What if Avatar was released in 1997

[Helicoradian]

Here's a hypothetical situation i've been thinking about the past couple of days, what if Avatar was released instead of Titanic? Let's say James Cameron was the only person who had the technology to produce such a film and the ability for cinemas to show 3d was available. How do you think the film critics would receive it? what about the average person?

I think that it would be maybe too much for the time. After all in 09 it blew us away with the visuals and effects, how would somebody in 1997 react? What about Post Avatar Depression? it greatly affected a percentage of movie goers because of the escape Avatar provided for 2.5 hours, would the same happen in '97?