82nd ACADEMY AWARD Nominations

[IronFingaz]

Point Break owns Avatar.

 

[IrishJedi]

The irony is that a lot of the people trashing Avatar, were whining about the Dark Knight not being considered for Best Picture or Best Director...

Not me. Neither film is worthy of Best Picture/Best Director accolades, imho.

 

[Darklord Dave]

I don't get the Avatar haters either. As I said in my first post about the film - I think in years to come it will be more highly regarded, although I doubt it will have the same impact on kids today that Star Wars had on my generation.

 

[Karma]

I only got one thing to say.....



IN YO FACE AVATAR!!!

 

[IrishJedi]

As to the comment that "it was far from revolutionary from a technical standpoint," I suggest you read the latest issue of Wired magazine. There are 2 articles dealing with the never before used tech that Cameron employed.

That doesn't really mean anything. Lots of movies use new tech all the time. Basically any time Spielberg, Lucas or Cameron makes a film they are using some new kind of motion-capture or pre-viz technique never utilized before. Happened on all three SW prequels, A.I., TITANIC, MINORITY REPORT, you name it. Again AVATAR is nothing truly special in that regard either. In fact, one might argue that Lucas' shift to all digital cameras (with special lenses) for a scope theatrically released film on AOTC set more of a tech precedent than anything Cameron did with AVATAR. But you don't see folks touting that one, probably because AOTC is pretty crap and the only people it inspired to paint themselves blue were Amy Allen and her cosplay alteregos.

 

[barbelith]

This is where we differ: I simply don't think AVATAR is that special, innovative, or ground-breaking. At all. I think it's 90% technical conceit ("let's make a visual spectacle designed for a 3D/IMAX experience") and 10% what some are claiming it to be, which is supposedly this revolutionary cultural touchstone (like the original STAR WARS). It's just not that special.

And that's not a referendum on Cameron and his true abilities and a filmmaker and storyteller. He's already made some amazing films that truly transcend their subject matter beyond their amazing tech advances. But all of those came before 1997, imho.

Here's the deal: I like AVATAR. It's good. I just don't love it or think it's "great" or a "masterpiece" or anything, and the billions of dollars and Avatard zealots are truly befuddling to me. And you of all people know that I was there from the very beginning, covering the film and all its tie-ins and SDCC last year. I was at the Cameron presentation and 25 minutes of finished footage and I was jacked. But the final film itself never rose above its hype to me. I wouldn't even put it in my Top 3-4 Cameron films. Again, it's good... but it has been hideously over-valued. And if that makes me a "hater", then so be it. But I'd like to think I'm one of the few actually being rational about this thing.

"And this generation's STAR WARS"? I don't see that, either. I think that's just a canard based on the financial success of the film. The fandom sect that is truly obsessed with the film is really relegated to those who let's just say... are far from mainstream. Joe Sixpack has gone to the movie in droves, but I don't see a real cultural impact anywhere. The toys still clog store shelves... and I'm around kids all the time and AVATAR is almost never a topic of discussion (while things like IRON MAN and even CLONE WARS are). STAR WARS literally energized and inspired a huge, huge portion of our generation. Hell, it absolutely helped define some of our very childhoods. Do you really think AVATAR is even close to doing that? No way.

And what is this "brand new" motion picture technology that AVATAR is "leading the way" on? 3D & CGI have already been around, and while it may be the first major movie to utilize those technologies to their fullest it certainly isn't a trailblazer or envelope-pusher in either. We've all seen films with better FX, better 3D, and a better IMAX experience (mostly true IMAX films). This just threw them together and pulled it off all at once. And while that was certainly revelatory, it was far from revolutionary from a technical standpoint.

But it will have at least a short-term impact in Hollywood. Now every studio action event film is announcing 3D. So, it's spawned a fad that may quickly become old. Yippie.

I feel exactly the same way. Oh well!

