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[ArachosiA 78]

I've seen Avatar twice now and will be going again this weekend. Even though I am severely disappointed by the lack of character development (which is something I never would have expected from Cameron), the movie as a whole is just an incredible experience, and one that I need to see in the theater as many times as possible.

I think the wait for the sequel might be even more agonizing than the wait for the first movie. Well, at least it shouldn't take 12 years this time...

 

[hirokazu]

Someone eat this guys eyes for jujubes, please. Yes, I love Avatar because I FORCED MYSELF TOO so that MY SOUL WONT BE CRUSHED...

...


... :lol :lol :lol

:lol

I'm forcing myself to want to watch it a third time.

 

[Solo]

I think the wait for the sequel might be even more agonizing than the wait for the first movie.

Theres no way it wont be. I mean, with the first, no one even knew what to expect, or if Cameron had lost his damn mind :lol Next time, there will be MASSIVE hype and anticipation.

:lol

I'm forcing myself to want to watch it a third time.

Ive forced myself to watch it twice already, and Im thinking Ill probably force myself to watch it another 2-3 times before it leaves theatres.

Goddamn myself for being such a masochist!

 

[hirokazu]

I've seen Avatar twice now and will be going again this weekend. Even though I am severely disappointed by the lack of character development (which is something I never would have expected from Cameron), the movie as a whole is just an incredible experience, and one that I need to see in the theater as many times as possible.

I think the wait for the sequel might be even more agonizing than the wait for the first movie. Well, at least it shouldn't take 12 years this time...

What's the word on a sequel? While I'd very much like to see more of Pandora, this just seems like a film that should remain as a standalone.

But I guess if there is ever a spin-off or sequel proper, it'd only be right for Cameron to do it. I'd hate to see other people doing their thing with what he's created and messing it all up. Like Terminator. D:

 

[StuBurns]

Cameron said giving up the rights to Terminator was his biggest regret. No one is making Avatar 2 other than Cameron

 

[Kaako]

Saw it again last night @ RealD3D AMC theater this time. Totally worth it and had a freaking blast. I love me some Pandora. Again, claps at the end of the screening once that ugly green AVATAR logo hit the screen. I'm definitely seeing it again at IMAX 3D though; third time's a charm haha.

 

[Lavpa Jasai]

Ok so my friends and I were discussing this after the movie (which I LOVED btw).

I'll spoiler JUST IN CASE.

Spoiler

Bascially, we were divided on whether the Na'vi, knew Jake was an Avatar in the very beginning or not.

I thought he was, b/c they referred him to as a "dream walker" and saying that they never had a warrior "dream walker" sent to them before. They also said somthing about being able to smell his alien smell, and that he was not supposed to be at their home.

But on the other side, he said he was from the "Jarhead" clan, then it showed him telling the main army general "scarface" guy who said somthing like "They believed you? LOL".
Implying that they Na'vi thought he was just from a different clan.

I'm also confused as to why they accepted him so openly, and just decided to teach a "alien warrior" all their like secrets and ways of life.

Im not sure if this has been discussed yet, but it was something we were divided on and I was wondering what the consensus is.

It was early in the movie and we were still getting used to the 3-d I think so we weren't entirely attentive for the most part.

 

[StuBurns]

Ok so my friends and I were discussing this after the movie (which I LOVED btw).

I'll spoiler JUST IN CASE.

Spoiler

Bascially, we were divided on whether the Na'vi, knew Jake was an Avatar in the very beginning or not.

I'm pretty stunned you all didn't think it was very clear. Yeah, they knew.

 

[BattlestarDT]

My b for trolling earlier, so I'll try to discuss this like an adult

I don't think there should even be an argument happening about whether TDK or Avatar is better. TDK had awesomely portrayed heroes and villains, with a story that could match it.

Avatar had an evil corporation, war-mongering marine, evil PMC, natives who are "close" to the land so we can learn from them, and scientists (who bitch about the corporation who funds them, so don't work for them) that are ignored so profiteers can rape the land. Also, I'm a bleeding heart liberal, but in the real world,so the way the plot was hammed up had me rolling my eyes every time one of the characters spoke.

