How Disney kept the fire burning for 'Avatar' for 13 long years

One criticism I've seen levied against "Avatar" in the 13 years since its release is that James Cameron's 2009 film is the cinematic equivalent of a theme park. I suspect this is meant derisively — an indication that "Avatar" prizes spectacle over insight, thrills over emotion.

I also suspect these critics may not understand the appeal of a theme park.

It's an open question whether "Avatar," a groundbreaking technical achievement and box office phenomenon, established the kind of cultural footprint that can endure the long delay between the original and the release of its sequel, "Avatar: The Way of Water," on Dec. 16. Are fans of the original all