Sitting in darkened room watching light projected onto a flat screen is an odd way to spend a few hours, never mind spending money on it - but since the 19th century films have remained an engrossing addiction. But is this traditional way of presenting motion pictures on its way out?

James Cameron, director of the hugely anticipated sci-fi thriller 'Avatar', seems to think so. His 3D film will be released on December 18 worldwide, and it promises to revolutionise cinema.

Shot in stereoscopic 3D using cameras developed by himself, 'Avatar' is 14 years in the making and Cameron’s first feature film since netting three Oscars for his work on the equally epic ‘Titanic’. It reunites him with his ‘Aliens’ star and sci-fi veteran, Sigourney Weaver.

Of his photorealistic animation technology and virtual camerawork, Cameron smoothly boasted: “There have been many problems with 3D photography, but we’ve really solved all of them”. While we will have to wait to find out, his confidence has certainly paid off in the past - Cameron pioneered CGI in ‘The Abyss’ (1989) and ‘Terminator 2’ (1991). What problems was he talking about?