In addition to this, the movie was way to linear/formulaic. In my experience, sometimes half of the fun of a movie comes from standard way a plot will unfold, knowing that things are being driven towards a big climax at the end, but it has to be supplemented by characters and a theme that can rise above the standard 3 acts. Even if Avatar had this, the climax was unsatisfying for me because it happened exactly how it happens in every movie, which again, could be forgiven if their were other redeeming qualities but Avatar has none.

 

[Joel Was Right]

About 5 years ago we went on a school field trip to the IMAX here in London. The screen was twice the height of a double-decker bus. We put on a 3D glasses and they were running trailers in 3D (although of not real movies, but more like a tech-demo). When I saw the T-Rex look back and charge, opening his mouth which came out of the screen to the point my head was in it's mouth, I literally hit my head on the back of the rail behind me. That was amazing.

Fast forward to last week, watching this CGI movie directed in 3D, and I struggle to remember anything particularly amazing about the 3D. The depth of field hurt my eyes at the start and my eyes adapted, it was still subtle.

What are people's views overall on the 3D effect because I'm not sure of all these glowing reviews here are specifically related to that or the movie's special effects in general?

 

[genjiZERO]

Just sawr it last night. My 2p:

STORY: I thought it was borderline offensive. Far too reminiscent of the cliche "military White man stuck in an exotic environment, goes native, bangs the chief's daughter, discovers the profundity of their religion, realizes the evils of his former culture, but still believing in the might of their superior technology rouses his new culture to fight against the inevitable onslaught. For examples see: Shogun, Dances With Wolves, A Man Called Horse, The Last Samurai, Pocahontas, Seven Years in Tibet, etc.

ACTING: Sufficient, but not particularly interesting. I thought Sigourney Weaver was surprisingly unbelievable. The animated characters were pretty good, but they had the benefit of exaggeration.

DIRECTING: Pretty awesome. Great tempo, great scenes... don't know what else to say. Just really tight and professional.

CHARACTER AND WORLD DESIGN: Am I the only person who thought that the Navi looked like less hairy Ronso from FF10? In fact, I thought the movies was vaguely reminiscent of Final Fantasy X in specific, and Final Fantasy in general. After the movie my brother told me it reminded him of a cross between Final Fantasy and Halo. I couldn't have agreed more. This isn't a problem at all. In fact I think it's pretty awesome.

ANIMATION: 3D was incredibly immersive. It really sucks you into the film. I wish they'dve increased the brightness of the image because the glasses dimmed it a little bit. 3D technology isn't perfect though. Sometimes it looked like a bunch of 2D images juxtaposed in succession. The Uncanny Valley isn't perfect at all, but it comes the closest to bridging the gap than any other film I've ever seen (that uses CGI extensively). I should note that these subtle criticisms only really bothered me at the beginning of the film, and that I forgot about them pretty quickly.

SUMMARY: Although the the story is wretched, and the characters are rather bland, the film is a technological marvel that is a wonderful springboard for what films may become.

 

[Solo]

My b for trolling earlier, so I'll try to discuss this like an adult.

if their were other redeeming qualities but Avatar has none.

Fail.

 

[hirokazu]

Ok so my friends and I were discussing this after the movie (which I LOVED btw).

I'll spoiler JUST IN CASE.

Spoiler

Bascially, we were divided on whether the Na'vi, knew Jake was an Avatar in the very beginning or not.

I thought he was, b/c they referred him to as a "dream walker" and saying that they never had a warrior "dream walker" sent to them before. They also said somthing about being able to smell his alien smell, and that he was not supposed to be at their home.

But on the other side, he said he was from the "Jarhead" clan, then it showed him telling the main army general "scarface" guy who said somthing like "They believed you? LOL".
Implying that they Na'vi thought he was just from a different clan.

I'm also confused as to why they accepted him so openly, and just decided to teach a "alien warrior" all their like secrets and ways of life.

Im not sure if this has been discussed yet, but it was something we were divided on and I was wondering what the consensus is.

It was early in the movie and we were still getting used to the 3-d I think so we weren't entirely attentive for the most part.

Spoiler

The "Jarhead" clan bit wasn't him trying to pretend he was one of them. He took them for savages at the start and he assumed they wouldn't understand if he were to use some other English term because they had no equivalent.

