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Rottenwatch: AVATAR (82%)

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the movie does have a very, very generic story and corny lines. I was surprised at all the overwhelmingly positive reviews actually. All that stuff really didn't bother me, but I'm sure it won't sit well with all critics.
 
DanielPlainview said:
the movie does have a very, very generic story and corny lines. I was surprised at all the overwhelmingly positive reviews actually. All that stuff really didn't bother me, but I'm sure it won't sit well with all critics.
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im sure the worst of the negative reviews are not over...

and im surpised so many people think Ebert will trash it, he has always been a supportor of the "Hollywood Blockbuster" as long as its well made. I mean he even gave the SW prequels good reviews.
 
rhino4evr said:
and im surpised so many people think Ebert will trash it, he has always been a supportor of the "Hollywood Blockbuster" as long as its well made. I mean he even gave the SW prequels good reviews.
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I think they're just going by Ebert's less than enthusiastic response to the 15 minute preview. But if I'd have to guess, I'd predict he'll at least give a somewhat positive review to Avatar.
 
Father_Brain said:
Of course he's worthless - he didn't like the film, after all. Lynch him! No room for legitimate criticism here!
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his review may have legitimate criticism, but from the "early reviews=harry knowles on gozilla" comparison it seems like he's gonna shred the film to pieces.
 
John Dunbar said:
I think they're just going by Ebert's less than enthusiastic response to the 15 minute preview. But if I'd have to guess, I'd predict he'll at least give a somewhat positive review to Avatar.
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I think it largely depends if he sees it in 3D or not. I can see Ebert knocking a full star off just for having to put the glasses on.
CassidyIzABeast said:
his review may have legitimate criticism, but from the "early reviews=harry knowles on gozilla" comparison it seems like he's gonna shred the film to pieces.
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I like the AV Club a great deal, but Scott Tobias is a bit of a snob, IMO.

He also didn't get the memo that the embargo was lifted; most of the reviews are from major outlets like the Hollywood Reporter and Variety, not the enthusiast sites that gush over any genre picture. So in this particular case his comparison is especially way off. (AICN hasn't even reviewed it yet.)
 
If you look on Scott Tobias's Twitter, people, you see that he made sure to point out that he thought that the critics lifting the embargo are expressing 'conspicuously wrong-headed' opinions about it. I don't think he liked it. It's okay if some people don't like it.

On Ebert: He generally likes James Cameron's movies, so I'd say that this will probably get at least 3 stars or 3.5 stars; I would be surprised at a 4 star review (he didn't even give T2 a 4 star review), but I think he'll at least like it because the indications seem to be that even if it's not an amazingly original movie, it is fairly well-done with impressive visuals.
 
denofgeek-3/5

I suppose most people won't be bothered, and they have every right to be blown away by Avatar. It's an event movie worthy of the description. It is packed with the kind of 'wow' moments that blockbusters seldom indulge in any more (coming off a little like Jurassic Park in the process), and the closing hour is defined by a stunning action sequence that is impressive in scale and deft in its direction. It is every bit the technical achievement that Cameron promised it would be. However, there is no dodging its weak, underwhelming story. And I don't go back to rewatch The Terminator, Aliens or T2 time after time for the special effects.
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http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/379539/avatar_review.html

that's how you write criticism

good review
 
GhaleonEB said:
He also didn't get the memo that the embargo was lifted; most of the reviews are from major outlets like the Hollywood Reporter and Variety, not the enthusiast sites that gush over any genre picture. So in this particular case his comparison is especially way off. (AICN hasn't even reviewed it yet.)
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Uh, he specifically mentions Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.
 
FoneBone said:
Uh, he specifically mentions Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.
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I know that. But he's also 1) saying they broke the embargo and 2) comparing them to AICN's Godzilla review. The first is not true, and the second is a bogus comparison.
 
_46898597_008407088.jpg
 
GhaleonEB said:
I think it largely depends if he sees it in 3D or not. I can see Ebert knocking a full star off just for having to put the glasses on.
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Ebert doesn't have an irrational 3D hate. He gave A Christmas Carol and the Polar Express 4 stars, he watched both in 3D.


I really, really, REALLY disagree with his opinion on those movies, but that's another thing. :P
 
Jeffrey Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere, initial thoughts:

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2009/12/a_fine_madness.php

All the energy and the madness and the money are right there on the screen, you bet, and the "yeah, I guess I'll see Avatar but I'm in no real hurry" phase is over. This is too much of an adrenalized eye-popper not to see it as soon as possible, and absolutely in 3D and most desirably in 3D IMAX. (Believe it or not, 20th Century Fox showed it to the creme de la creme of New York journalists in a regular non-IMAX theatre this evening, although the 3D quality was perfectly fine.)

