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James Cameron's 'Avatar'

obeygiant said:
Next for Cameron: Two 'Avatar' Sequels and 'Fantastic Voyage'

cinematical


They seem to think its going to be hit already. I wouldn't count my eggs until they've hatched.
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so reading between the lines Camaron says he didn't focus on the story ? way to promote a not yet released movie.. and the already the talks about a trilogy... i supect now the movie simply _has_ to bomb.. whenever somebody talks about a trilogoy regarding a game or movie before it's even released it very likely don't go that well

i like the fantastic voyage idea .. i would rather watch _that_
 
Saw it last night at midnight.

I thought the movie was very good but nothing remarkable. It is a game changer in the movie industry simply cause of the special effects which are nothing short of phenomenal.

My problem was the lack of a gripping story and character development. I didn't find myself getting emotionally attached to any of the characters. I felt a more emotional bond with the human/alien relationship in District 9 then Avatar.

Either way, great movie and I would assume most people will enjoy this flick. The 3D effects are worth the price of admittance itself.
 
Just got back from watching it. Incredible. Simply crazy good.

It's like reading a SciFi book in that the movie brings your imagination to life with no details spared.

Go see this movie. Preferably right now.
 
I loved the movie! I was invested in the story though it was....small but everything else was just fantastic! I am going to see it again since the 3d in the theaters was broken.
 
Avatar was incredible. It delivered on many levels and it appealed to the futurist in me. I felt completely immersed.

It felt just a touch preachy right at the beginning of the third act when the "traitors" were planning their retaliation using passé buzz words such as "daisycutter" and "martyrdom". That part felt as if it was written in 2004.

Otherwise the story was tight and it followed the hero's journey outline very closely, i.e. entering the special world, meeting the mentor, trials and tribulations, the inmost cave, the return with elixir, rebirth. Strong influences from Raputa and Nausicaa. Even Cameron's patented motion detector made an appearance.

Even if you don't care for the story, the spectacle of the Pandora is worth the price of admission. Stunning visuals. Zoe Saldana was especially striking in the Na'vi body.

My only complaint is that the real3D gave me a headache from about a third of the way through. The 3D element was an intriguing part of the movie, but if I saw it again I may opt for the 2D version.

4 stars. Go see it!
 
iJon said:
My problem was the lack of a gripping story and character development. I didn't find myself getting emotionally attached to any of the characters.
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I just have to disagree with this. Everyone knew the effects would be spectacular and they were, but I actually found the rest of it to be good as well.

The story, while basically a Dances with Wolves retread, was well told and quite engaging. The characters were very compelling and I did feel a connection to them as a viewer. It's rare imo that CGI characters are capable of conveying actual human emotion, but I think Cameron totally succeeded in that effort here.

As to the effects, I saw the IMAX 3D version and it was probably the most immersive movie experience I've ever witnessed, just amazing.
 
coolmacguy said:
I just have to disagree with this. Everyone knew the effects would be spectacular and they were, but I actually found the rest of it to be good as well.

The story, while basically a Dances with Wolves retread, was well told and quite engaging. The characters were very compelling and I did feel a connection to them as a viewer. It's rare imo that CGI characters are capable of conveying actual human emotion, but I think Cameron totally succeeded in that effort here.

As to the effects, I saw the IMAX 3D version and it was probably the most immersive movie experience I've ever witnessed, just amazing.
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i also agree with you.. I just watched it and i was completely immersed in it.. I thought it was fantastic, and the connection was there.. it did not feel fake at all... i give it a 4.5/5 and that is only because I wanted it to keep going...
 
coolmacguy said:
I just have to disagree with this. Everyone knew the effects would be spectacular and they were, but I actually found the rest of it to be good as well.

The story, while basically a Dances with Wolves retread, was well told and quite engaging. The characters were very compelling and I did feel a connection to them as a viewer. It's rare imo that CGI characters are capable of conveying actual human emotion, but I think Cameron totally succeeded in that effort here.

As to the effects, I saw the IMAX 3D version and it was probably the most immersive movie experience I've ever witnessed, just amazing.
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That's fine, I wouldn't expect everyone to have the same opinion as me.
 
So for all those that have seen it, would you recommend the iMax version or a 3D/2D version ?
 
I saw it last night in a normal theater and it was amazing! Loved the movie! The story and graphics were both great! I haveto for sure see it in imax, i can only imagine it would be even better
 
obeygiant said:
Actually I thought it looked more like Dances with Wolves in space.
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From the trailers / TV adverts it looks more like George Lucas' Wookiee planet battle in Episode III extended out to a full length movie ... the only difference being you can understand what the blue characters are saying. :)

I was thinking of seeing the movie today with my free ticket, but I got there a bit too late, so saw Planet 51 instead.
 
i couldnt help but crack up at points in this movie


also, does anyone watch Bones? They had an episode in which 3 of the characters in that show were excited to see avatar. HOWEVER, one of the characters in Bones is an actor in avatar, i was like wtf

as far as the mvie, why oh why did they make the aliens to be like indians??? i mean it was a direct steal from dances with wolves

at least bring something original...i mean bows and arrows..seriously?

i was hoping they would do something along the lines of the movie final fantasy. that was original. avatar was not
 
I just saw it yesterday in the old-school 2D theater (for discount prices).

