"Avatar" is the upcoming 3-D science fiction feature, directed by James "Terminator" Cameron, due for release December 18, 2009.
Inspired by author Edgar Rice Burroughs' "John Carter Of Mars" fantasy book series, "Avatar" is set during the 22nd century on a small moon called 'Pandora', inhabited by the tribal 'Na'vi', ten foot blue humanoids that are peaceful unless attacked. Humans cannot breathe Pandoran air, so they genetically engineer human/Na'vi hybrids known as 'Avatars' that can be controlled via a mental link.
A paralyzed Marine named 'Jake Sully' (Sam Worthington) volunteers to exist as an Avatar on Pandora, falling in love with a Na'vi princess and becoming caught up in the conflict between her people and the human military that is consuming their world.
According to Cameron, the film is composed of 60% computer-generated elements, 40% live action and traditional miniatures.
To create the human mining colony on Pandora, production designers surveyed the 'Noble Clyde Boudreaux' drilling rig in the Gulf Of Mexico, June 2007. They photographed, measured and filmed every aspect of the rig, which is replicated on-screen with photorealistic CGI.
Music score for "Avatar", is composed by James Horner, his third collaboration with Cameron after "Aliens" and "Titanic". Horner recorded parts of the score with a small chorus singing in the alien language 'Na'vi', March 2008. He is also working with Wanda Bryant, an ethnomusicologist to create a music culture for the alien race...
