James Cameron's extravaganza "Avatar" has been storming across China since its Monday opening, drawing unanimous praise from movie fans, critics and Chinese filmmakers alike.

The universally popular film has been driving Chinese audiences crazy, many of whom have been aggressively seeking tickets, especially to see the 3D IMAX version. Some audience members have reportedly even travelled between cities to find an IMAX screen that can offer the best experience of Cameron's alien world.

Theaters like Beijing's UME Huaxing International Cinema that offers IMAX projector have been difficult to enter without first booking tickets in advance.

The recent snowstorm sweeping the northern cities has done little to cool enthusiasm, and reports claim most theaters effortlessly enjoyed over 60% attendance ratings for early morning screenings.

Many domestic productions set to hit screens around this time have now been put on hold to avoid immediate disappointment in competition with the blockbuster. "Avatar" now tops current worldwide box office receipts totalling 1.02 billion dollars on Jan. 3.

Avatar tells the story of a paraplegic marine dispatched on a unique mission to the alien planet Pandora. He is torn between following his orders and protecting the world of the native aliens, called Na'vi.

The film succeeds not just as a groundbreaking 3D release. James Cameron does not make movies to simply show off the effects. It also offers a powerful message of anti-war and anti-imperialism and calling for reverence to every form of life, which has aroused universal empathy and won compliments from across the world.

As well as a visual feast for the audience, the film also serves as a wake up call for Chinese filmmakers. While the domestic film market has been burgeoning in recent years with the country's rapidly growing economy, the quality of the films has not mirrored the success. The country has been awash with too many void slapsticks and repetitive action flicks. There has never been such an eager call from Chinese movie fans for features with a little more substance.

"City of Life and Death" director Lu Chuan, said he felt ashamed in front of Avatar's purity and couldn't help question how far we are away from such innocent simplicity in filmmaking.

He wrote in his blog recently, saying the technology can be learned but the mentality gap will take a long while to fill.

Wen Hui Daily said, "Avatar" is a rendition of what films will be like in a new generation.

Whether "Avatar" really will open the door for better Chinese filmmaking remains to be seen. But for now, let's hope for the best.