James Cameron's AVATAR discussion thread

[ironwez20]

Wow. Avatardation is truly worldwide epidemic.

Incidentally, it took just over a month for another piece of sci-fi media (Mass Effect 2) to come out that makes AVATAR look like it was written by a 12 year old.

Mass effect is a video game.

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

well not all kids will love avatar, althogh the toys are selling out left and right.

prolly cuz there's a bunch of 35 year old, blue painted up tards buying them

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

Mass effect is a video game.

 

[CelticPredator]

Mass effect is a video game.

This is what i'm talking about. You say silly things. And you expect no backlash.

 

[LChinoz]

Just wondering if anyone has seen the 7 inch Neytiri figure in stores? I have yet to see any MM figures that aren't Col Q. The Neytiri MM figures were going for 70 bucks on eBay but are not down to like 30 bucks a pop, but I still just want to know how hard these things are to get in person. The Wal-Mart Avatar rack consisted of 6 empty pegs for the "Movie Masters" figures, and incredibly filled pegs of the 4inch figures, most of which were wheelchair Jake, Norm, and the random soldiers.

 

[barbelith]

well not all kids will love avatar, althogh the toys are selling out left and right.

They seem to be gathering dust where I live.

 

[barbelith]

Mass effect is a video game.

Have they not taught you what "media" means at your school?

 

[ironwez20]

Wow dude seriously im saying somthing positive about avatar after all this saying the movie cant beat star wars, i didnt ask you where you live im talking about what i see, and i see avatar figures especially neytiri being sold out, and i dont expect kids to like this movie anyway.

 

[ironwez20]

Have they not taught you what "media" means at your school?

This is what i'm talking about. You say silly things. And you expect no backlash.

Whats silly ? It is a video game , how on earth is that silly ! Mass effect is a video game and of course its story is better its a rollplaying game with over 50 different paths to choose from, it may be silly to you but im stating my opnion you can say im wrong all you want.

 

[LChinoz]

i see avatar figures especially neytiri being sold out

Gotta say I see the same thing, Neytiri seems to be the most sought after character. Wonder why...

 

[ironwez20]

Cant be a good thing.

 

[Khev]

Finally someone (Entertainment Weekly) has made mention of Gone With the Wind's earnings during its first full theatrical run: $20 million

Even adjusted for inflaton and discounting the 3D surcharge Avatar obviously crushes it in ticket sales. Whether that's a good thing or bad thing is debatable, but GWTW had nowhere near the impact upon its release that the "adjust for inflation!" folks are suggesting.

 

[GuruAskew]

Just wondering if anyone has seen the 7 inch Neytiri figure in stores? I have yet to see any MM figures that aren't Col Q. The Neytiri MM figures were going for 70 bucks on eBay but are not down to like 30 bucks a pop, but I still just want to know how hard these things are to get in person. The Wal-Mart Avatar rack consisted of 6 empty pegs for the "Movie Masters" figures, and incredibly filled pegs of the 4inch figures, most of which were wheelchair Jake, Norm, and the random soldiers.

I found one. I was lucky enough to go into a Wal-Mart right as they were unloading a Mattel shipment. I asked the guy to open the Movie Masters box and I was so stoked to find Neytiri and Warrior Jake that I shelved the other 4 figures in the case for the guy. If I remember correctly the breakdown was 2x Quaritch, 2x Warrior Jake, 1x Neytiri and 1x Regular Jake.

This was probably 4 weeks ago today so they could be shipping new assortments. The whole TDK Joker situation proves that Mattel will up the quantities of the rare "buzz" figure if that's what people want, they're smart enough to know that they don't see any of that scalper money if they keep the figures rare.

But yeah, they are out there.

GASP! Proof!

 

[DinoLast]

Finally someone (Entertainment Weekly) has made mention of Gone With the Wind's earnings during its first full theatrical run: $20 million

Even adjusted for inflaton and discounting the 3D surcharge Avatar obviously crushes it in ticket sales. Whether that's a good thing or bad thing is debatable, but GWTW had nowhere near the impact upon its release that the "adjust for inflation!" folks are suggesting.

Plus when it comes to Gone with the wind, for years after it came out if you wanted to go and see it, you pretty much had to see it in the Movie theater. It did not appear on TV until 1976

 

[CelticPredator]

Whats silly ? It is a video game , how on earth is that silly ! Mass effect is a video game and of course its story is better its a rollplaying game with over 50 different paths to choose from, it may be silly to you but im stating my opnion you can say im wrong all you want.

