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[Lyonaz]

The charge is included in the price of the ticket.

 

[Solo]

Yes, its universal. Why do you think studios are pushing 3D so hard? They can charge more and piracy isnt yet possible. Its included in the ticket price, FYI.

Here in Canada, I pay $9.99 for 35mm and $13.99 for 3D, so here its actually $4 more.

 

[Wes]

I'm in the UK for those suddenly panicking about glasses.

On my e-mail confirmation they pointed out that the showing of 3D avatar at this certain cinema didn't include price of glasses.

But here you keep the glasses rather than give it back at the end.

 

[chubigans]

Huh, they only charge $8 in my city for RealD. Suddenly I'm suspicious.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

Yeah dudes, movie tickets are fucking expensive nowadays.
When I was in middle school I would go to the movies every friday night, regardless of what was playing and it was like 7.50 a ticket.

 

[shintoki]

Gah, this is the first I've heard of this charge. That cant be universal can it?

Initially it wasn't. Now it is.
Imax is 11$ by me all day long, while normal is 7$ before 5 and 9$ after. Add 3$ on for 3D(Glass Cost! lol).

Not to sound cynical. But why in hell do you think Hollywood has been so supportive of Cameron and 3D.

 

[gdt]

My tickets aren't really all that expensive.

It'll be $10 per on Friday for me.

If I go between 4-6, it's $5.75 (plus $3 for 3D if applicable).

 

[Zeliard]

This Techland review does a beautiful job of explaining Avatar's appeal beyond its technical accomplishments. People wary about the film should give it a read. They actually focus most of the piece on Avatar's technical elements, since they're a tech site, but they nicely convey how Cameron married the tech with the ecology to make viewers feel as if they're essentially visiting an alien planet for over 2 hours.

There were a few times in Avatar when I was on Pandora, in that jungle, at harmony with these new species that don't actually exist. Kinda creepy, actually, if you think about it.

Now I realize that in watching all the film's ads, and those initial confusing trailers, our collective skepticism has been dialed up to 11. We've grown wary about these funky blue aliens, about the value of this “revolutionary” 3-D look, about the convoluted back story required to get us to that blue moon in the Alpha Centauri system. The skepticism is healthy, but as far as I can tell, Cameron has made good on all his bets. We have a movie here built around 9-foot-tall fantasy creatures, but they nevertheless look completely believable and expressive. They exist in a fabricated universe that has all the weight, depth, complexity and diversity that is lacking from just about every other CG universe I've encountered.

There are moments here that rival the newness of the original Star Wars. We start learning about an ecosystem that functions in ways that no Earthly ecosystem could. We come to identify with an entirely new race, the Na'vi, that maneuver, think and love in ways that we don't initially understand. And Cameron, unlike the last George Lucas movies, doesn't sit there and spell it all out in some awful exposition; he uses his 3-D, and his main character, to throw audiences into the thick of things.

And the money shot, for me:

My favorite moment of the entire film isn't an action sequence; it's a nighttime swim in a fluorescent lagoon. The shot lasts maybe two seconds. But the reason I'll be seeing Avatar again – and quite possibly again after that – is not to see anything resembling an attack of the clones, but to get lost in the pulse and pageantry of this intergalactic paradise.

http://techland.com/2009/12/11/avat...s-geek-hopes-pandora-is-the-future-of-movies/

 

[Vinci]

Say what you want about it (I thought it was fairly sappy and clunky), but the Leo/Winslet connection hit a chord with a good many people in that movie. Certainly wasn't all about the visuals for the tons of women (and others) who cried at the end of Titanic.

Yes, the same demographic that is largely supporting Twilight and its sequels. It also helps when you have Leo... This, on the other hand, has blue aliens - which I'm assuming will affect that audience's appreciation of the love story a bit.

I could be wrong in the end, I often am.

 

[Veidt]

I'm in the UK for those suddenly panicking about glasses.

On my e-mail confirmation they pointed out that the showing of 3D avatar at this certain cinema didn't include price of glasses.

But here you keep the glasses rather than give it back at the end.

I'm going Dolby 3D. Does it mean the same will happen to people like me?

