James Cameron's AVATAR discussion thread

[uscmhicks]

Although, ultimately my point is... anyone who bashes Transformers and LOVES Avatar is a little hypocritical

I have to say I completely disagree here. I thought transformers had a ridiculous story line , awkward moments , ridiculous acting and was just overall boring apart from the scenes with the robots fighting.
I was never bored with Avatar personally and I honestly thought the story was quite powerful , regardless of it not being fresh.

Spoiler

I felt sorry for the Navi when the humans were attacking them and they were pretty much helpless at first and I did get invested into the story which I can't say for transformers

I don't think its fair to say someone is a little hypocritical for liking one movie but not another ecspecially when they are completely different types of movies other than the amazing special effects.

EDIT :

Just caught your new part of your post. I think you need to check this movie out. In my opinion it tells a story much better than Bay did and it is much more emotional. Enough to not compare it to transformers anyway.

 

[nash]

That, and the whole "the aliens returned to their dying planet" at the end. S#$%....could he possibly hate people any more?

I liked the 80's much better, when we also met a pagan savage alien, and then Arnold blew it to hell. Silly me...I like rooting for humans.

most humans suck to be honest.

In regards to Transformers. If it were not for the nostalgia factor, it would be a complete joke of a movie to more people. I found it entertaining enough, but i have to be honest with myself that it was an extremely cliche and poorly written movie. the FX and nostalgia is what kept it afloat.

 

[Dusty]

I have to say I completely disagree here. I thought transformers had a ridiculous story line , awkward moments , ridiculous acting and was just overall boring apart from the scenes with the robots fighting.
I was never bored with Avatar personally and I honestly thought the story was quite powerful , regardless of it not being fresh.

Spoiler

I felt sorry for the Navi when the humans were attacking them and they were pretty much helpless at first and I did get invested into the story which I can't say for transformers

I don't think its fair to say someone is a little hypocritical for liking one movie but not another ecspecially when they are completely different types of movies other than the amazing special effects.

EDIT :

Just caught your new part of your post. I think you need to check this movie out. In my opinion it tells a story much better than Bay did and it is much more emotional. Enough to not compare it to transformers anyway.

We'll just agree to disagree then. Anyone who didn't feel a little bit sad when Optimus fell in battle has a heart of stone (I've also heard a lot of 'boring' comments about Avatar - if you aren't out on the planet seeing all the cool 3D effects, it lags)

Of course I am going to check the movie out, I'd be silly not to! And I expect to like it quite a lot! ("for what it is") It's hard though, when you have a kid you have to pick and choose your film-going carefully. I don't want to sit in the very front or sides because the babysitter was late... because this is definitely a 'theater' movie and I want the best seats possible, so I'm waiting until the crowds die down!

 

[Dusty]

most humans suck to be honest.

In regards to Transformers. If it were not for the nostalgia factor, it would be a complete joke of a movie to more people. I found it entertaining enough, but i have to be honest with myself that it was an extremely cliche and poorly written movie. the FX and nostalgia is what kept it afloat.

My point is that this is exactly what some people are saying about Avatar. It's a very cliche story, and it's the awesome effects that are keeping the butts in seats. People are even LAUGHING at serious parts, but because it looks so cool, they love it! Nothing wrong with that. It's THAT kind of movie. No one would care at all about the story if it didn't look so awesome... just like Transformers.

 

[uscmhicks]

We'll just agree to disagree then. Anyone who didn't feel a little bit sad when Optimus fell in battle has a heart of stone

Of course I am going to check the movie out, I'd be silly not to! It's hard though, when you have a kid you have to pick and choose your film-going carefully. I don't want to sit in the very front or sides because the babysitter was late... because this is definitely a 'theater' movie and I want the best seats possible, so I'm waiting until the crowds die down!

It is a theater movie for sure. I bet you get more emotionally invested into this than Transformers though. This is a masterpiece compared to that imo. It is predictable yes but still seemed very very well done to me.
I could watch the original Dances with Wolves now for the second ( third , fourth , whatever ) time but it would still be as powerful whilst not being a fresh story. I'm not comparing the story in this with Dances with Wolves on how powerful it is but I do think its similar on a much smaller scale. Add this and the special effects together and to me it was a great movie experience. With transformers for me personally it was just robots fighting , Shai saying " no no no no noooo " , robots fighting , megan fox's ****s , robots fighting and so on.

I thought the movie was great but it was overhyped beyond belief , that was pretty much Cameron's fault but I bet he doesn't regret it with the money this is making.

 

[Matt S]

I cannot think of one scene that my audience laughed at, when it wasnt funny....makes me wonder...!

 

[nash]

My point is that this is exactly what some people are saying about Avatar. It's a very cliche story, and it's the awesome effects that are keeping the butts in seats. People are even LAUGHING at serious parts, but because it looks so cool, they love it! Nothing wrong with that. It's THAT kind of movie. No one would care at all about the story if it didn't look so awesome... just like Transformers.

while the story of avatar may be cliche to some, at least most of the acting is tolerable. acting in TF is just horrendous, to the point that it is even cringe-worthy. even the robots are bad actors lol.

And as cliche as Avatar may be, i'd still say that TF has it beat by a mile in that department. imo avatar still has some substance aside from just the cgi and on top of that does not have the fan following that TF did from the 80s cartoon series.

I guess what im trying to say is, i can handle a cliche story, but if the acting is cliche and terrible as well, it would be fail without all the fanboys or nostalgia.

