James Cameron hasn’t made a feature film since 1997′s Titanic (and no, those weird Exodus and Jesus things do not count), and now he’s being so secretive about his new work, Avatar, that he’s got the entire film world panting for a peek. 

After months of press and image black outs, he finally gave us a tiny bit to go on at last week’s Comic Con.  Actually, it wasn’t that tiny–for the Comic Con crowd, he actually gave a 25 minute screening for those fans who’d waited in the long, endless lines in San Diego. 

But now, he’s expanding that peek for others of us in the world who didn’t make it to Comic Con (seriously, I have GOT to get to this thing).  Cameron has declared August 21 Avatar Day, and to celebrate Avatar Day, he’s reserved IMAX theaters all over the world for a free 15-minute preview of his new movie. 

This is truly brilliant.  Honestly, I am so impressed.  By keeping anyone from seeing it, but continuing to talk about it, he has ratcheted up anticipation significantly.  Then, he lets people see a little bit, then he lets the whole world see a little bit more…it’s great.  He’s so smart.  Most movies don’t have this kind of marketing support.

I’m not too far from an IMAX, so I think I’ll try to see this preview.  I’m a little wary when I hear Cameron insist that this is a film with a conscience (I mean, Hollywood’s idea of a conscience doesn’t necessarily correspond to the ideas of the rest of the world), but that is balanced out by the excitement of the new, and long-time-coming, technology involved.