 

[RoboPlato]

Yeah, at my theater they charge an extra $3.00.

I'm going RealD, and I'll have to put those over my regular glasses. Apparently the RealD glasses are work fine like that though...

Edit: I've never seen a 3D movie either.

I wear glasses and RealD goes fine over them. It feels a little uncomfortable for about 5 minutes but I usually forget about them.

 

[gdt]

I wear glasses and RealD goes fine over them. It feels a little uncomfortable for about 5 minutes but I usually forget about them.

Ah, thank you!

Alleviated my worries that this movie might be ruined for me.

 

[Zeliard]

Yes, the same demographic that is largely supporting Twilight and its sequels. It also helps when you have Leo... This, on the other hand, has blue aliens - which I'm assuming will affect that audience's appreciation of the love story a bit.

I could be wrong in the end, I often am.

I wasn't saying that the success of Titanic's romantic angle with many people will automatically translate to Avatar. But you said that most were enraptured by Titanic due to the visuals, while I was simply saying that plenty of the love for that movie came due to the romance, whether we agree that it was effective for us or not (I don't, personally).

 

[Vinci]

I wasn't saying that the success of Titanic's romantic angle with many people will automatically translate to Avatar. But you said that most were enraptured by Titanic due to the visuals, while I was simply saying that plenty of the love for that movie came due to the romance, whether we agree that it was effective for us or not (I don't, personally).

Oh, I misread you. Apologies.

 

[shintoki]

Yes, the same demographic that is largely supporting Twilight and its sequels. It also helps when you have Leo... This, on the other hand, has blue aliens - which I'm assuming will affect that audience's appreciation of the love story a bit.

I could be wrong in the end, I often am.

Being fair, What did Batman have? Or even Lord of the Rings? Even though Viggo and Bale are both sexy sexy men. Neither of them really had a love story either unless you want to count Frodo and Sam. Even Transformers 2 if you want to get more into it. All extremely successful without too much of a love story or hot guys.:lol

I think you all are pinning too much focus on it having to have a "love" story as the single factor to get girls to see it. I think Dark Knight is probably the best example, but it was just an extremely gripping thiller. I know allot of females absolutely loved it for that reason...Same with guys. As long as the film is capable of absorbing the watcher. It will do good job in bringing it both sexes.

I also think Twilight is a terrible example. It's like using Rambo for guys. They are pure fan-service movies. 100% concentrated and all.

 

[Vinci]

Being fair, What did Batman have? Or even Lord of the Rings?

Decades of slavish devotion, not to mention some extremely competent writers (in the case of Dark Knight). I give Nolan far more credit writing-wise than I do Cameron. That's not to do a disservice to Cameron's skill as a director, mind you - I'm sold on the guy's direction 100%.

As for Transformers: Giant robots blow shit up with a hot female lead thrown in for good measure.

 

[ymmv]

I just saw Avatar in 3D and I was completely blown away. I was grinning like a madman for a big part of the movie, I was so fucking impressed by it all. This was incredible groundbreaking stuff, visionary moviemaking at its finest. It's the Star Wars for a whole new generation of film goers.

James Cameron is still the king of the world!

 

[Zeliard]

Decades of slavish devotion, not to mention some extremely competent writers (in the case of Dark Knight). I give Nolan far more credit writing-wise than I do Cameron. That's not to do a disservice to Cameron's skill as a director, mind you - I'm sold on the guy's direction 100%.

As for Transformers: Giant robots blow shit up with a hot female lead thrown in for good measure.

I think James Cameron is a much better writer than George Lucas, but both are very similar in that they're extremely imaginative and much better at conjuring up the broad concepts of a movie (we'll disregard the aliens angle in Indy 4 for a moment) than they are at filling out the details on the script (i.e. dialogue).

Kinda wish Cameron would let himself come up with the story, the basic character traits and the world and such but give the majority of the screenwriting reigns to another writer well-versed at aspects like dialogue and minute plot details. Or at least collaborate.

 

[TrAcEr_x90]

I am in such a lame situation!!

I ordered my ticket today for the IMAX 3D midnight. All my friends said theyd go, but of course were taking their time ordering. Well it sold out mid process for my buddy on fandango. So now I have one ticket. should I....

