By Jay A. Fernandez

Well, it looks like we compiled those Top Grossing Films of the Decade lists too soon.

The Na’Vi’s flight into the floating mountains of the box office universe began in earnest today as “Avatar” broke into the top ten grossers of the decade.

Sunday afternoon, James Cameron’s magnum opus passed “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” as the 10th highest-grossing picture of the Aughts. While “Towers’” $341.8 million haul was mighty, “Avatar” now sits with a domestic gross of $352.1 million. Just ahead of it in the decade ranks is Mel Gibson’s 2004 juggernaut “The Passion of the Christ,” which grossed an unexpectedly messianic $370.3 million.

But wait a minute.

When the decade officially ended – at midnight December 31, 2009 — “Avatar” was still only at $283.8 million. But if we mark it from when EDI, the box-office tracking company, determines the official end of the 2009 box office tally, then we count the weekend of January 1-3, as well.

Which puts “Avatar” at… $352.1 million.

So what do you think? Is “Avatar” part of the Aughts? Or is it the first huge achievement of the new decade, the Tens?

By Jay A. Fernandez

Whoo, boy. The Fox action-comedy “Knight and Day” has a trailer. And it’s a surprisingly enjoyable experience watching Tom Cruise step back into likable human terrain.

This is how a trailer should be done. It’s electric. It introduces the characters effectively, as well as establishes their chemistry. It blows some shit up. And it hints at a plot without talking the thing to death and obliterating any chance at surprise when you finally sit down to see the thing.

Not to hammer “The Bounty Hunter” too much, but contrast this trailer with that one and note the vast difference in appeal.

Anyway, this trailer does exactly what it’s supposed to do and sets up a fun action ride to look forward to next summer.

By Jay A. Fernandez

I’m finding the picayune back-and-forth over whether the “Avatar” numbers were good, or good enough, or snowed under, or inflated, or whatever, just a little vaporous. The truth is, this movie was going to need long, Na’vi-like legs to make its bank from the very beginning.

As such, $77.3 million is a plenty fine opening.

Yes, the East Coast snow probably dented the haul by a few million, but word of mouth is what will carry Cameron’s film forward into the black.

If anything is keeping the box office numbers from bursting through the multiplexes like one of those ornery Pandora rhino-bugs, it’s this: People are waiting to see it in 3D.

Much more than any other 3D film to date, “Avatar” demands to be seen in its full dimensions. The nature of its depth and immersiveness has been part of every review — professional or amateur. And audience members — even those dying to see this new cinema universe — are not going to settle for a 2D version.

Given that the full Imax 3D treatment is still under-represented in the exhibition space, not everyone who wanted to see it this weekend was able to. Seats were filled. So others are waiting for their chance to see it in full-blown 3D.

Christmas weekend will be the real test. My prediction is that Fox and Cameron will see less-than-normal fall-off as new audiences flood in to get the premium experience.

As they should. Two dimensions of Pandora is decidedly one dimension too few.