James Cameron's AVATAR discussion thread

[Bamboota]

I know I bashed the theme song a couple weeks ago ...but now that i've seen the movie and put it all in context...i think i grew to like it.....It's still no "My heart will go on"...but it's still very nice!

Oh and Im pretty sure it's gonna be nominated for an Oscar!! Mark my words!

SPOILERS AHEAD IN THE OFFICIAL VIDEO!

<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#999999"><br/><a style="font: Verdana" href="https://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=101404181">“I See You” (Theme from Avatar) by Leona Lewis in HD</a><br/><object width="425px" height="360px" ><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="movie" value="https://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=101404181,t=1,mt=video"/><embed src="https://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=101404181,t=1,mt=video" width="425" height="360" allowFullScreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed></object><br/><a style="font: Verdana" href="https://www.myspace.com/trailerpark">Trailer Park</a> | <a style="font: Verdana" href="https://vids.myspace.com">MySpace Video</a></font>

 

[Bannister]

So I just did some research and it looks like the IMAX place in Harrisburg had just fired 6 employees one was the person in charge. So maybe they couldn't afford to pay for the rights to play it. Not sure? I don't know much about what movies have to do in order to offer up a movie to their customers. Either way it sucks!

I have no idea why certain places don't book certain movies. We have 2 Imax theatres(3 actual screens) and the one near me always gets the latest Imax mainstream movies, whereas the other doesn't and mainly shows the educational Imax stuff. I always thought that maybe they couldn't show the same movies, but then both were showing A Christmas Carol up until Friday when Avatar opened. I don't get why the other doesn't show the big movies. They are just costing themselves money.

 

[hairlesswookiee]

So I just did some research and it looks like the IMAX place in Harrisburg had just fired 6 employees one was the person in charge. So maybe they couldn't afford to pay for the rights to play it. Not sure? I don't know much about what movies have to do in order to offer up a movie to their customers. Either way it sucks!

Maybe the person that got fired didn't get the rights for the movie and that's why they got fired. I hate when they pull stuff like that. I'm gonna go see it in 3-D tomorrow by myself after I finish shopping.

 

[Darklord Dave]

Spoiler

Sully was pretty much out of 'being a good/loyal solider' for a while before the dozers and such started showing up. There was time to warn, yet he didn't. For me...it didn't fit the personality of someone that had come to 'love' (as he put it) the people, the planet and his mate.

Spoiler

I thought it was more that he was hoping to convince them NOT to take out the tree and thus postponed telling the Na'vi.

 

[agen_kolar]

I know I bashed the theme song a couple weeks ago ...but now that i've seen the movie and put it all in context...i think i grew to like it.....It's still no "My heart will go on"...but it's still very nice!

Same here, I've grown to like it. Still partial to Celine, though.

 

[Valfar]

I know I bashed the theme song a couple weeks ago ...but now that i've seen the movie and put it all in context...i think i grew to like it.....It's still no "My heart will go on"...but it's still very nice!

Oh and Im pretty sure it's gonna be nominated for an Oscar!! Mark my words!

SPOILERS AHEAD IN THE OFFICIAL VIDEO!

<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#999999"><br/><a style="font: Verdana" href="https://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=101404181">“I See You” (Theme from Avatar) by Leona Lewis in HD</a><br/><object width="425px" height="360px" ><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="movie" value="https://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=101404181,t=1,mt=video"/><embed src="https://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=101404181,t=1,mt=video" width="425" height="360" allowFullScreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed></object><br/><a style="font: Verdana" href="https://www.myspace.com/trailerpark">Trailer Park</a> | <a style="font: Verdana" href="https://vids.myspace.com">MySpace Video</a></font>

I checked that video out but, i had to put these on first.

 

[Bamboota]

Spoiler

I thought it was more that he was hoping to convince them NOT to take out the tree and thus postponed telling the Na'vi.

I agree!

Same here, I've grown to like it. Still partial to Celine, though.

My heart will go on for Celine!!!



OOOHHH ...u see what I did there!!!

 

[Matt S]

Ok, saw this on Sat with a group of six friends. After the movie, one of their wives complained that she felt lightheaded. About a minute later, she fainted and then started having what appeared to be a seizure.....Paramedics were called and came.....ultimately she was ok, but they think it was triggered by the movie. It was a scary 15 minutes from her fainting initally to the paramedics arrival....No joke.....

Good movie. Only Cameron can literally kill you with the power of his CGI

 

[Khev]

Just came back with watching this in 3D with the wife. When it was over she leaned over and said "I bet George Lucas is jealous!"

The first movie I've seen with the new 3D technology. One of the most amazing cinematic experiences of my life. A true game changer.

 

[Bamboota]

Ok, saw this on Sat with a group of six friends. After the movie, one of their wives complained that she felt lightheaded. About a minute later, she fainted and then started having what appeared to be a seizure.....Paramedics were called and came.....ultimately she was ok, but they think it was triggered by the movie. It was a scary 15 minutes from her fainting initally to the paramedics arrival....No joke.....

Good movie. Only Cameron can literally kill you with the power of his CGI

WOW! Wtf?!