But...video games is a MEDIA. Thats why you're wrong. He said media, and you said "video game"...when they're the same thing.

 

[GuruAskew]

I happen to agree with Roger Ebert's belief that video games cannot be art due to the interactive aspect. If you wanna search it out he definitely makes good points.

Personally I also believe that the video game industry suffers in the writing department due to simple economics. Basically the writing in video games sucks because a good writer doesn't have to work in the video game industry.

I haven't played either Mass Effect game but I've seen nothing in the ads that make me think otherwise. Everything about it from production/creature design to acting seems 2nd-rate. The whole industry has a lot of work to do if they want to escape from their red-headed stepchild status in regards to those more traditional elements because you can see those things done well elsewhere.

The industry thrives in regards to things that film and television cannot do but when it comes to writing, acting etc. they have a long way to go.

 

[Sithlord1975]

Why do we even care about all this technical inflation stuff? lol
It's 2010. The studio is only gonna care about the money it's bringing in today, with today's dollar!! And damn business is good for Avatar! Hellz yeah!
Even with the adjustment, it's STILL like going to be in the top 25 of all time! More likely it will even hit top 20 or less.

And besides, Gone with the Wind is something that would put me to sleep anyway. No way in hell it's as popular as a movie like this.

Just came back from my 4th viewing. Who has seen it more than 4 times?
It looked even more amazing to me the 4th time out!! Maybe it's because I switched theatres, and the screen is bigger there too.
I went to an 1130am showing and thought it would be like 5 people there. Nope, it was almost full. So based on that, I'm sure it's going to be number 1 yet again this weekend. It was even full of seniors too, which was great. It's true...everyone AND their grandma has seen this movie lol

 

[Something Sexy]

You clearly need to start playing good games then. The story in Mass Effect is amazing and better than most modern movies. Not sure what you are talking about with production and creature design because the first Mass Effect had some amazing visuals when it came to the up close dialog scenes. You need to branch out dude. Lots of great games out there with great stories.

I happen to agree with Roger Ebert's belief that video games cannot be art due to the interactive aspect. If you wanna search it out he definitely makes good points.

Personally I also believe that the video game industry suffers in the writing department due to simple economics. Basically the writing in video games sucks because a good writer doesn't have to work in the video game industry.

I haven't played either Mass Effect game but I've seen nothing in the ads that make me think otherwise. Everything about it from production/creature design to acting seems 2nd-rate. The whole industry has a lot of work to do if they want to escape from their red-headed stepchild status in regards to those more traditional elements because you can see those things done well elsewhere.

The industry thrives in regards to things that film and television cannot do but when it comes to writing, acting etc. they have a long way to go.

 

[GuruAskew]

I have other issues too, like take Grand Theft Auto IV, for example. That's a game I love dearly. I think Niko Bellic is the most well-written and performed video game character of all time.

When I was playing that game for the first time I was really impressed with the part at the end where you get to decide whether or not Niko kills the person he's been hunting for throughout the whole game. To me that's a brilliant moment in gaming.

That said, it invalidates it as art for several reasons:

#1: someone else playing the game will undoubtedly make different choices, thus negating any potential for a statement or message on the part of the creator. Can you imagine if "No Country for Old Men" gave the audience the chance to pick a nice happy Hollywood ending to that movie?

#2: some people won't even come close to getting that far in the game. How many people play a game for 2 levels and then never pick it up again, or even worse with the GTA games: how many people just drive around and kill pedestrians and policemen?

#3: the things that happen between the cutscenes desensitize you to the characters and often times contradict with the larger story. How much can I really care for Niko's choice at the end of GTAIV when I've killed hundreds of people getting there? Furthermore, it's hard to care for a character when the only repercussion of his or her death is "x3" going to "x2". The medium also has all sorts of other things going against it, such as the juvenile cliches of health and ammo packs (and I don't care what you say, art doesn't have health and ammo packs), the fact that you often time stare at the back of your character's head (or hardly ever for a FPS) for hours etc.

I'm a gamer, I love video games yet I have no problem with seeing them as second-stringers when it comes to certain aspects. I can admire the craft and talent that went into making them but at the end of the day it's just a toy.

Edit: I was just reading the Wikipedia page for Mass Effect 2 and I started looking into the writing.

I had no plan on playing these games but the fact that the "writer" works on stuff like the novelization for "Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal" isn't doing anything to change my mind.

There's no way this guy is a better writer than James Cameron, and not coming from someone who sees Cameron as some untouchable writing genius.

 

[The Ween]

They seem to be gathering dust where I live.

Same here. There's plenty in the stores here.