Like if you were trying to explain something about your own culture that's very different to someone else's, you naturally try to simplify it a bit and explain it using analogies they do understand.

He initially said he was a marine, but they didn't quite understand, so he quickly said he was a warrior, Jarhead clan is accurate in a way.

 

[Solo]

What are people's views overall on the 3D effect because I'm not sure of all these glowing reviews here are specifically related to that or the movie's special effects in general?

The 3D is not the revelation in Avatar. The special effects and art direction are. I stopped noticed the 3D stuff after about 25 minutes. This movie would play just as well in 2D, if not better due to the more accurate colorization.

 

[Lavpa Jasai]

I'm pretty stunned you all didn't think it was very clear. Yeah, they knew.

Like I said, alot of us thought he was for sure, but the Jarhead thing kinda thru it off, but yeah someone further down explained that and it makes better sense.

 

[BattlestarDT]

Fail.

I think you mean that I forgot to say the CGI stuff? It was pretty sick, I thought that goes without saying, but looking at a really really good graphics for 3 hours doesn't count as a redeeming quality for me.

For reference look at how many CGI shots TDK had, very few if you are counting

 

[Dabookerman]

The 3D is not the revelation in Avatar. The special effects and art direction are. I stopped noticed the 3D stuff after about 25 minutes. This movie would play just as well in 2D, if not better due to the more accurate colorization.

I hope your right. I really enjoyed a lot of the 3D

 

[Arthrus]

The 3D is not the revelation in Avatar. The special effects and art direction are. I stopped noticed the 3D stuff after about 25 minutes. This movie would play just as well in 2D, if not better due to the more accurate colorization.

I thought the 3D was extremely well done. The fact that it was never a distraction is a good thing. Putting in stuff that really shows off the fact that it's 3D is a big turnoff imo.

 

[StuBurns]

The 3D is not the revelation in Avatar. The special effects and art direction are. I stopped noticed the 3D stuff after about 25 minutes. This movie would play just as well in 2D, if not better due to the more accurate colorization.

I really disagree with this, I don't think the film would be nearly as powerful in 2D, although I never stopped noticing the 3D.

Yesterday I went with my family and my sister was really unhappy with the 3D, she said it's not worth the image quality loss so she's going to see it in 2D.

 

[JGS]

I really disagree with this, I don't think the film would be nearly as powerful in 2D, although I never stopped noticing the 3D.

Yesterday I went with my family and my sister was really unhappy with the 3D, she said it's not worth the image quality loss so she's going to see it in 2D.

Going by the HD trailer alone on the offical web site, I must say I liked the sharpness of it, so my next viewing is probably going to be 2D just so I know for sure.

 

[artist]

MovieTickets.com is reporting that as of 4 p.m. PT, Avatar is responsible for 68 percent of sales, while it boasts 66 percent on Fandango.com.

That figure was in the 70s last week, so sub 10% drop BERIEVE.

Spoiler

Not a lock yet, so hold your horses

 

[Solo]

I hope your right. I really enjoyed a lot of the 3D

I thought the 3D was extremely well done. The fact that it was never a distraction is a good thing. Putting in stuff that really shows off the fact that it's 3D is a big turnoff imo.

I really disagree with this, I don't think the film would be nearly as powerful in 2D, although I never stopped noticing the 3D.

Yesterday I went with my family and my sister was really unhappy with the 3D, she said it's not worth the image quality loss so she's going to see it in 2D.

Guys, I never said the 3D is bad or detracts from the movie :lol It isnt and it doesnt. Its the intended experience for the movie, and Ive enjoyed the hell out of seeing it in 3D each time. Im just saying that the 3D is for the most part so subtle that I stop noticing or caring about it after a while, and feel the movie will lose little in 2D.

 

[StuBurns]

Guys, I never said the 3D is bad or detracts from the movie :lol It isnt and it doesnt.

I didn't mean to imply you did, you said it'd work the same, or better in 2D, I was just saying I disagree.

 

[QuadCore]

Just saw the movie last night in IMAX 3D. Was amazing. Would love to see it again. I hope it beats out Titanic.

