Avatar trailer is up....

[BadMoon]

By hate, he and I mean, that people are jumping to criticism already, based on two minutes of quick shots and picking it apart, as if you could do it better and aren't happy it wasn't the movie you wanted it to be.
Just like people here do with the collectibles.

Animation is animation. So who gives a crap if it looks like a video game or cartoon. Who said he was going for total realism? It's blue people on a jungle planet for god sakes.
This is damn good artwork and animation, so stop being in denial and shut up and see the movie is actually a decent story before saying you don't like how it looks.
If you don't like animation or CGI, go watch 27 dresses again.

I think it's ok to at least discuss it though. For me like I said the blue people look way out of place when you compare them to the rest. However, I know this is just the trailer. I actually expected it to look much much worse so I am happy with what I saw. I actually hate most animated films. I have spoken about this before. For me I have trouble connecting with the characters because I know they aren't real. Say what you want about that but thats just me and you can't fault me for that.

I just watched the teaser again, this time in HD. I am still in awe with everything but the blue creatures.

The screen shots are beautiful. However, the screenshots in video games look like real life and never look like that in motion. So my argument to the screenshots would be that they aren't moving so of course they look great. Once in motion something is off. But again I don't know if this is the intent or not. From the trailer it looks like the soldier actually becomes the blue guy or something. So maybe this is intended to look like what a fake created person would look like. I don't know?

Again though, damn I am pumped for this movie! I can't wait!

 

[creecher]

It's CGI. You go in knowing that. A cartoon can still be a great movie.

Looks good to me, but then again I'm the type of person that embraces new cinematic styles.

I'm with you, but please, don't hold me.

Exactly. Digital Valley my ass. He needs to keep rowing if he is trying to cross that stream. I'm just underwhelmed at what we were supposed to be seeing.

What were we supposed to be seeing?

Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.

I go to a movie to be taken away from this planet. I think this movie will succeed in doing that. Technology moves so fast. Who will take the biggest risks? Pushing boundaries, incorporating unproven techniques. I'm going for the ride.

 

[barbelith]

By hate, he and I mean, that people are jumping to criticism already, based on two minutes of quick shots

People have seen visuals and are critiquing those visuals. That's fair.

I think it's important to realize a lot of the reactions are based on hype - much of it from Cameron himself - that this is a groundbreaking film that would revolutionize the craft. Nothing of the sort is evident in the trailer. If this was just a film out of nowhere I imagine people wouldn't even be discussing the effects. It would just be another Legion or similar. Context is everything.

and picking it apart, as if you could do it better and aren't happy it wasn't the movie you wanted it to be.

This line of argument has always been intellectually bankrupt. It's like saying you can't critique a meal because you're not a chef.

So who gives a crap if it looks like a video game or cartoon.

People who aren't you. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

This is damn good artwork and animation, so stop being in denial and shut up and see the movie is actually a decent story before saying you don't like how it looks.

It is good artwork and it is good animation. That doesn't necessarily mean it works for many viewers, who expect a greater verisimilitude or - based on the hype - something genuinely revolutionary rather than merely quite good. Some viewers will find it tonally inconsistent or less than convincing and that's perfectly fine. Your opinion does not reflect a baseline for authorized response.

The story could be amazing. Nobody is commenting on the story. The story has nothing to do with how it looks, and I'll happily judge footage I've seen after seeing that footage - the entire point of a trailer.

 

[jnmx2000]

I think this looks pretty cool. the CGI is amazing. the only thing I don't really like is the design for the Na'vi. it's the only thing holding me back. it's crazy how real the CGI looks on the humans

 

[agen_kolar]

I think this looks pretty cool. the CGI is amazing. the only thing I don't really like is the design for the Na'vi. it's the only thing holding me back. it's crazy how real the CGI looks on the humans

Wait, the humans aren't CGI....right?

 

[jnmx2000]

Wait, the humans aren't CGI....right?