 

[uscmhicks]

I think the point I'm trying to make is that for me personally , transformers scenes which wern't to do with special effects felt like they were made up just to get to the point where special effects could be shown. With Avatar I felt the story was much much stronger.

 

[nash]

I think the point I'm trying to make is that for me personally , transformers scenes which wern't to do with special effects felt like they were made up just to get to the point where special effects could be shown. With Avatar I felt the story was much much stronger.

it definitely was stronger. how can finding a cube and keeping it away from the bad guys be a strong story?

 

[LChinoz]

I don't see how anyone could compare Avatar to Transformers TBH...Michael Bay could learn a lot from James Cameron on how to incorporate something called a good story into his films...

 

[uscmhicks]

it definitely was stronger. how can finding a cube and keeping it away from the bad guys be a strong story?

EXACTLY.

 

[Dusty]

I think the point I'm trying to make is that for me personally , transformers scenes which wern't to do with special effects felt like they were made up just to get to the point where special effects could be shown. With Avatar I felt the story was much much stronger.

Since they are *different* plots, it's reasonable to assume that one plot would appeal to someone over the other. Perhaps I should restate:

Although, ultimately my point is... anyone who bashes Transformers (for what it is) and LOVES Avatar (for what it is) is a little hypocritical. Fans of both say that you should just "check your brains at the door" and enjoy the fun time at the theater, without over thinking it. Non-fans of both have a hard time doing that, for whatever reason. Each opinion is valid, but the films are comparable on a film-going, and now apparently, money-making, level.

The end.

 

[uscmhicks]

Re: I saw AVATAR in 3D!

If you're referring to me, I don't hate this movie (haven't seen it yet), I hated There Will Be Blood.

I understand what you were saying about it being hard to stay interested but if theres a movie thats been made amazingly well its that one and DDL performance was amazing too.
Its not a movie I could watch as much as terminator or something similar though.

 

[Dusty]

it definitely was stronger. how can finding a cube and keeping it away from the bad guys be a strong story?

Now you're just being silly. It's not about the CUBE, it's about SAVING THE WORLD FROM EVIL GIANT ROBOT ALIENS!!!! Giant blue cat people guarding their "unobtanium" or giant alien robots guarding their "AllSpark"... pick your poison.

 

[LChinoz]

Since they are *different* plots, it's reasonable to assume that one plot would appeal to someone over the other. Perhaps I should restate:

Although, ultimately my point is... anyone who bashes Transformers (for what it is) and LOVES Avatar (for what it is) is a little hypocritical. Fans of both say that you should just "check your brains at the door" and enjoy the fun time at the theater, without over thinking it. Non-fans of both have a hard time doing that, for whatever reason. Each opinion is valid, but the films are comparable on a film-going, and now apparently, money-making, level.

The end.

I agree with a lot of your post Dusty but watch Avatar first and see if you're not moved at all by the story. It caught me totally off guard...

 

[SOLIDSNAKE]

Since they are *different* plots, it's reasonable to assume that one plot would appeal to someone over the other. Perhaps I should restate:

Although, ultimately my point is... anyone who bashes Transformers (for what it is) and LOVES Avatar (for what it is) is a little hypocritical. Fans of both say that you should just "check your brains at the door" and enjoy the fun time at the theater, without over thinking it. Non-fans of both have a hard time doing that, for whatever reason. Each opinion is valid, but the films are comparable on a film-going, and now apparently, money-making, level.

The end.

They are 2 awsome movies in there own unique way.
I still cant belive People are bashing this movies !!
People are never happy !

 

[uscmhicks]

Honestly though with Avatar I don't feel like you have to chuck your brain to the floor I thought it had a great story , with transformers if you don't throw your brain out its likely to explode.

Is there many people who actually liked the plot of transformers ? , I can gaurantee that there is a hell of alot who loved the plot with Avatar ( regardless of it not being fresh ... I have to add that otherwise I will get quoted by someone telling me " but its not fresh ". ) .

I guess though some people can be invested into a story for different reasons. Personally I always get pulled out of LOTR when Frodo and Sam keep getting reallly emotional together , it happens alot and for me personally just takes me out of the movie a little. Sorry LOTR fans.
With Avatar I was never pulled out once.

LOTR story is much stonger overall but if I had to compare Avatar's story telling to transformers or LOTR it would be LOTR for me personally.

 

[Valfar]

Avatar blows Transformers 2 clean out of the water, no need to compare the two.Bayformers sucked so bad, character design wise its almost par with Avatar though..could have been better, Avatar though as much as i don't really like character design in the movie it beats Transformers IMO, its just a better story as well.

 

[uscmhicks]

Go check out the movie Dusty then try and compare it to transformers. Let us know what you think when you've seen it.

 

[lightwave000]

If you're going to say something that stupid, you can at least fake a stroke.

Can one not be enamored with the EFX, imagery, and innovation in film-making technology while also having a coarse view of the directors/writers intent in message or cliched storyline? I don't subscribe to any camp, but hold just a viewpoint of positives and negatives with any movie. Excellence is not rubber stamped by name only.

By virtue of the thread title, this is a discussion...maybe a creation of an "I love Avatar" thread will preclude some from having or attempting to understand critique or others viewpoints.

I really dont let peoples religion, craziness (Tom Cruise) or political messages bother me in movies. I consider Bush to be one of our greatest presidents in history but I dont care if Cameron being Liberal throws in a few jabs and a message in his film. Its entertainment for the most part.