 

[jett]

You'd definitely be able to notice the detail in the CG better without those stupid ass glasses darkening and softening up the picture.

I'll wait for the blu-ray until I watch this in 2D though.

 

[artist]

Guys, I never said the 3D is bad or detracts from the movie :lol It isnt and it doesnt. Its the intended experience for the movie, and Ive enjoyed the hell out of seeing it in 3D each time. Im just saying that the 3D is for the most part so subtle that I stop noticing or caring about it after a while, and feel the movie will lose little in 2D.

I'm with Solo on this one. I didnt think Avatar did anything revolutionary or even evolutionary in terms of 3D, some scenes were awesome in 3D but the whole experience wasnt on the same level. In short, I might go for my next viewing in 2D. James Cameron is one smart SOB. :lol

 

[Kaako]

You'd definitely be able to notice the detail in the CG better without those stupid ass glasses darkening and softening up the picture.

I'll wait for the blu-ray until I watch this in 2D though.

Better yet, crisp clean 1080P 3D version with 3D HDTV & special 3D glasses. I know Sony just partnered up with RealD for special 3D glasses for their 3D HDTVs next year. If they prove to be the real deal and actual deliver on the picture and the smoothness of the 3D picture, then that will be real exciting imo. I think decent 3D playback will be like blu-ray is today in 2-4 years latest.

 

[Solo]

I'm with Solo on this one. I didnt think Avatar did anything revolutionary or even evolutionary in terms of 3D, some scenes were awesome in 3D but the whole experience wasnt on the same level. In short, I might go for my next viewing in 2D. James Cameron is one smart SOB. :lol

Like I said, while the 3D wasnt mindblowing for me, the bar-raising CG and motion capture were, as was the art design from top to bottom. Most awesome and fully realized fantasy world ever.

 

[koam]

I went to see Avatar blindly, without seeing any footage. Not a trailer, I didn't know what the story was about, I didn't even know there were humans, I thought it was all blue people. I just saw the second trailer now and I'm so happy that I didn't see that before the movie. It was great not having a clue as to what would happen.

while the 3D wasnt mindblowing for me

The windows and plastic in 3D were fucking amazing. So was the 3d fog. I've seen a ton of 3D movies before Avatar.

 

[Truant]

So is the theme the same thing that Leona Lewis sings? I really like the chorus of that song, some clever modulations and stuff. I can't really remember it from the actual film though. Maybe if they emphasized it a bit more?

 

[Zeliard]

It’s been mentioned before but when Jake and Neytiri are both

Spoiler

flying with their Banshees

it is indeed a great scene (so is when

Spoiler

Jake is making the bond with it)

, but the moment when Neytiri gets

Spoiler

excited and jumps on her Banshee

– absolute magic!

My favorite scene in the movie.

 

[Solo]

I guess, in brief, Avatar:
- still hasnt sold me on 3D as something that will change the game in a huge way
- has COMPLETELY convinced me that we are now at a time when ANYTHING can be made with CG and look REAL; Pandora, its creatures and especially the Navi are staggering achievements
- has made me appreciate James Cameron 5x more than I previously did

 

[Macattk15]

Completely lost.

This movie is playing on 3 screens at a local theater.

One is Digital Projection, one is Real D 3D, the other is RWC/DVS.

What the hell are these? Are they all in 3D? Or is only t he Real D 3D?

 

[Kaako]

My favorite scene in the movie.

Same for me. The music and the camera angles were just awesome. It made me want to

Spoiler

ride a banshee

so bad lol.

 

[zoukka]

I won't probably pay for 3D movies in the future. Avatar didn't do anything with it to justify the extra cost. Especially when the tech is a double edged sword.

- has COMPLETELY convinced me that we are now at a time when ANYTHING can be made with CG and look REAL; Pandora, its creatures and especially the Navi are staggering achievements

Heh I doubt CGI will reach full "real look" in my life time. We're not even close.

 

[Combine]

It's weird, I too was one who was saying the music was completely forgettable after seeing the film. But for some reason, I'm enjoying listening to the soundtrack and finding it's pretty good. I wonder if maybe I was just too damn absorbed into the film (especially the visuals) that I was just not paying attention to it?