This is probably the goofiest, craziest, super-budgeted CG romper-stomper I've ever seen. A friend said it was three video games rolled into one instead of a movie, which is somewhat true in that the story and action-fantasy elements are aimed at your inner 14 year-old (whom I'd forgotten about until tonight -- now I feel pleasantly re-acquainted).

You can't say Avatar doesn't impart a feeling of delirious abandon and wild-ass splendor. You could call it a kind of visual opera -- a forest-primeval symphonic naturalist hard-on movie that technically knocks you flat, coheres emotionally, isn't afraid to be silly or simplistic, delivers visual CG wonder like nothing I've ever seen before (really) and pays off like a gotterdammerung Apocalypse Now meets Tarzan meets the best-special-effects-flick-you've-ever-seen insanity ride. The two and a half hours just fly by, and the last 30 minutes alone -- a truly nutty extended battle sequence -- are worth the price.
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Don't always agree with Wells, but overall usually am in line with his thinking. Sounds like it is, if nothing else, a masterfully executed thrill ride, which is all I need from my James Cameron films.
 
polyh3dron said:
If that review was written by devin faraci then that is the most glorious crow feast yet.
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Its not

I wouldn't be surprised if Devin hasnt been invited to any press screenings at all
 
I finally made it back home. I woke up this morning from the shitty motel and my entire car was covered in snow and couldn't see a single thing. Took us over 5 hours to get 60 miles.

Well, I'm at work now and can answer ANY Avatar-related questions. Unfortunately I still do have an embargo for the review.
 
jett said:
Ebert doesn't have an irrational 3D hate. He gave A Christmas Carol and the Polar Express 4 stars, he watched both in 3D.

I really, really, REALLY disagree with his opinion on those movies, but that's another thing. :P
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I didn't realize he'd seen both in 3D - I take back my comment then. I read him bitching about 3D in the not-in-3D Princess and the Frog revew, and figured it was just his warm up lap for Avatar. :lol

RT has 15 reviews listed, still only one rotten, though they have only 13 of them counted in the meter so far.

Edit: Wasn't CHUD tearing into Avatar for the past year?
 
DevelopmentArrested said:
wait so if you don't completely fellate the movie you're an attention whore? what the fuck? some people aren't going to like it; deal with it.
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The AV club article was laughable for obvious reasons that have already been posted. AICN didn't break the embargo and to compare this to Emmerich's Godzilla is trollish at best. Such an equivalent comparison in the gaming forum here would get that poster banned easily. As for the attention whore thing, in the days of discourse on the intertubes one can get lots of attention and more importantly, hits on their website by posting a contrarian viewpoint on something. The more outlandish the viewpoint, the more feathers you ruffle, the more hits you get, PROFIT!!

This isn't exactly new.
 
DevelopmentArrested said:
wait so if you don't completely fellate the movie you're an attention whore? what the fuck? some people aren't going to like it; deal with it.
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Yeah, this trend is really pissing me off. DouchebagGAF in full force.
 
polyh3dron said:
As for the attention whore thing, in the days of discourse on the intertubes one can get lots of attention and more importantly, hits on their website by posting a contrarian viewpoint on something.
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The AV Club is about the last site liable to do that. They're quality. Champ.
 
polyh3dron said:
The AV club article was laughable for obvious reasons that have already been posted. AICN didn't break the embargo and to compare this to Emmerich's Godzilla is trollish at best. Such an equivalent comparison in the gaming forum here would get that poster banned easily. As for the attention whore thing, in the days of discourse on the intertubes one can get lots of attention and more importantly, hits on their website by posting a contrarian viewpoint on something. The more outlandish the viewpoint, the more feathers you ruffle, the more hits you get, PROFIT!!

This isn't exactly new.
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A) He didn't compare Avatar to Godzilla. He compared the review zeitgeist.. the hype factor ala GTA4 where everyone is completely infatuated with the movie only to end up regretting it later on.

B) I'm not sure how posting a passing tweet on one editor's twitter page is attention whoring.. quite a reach there. What is he getting hits on A/V club because of one tweet? No.

C) I fail to see how this is contrarian at all. If a movie is at 95% and Armond White gives it a negative review after all reviews are in. That is contrarian. The verdict is still out on Avatar.