 

[toms123]

What an experience! While I will agree with some about the bland story I still think it served it's purpose and for the most part it's simplicity helped my kids understand the point of the movie. Aside from that, the visuals were magnificent. I didn't feel the time and was actually disappointed that it had to end. I didn't feel the 2hrs &40mins. IMAX 3D it's the way to go. I got there an hour before and sat dead smack in the middle of the theater. Again, what an experience. I will try to see it again, if time permits, in 3D but maybe not IMAX.

Tom

 

[agen_kolar]

Ok, saw this on Sat with a group of six friends. After the movie, one of their wives complained that she felt lightheaded. About a minute later, she fainted and then started having what appeared to be a seizure.....Paramedics were called and came.....ultimately she was ok, but they think it was triggered by the movie. It was a scary 15 minutes from her fainting initally to the paramedics arrival....No joke.....

Good movie. Only Cameron can literally kill you with the power of his CGI

Eeeeee! Scary. How does that mess happen? We see in 3D...so really seeing a 3D movie is more natural than 2D. Right?

 

[KneelBeforrSmallville]

Re: I saw AVATAR in 3D!

yeah i can see the money i saved going away once those figures hit the market

 

[lightwave000]

I was only calling you silly for telling naysayers to wait and see when you yourself weren't. I still stand by that. People are allowed to speculate good or bad. I fully expected it to be good, but I wouldn't fault anybody for being skeptical.

Nope sorry, I win! They are faulted. People are not allowed to be skeptical. I have spoken

 

[-jay-]

Re: I saw AVATAR in 3D!

I ve seen it 2 times for now. Still awesome without 3D.

Did you see it once with 3D though?

 

[lightwave000]

Well, I finally got around to see it and it met my expectations and failed to meet it's potential on some levels.. The efx and visuals were stunning and that alone was worth the price of admission. The na'vi looked very good, especially in light of a CGI background. I thought Gollum in LOTR looked better, but he definitely benefited from a physical world backdrop. I don't think it's a game-changer, but certainly a welcome evolution in film-making. To me, the 3D was still on the gimmick side, but was nice in seeing the depth of the forest imagery. The movie seemed a little too slow-paced in the beginning and parts of the middle and then too rushed for tie-ins and pay-offs at the end. Also, I believe the movie timeline should have been a little longer.

As far as casting, I thought that the roles were a good fit - BUT not Michelle Rodriguez (I don't know what that's called, but it certainly isn't acting).

The dialogue was extremely lacking depending on the target audience. It seemed like the demographic they were searching for was the 8-14 age range. It was chessy, uncaptivating, and unnecessary.

On to the story. As I assumed, the story was predictable from just the trailers. Aside from the exploration and intricacies of the culture and the world, the script shouted an eco message and, subtle in comparison, socio-political message. The story was unoriginal and, frankly, I would consider embarrassing for a 15 yr. in development movie. The plot couldn't have taken more than a couple weeks to come up with.

Spoiler

The fist fight was so cliche'....something that PJ in ROTK left out for this simple fact.

In summation, I would have easily seen this movie on mute - the visuals were that stunning.

EFX/Visual - 9/10
Story - 5.5/10
Longevity (classic) - 6/10

This will be a one-time viewing, but will buy the blu-ray.

You got to be kidding! Gollum looked better? Maybe you liked the character design more but i have a hard time believing you thought Gollum looked more realistic. Unless you are taking into account all the darkness and shadows like the ???? roaches of District 9

 

[lightwave000]

If this is a Trilogy, then the first movie has established who the characters are in a basic plot, much like A new hope.
The sequel can be more intricate and expand on the universe much like Empire

Very good point. Something to look forward to

 

[lightwave000]

Spoiler

you seriously don't know what gold is used for and why its valuable? and if you do it makes no sense to compare it to the movie's fake metal cause we dont know what its used for.

Unobtanium is used for energy production on earth. Oh yeah, its also the rubber used on oakley sunglasses

 

[DarkArtist81]

Saw this today and MAN.... What an experience! I've long chased that feeling, you know the one I mean... That, sitting in a dark theater in 1977 unaware of what this "Star Wars" thing is going to be.

This movie blew me away. And not just the CG, but the story as well. It may have been simple, but I felt it. As an ex military man, I can see why Sully played it the way he did... not telling the Na'vi, hoping to convince his leaders that there was another way to resolve things.

As for CGI, this movie raises the bar really really high. The characters faces were insanely detailed, you could actually SEE the actors emoting and their performances showed. It wasn't like it was animated, it didn't take you out of the film and remind you that it was all animation. You felt like they were really there, and that is magical in this day and age. Most films, even with the sophistication of effects, you don't get that feeling of real "life" in the CG characters. This film tears that away and breathes that soul into CGI. It's a monumental achievement for that alone.

I have to say, I left the theater... blown away, emotionally touched, questioning human society, and flat out excited.... all at the same time. One of the best film experiences I have ever had, I'm almost unable to articulate how great it really was.

I'm just stunned to have finally had that feeling.

 

[lightwave000]

Awesome concept art and models from the movie

https://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=79195&page=1&pp=15