 

[barbelith]

I don't get the Avatar haters either. As I said in my first post about the film - I think in years to come it will be more highly regarded

I'm not so sure. Certainly that wouldn't fit the trend for most effects pictures, nor the last few Cameron films.

 

[tomandshell]

Congratulations to Bigelow and Hurt Locker!

I got a kick out of watching James Cameron smiling in the background every time they cut to his ex-wife for a reaction shot for all the Hurt Locker wins.

 

[IrishJedi]

Believe it or not, I really didn't feel any schadenfreude in HURT LOCKER's owning of AVATAR at the awards. I'm just glad that the better motion picture (to me) won.

Of course, I might add that I'd rather INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS had won Best Original Screenplay instead. And THE HURT LOCKER should've gotten Cinematography over AVATAR. Those two switches and things would have been just about perfect.

 

[BadMoon]

I don't get the Avatar haters either. As I said in my first post about the film - I think in years to come it will be more highly regarded, although I doubt it will have the same impact on kids today that Star Wars had on my generation.

I don't think too many people are haters at all. I have personally said I enjoyed it. But that's where I draw the line. I enjoyed it. It entertained me, but it was far from a great movie IMO.

 

[IrishJedi]

I don't think too many people are haters at all. I have personally said I enjoyed it. But that's where I draw the line. I enjoyed it. It entertained me, but it was far from a great movie IMO.

Apparently, if you do not agree that AVATAR is an amazing and special film and arguably the best film of 2009 (if not the decade) you are a "hater".

I'd give it a solid 8.5 out of 10, personally. But apparently that's negative because I think there were at least 6-7 better films last year alone, don't feel it was nearly as transforming and ground-breaking as the diehard fans do... and I can't seem to see the face of God in the flick.

 

[Kuzeh]

Apparently, if you do not agree that AVATAR is an amazing and special film and arguably the best film of 2009 (if not the decade) you are a "hater".

I'd give it a solid 8.5 out of 10, personally. But apparently that's negative because I think there were at least 6-7 better films last year alone, don't feel it was nearly as transforming and ground-breaking as the diehard fans do... and I can't seem to see the face of God in the flick.

You seem to take Avatar way too personal and way too seriously...

 

[IrishJedi]

You seem to take Avatar way too personal and way too seriously...

That's pretty funny. I don't even take being called a "hater" all that seriously or personally. Just all part of the online discourse.

 

[BadMoon]

Apparently, if you do not agree that AVATAR is an amazing and special film and arguably the best film of 2009 (if not the decade) you are a "hater".

I'd give it a solid 8.5 out of 10, personally. But apparently that's negative because I think there were at least 6-7 better films last year alone, don't feel it was nearly as transforming and ground-breaking as the diehard fans do... and I can't seem to see the face of God in the flick.

You gave it a full point higher than me. I gave it a 7.5. Which is still good score IMO.

 

[Ash Housewares]

WOW. Hurtlocker has got to be the most Over-rated film of all time. Possibly more so than Citizen Kane. I though it was OK. It was well made but I was very bored watching it. Alot of build up towards nothing.

 

[Bannister]

I don't think too many people are haters at all. I have personally said I enjoyed it. But that's where I draw the line. I enjoyed it. It entertained me, but it was far from a great movie IMO.

In actuality I think there is really only a handful of actual "haters" of Avatar on this board.

 

[Kuzeh]

In actuality I think there is really only a handful of actual "haters" of Avatar on this board.

But they post so often about it, that it feels like an army of them!!!

 

[The Ween]

I was surprised the combination of Martin and Baldwin as hosts wasn't funnier. There were a few chuckles, but nothing hilarious.

I had heard there were quite a few things that they wanted to do but couldn't because the producers were afraid of offending the stars.

 

[IrishJedi]

But they post so often about it, that it feels like an army of them!!!

Who are they?

 

[Bannister]

Who are they?

The only actual "hater" I can even think of is Shai and he hasn't posted much about it at all. Pretty much everyone else has said they liked it but it had flaws.