Yeah, the wait for the sequel will be agonizing as was said, more so than for the first one since we didn't know what to expect. I wonder if Cameron is surprised at what people are wanting more of (Jake/Neytiri interactions/romance, Pandora explorations)?

Anyway, at least in the interim before the sequels come, there's still the novel and then the Extended Edition home release, and we've already caught a glimpse of many scenes that will hopefully be included into that release (

Spoiler

I'd really hope the attack on Hell's Gate is released, it seemed from the B-roll footage that they did put some considerable effort into it (destroying the ops center set, etc.). I do remember the scene with the humans walking toward the Valkyrie and seeing a LOT of injured people

).

 

[Defcon]

So is the theme the same thing that Leona Lewis sings? I really like the chorus of that song, some clever modulations and stuff. I can't really remember it from the actual film though. Maybe if they emphasized it a bit more?

Yeah, it is. The theme was in there but used sparingly.

 

[Solo]

Heh I doubt CGI will reach full "real look" in my life time. We're not even close.

Realistic humans? No, we're nowheres near close (see: the laughably bad Arnie in Terminator Salvation).

Everything else? Yes. The Navi dont exist, so theres no alarms going off in my head saying "that doesnt look right!". The CG and especially mo-cap that puts Zoe Saldana's performance up there onscreen as Neytiri is 200% believable for me. Its not like Episode 1 where Jar Jar sticks out as obvious CG. When I see Neytiri, I see the character, not the tech, which never even crosses my mind while watching. As far as Im concerned, for those 150 minutes, the Navi are real.

Same thing with Pandora itself. 100% fake, yet 100% believable.

 

[Dabookerman]

Guys, I never said the 3D is bad or detracts from the movie :lol It isnt and it doesnt. Its the intended experience for the movie, and Ive enjoyed the hell out of seeing it in 3D each time. Im just saying that the 3D is for the most part so subtle that I stop noticing or caring about it after a while, and feel the movie will lose little in 2D.

I'm saying I hope you're right, and that I'm satisfied with it in 2D with the day one purchase of the Blu Ray.

 

[zoukka]

Yeah vegetation and inanimate objects are pretty good nowadays (not perfect), but anything that animates and moves is off still. The characters always need to rely on heavy theatric movements.

 

[StuBurns]

Realistic humans? No, we're nowheres near close (see: the laughably bad Arnie in Terminator Salvation).

Everything else? Yes. The Navi dont exist, so theres no alarms going off in my head saying "that doesnt look right!". The CG and especially mo-cap that puts Zoe Saldana's performance up there onscreen as Neytiri is 200% believable for me. Its not like Episode 1 where Jar Jar sticks out as obvious CG. When I see Neytiri, I see the character, not the tech, which never even crosses my mind while watching. As far as Im concerned, for those 150 minutes, the Navi are real.

Same thing with Pandora itself. 100% fake, yet 100% believable.

I pretty much agree with this. I saw Neytiri as real, you can see Zoe in her face and movements. It's no different to me than makeup at this point. And this has been the first time that's been true. Above anything Avatar does, it's 'performance capture' for me is by far the biggest thing.

 

[Solo]

Its too bad that WETA circa 2009 didnt do the LOTR movies instead of WETA circa 2001.

It's no different to me than makeup at this point. And this has been the first time that's been true.

Thats a BINGO! That we've finally had a movie in which CG feels like nothing more than makeup and costuming is saying something.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Yeah vegetation and inanimate objects are pretty good nowadays (not perfect), but anything that animates and moves is off still. The characters always need to rely on heavy theatric movements.

It was the nuance in the Na'vi performances that made them real, especially in the faces. Nothing theatrical about it.

 

[Blackhead]

About 5 years ago we went on a school field trip to the IMAX here in London. The screen was twice the height of a double-decker bus. We put on a 3D glasses and they were running trailers in 3D (although of not real movies, but more like a tech-demo). When I saw the T-Rex look back and charge, opening his mouth which came out of the screen to the point my head was in it's mouth, I literally hit my head on the back of the rail behind me. That was amazing.

Fast forward to last week, watching this CGI movie directed in 3D, and I struggle to remember anything particularly amazing about the 3D. The depth of field hurt my eyes at the start and my eyes adapted, it was still subtle.

