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[Expendable.]

Few interesting tidbits;

• Biggest WW opening EVER for a non-franchise. The only movies which had bigger WW openings are HP6, SM3 & PoTC3.
• Cinemascore of Avatar is A (across all demos), which is the only "blockbuster" movie after TDK to have achieved that score. (I'm not sure TDK got the score across all demos)
• Some Fox execs are expecting 2nd weekend to be as big as the first.

That first fact isn't true ( about those 3 being the only bigger one)

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince $394.0
2. Spider-Man 3 $381.7
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End $344.0
4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix $332.7
5. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith $303.9
6. The Twilight Saga: New Moon $274.9
7. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull $272.2
8. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King $250.0
9. Avatar $232.2
10. The Da Vinci Code $232.1

 

[Loxley]

Never before has my anticipation for a movie gone from "I could give two shits" to "I need to see this now". I'll definitely find the time to see it sometime this week, can't wait

I'm glad to hear it's making money, and I'll be interested to see if Sherlock Holmes manages to put a dent in it's earnings over the Christmas weekend, should be interesting to watch.

 

[ruxtpin]

Psh. I'm all for JC combining all of his storytelling prowess in to a giant melting pot of awesomeness for the sequels.

Spoiler

Quaritch is actually a terminator, comes back to life in the sequel to fuck shit up. In the third movie, during the last fuck-awesome battle that might destroy the very fabric of reality, we come to find out that the Titanic didn't really sink, it just fell off the edge of the world, and is floating around Pandora's Hallelujah Mountains after travelling through THE VOID. Climax is reached as poor paupers and Na'vi fight the terminator and alien onslaught.

 

[RoadHazard]

'Dimensionalization' is basically making 3D models of everything in your 2D frame and warping the images around them. You don't cut out Kate Winslet and make her 2D but in front of the sofa while behind the drawing, you have to model her body in 3D, along with the sofa etc.

But that means they also have to animate each model to exactly match what each actor is doing in the scene, right? So, it basically becomes a CG movie with the 2D footage used as textures for the 3D models. Quite a task.

 

[FleckSplat]

Never before has my anticipation for a movie gone from "I could give two shits" to "I need to see this now". I'll definitely find the time to see it sometime this week, can't wait

I'm glad to hear it's making money, and I'll be interested to see if Sherlock Holmes manages to put a dent in it's earnings over the Christmas weekend, should be interesting to watch.

Is there a shit-giving continuum.jpeg somewhere?

 

[Atomic]

I was blown away.
Unbelievable.


Not perfect, but what an experience.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

But that means they also have to animate each model to exactly match what each actor is doing in the scene, right? So, it basically becomes a CG movie with the 2D footage used as textures for the 3D models. Quite a task.

Yeah, bascially, any 2D film upconverted to 3D will never be as impressive as a film shot in 3D.

 

[StuBurns]

But that means they also have to animate each model to exactly match what each actor is doing in the scene, right? So, it basically becomes a CG movie with the 2D footage used as textures for the 3D models. Quite a task.

Yep, takes a huge amount of time. Cameron said, of what he's seen of the material done so far, that it looks really great, and I'm sure it does. But it's never going to be as good as shooting in 3D I imagine.

 

[artist]

That first fact isn't true ( about those 3 being the only bigger one)

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince $394.0
2. Spider-Man 3 $381.7
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End $344.0
4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix $332.7
5. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith $303.9
6. The Twilight Saga: New Moon $274.9
7. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull $272.2
8. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King $250.0
9. Avatar $232.2
10. The Da Vinci Code $232.1

There is one big difference here, Avatar hasnt opened in Japan, China and northern europe. Try harder next time

 

[Combine]

Biggest WW opening EVER for a non-franchise.

That first fact isn't true ( about those 3 being the only bigger one)

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince $394.0
2. Spider-Man 3 $381.7
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End $344.0
4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix $332.7
5. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith $303.9
6. The Twilight Saga: New Moon $274.9
7. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull $272.2
8. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King $250.0
9. Avatar $232.2
10. The Da Vinci Code $232.1

Well, it is true in the fact that it is a movie that is not from an established franchise. Everything above Avatar is from well-established (and indeed some of the most popular) franchises.

