, but considering the impressive amount of presale tickets sold, the filmmaker and the studio have nothing to worry about.