It was just a few months ago that fans of James Cameron and the sci-fi genre were waiting anxiously on just a first trailer, some footage, ANYTHING, from Avatar, the legendary director's first film since 1998's box office smash, Titanic. But over the last few months, things have really picked up in the promotional department, something which was very much needed and expected, considering the film's overall budget is reported to be close to the $500 million mark (that includes marketing).

On top of the trailers, multiple TV spots, posters and so forth, today we have a gallery of high-res images from Avatar courtesy of the guys over at IESB.net. The photos were provided directly from 20th Century Fox, so you know they're official, and when I say high-res, I mean it: be sure to click all of the images to see all the detailed, well... details of them.

I've provided just a few of the images below, but if you want to - and I'm sure you WILL - you can head over to IESB for the rest. Remember, click on each image to get the full high-res effect. Enjoy:

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For the full gallery of hi-res pics, you'll have to head over to IESB.

As the pre-Christmas release date of Avatar looms ever-closer, the anticipation is really beginning to build. I know there is still  skepticism out there amongst the people who think the film won't live up to the hype (although the 3.5 minute international trailer remedied that quite a bit), but I'm still very much on the side that thinks Avatar going to be awesome. Time will tell for sure.

Avatar stars up-and-coming leading man Sam Worthington and co-stars Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Zoe Saldana, Michelle Rodriguez and Giovanni Ribisi. It is, of course, written and directed by James Cameron.

Thoughts on the latest set of high-res images from Avatar? Which side are you on with regards to the film: will it be as awesome as the hype has suggested or will it be a huge disappointment (perhaps somewhere in the middle of those two extremes)?

Avatar hits 3D IMAX and regular theaters on December 18th, 2009.

Source: IESB