 

[JB1981]

Just got back. Was disappointed. I never fully connected with the story or the characters. Once the movie went all mystical my brain just shut off. I felt that it began as a very grounded science fiction story and then it became out and out fantasy. I enjoyed exploring the world of Pandora and I enjoyed the spectacle but I the meat and potatoes of the drama never gripped me quite how I had hoped. I felt the runtime was a bit long as well. Surprised to see how positive the GAF reaction is, although my brother and his wife were absolutely captivated by the movie. I really wanted to fall in love with the thing but it never happened. Once Jake finds the Tribe, the movie falls into the trap of the same ol' tribal bullshit cliches and that's where the thing started to falter for me .... i'm probably never very articulate right now (LOL) .... i'm tired. will post more about movie tomorrow maybe.

 

[Expendable.]

There is one big difference here, Avatar hasnt opened in Japan, China and northern europe. Try harder next time

Not sure what you are trying to say. When it opens there, it will be counted towards the opening weekend debut? I don't think so. Don't get me wrong, I loved Avatar, but facts are facts.

 

[StuBurns]

Not sure what you are trying to say. When it opens there, it will be counted towards the opening weekend debut? I don't think so. Don't get me wrong, I loved Avatar, but facts are facts.

What are the facts? It's the biggest new IP opening ever?

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

Yep, takes a huge amount of time. Cameron said, of what he's seen of the material done so far, that it looks really great, and I'm sure it does. But it's never going to be as good as shooting in 3D I imagine.

marketsaw ran a story a while ago that might be true afterall

im here. Got some news from one of my top sources in the Cameron camp and man oh man does BATTLE ANGEL ever sound Kick. Ass.

On what is happening right now for ANGEL:
Make no mistake this is the movie your website will be pursuing in time to come. The tests are "Beautiful" and "Complex" beyond your wildest dreams. Stunningly beautiful, considering the fact that some are old(ish). Imagine this for a second. A cyborg chick "the Angel of Death" taking out "a lot" of other part man, part machine type "people".

We do indeed plan on staying with Cameron believe us! AVATAR is the training ground for BATTLE ANGEL and I can't wait to see the ideas he has for it.

On what those tests contain:
Now picture the "Angel of Death" looking like a child. a 14 year old. Now imagine this, this little girl goes through these guys like butter. Did you see the KICK-ASS trailer? Well imagine that girl via the Matrix via Ghost in the shell, via AI. "Remember the True Lies bathroom brawl?" Well take out Arnold, and "copy and paste" Bruce Lee on acid via the Terminator. as seen through the eyes of a sweet innocent 14 year old cyborg girl. And all of this done via the mind of James Cameron, Holy shit what is not to love? The lights flicker and shit hits the fan. Awesome stuff.

 

[gdt]

There is one big difference here, Avatar hasnt opened in Japan, China and northern europe. Try harder next time

Geez.

 

[Expendable.]

What are the facts? It's the biggest new IP opening ever?

It's the biggest new IP ever. I'm not trying to argue that. irfan said that only 3 franchise movies did better than it, when in reality it was actually 8 films that did better. It's not a big deal, just wondering what he was talking about.

 

[NimbusD]

Just got back. Was disappointed. I never fully connected with the story or the characters. Once the movie went all mystical my brain just shut off. I felt that it began as a very grounded science fiction story and then it became out and out fantasy. I enjoyed exploring the world of Pandora and I enjoyed the spectacle but I the meat and potatoes of the drama never gripped me quite how I had hoped. I felt the runtime was a bit long as well. Surprised to see how positive the GAF reaction is, although my brother and his wife were absolutely captivated by the movie. I really wanted to fall in love with the thing but it never happened. Once Jake finds the Tribe, the movie falls into the trap of the same ol' tribal bullshit cliches and that's where the thing started to falter for me .... i'm probably never very articulate right now (LOL) .... i'm tired. will post more about movie tomorrow maybe.