A. Drive all the way down through traffic to the theatre and switch out my IMAX ticket for just the regular 3D screen and buy a few tickets for friends(hopefully if that one isnt sold out also)

B. Or just go by myself. wait like 2 hours in a line by myself? not sure how i feel about going to movies alone or for something like this.

 

[Dan]

Never let it be said that Cameron doesn't go balls-out to make his movies. Interesting story about how he nearly died on the set of The Abyss:


http://techland.com/2009/12/14/james-cameron-almost-died-making-the-abyss/

Complete excerpt when you click on the link.

So George did everything he was trained to do and got fired for it. That doesn't seem right to me.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

I can't decide whether to try the 3D or not. I'm away on holiday without a true IMAX around, so the options are regular RealD or LieMAX (actually, is there a difference?) or just 2D. I'm really torn. But I could decide on a midnight show if I do 3D...

Go LieMAX Dan.

Do NOT see this in 2D. The 3D in the film is used perfectly and adds so much to the experience.

 

[DieNgamers]

So yeah, I was at the pre-premiere in my city. I wasn't blown away. In fact it was a huge disappointment.

The theatre was sold filled, everyone

Spoiler

waiting for the commercials to end....when a guy working there came in to announce that they couldn't get the password in time to actually show it. So it was cancelled ( At least I got tickets for tomorrow. The wait is killing me!!! There were people who came from far away to see it, some were really pissed off.

 

[Vinci]

I think James Cameron is a much better writer than George Lucas, but both are very similar in that they're extremely imaginative and much better at conjuring up the broad concepts of a movie (we'll disregard the aliens angle in Indy 4 for a moment) than they are at filling out the details on the script (i.e. dialogue).

Lucas, circa A New Hope? I'd say they're comparable. Lucas, now? Oh yeah, Cameron tops him easily.

Kinda wish Cameron would let himself come up with the story, the basic character traits and the world and such but give the majority of the screenwriting reigns to another writer well-versed at aspects like dialogue and minute plot details. Or at least collaborate.

Exactly! Which is what I wish Lucas had done with the prequels. I mean, if he wants to fuck up his own universe that's his business - but at least get Kasdan to look over the script and say, "Yeah, that's shit." Same goes for Cameron, really, though to a lesser extent.

 

[gdt]

So yeah, I was at the pre-premiere in my city. I wasn't blown away. In fact it was a huge disappointment.

The theatre was sold filled, everyone

Spoiler

waiting for the commercials to end....when a guy working there came in to announce that they couldn't get the password in time to actually show it. So it was cancelled ( At least I got tickets for tomorrow. The wait is killing me!!! There were people who came from far away to see it, some were really pissed off.

Wow.

WOW.

Sculli would've burned the theater down.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

Tracer, just go by yourself and bring a DS or something.

 

[artist]

So GAF's majority still think this is 2009's King Kong? I still stand by my BO prediction.

 

[LaneDS]

I'm sure it's been asked a number of times in this 52 page thread, but how big of a difference is there between RealD and Imax3D? My ticket tomorrow night is for RealD, which most of the theaters in my area appear to be.

 

[shintoki]

So GAF's majority still think this is 2009's King Kong? I still stand by my BO prediction.

I loved King Kong and still do. If it is, I'll gladly enjoy it.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

I'm sure it's been asked a number of times in this 52 page thread, but how big of a difference is there between RealD and Imax3D? My ticket tomorrow night is for RealD, which most of the theaters in my area appear to be.

Yeah.
Though I haven't actually seen RealD myself the word is that it deals with motion better than IMAX, but that IMAX is better regardless.

 

[gdt]

King Kong was solid and all,

but this better not be no damn King Kong.

 

[silverbullet1080]

Yes, its universal. Why do you think studios are pushing 3D so hard? They can charge more and piracy isnt yet possible. Its included in the ticket price, FYI.

Here in Canada, I pay $9.99 for 35mm and $13.99 for 3D, so here its actually $4 more.

What, they are? Really? It's nothing but a mild novelty. :lol

 

[TrAcEr_x90]

Tracer, just go by yourself and bring a DS or something.