I was under the impression that EVERYTHING is CGI. it's all MO CAP. unless i'm wrong. I thought the tech used for this was to capture the motion of the actors and then they did a digital model over the captured film or something similar to that. but some of the pics I've seen of on set stuff says other wise. is there anywhere where this is actually explained?

 

[jedibear]

That's the nicest looking video game cut scene ever.

I was definitely expecting something more convincing with the CGI characters--from the looks of the trailer, this is nowhere near as groundbreaking as I'd been hearing.

I agree with those setting their expectation levels to Star Wars prequel-level visuals with better plot/acting/direction.

Well...I think one ting to remember about Cameron's movies is...he's good at putting together something showy and visually stunning, and his scripts move along competently, but they are never really "original". "Terminator"...a "Halloween/Slasher" flick with sci-fi trappings...."The Abyss"..."Close Encounters" underwater...."Titanic"...the biggest budgeted "B" movie remake in history ("A Night to Remember")....and now, here we are with "Avatar", which clearly looks like "Dances With Wolves" dressed up in high-tech, sci-fi drag. All of these movies are successful entertainment, but I always chuckle when I read the words "ground-breaking" and "James Cameron" in the same sentence....he is a good, competent filmmaker, but he ain't "all that"....

Story looks pretty basic already...wheelchair -bound guy gets chance to explore new world through an "Avatar"...a kind of meat-puppet bred for that purpose...goes to said world, meets local girl, goes native, turns on his benefactors/controllers to save his new "people" (because of course those controllers have some evil purpose...don't they always?) meanwhile back at the lab, scientists and military folk debate weather or not to pull the plug....and yes, if you watch the trailer carefully...that's a reasonable interpretation of what we're getting. Remember, this is an American studio putting this teaser out there for American audiences, used to having everything spelled out for them before they actually go opening weekend for this...

My goal with this is to avoid the coming tsunami of hype (mostly to be perpetuated by Cameron himself, no doubt) and too many more previews and go have an enjoyable time watching what will probably be a fairly entertaining flick....

We'll see...

 

[Eli26]

Well...I think one ting to remember about Cameron's movies is...he's good at putting together something showy and visually stunning, and his scripts move along competently, but they are never really "original". "Terminator"...a "Halloween/Slasher" flick with sci-fi trappings...."The Abyss"..."Close Encounters" underwater...."Titanic"...the biggest budgeted "B" movie remake in history ("A Night to Remember")....and now, here we are with "Avatar", which clearly looks like "Dances With Wolves" dressed up in high-tech, sci-fi drag. All of these movies are successful entertainment, but I always chuckle when I read the words "ground-breaking" and "James Cameron" in the same sentence....he is a good, competent filmmaker, but he ain't "all that"....

Story looks pretty basic already...wheelchair -bound guy gets chance to explore new world through an "Avatar"...a kind of meat-puppet bred for that purpose...goes to said world, meets local girl, goes native, turns on his benefactors/controllers to save his new "people" (because of course those controllers have some evil purpose...don't they always?) meanwhile back at the lab, scientists and military folk debate weather or not to pull the plug....and yes, if you watch the trailer carefully...that's a reasonable interpretation of what we're getting. Remember, this is an American studio putting this teaser out there for American audiences, used to having everything spelled out for them before they actually go opening weekend for this...

My goal with this is to avoid the coming tsunami of hype (mostly to be perpetuated by Cameron himself, no doubt) and too many more previews and go have an enjoyable time watching what will probably be a fairly entertaining flick....

We'll see...

Who's a smartie? *pokes your nose*

You are!

 

[Bamboota]

I LOVED IT!!! I wonder if there gonna polish the cg of teh characters tho! But I love the character design alot!!! I'm gonna see the preview tomorrow ...so I'm excited!