Yay, confirmation that I'm not crazy.

 

[border]

What are the facts? It's the biggest new IP opening ever?

I Am Legend.....I mean it's based on an existing work, but I doubt that really helped its box office.

After that, Passion of the Christ.....I'm not sure if you can consider that an "IP".

 

[StuBurns]

I Am Legend.....I mean it's based on an existing work, but I doubt that really helped its box office.

After that, Passion of the Christ.....I'm not sure if you can consider that an "IP".

Yeah I thought I read that earlier in the thread, that thing just confused me, thanks.

Considering what this film is, I'm sure Fox and Cameron are more than happy with the numbers and response so far.

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

I Am Legend.....I mean it's based on an existing work, but I doubt that really helped its box office.

After that, Passion of the Christ.....I'm not sure if you can consider that an "IP".

they both have big draws though. Will Smith and Jesus:lol

 

[Expendable.]

I Am Legend.....I mean it's based on an existing work, but I doubt that really helped its box office.

After that, Passion of the Christ.....I'm not sure if you can consider that an "IP".

Yeah I thought I read that earlier in the thread, that thing just confused me, thanks.

Considering what this film is, I'm sure Fox and Cameron are more than happy with the numbers and response so far.

That's domestic. We are talking worldwide.

 

[JB1981]

Yeah, you have to love that for all of Emmerich's work and effects destroying THE WORLD, the destruction of a fucking tree was more epic when coming from Cameron.

i will admit that this was an incredible sequence with shockingly good sound effects

 

[StuBurns]

That's domestic. We are talking worldwide.

So worldwide it's the biggest original franchise numbers? That's very impressive.

 

[border]

That's domestic. We are talking worldwide.

Kind of an unfair comparison then, since simultaneous worldwide openings are only a really recent invention and not even done for most films. But I guess every comparison is unfair since nobody wants to pay attention to inflation.

 

[JB1981]

btw, how loud and boring are today's trailers?
- i got clash of the titans (loud), prince of persia (loud) .. everything is special effect, special effect - LOUD .. special effect, special effect - LOUD. So boring

 

[GhaleonEB]

Kind of an unfair comparison then, since simultaneous worldwide openings are only a really recent invention and not even done for most films. But I guess every comparison is unfair since nobody wants to pay attention to inflation.

Though looking at that top 10 list, every movie on it is from the last five years or so. So while your point that simultaneous WW openings are more common now is right on, I think it actually makes the comparison more fair since inflation is less of a factor for the movies on the list.

But regardless - Avatar looks to have had a great debut. What happens next week is more important for its total, though.

 

[PrivateWHudson]

btw, how loud and boring are today's trailers?
- i got clash of the titans (loud), prince of persia (loud) .. everything is special effect, special effect - LOUD .. special effect, special effect - LOUD. So boring

The Book of Eli was LOUD and awesome. I wish the feature presentation was as loud.

 

[Buckethead]

Wow. What an excellent movie.
Didn't watch any trailers except the first one, so I didn't know what to expect really.

Great directing especially during fight scenes, Cameron is smart enough to slow things down get to the audience oriented rather than being a clusterfuck of action. Really enjoyed the characters and their overall arc. Sigourney Weaver still looks bangin for however old she is. Good secondary characters that weren't typical looking(?) which was a nice contrast with the cliche marine dude.

Also brought up some interesting/stimulating thoughts on morality, environmentalism, spirituality, etc., etc. Really there's something in there for everyone.

And the 3D had nice depth to it, only really sticking out in a couple of spots.

 

[border]

Though looking at that top 10 list, every movie on it is from the last five years or so. So while your point that simultaneous WW openings are more common now is right on, I think it actually makes the comparison more fair since inflation is less of a factor.

I'm not going to do math at this hour of the day, but I suspect that other original IPs like The Incredibles (70M US opening), Finding Nemo (70M US Opening), Day After Tomorrow (68M US Opening), UP (68M US Opening) might have done as well or better than Avatar if you were to total up all their opening weekends from all countries. Save for finding Nemo all those films are really recent but still received staggered international releases.