I dont know, im kind of self conscince I guess about seeing movies alone and add in playing a DS in line???(althought i do have chrono trigger for DS!!)

but i guess if i get there early and im at the front of the line, then it wont be to big of a deal

 

[Why For?]

Got my tickets for this for Friday night in 3D. Hope it's good. The reviews seem to be.

And lol at US GAF complaining over movie price tickets. We pay $16AU for adults here.

When I bought my avatar tickets, they told me they dropped the price of tickets by $1 to allow for the $1 they charge for the glasses. :lol

 

[Dan]

Go LieMAX Dan.

Do NOT see this in 2D. The 3D in the film is used perfectly and adds so much to the experience.

This is looking likely. Do LieMAXs still use the IMAX glasses?

 

[Google]

I dont know, im kind of self conscince I guess about seeing movies alone and add in playing a DS in line???(althought i do have chrono trigger for DS!!)

but i guess if i get there early and im at the front of the line, then it wont be to big of a deal

I'm confused as to why you'd need to stand in line for 2 hours if you're on your own?

 

[PSGames]

This is looking likely. Do LieMAXs still use the IMAX glasses?

LiMAX actually has clearer 3D and a brighter 3D image than regular IMAX because it's all digital. They both use the same glasses though if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

I dont know, im kind of self conscince I guess about seeing movies alone and add in playing a DS in line???(althought i do have chrono trigger for DS!!)

but i guess if i get there early and im at the front of the line, then it wont be to big of a deal

It's a scientific fact the DS gets you laid.

 

[jax (old)]

So GAF's majority still think this is 2009's King Kong? I still stand by my BO prediction.

you guys need to see it. I imagine in 2D it'd be another CGI fest and you can walk away.Watch it in 3D, and the way its used. It fucking comes alive. BLEW MY MIND and I still am enraptured by what I think I saw. I'm gonna be watching this again. and again. Loved it so much.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

This is looking likely. Do LieMAXs still use the IMAX glasses?

Well they use IMAX glasses. I say that because they use older IMAX glasses than the true IMAX around here, but regardless the glasses are still decent. They're bulkier than the newer ones, but the lenses are still wide so you have full vision of the screen. That might just be my LieMAX here, yours could use the new IMAX glasses. Either way, it will have IMAX-issue glasses, all of which are decent.

Just don't get given a pair of the yellow kids-sized IMAX glasses. :lol

 

[Zeliard]

Are the audience members ever a visual distraction when you're looking around, or does the 3D completely overwhelm them?

 

[Blader]

I think possibly one of the reasons why a lot of people are reacting sourly to the mere idea of Avatar's story and way that story is told, is because while it's true that Avatar is as "simple" and ham-fisted as every Cameron movie, the problem is the subject matter.

Terminator 1 and 2 may be simple and hammed up but they center around a grim, apocalyptic theme that, frankly, most people seem able to believe in: that humanity is insane and poised to destroy itself. Even the arguably silly theme of killer robots is easier to swallow because Skynet and the Evil Machines seem more like a punishment for sins that the average person can believe are legitimate.

So in short, everyone agrees: humans are insane, nuclear war is a very real threat and just about everyone agrees it is a Bad Thing. Especially considering both films were made so close to the grand finale of the Cold War era.

But Avatar's theme of "humans harm the trees and the chipmunks and cut down magical forests to build strip malls" comes off, at first glance as eye-rolling propaganda from doe-eyed eco warriors. Most people are pretty cynical about "save the earth" messages because we are having such stuff shoved down our throats, and because issues over the environment are important yet not as simplistic or black and white as Nukes are Bad.

In short, "evil greedy humans who displace innocent Native American stand-ins to cut down their magical trees" is a tougher sell than "kiss your ass goodbye, humanity's hobby of stockpiling nukes finally backfired." The Cameron defense force needs to realize this.

That said it's all in the execution. The positive feedback does suggest the film may overcome these issues for a lot of viewers. It's still a tough job though and it may end up failing a lot of people.

You're talking to a brick wall. The Cameron defense force doesn't want subtlety or nuance out of these scripts, otherwise they wouldn't be Cameron fans to begin with.

