James Cameron's AVATAR discussion thread

[Natrix]

LOl haha. How's the dvd on standard edition ?

Here is a thread on AVSForum comparing the DVD to Blu Ray showing how bad the DVD looks, it is not even close!

https://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1244926

 

[The Ween]

I don't think it looks bad, it just doesn't look as good, as it shouldn't.

 

[BadMoon]

I don't think it looks bad, it just doesn't look as good, as it shouldn't.

I also think seeing it in motion is a lot different as well. Are all those little details THAT much more noticable? Not to mention the distance you are away from the screen.

 

[ironwez20]

Well the stadard version does take away the clear aspect of the movie, the dvd version seem's alittle blurry.

 

[lightwave000]

Managed to get a couple more Cast Signed posters from the Fox Rep. In commerce section for any Avatards

 

[Khev]

First day Blu-ray sales of The Dark Knight: A record 600,000 copies.

First day Avatar sales: 1.5 million

Not bad for a bare bones release.

 

[8th wonder]

Avatar is just as good on Blu-ray as it was in theaters.

A few things I noticed, good and bad:

Some of the Na'vi full body shots (usually when more than one or two Na'vi are on screen) do look a tad "animated." The close-ups are still phenomenal, and better than any CG visuals I've ever seen on screen.

The shot where Jake rolls down the ramp for the first time into the camp actually looks better than I remembered it. At least in the trailers that always had a pretty strong CG look to it, much more realistic now.

The Christ metaphor stuck out even more, right down to his initial water baptism and "annointing" by glowing tree sprites (as opposed to a white dove.)

The scientists seemed to have a pretty flawed security system for their forays into the forest. Even with Jake's Na'vi sized machine gun, two of the three alien species they encountered were immune to their weaponry. It would have taken seconds for either a hammerhead titanothere or the predatory thanator to dispatch the entire helicopter crew and the lone soldier with human-sized assault rifle should one happen upon them.

Anyone have any plausible reason for Quaritch to dispatch ground troops in the final attack? Don't get me wrong, I love every aspect of the ensuing battle and especially the final showdown but it seems that if the primary mission is to simply bomb the Tree of Souls to kingdom come you send in your bombers and air support, do your business, then fly home.

The music was better than I remembered it. A really great score.

I thought it was kind of cool that Eywa didn't send in the wilderness legions until after Tsu Te was killed. It gave a divine hand to Jake's ascension to leadership.

Terrific, terrific popcorn entertainment and absolutely thrilling adventure. Even got a little bit of vertigo at home when Jake had to jump to that one vine during his climb to get his banshee.

I don't see the christ metaphor in this movie, sure it has the savior motif but that could apply to plenty of religions and myths. Baptism? You mean Jake jumping in the river, bit of a stretch isn't it? Annointing? i don't think so. Jake is a symbol of balance, a unification of two species in war and thus represents peace and is honored by the pure spirits as a special being that will lead Pandora to a better future. This movie has a spiritual heart not a religious one. The borrowing of energy (not owning anything) for example reminds me of buddhism (anatta), other things remind me of animism etc...This movie isn't tied to any specific religion, it's for everyone, including atheists. Eywa is more of a biological wonder than a supernatural one. Eywa has heard Jake and tapped into Grace's memories learning the fate of earth's eco-system. It later mobilizes all living beings trough it's network to fight for survival as a whole. It's not really divine in my opinion. Also Tsu Tsey death has nothing to do with it, the Na' Vi were losing the battle so Eywa switched into survival mode mobilizing all creatures to fight for their/it's existence.

quote James Cameron: I've sworn off agnosticism, which I now call cowardly atheism. I've come to the position that in the complete absence of any supporting data whatsover for the persistence of the individual in some spiritual form, it is necessary to operate under the provisional conclusion that there is no afterlife and then be ready to amend that if I find out otherwise.
Source: "The Futurist" by Rebecca Keegan

I really loved this movie and i'm looking forward to the sequel, thank you James cameron.

 

[CelticPredator]

I like James Cameron's thinking. I do believe in some afterlife. But I feel better not having to worry about not following some lame order from something I have no idea what.