What are people's views overall on the 3D effect because I'm not sure of all these glowing reviews here are specifically related to that or the movie's special effects in general?

That's why I liked it so much It promises much for other movies that aren't about action (not just hipster indie stuff hur hur, but also mainstream romcoms). To be honest, if I wanted TRex 3D action I more likely to go to an amusement park than a cinema...

 

[Amalthea]

Somehow the story of an early Queen song named My Fairy King reminds me of Avatars plot...

My Fairy King (YouTube)

In the land where horses born with eagle wings
And honey bees have lost their stings
Theres singing forever
Lions den with fallow deer
And rivers made from wine so clear
Flow on and on forever
Dragons fly like sparrows thru the air
And baby lambs where samson dares
To go on on on on on on

[first voice] [second voice]
My fairy king can see things he rules the air and turns the tides
That are not there for you and me ohh yeah he guides the winds

My fairy king can do right and nothing wrong
Then came man to savage in the night
To run like thieves and to kill like knives
To take away the power from the magic hand
To bring about the ruin to the promised land

They turn the milk into sour
Like the blue in the blood of my veins
Why cant you see it
Fire burnin in hell with the cry of screaming pain
Son of heaven set me free and let me go
Sea turn dry no salt from sand
Teeth dont shine like pearls for the poor mans eyes

Someone someone has drained the colour from my wings
Broken my fairy circle ring
And shamed the king in all his pride
Changed the winds and wronged the tides
Mother mercury (mercury)
Look what theyve done to me
I cannot run I cannot hide

 

[jonnybryce]

Ok so my friends and I were discussing this after the movie (which I LOVED btw).

I'll spoiler JUST IN CASE.

Spoiler

Bascially, we were divided on whether the Na'vi, knew Jake was an Avatar in the very beginning or not.

I thought he was, b/c they referred him to as a "dream walker" and saying that they never had a warrior "dream walker" sent to them before. They also said somthing about being able to smell his alien smell, and that he was not supposed to be at their home.

But on the other side, he said he was from the "Jarhead" clan, then it showed him telling the main army general "scarface" guy who said somthing like "They believed you? LOL".
Implying that they Na'vi thought he was just from a different clan.

I'm also confused as to why they accepted him so openly, and just decided to teach a "alien warrior" all their like secrets and ways of life.

Im not sure if this has been discussed yet, but it was something we were divided on and I was wondering what the consensus is.

It was early in the movie and we were still getting used to the 3-d I think so we weren't entirely attentive for the most part.

This was my issue with the film. If they did know, then how the fuck does

Spoiler

teaching him everything about them

make any sense, seriously.

The movie is very pretty. I've said it before, the forest looked great, the Na'Vi did too and the beasts were the best effects I have ever seen. But if not for the effects, the movie would lose a lot of points with me. The story was very generic, some parts made little sense, the soundtrack not as great as it should be, characters never seem to grow into anything more than what they were when we met them and it's long for the sake of being long. I'd still give it an 8.5, but this is no masterpiece movie.

 

[Solo]

This was my issue with the film. If they did know, then how the fuck does

Spoiler

teaching him everything about them

make any sense, seriously.

This was explicitly stated. They had never had a "warrior" dream-walker before, and they wanted to learn from him. Its not so different from Quarritch's idea, minus the malovelent intentions. While Jake was learning the Navi ways, they were learning from him.

 

[TacticalFox88]

Realistic humans? No, we're nowheres near close (see: the laughably bad Arnie in Terminator Salvation).

.

People said Cameron wouldn't get close look how that turned out. What I'm saying is we can't predict technology. I mean the 00's has proved that in spades. I give it 15-20 years.

 

[StuBurns]

This was explicitly stated. They had never had a "warrior" dream-walker before, and they wanted to learn from him. Its not so different from Quarritch's idea, minus the malovelent intentions. While Jake was learning the Navi ways, they were learning from him.

I was thinking about this and it probably helped he was a 'warrior', as the Na'vi are.

 

[Solo]

I was thinking about this and it probably helped he was a 'warrior', as the Na'vi are.

It most certainly did. They were seemingly going to kill him before he mentioned that.

The Jarhead Clan :lol