I think Independence Day would easily smoke Avatar if someone did the math for inflation.

 

[Expendable.]

James Cameron really did use slo-mo so effectively. On my second view I realized the film could have gone totally overboard with it, but he uses it very carefully a few times and it works wonders.

 

[Cooter]

What a world he created. This will do very well. Wait until word of mouth starts...

 

[GhaleonEB]

I'm not going to do math at this hour of the day, but I suspect that other original IPs like The Incredibles (70M US opening), Finding Nemo (70M US Opening), Day After Tomorrow (68M US Opening), UP (68M US Opening) might have done as well or better than Avatar if you were to total up all their opening weekends from all countries. Save for finding Nemo all those films are really recent but still received staggered international releases.

I think Independence Day would easily smoke Avatar if someone did the math for inflation.

"inflation is less of a factor for the movies on the list."

I'm sure the list would look very different were inflation fully taken into account. My point was that since all the movies on this particular list are so recent, comparing them to one another is easier.

 

[StuBurns]

James Cameron really did you slo-mo so effectively. On my second view I realized the film could have gone totally overboard with it, but he uses it very carefully a few times and it works wonders.

The slow mo bit that stood out to me was so incredible, it just looked so crisp and smooth. If he gets his way and his next project is 48fps, holy sheeet the slow mo is going to be stunning.

 

[Valkyr Junkie]

What's the reason for the lower light levels with 3D? Is it to force a stronger mesopic state because the 24fps are even less satisfactory?

Polarized glasses reduce brightness by half.

 

[Hasphat'sAnts]

What a world he created. This will do very well. Wait until word of mouth starts...

Galadriel: It has already begun.

 

[jett]

I loved the minimal amount of slow mo in the movie. Not the slow mo itself exactly, but the fact there was a minimal amount.

Only thing I didn't get were the random handycam-like zoom-ins on the picture. Kind of out of place, for me.

 

[border]

I think it actually makes the comparison more fair since inflation is less of a factor for the movies on the list.

The reason the other movies are on the list is because they WERE established IPs that studios felt comfortable doing a simultaneous release with. I AM LEGEND got a staggered release, as did Passion of the Christ.....as do most new IPs. Avatar is there because Fox rolled the dice with this one, which is not to take away from its accomplishment but merely to explain why everything else on the list is a 2nd or 3rd or 4th sequel. It's not entirely fair to say "Ohhhhh all these other movies would have done better than Avatar if they had gotten a simultaneous release".....but at the same time, they probably only lost money with the staggered release schedules due to piracy or bad word of mouth.

 

[StuBurns]

Polarized glasses reduce brightness by half.

That really was me over thinking, wood for the tress etc.

Only thing I didn't get were the random handycam-like zoom-ins on the picture. Kind of out of place, for me.

I think that stuff is interesting, I noticed Cameron added a lot of film 'imperfections' into the CG stuff. Wall-E is another film that does it, Pixar were obsessed with making it look filmed in terms of camera physics. Cameron did the same thing with Avatar. I can't say if I cared one way or the other, although I do know Wall-E is my favorite Pixar film visually, so maybe he's right, but without seeing a 'perfect' virtual camera version of Avatar, I don't know. It was an interesting decision, if nothing else.

 

[Expendable.]

a couple of my favorite shots in the movie:

Spoiler

- the opening of the bioluminescent forest (the glowing flower petals)
- the guy getting crushed by the explosive barrel crates
- wide shot of Quaritich vs. Trudy fighting between floating mountains
- wide shot climbing up the floating mountains to get to Banshee area
- the three of them in "prison" with Jake's head down
- The shot when they go to the clan of the eastern sea and you can see the ocean behind them. Wish they explored those areas more.

and a million more....what about you?

 

[GhaleonEB]

The reason the other movies are on the list is because they WERE established IPs that studios felt comfortable doing a simultaneous release with. I AM LEGEND got a staggered release, as did Passion of the Christ.....as do most new IPs. Avatar is there because Fox rolled the dice with this one, which is not to take away from its accomplishment but merely to explain why everything else on the list is a 2nd or 3rd or 4th sequel.

