James Cameron:
James Cameron wrote and directed Avatar. He began making films in 1978, and first found success writing and directing The Terminator in 1984. Since then, he has created numerous popular films, including Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, True Lies, and Titanic. Cameron has written and directed the two highest grossing films of all time. (Avatar is the first film to gross over $2 billion and currently is the highest-grossing film of all time, followed by Titanic.)
Research:
The language spoken by the Na'vi was created by a linguist to meet Cameron's idea of the Na'vi people. The actors had to be able to speak this language, however it could not closely resemble any human language. The developed Na'vi language was also used in the music for the movie. Additionally, the plant life in movie was designed by a botany professor from the University of California, Riverside.
Technology:
Cameron came up with the idea for Avatar in 1994; however, the technology at the time could not produce his vision. As a result, he waited a decade to continue the project. At this point, the filmmakers were able to utilize motion capture technology. This involves filming the actor, then using their motions (and even facial expressions) as a basis for a computer generated animation. This is how the Na'vi people were created in the film. A large amount of companies were employed to work on the rendering and animation involved in the movie.
Reviews:
The movie was received very favorably. Many critics and moviegoers alike were impressed with the special effects and the strong themes presented. Additionally, the film won awards for its visual aspects and the acting in it.