 

[jnmx2000]

hmmmmm I watched the trailer again. maybe all the stuff I read before was about how they were bringing the Na'vi to life with the new camera and technology and the motion capture was used for them, not the actually humans. it's hard to tell from the trailer because everything blends together so well

 

[LOTRFan]

So far I don't think I am buying into the hype - but who can, it is so large for this film?

Honestly, I think the CG in T2 or even The Abyss looks comparable --- but I hope there is actual substance here, and not just a lot of noise/flash.

I really haven't heard much about the story, it has been mostly a sizzle-sale thus far.

 

[Eli26]

So far I don't think I am buying into the hype - but who can, it is so large for this film?

Honestly, I think the CG in T2 or even The Abyss looks comparable --- but I hope there is actual substance here, and not just a lot of noise/flash.

I really haven't heard much about the story, it has been mostly a sizzle-sale thus far.

Looks comparable? Wow, you sir have not a droplet of an idea. NOT A DROPLET!

*shakes his head at LOTRFan*

 

[agen_kolar]

Yeah the humans look real to me. I'm pretty sure the technology they used was for the blue guys and not the humans. Somewhere I read that 60% of this movie will be CGI while 40% will be real. I'm going to assume the humans are part of the 40%.

 

[Eli26]

Yeah the humans look real to me. I'm pretty sure the technology they used was for the blue guys and not the humans. Somewhere I read that 60% of this movie will be CGI while 40% will be real. I'm going to assume the humans are part of the 40%.

The humans are real folks! REAL!!!!

*vents into a paperbag*

You see what you're doing to me?

 

[LOTRFan]

Looks comparable? Wow, you sir have not a droplet of an idea. NOT A DROPLET!

*shakes his head at LOTRFan*

Speaking of drops === *********!


So far, mediocre impression.

 

[jinxx]

meh.....

 

[agen_kolar]

The humans are real folks! REAL!!!!

*vents into a paperbag*

You see what you're doing to me?

I never thought they weren't. People kept talking about everything being CGI in Avatar, but I don't think we've come to a point in tech where we can make a believable human CGI character. Correct me if I'm wrong, though.

 

[Shai]

Pure caca.i think i'm too smart for this world.i need better entertainment than the average human needs.

 

[Shai]

well...i think one ting to remember about cameron's movies is...he's good at putting together something showy and visually stunning, and his scripts move along competently, but they are never really "original". "terminator"...a "halloween/slasher" flick with sci-fi trappings...."the abyss"..."close encounters" underwater...."titanic"...the biggest budgeted "b" movie remake in history ("a night to remember")....and now, here we are with "avatar", which clearly looks like "dances with wolves" dressed up in high-tech, sci-fi drag. All of these movies are successful entertainment, but i always chuckle when i read the words "ground-breaking" and "james cameron" in the same sentence....he is a good, competent filmmaker, but he ain't "all that"....

Story looks pretty basic already...wheelchair -bound guy gets chance to explore new world through an "avatar"...a kind of meat-puppet bred for that purpose...goes to said world, meets local girl, goes native, turns on his benefactors/controllers to save his new "people" (because of course those controllers have some evil purpose...don't they always?) meanwhile back at the lab, scientists and military folk debate weather or not to pull the plug....and yes, if you watch the trailer carefully...that's a reasonable interpretation of what we're getting. Remember, this is an american studio putting this teaser out there for american audiences, used to having everything spelled out for them before they actually go opening weekend for this...

My goal with this is to avoid the coming tsunami of hype (mostly to be perpetuated by cameron himself, no doubt) and too many more previews and go have an enjoyable time watching what will probably be a fairly entertaining flick....

We'll see...

exactly...you've just csome up this crap fest.

 

[Reinhardt]

If I remember correctly, back when this project was started, it was discussed that one would not be able to tell which characters were real and which were CGI. That may have changed over time.

Just saw the trailer. Parts of it were unbelievable, and parts definitely felt like the Wookie planet from Revenge of the Sith.