'Avatar' stars, director visit carrier Eisenhower

 The director and two stars of the Oscar-nominated "Avatar" flew to the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower last week for a visit and a special screening of the movie in the ship's hangar bay.

Actors Michelle Rodriguez and Stephen Lang signed autographs and posed for photos with the crew, according to a Navy news release. They also toured the guided-missile cruiser Hue City. They were accompanied by director James Cameron, producer Jon Landau and Cameron's brother John, a former Marine and the movie's military consultant.

The Eisenhower left Norfolk on Jan. 2 for a six-month deployment to the Middle East.

"All I can say after a day out here is, 'I like Ike!' " Cameron said. "We are not here to be thanked. We are here to thank you. I respect what you do and the commitment you have and the sacrifices you make away from your families."

Cameron also said he disagreed completely with critics who have called the film anti-military, according to the Navy.