I realize what the list is and why it is that way. I still think it's a useful measure, if an imperfect one. Of recent simultaneous WW releases, Avatar has ranked very highly. Nothing more or less than that.

a couple of my favorite shots in the movie:

Spoiler

- the opening of the bioluminescent forest (the glowing flower petals)
- the guy getting crossed by the explosive barrels
- wide shot of Quaritich vs. Trudy fighting between floating mountains
- wide shot climbing up the floating mountains to get to Banshee area
- the three of them in "prison" with Jake's head down
- The shot when they go to the clan of the eastern sea and you can see the ocean behind them. Wish they explored those areas more.

and a million more....what about you?

A lot of them stand out. One you didn't list is after Quaritch

Spoiler

basically orders all guns blazing on the Dragon, and there's this wide pan as it banks to screen left, with the full aerial battle raging behind it. Part of it is shown near the end of the second trailer. The combination of the pacing that led up to it, the music and the drop-dead gorgeous framing of the shot just put my jaw on the floor.

 

[Expendable.]

I loved the minimal amount of slow mo in the movie. Not the slow mo itself exactly, but the fact there was a minimal amount.

Only thing I didn't get were the random handycam-like zoom-ins on the picture. Kind of out of place, for me.

Yeah, kind of jarring. He did it with every new creature, like Cameron himself was saying "OMFG LOOK WHAT I CREATED! I'M SO AWESOME!"

Also, the one during Jake's speech was out of place.

 

[SpudBud]

Just got back from seeing it, great movie and the 3D was incredible.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

I loved the guerilla videographer-like zoom-ins. Especially when they took out the support legs/roots of the Home Tree.

Off to go take my little cousin to see it now.

 

[StuBurns]

and a million more....what about you?

My favorite shot in the whole film is when Jake is retrieving his torch from the water near the start.

 

[Expendable.]

I loved the guerilla videographer-like zoom-ins. Especially when they took out the support legs/roots of the Home Tree.

Off to go take my little cousin to see it now.

Yes, that one part where it was definitely awesome. I love how you could always see Hornets flying around in the background during the human Pandora basecamp scenes. Little touches like that were very cool.

 

[Combine]

a couple of my favorite shots in the movie:

and a million more....what about you?

Oh dear, where to begin

Spoiler

Opening shot inside the Venture Star cryo chamber
The digital displays and holographic table in the ops room (great subtle use of 3D)
Jake's first run outside as an Avatar (loved the 3D effect with the grass)
The Pandora exploration sequence leading into the Thanator chase
When the bio-luminescent jungle lights up (after Jake's torch burns out)
On top of the hometree looking down
Banshee flying
Hometree destruction
Jake lands in front of everyone on the Leonopteryx
The entire Valkyrie sequence from Tsu'tey's melee attack to its crash
Avatar Jake and Thanator-ridin Neytiri vs. Mecha Quaritch

yeah, too many already, and I left many more out.

 

[cartoon_soldier]

Also brought up some interesting/stimulating thoughts on morality, environmentalism, spirituality, etc., etc. Really there's something in there for everyone.

Umm...

It is pretty much Natives vs Colonists, only Natives won this one.

 

[Speevy]

Terrific film, deserves better than an 83%.

In a year where all the super serious dramas have fallen flat, this will win the Oscar.

 

[Meier]

I Am Legend.....I mean it's based on an existing work, but I doubt that really helped its box office.

After that, Passion of the Christ.....I'm not sure if you can consider that an "IP".

He was talking worldwide, but obviously I Am Legend would not count regardless because it isn't original. It is, however, the only bigger December opening in the US though.

 

[Expendable.]

My favorite shot in the whole film is when Jake is retrieving his torch from the water near the start.

Yeah, this was in Avatar Day preview, stunning. Anything with water/liquids was great. When Neytiri drinks the water from the leaf, he dips his stick in honey, when he comes up from the water after the chase. Looked great.