Without a doubt, the most visually impressive film I have ever seen. Seeing it in theaters was an experience I will not forget.

Next, I would like to try the 3D version, or even an iMax, but I have a genetically programmed problem with hair-trigger motion sickness, and I would hate to spoil the film for those around me by receiving my popcorn.

As for my review:

I avoided all reviews prior to seeing the film; for the most part I can't stand to listen to injected opinions without forming my own first (this also applies to politics, as a tangent...).

I would say that anyone saying the plot is too simplistic or a rehash of Dances With Wolves is probably oversimplifying matters. There are blatant similarities, but the story is folded into the film well enough without requiring a person to make large leaps into the supposed nuances of the plot, characters, etc. Was it a little bit ham-handed in some ways? Sure, I'll grant that one. I wish modern films could steer away from projecting an opinion about current American politics (Transformers 2, Avatar, etc.). We get it, invading other lands is wrong, attacking civilians is wrong, misuse of force is wrong, blah blah blah blah blah... Only Star Wars III was more blatant in its proselytizing ("Freedom isn't free"...)

THE reason to see the film, I think, is to appreciate the sheer task of how well this alternative world is constructed on film. The organisms, the scale of things, it blows my mind. Everything fits very well, it works together. I liked it a lot. What an amazing visual experience. If you don't want to delve into it any deeper, then look at it as a stunning three hour moving painting.

I hope this movie does well enough to make a second or third film happen. I imagine that this film is a combination of technological testbed as well as a storyboard proof-of-concept. If audiences buy into this one, then Avatar will follow the Matrix and similar films where they'll shoot the second and third film back to back and make a killing. The up front investment in creating a culture and a vision is set, the rest should be comparatively simple. Word already is around that the main actors signed up for rounds 2 and 3.

Anyhow, I loved it, and will probably be seeing it in the theater again.
 
I saw it twice once in IMAX 3D and the other time in a regular theater in 3D, and the best way to see it is IMAX 3D, absolutely stunning. The movie was amazing really one of the best movies ever made IMO. I think it will set the new standard in film, much like Titanic did when that was released. (Which is also a James Cameron film, if you didn't know).

All in all I thought the whole thing was brilliant and HIGHLY recommend seeing it, you truly will not regret it.
 
Xfujinon said:
I would say that anyone saying the plot is too simplistic or a rehash of Dances With Wolves is probably oversimplifying matters. There are blatant similarities, but the story is folded into the film well enough without requiring a person to make large leaps into the supposed nuances of the plot, characters, etc.
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I agree and that's why I said even though it was similar I didn't really see that as too much of a negative. It was a unique telling of that kind of theme with a totally unique setting, and it was very well done.
 
coolmacguy said:
I agree and that's why I said even though it was similar I didn't really see that as too much of a negative. It was a unique telling of that kind of theme with a totally unique setting, and it was very well done.
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It is a exact ripoff of Dances with Wolves...even down to making the aliens behave like indians

They ONLY difference was that it had alien'ness to it. That's it. Otherwise, the story is identical

No innovation in story telling at all
 
dukebound85 said:
It is a exact ripoff of Dances with Wolves...even down to making the aliens behave like indians

They ONLY difference was that it had alien'ness to it. That's it. Otherwise, the story is identical

No innovation in story telling at all
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Except Kevin Costner and the "Washitchu" weren't trying to mine anything from under the indians. And the main character didn't save the girl to start the love affair. And Kevin Costner didn't convince the indians to allow other white folk into their camps. And there wasn't several other traitorous white folk that joined the indians along with Kevin to win the battle. And Kevin and the indians didn't have dragon like creatures to use in battle. And Kevin and those other non-existent traitorous white folk and the indians didn't end up driving all of the white people out of their land in the end.... and so on.

I'm wondering if you even saw Dances with Wolves or if you're just trying to relate them because the aliens in Avatar sounded like indians. :rolleyes: :D

BTW I thought it was a great movie. Sucked cuz I had to use the bathroom the whole time but waiting was worth it.
 
lostprophet894 said:
Except Kevin Costner and the "Washitchu" weren't trying to mine anything from under the indians. And the main character didn't save the girl to start the love affair. And Kevin Costner didn't convince the indians to allow other white folk into their camps. And there wasn't several other traitorous white folk that joined the indians along with Kevin to win the battle. And Kevin and the indians didn't have dragon like creatures to use in battle. And Kevin and those other non-existent traitorous white folk and the indians didn't end up driving all of the white people out of their land in the end.... and so on.

I'm wondering if you even saw Dances with Wolves or if you're just trying to relate them because the aliens in Avatar sounded like indians. :rolleyes: :D

BTW I thought it was a great movie. Sucked cuz I had to use the bathroom the whole time but waiting was worth it.
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Yes I have seen it, I own it. The story is the same being that he is an outsider who learns the way of the locals to only fall in love with the culture and then identifies with that culture over his own

heck, i can redo Jurassic park or any movie but keep the same story but with minor twists as well. Not hard when the story has already been done:rolleyes:
 
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