It’s a juggernaut. It’s unstoppable. In 32 days it has shot passed 500 million U.S. and eclipsed 1 billion worldwide. It’s laying other film openings to waste. Sherlock’s mystery wasn’t enough. I’m part of the cult. I went on opening weekend –actually, at midnight on Thursday- and have since seen the film two more times. I can’t help it; I love blue people and Marines with identity crises I must say though, this last time I strapped on the 3-D specs and took the wild ride to Pandora, something was different. Not that I didn’t like it as much, I did. And when I looked around at the audience I saw that they did too, immensely. As I saw the masses diving into their popcorn and simultaneously diving into the lush 3-D world, a sick thought jumped into my head…

Could the incredible popularity of Avatar be bad for cinema?

Try to think back to the last time you left your local multi-plex thoroughly and completely entertained. Or if movies aren’t your thing try and think back to last song or novel that had you completely enthralled, turning every page with anticipation. What you enjoyed was a product, a product of inspiration. Inspiration, at some point has to become idea, and idea, has to become a written blueprint. Because this is such an integral part of the expression, it can often be the most frustrating. So over the next couple of paragraphs we’ll try to streamline the process that gets you there.