Although, I'm still agonostic. Dispite what he said. I'm open to anything, if ya got proof.

 

[Khev]

I don't see the christ metaphor in this movie,

The Christian symbolism is definitely there. There's more I didn't mention; the savior coming from the "heavens" (sky people) and taking the form of the people he's saving, references to being born again, etc. In Cameron's story treatment Grace even says to Jake at one point "Time to take flesh and walk the earth." A pretty obvious reference to Christ.

Cameron doesn't believe in a higher power but he believes that humans have the need to believe in a higher power, and he tends to cater to that in his movies (most notably in The Terminator and The Abyss.)

I'm not saying that there are only Christian metaphors in Avatar, and it certainly isn't a "Christian movie," (no way we'd see that from Cameron in a million years ) but the references are there.

And that's one of the great things about Avatar, it can almost be whatever kind of movie you want it to be.

 

[8th wonder]

=Khev;2484479]The Christian symbolism is definitely there. There's more I didn't mention; 1 the savior coming from the "heavens" (sky people) 2 and taking the form of the people he's saving

That reminds me more of hinduism where even the word AVATAR comes from.

Avatar literately means; 1 descent (from heaven to earth).

2 Like the incarnations of Krishna

This all is thus not necessarily christian at all.

1, references to being born again, etc. In Cameron's story treatment Grace even says to Jake at one point 2 "Time to take flesh and walk the earth." A pretty obvious reference to Christ.

1 a hindu or buddhist could see that as a reference to reincarnation rebirth.

2 Also like an incarnation of a hindu deity AVATAR.

Again nothing necessarily christian.

I'm not saying that there are only Christian metaphors in Avatar, and it certainly isn't a "Christian movie," (no way we'd see that from Cameron in a million years ) but the references are there.

You could be right about the references but it could also just be a christian interpretation since a non-christian could see it quite differently.

And that's one of the great things about Avatar, it can almost be whatever kind of movie you want it to be.

I agree

 

[8th wonder]

I bought the dvd because i want to save the blu-ray picture quality for the special edition.

 

[The Ween]

That reminds me more of hinduism where even the word AVATAR comes from.

Avatar literately means; 1 descent (from heaven to earth).

2 Like the incarnations of Krishna

This all is thus not necessarily christian at all.


1 a hindu or buddhist could see that as a reference to reincarnation rebirth.

2 Also like an incarnation of a hindu deity AVATAR.

Again nothing necessarily christian.



You could be right about the references but it could also just be a christian interpretation since a non-christian could see it quite differently.



I agree

In another thread, which I think has been locked, it was suggested that Jesus studied Buddism.

 

[ironwez20]

Yea i knew that thread would be locked. Anyway I was allways confused as to why the movie was called avatar but now i knew why , I was only confused becuase the last airbender has avatar in it and i thought avatar meant like a reincarnated monk.

 

[CelticPredator]

Like playing World of Warcraft, your character is your avatar. That's what it is.

 

[Khev]

I bought the dvd because i want to save the blu-ray picture quality for the special edition.

You do realize that for literally five dollars more you could have had the stunning blu-ray to enjoy for the next seven months....

 

[CelticPredator]

Eh. I saw the movie already. Many times in the theater. I want to know HOW they made it now.

 

[8th wonder]

You do realize that for literally five dollars more you could have had the stunning blu-ray to enjoy for the next seven months....

You are right. My logic was something like; the special edition will be even more amazing if i hold out on the blu-ray for now. So i will get an extended movie and much better picture quality later on to enjoy. But hearing people talking about how great the blu-ray looks makes me want to have that kind of quality now.

 

[darthviper107]

Plus the Blu-Ray comes with the regular DVD as well

 

[ironwez20]

Like playing World of Warcraft, your character is your avatar. That's what it is.

Never played WOW , never saw the point of it plus people seem to be obseesed over it and act wierd about it.

 

[Shai]

Never played WOW , never saw the point of it plus people seem to be obseesed over it and act wierd about it.

deja-vu........