 

[ymmv]

you guys need to see it. I imagine in 2D it'd be another CGI fest and you can walk away.Watch it in 3D, and the way its used. It fucking comes alive. BLEW MY MIND and I still am enraptured by what I think I saw. I'm gonna be watching this again. and again. Loved it so much.

I never ever see movies a second time but I see myself seeing this two, three times just to experience the movie in 3D again. I've got a big 1080p TV + Blu-Ray player setup at home, it's my favorite place to see movies, but it's not 3D.

I thought 3D was a gimmick but I've seen the light. 3D is the future. The experience is so much richer. It has nothing to do with exaggerated 3D effects like we've seen in the past, it's the feel of another world happening right in front of your eyes that 2D doesn't give you.

Man, I can't stop thinking about Avatar. I loved it sooo much....

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

Are the audience members ever a visual distraction when you're looking around, or does the 3D completely overwhelm them?

Not in IMAX, because of the size of the screen the rows have a much larger vertical drop between them, so you don't even see other audience members unless you look to your left and right.

 

[Zeliard]

Not in IMAX, because of the size of the screen the rows have a much larger vertical drop between them, so you don't even see other audience members unless you look to your left and right.

Sadly, I'm gonna be at a LieMAX. If Avatar is as everyone says, I assume I'll just become so enveloped in what I'm seeing and experiencing, regardless, that I'll forget I have popcorn-chewing humans sitting next to and all around me.

 

[Clevinger]

You're talking to a brick wall. The Cameron defense force doesn't want subtlety or nuance out of these scripts, otherwise they wouldn't be Cameron fans to begin with.

I can understand not expecting it, but why wouldn't you want it?

 

[mjc]

Hmmmm so the IMAX 3D show I bought tickets for last night might turn out to be a LieMAX. The AMC here just opened up this IMAX about a month ago for Where the Wild Things are, and the dimensions are 26.5 feet tall by 50 feet wide, and the screen goes from the floor to ceiling, wall to wall. Comparatively there is a Marcus theater near me that has an Ultrascreen 30 feet tall by 70 feet wide....is this IMAX theater I have tickets for a "LieMAX"?

 

[snaildog]

Where can I see this properly, living in Vancouver? Imax downtown pretty certain not showing it in 3D.

Could I just say that master15 is a really cool guy, knows his shit, likes Pulp Fiction and stuff? Any girls on here, you should start trying to have babies with him. He lives in Vancouver and works as a phone guy. Wow, what a man. Scholar, gentleman, poet, but don't get him angry. A few beers might be his weakness, but with this man, weaknesses are strengths.

He fed me when I was hungry; sheltered me when I was cold; watched Judge Judy with me when nobody else would. The only two men in Canada who like cricket and rugby, how could we not bond? If the world ever comes down the best couple of men in the world being on opposite sides, he would win, though it would be close. There.

 

[Dan]

Hmmmm so the IMAX 3D show I bought tickets for last night might turn out to be a LieMAX. The AMC here just opened up this IMAX about a month ago for Where the Wild Things are, and the dimensions are 26.5 feet tall by 50 feet wide, and the screen goes from the floor to ceiling, wall to wall. Comparatively there is a Marcus theater near me that has an Ultrascreen 30 feet tall by 70 feet wide....is this IMAX theater I have tickets for a "LieMAX"?

Yeah, that's a LieMAX. The other one would be too.

 

[TrAcEr_x90]

I'm confused as to why you'd need to stand in line for 2 hours if you're on your own?

to get the best seat? Once they open the doors it doesnt take long for the middle section to fill up. maybe an hour would suffice.

im most likely leaning more towards cancelling my ticket and then going to another theatre that doesnt do online ticketing, so i have a very good chance of getting tickets there for me and two friends.

 

[jax (old)]

Are the audience members ever a visual distraction when you're looking around, or does the 3D completely overwhelm them?

I watched in a standardish (well screen was huge) cinema and the 3D world was SO immersive, I didn't notice or care about the other people. This has got to be a first.

Also... right now at work and my eyes seem to wonk out from the 2.5 hours of awesauce AVATAR viewing last night.

James Cameron is king!