D) This 'durr Haters gon hate" meme is tired as fuck and happens with EVERYTHING now. Not everyone is going to like this movie; they are not a troll or whore if they don't. Sorry.
 
The hype this movie got was astounding. It could never possibly live up to the hype. It was impossible. Face it, most people don't care about 3D and the general consensus is that the story is a bit shit, therefore Avatar has already failed to live up to the hype. Also, it's a sci-fi geek movie, it doesn't have a broad enough appeal. What exactly does it offer then?

It won't bomb, but it won't be seen as a big success either, which means that in context of its build up, it will be seen as a failure (if that makes any sense).

Yet, anybody who doesn't like this film is wrong and a complete and utter cunt... Riiiiiiiiiight.
 
liquid_gears said:
The hype this movie got was astounding. It could never possibly live up to the hype. It was impossible. Face it, most people don't care about 3D and the general consensus is that the story is a bit shit, therefore Avatar has already failed to live up to the hype. Also, it's a sci-fi geek movie, it doesn't have a broad enough appeal. What exactly does it offer then?

It won't bomb, but it won't be seen as a big success either, which means that in context of its build up, it will be seen as a failure (if that makes any sense).

Yet, anybody who doesn't like this film is wrong and a complete and utter cunt... Riiiiiiiiiight.
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WOW..WTF?

you haven't even seen this yet, and you are already calling it a massive failure?

EDIT..I would say that the majority of the reviews mention that the film DOES live up to the hype. Do some readin before you do your hatin.
 
http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2009/12/avatar_in_the_r.php

Variety's Todd McCarthy is saying Avatar is essentially all but guaranteed at the Oscars

"As I've been suspecting for a while but have now confirmed, we're looking at an Oscar first," Variety's Todd McCarthy just wrote in a message. "Best Director Battle of the Exes -- Cameron vs. Bigelow."

Hilarious! But he's right, I think. Cameron is now a Best Director contender, along with Avatar for Best Picture and -- believe it -- Zoe Saldana for Best Actress.
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liquid_gears said:
The hype this movie got was astounding. It could never possibly live up to the hype. It was impossible. Face it, most people don't care about 3D and the general consensus is that the story is a bit shit, therefore Avatar has already failed to live up to the hype. Also, it's a sci-fi geek movie, it doesn't have a broad enough appeal. What exactly does it offer then?

It won't bomb, but it won't be seen as a big success either, which means that in context of its build up, it will be seen as a failure (if that makes any sense).

Yet, anybody who doesn't like this film is wrong and a complete and utter cunt... Riiiiiiiiiight.
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It's not that extreme... Also if people enjoyed this movie so much the story can't be shit. How you deliver a story can be very important, you know? :) If you really read the reviews you should see that most reviewers don't see it as a sci-fi-geek movie. The overall story (from what I know) seems to have a very broad appeal, imo.
 
liquid_gears said:
The hype this movie got was astounding. It could never possibly live up to the hype. It was impossible. Face it, most people don't care about 3D and the general consensus is that the story is a bit shit, therefore Avatar has already failed to live up to the hype. Also, it's a sci-fi geek movie, it doesn't have a broad enough appeal. What exactly does it offer then?

It won't bomb, but it won't be seen as a big success either, which means that in context of its build up, it will be seen as a failure (if that makes any sense).

Yet, anybody who doesn't like this film is wrong and a complete and utter cunt... Riiiiiiiiiight.
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Once again, excessive justification for disliking something. Most of your points are wrong too btw.
 
smarties00 said:
Anyone listen to Kermode this afternoon? Did he review AVATAR?
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He's watching it tonight.

Can't wait for Kermode's impressions. The man's blessing means it's frikkin' good.

He's damn harsh on films :lol

CassidyIzABeast said:
chud.com review

Masterpiece

Pronunciation: \ˈmas-tər-ˌpēs\
Function: noun
Date: 1600

1 : a work done with extraordinary skill; especially : a supreme intellectual or artistic achievement

If you want to go by the definition above at its most cut and dry, Avatar could be considered James Cameron's masterpiece.
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http://chud.com/articles/articles/21826/1/REVIEW-AVATAR/Page1.html

9.2 out of 10
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:D
 
rhino4evr said:
WOW..WTF?

you haven't even seen this yet, and you are already calling it a massive failure?

EDIT..I would say that the majority of the reviews mention that the film DOES live up to the hype. Do some readin before you do your hatin.
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Did you read his post or just see the word "failure" more than once?
 
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