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What challenges did James Cameron have in realizing his vision?

Well first of all, he came up with the story of Avatar in 1997. The problem was, though, that he realized that the technology was not advanced enough yet to pull off his vision. So he waited a few years, worked on other movies, and when the technology was advanced enough, he decided to work on it again. To achieve all the cinematic effects and the 3D shooting and HD shooting, he had to develop special cameras and new technology that would allow the digital versions of the actors be shown as they move.

What was the process in creating Pandora?

James Cameron took the best artists and had them draw the plants. He had biologists come in and explain what the plants would be like and on what the artists should base their plants on. After having the drawings completed, digital environments were created to match the drawings and the spectacular environment of Pandora was created.

How has Performance Capture changed the film making process?

Well now, with performance capture, it's no longer the actors doing a voice over and the editors finishing the visuals. Now it's a live edit. Meaning that the actors have motion detectors attached to their bodies and as they move, the cameras not only record what they see, but also the digital avatar that the actors are acting out. So right there, live, it's like the cameras would be recording directly the digital characters. What we see in the movies is the performance of the actors, not simply a digital version of what editors think the characters might move like. Performance capture also eliminates the need for prosthetics since their image is created digitally right away.

How much money was spent on marketing the film? What challenges does News Corp face in realizing profits? Does the massive budget spent on the film effect the authenticity of its message?

News Corp spent around $150 million on marketing. If the movie wouldn't have wowed audiences as soon as it opened, it would have been a huge flop. Although a lot of money was spent on making this film, the message still stays strong. I think that adding stunning visual effects simply made the movie better. People complain over an unorigiunal plot, but this is what makes the message so recognizable. And the visuals simply enhance the film and how we perceive the message. Also, the visuals, with all the high-tech machines, makes the message modern and shows us where we will end up if we do not change our ways.

Do you agree with the critic's claim that Avatar "identifies the profound spiritual bankruptcy that underlies our financial insolvency...and reminds us (to)... make new choices for the greatest good of all". Or is this film just a trite recycling of previous plots that reinforces racist stereotypes? Explain with examples from the film.

This film does offer us the moral lesson. As for the racist element, although there is a valid argument, I think that it is more that the story is just a classic story about an advanced civilization that is evil and that the more primitve one triumphs against all odds with the help of one of the advanced population who defected to the primitive side. It's simply a story of someone who sees the light and defects to the good side anbd uses his skills to help the ones in need. The plotline is comparabvle to an invading alien force and if one of them wants to help the human race. Simple. But it is obvious that Cameron is trying to teach us a lesson about our spiritual bankruptcy. Although I personally just prefer to view is as a nice story about a hero.