I am so lucky. My local movie theater decided to upgrade their screens, and included the biggest, baddest digital screen in the country, 1030 chairs, 160m2 screen and a sound system you can really feel. The ‘‘Avatar’’ preview was a prime opportunity to check out the new screen. Upon entering, the well known glasses were already prepared at each chair. They are really oversized, to make sure the entire screen fits in sight. After some local previews showing off the 3D technique, it was time for James. His introduction was short and simple, so it is immediately on to the movie. I’ll describe it scene by scene.

Arrival
We see a group of marines being introduced to Pandora by their security officer, who describes the planet as extremely hostile, and promising some will not survive. We see Jake approach the group in a wheelchair, obviously paralyzed.

Changeover
In the next scene, we see Jake meet up in medical, meeting up with Sigourney Weaver, who leads him to a sort of neuro-scanner, where he is put on a bed, and inserted to be scanned.

Awakening
After a flash of white, Jake’s vision returns, and he is met by two members of the medical staff. Jake is now in his Avatar body, which he has to get accustomed to. He is very tall, slim, and very blue. Oh, and he has a tail!

Female company
We switch over to a scene on Pandora’s ground. Lots of fluorescent colors, and some strange animals. Jake is fighting them, but as he is bound to be overwhelmed, he is rescued by a female avatar, Neytiri. She saves him, in a wild, fast moving fight. But she is sad, because she had to kill in order to save Jake, showing her deep connection with nature.

Meet the locals
Set in a lush luminescent environment, we see a group of Avatars run into some very large local dinosaur-like animals, with Jake up front. The first group of animals flee, only to be replaced with a bigger badder predator, who ferociously attacks Jake.

Taking a ride
The last scene shows Jake trying to bond with a flying dinosaur-like animal. By bonding, the animal becomes his personal companion, and completes an important avatar ritual. After a struggle, we see Jake fly off. We end off with some quick scened from the trailer, and then the show is over. We have to wait until December to see the entire movie.

Conclusion
So, what did I think of it? Actually, I was pleasantly surprised. MY main interest was whether 3D works, and it does. The movie is NOT about pilling cheap 3D tricks by throwing things at you, but enhances the image experience. Action scenes are way more intense, and at times I feel my brain is having a hard time keeping up with what’s happening. My wife, who accompanied me, was not so happy, the quick action scenes: They gave her a head-ache.

The scenes we saw gave a good impression of the movie to come, and I can clearly see why Cameron decided to give this long preview. The movie is bound to be good, but really needs some getting in to. I doubt the average movie-goer is going to be able to get accustomed quickly enough to fully appreciate it at first viewing. I really liked what I saw, and I am definitely going to see it in December, but this one is really for the professional movie-goer. But if you can handle it, the reward is definitely going to be worth it!

Did you see it too, and do you have an opinion? Share it please…