James Cameron said his long-delayed sequel to Avatar, the highest-earning movie of all time, would "push the limits of what cinema can do," as Disney and Universal presented first looks at their forthcoming movies in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Visitors to the CinemaCon movie theatre industry summit were invited to don 3D glasses and return to Pandora, with first footage of Avatar: The Way of Water showing Na'vi characters swimming beneath the planet's oceans and soaring through its skies.
The movie, which will be released in December, is the first of four planned sequels to the $2.8 billion-grossing original from 2009.
"I can assure you it's been well worth the wait," said Disney distribution chief, Tony Chambers, confirming the film's name.
Cameron addressed CinemaCon via video from New Zealand, where finishing touches are being put in place on the film.
He promised giant technological leaps forward from the original, whose main characters Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) now have a family.
"We set out once again to push the limits of what cinema can do," said Cameron.
To reacquaint audiences with Pandora nearly 13 years after the smash-hit original, which sparked a 3D wave in Hollywood, the first Avatar will be re-released in theatres in September.
Movie-theatre bosses gathered at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for their annual meeting, where Hollywood studios bring fresh footage and A-list stars to court the industry.
Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige kicked off the morning's Disney presentation, telling the audience that planning for "the next decade" of the record-grossing superhero films was well underway.
Guests also got an extended look at Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which is out next week.
Footage showed Benedict Cumberbatch's sorcerer battling an extraterrestrial floating octopus, encountering a universe-hopping teenage girl, and attending his ex's wedding.
It will be followed by two more Marvel films this year — sequels to Thor and Black Panther.
Pixar showed 30 minutes of Lightyear, an origin story for the beloved astronaut from Toy Story, voiced by Chris Evans.
The movie, out in June, finds Buzz racked with guilt after marooning his crew of space rangers on a hostile alien planet.
In his attempt to save them, he is forced to travel into the future — aided by a cute robotic cat.
Also on show was Amsterdam, an "original romantic crime epic" starring Christian Bale, Robert De Niro, Margot Robbie and Chris Rock among an A-list ensemble.
The 1930s period piece about three friends who "find themselves at the centre of one of the most shocking secret plots in American history," which purports to be based on true events, comes out in November.
Universal then took the stage at Caesars Palace to show footage from the forthcoming Jurassic World: Dominion, out in June.
The film will team the franchise's recent stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard with those from Steven Spielberg's original almost 30 years ago, including Jeff Goldblum.
Goldblum joked that his character's famous line that scientists "didn't stop to think if they should" bring back the dinosaurs that had been "aggressively ignored throughout the course of the next several movies."
Billy Eichner presented the romcom Bros. "It's about something that we can all relate to — how hard it is to simply find another tolerable human being to go through life with," said Eichner.
And Carey Mulligan discussed She Said, based on the true story of journalists investigating Hollywood sexual assault scandals who prompted the downfall of Harvey Weinstein, out on November.
CinemaCon concludes on Thursday.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
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Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
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The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs: 2018 Mazda CX-5
Price, base / as tested: Dh89,000 / Dh130,000
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 188hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 251Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.1L / 100km
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
SPECS
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Where to Find Me by Alba Arikha
Alma Books
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
Brief scores:
Toss: Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi, chose to field
Environment Agency: 193-3 (20 ov)
Ikhlaq 76 not out, Khaliya 58, Ahsan 55
Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi: 194-2 (18.3 ov)
Afridi 95 not out, Sajid 55, Rizwan 36 not out
Result: Pakhtunkhwa won by 8 wickets
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10
