The year’s biggest and costliest film will be opening in theaters this month. James Cameron, the man who gave us “Titanic”, is pinning hopes that his latest opus duplicates, if not exceeds, his monstrous hit flick about a sinking ship. Avatar should easily be the biggest Christmas blockbuster of 2009, but I have doubts if it will match the director’s personal best. Regardless, this one is destined to be a global hit.

According to imdb.com, Avatar is set during the 22nd century on a small moon called Pandora, which orbits a gas giant, and is 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 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.

Here is the extended HD trailer of Avatar that should whet your appetite for more:

video courtesy of YouTube/machinima

The movie stars Sam Worthington as Jake Sully. He is joined by Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Laz Alonso, Wes Studi and Stephen Lang. It opens in the U.S. on December 18 and in Manila and parts of Southeast Asia a day earlier on the 17th.

P.S. Due to the Metro Manila Film Festival from 25 December to 3 January, Avatar will initially have just a one-week run (17-24 December) around the Philippines but will most likely continue showing after the Holidays.