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[Karma Kramer]

 

[Solo]

Her agent is so very smart. Getting her in all these movies that not only are huge blockbusters but also appeal to the geek crowd of the world is a masterstroke. She has every fan group covered :lol

Being gorgeous and talented doesnt hurt either.

 

[Krev]

I just saw the movie after avoiding all 3D movies to have a proper first impression. My friend and I left with our noses feeling weird because of the glasses and I have a brutal migraine. Also my eyes hurt so much during the movie (I actually had to close them for long periods of time during the end because I couldn't take it anymore). Does it get better the more I watch 3D movies or am I just really sensitive?

Late response, but I felt the same way when I saw my first digital 3D film (Coraline), but with every 3D film I've watched the viewing experience has become slightly more comfortable. Coming out of Coraline I had sore eyes and a migraine that lasted for hours, but I had no problems at all with Avatar.

Also, more Zoe Pictures!
Bring back the other one, stuburns!

 

[Spire]

A gift to all Zoe fans...

Spoiler

My God

EDIT: Removed, don't want to upset anyone.

You've upset me by removing it.

 

[Memphis Reigns]

Her agent is so very smart. Getting her in all these movies that not only are huge blockbusters but also appeal to the geek crowd of the world is a masterstroke. She has every fan group covered :lol

Being gorgeous and talented doesnt hurt either.

Pretty sure I saw an interview with Zoe where she admitted she was a closet nerd and was actually excited to be a part of Star Trek and AVATAR. She could have just been agreeable in the context of the interview since she is supposed to be promoting the movie but hey if true thats one hot geek.

 

[Karma Kramer]

You've upset me by removing it.

:lol

 

[AniHawk]

Movie was pretty pretty pretty predictable, but very enjoyable.

 

[Zeliard]

If Zoe's performance was life-action, she might be a bit too melodramatic. I'd say both of the women in Up in the Air did better with more difficult roles.

Vera Farmiga and especially Anna Kendrick were fantastic in Up In The Air (though I still think Mo'Nique beats them both and should win the Oscar), but I don't see how those were more difficult roles. Saldana was working with green screens, a mostly empty set (other than random props) and a small camera strapped to her literally the entire time, and as far as I can tell from the end result, also had to do some neat acrobatics.

Kendrick certainly had a bevy of dialogue that she delivered wonderfully, but I'd be hard-pressed to consider her role more difficult, at least not to the extent that it's notable.

Also, both of the UITA roles are being as touted as supporting (though Kendrick really was a lead) and will be battling each other come the Oscars (with futility), while Saldana is inarguably leading along with Worthington.

 

[Solo]

Pretty sure I saw an interview with Zoe where she admitted she was a closet nerd and was actually excited to be a part of Star Trek and AVATAR. She could have just been agreeable in the context of the interview since she is supposed to be promoting the movie but hey if true thats one hot geek.

No, Ive read similar things. I dont think it was publicity BS either, because she said Star Trek was one she hadnt ever watched. Which would be something one wouldnt say if they were trying to manufacture a faux-nerd personality to shill a movie.

 

[nib95]

Transbuilders really did raise Bay to a new level in the eyes of the masses. I think he's pretty terrible. I saw The Rock a while ago and while it has still some of that epicness that it did when I was a kid, it wasn't all that great of a movie. The actors, VX gas and the locale are the greatest thing in it. Not the comedic action scenes or the other directing.

The final duel in the Avatar was pretty lame. I did loloud at the knife though :lol

You have strange taste....

 

[Kaako]

I'm interested to see how many people here genuinely felt that the movie was not worth the price of admission.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

The knife was a bit stupid, I thought.

 

[StuBurns]

You've upset me by removing it.

Okay, fair enough.

Best shot I've seen of her, a godess.

 

[Zeliard]

Did anyone else here have trouble "seeing" Sam Worthington's face in Jake's Avatar? For some reason the Avatar has never really resembled the actor that much to me at all. Zoe's in still pics doesn't either (mostly due to the Na'vi looking quite a bit more alien than the Avatars), but there are a huge number of times where she made some expression or emoted in some way that was pure Zoe Saldana, and easily recognizable.

Sigourney Weaver's Avatar was basically the spitting image of her, and she also has a very distinctive smile, so it was never an issue with her. Same thing with Norm's Avatar, who also hilariously looks exactly like him. Wish there had been more of that blue guy, he looked funny as fuck.

 

[StuBurns]

Did anyone else here have trouble "seeing" Sam Worthington's face in Jake's Avatar? For some reason the Avatar has never really resembled the actor that much to me at all. Zoe's in still pics doesn't either (mostly due to the Na'vi looking quite a bit more alien than the Avatars), but there are a huge number of times where she made some expression or emoted in some way that was pure Zoe Saldana, and easily recognizable.

Sigourney Weaver's Avatar was basically the spitting image of her, and she also has a very distinctive smile, so it was never an issue with her. Same thing with Norm's Avatar, who also hilariously looks exactly like him. Wish there had been more of that blue guy, he looked funny as fuck.

Weaver's avatar was kind of cheating, it's the only one that didn't have a cat nose, it's just her, her tiny little mouth too, doesn't look like a Na'vi at all. I think Sam's looked like him a lot at the start, like "why'd you save my ass" or whatever it was. The more it goes on, I saw it less and less.

 

[Snowman Prophet of Doom]

I'll bet we see a large part for Uhura in the next Star Trek movie (which will probably be the best thing since sliced bread, by the way; even with a fairly weak script, the first movie is absolutely incredible, and the next one will probably have a 10x better script).

EDIT: I think the acting in this movie is pretty good. The actors manage to take a fairly shallow script and find some subtleties that make them more interesting to watch. Lang in particular was good for this; he had a character whose writing is basically caricature, but he had a few moments of humanity that made me enjoy watching him more. Worthington is pretty fantastic in this, as well; it's unfortunate that Saldana has such a good performance because she kind of crowds out some of the love that he should be getting. He struck a good contrast between the world-weary human Jake and the exuberant, child-like Avatar Jake; plus, his accent occasionally slipping actually creates an interesting stylistic effect that made him sound really cool, in my opinion.

 

[nib95]

I'm deep like that :| But seriously the slow-mo put me off (in other parts as well) and it just felt like your generic final standout between the hero and the villain. It was also very unsatisfying that he

Spoiler

died to the arrows and not from Na'vi hands (another problem with the whole movie, too little human to Na'vi interaction).

But yeah seems to me this thread is approaching critical mass very soon. I might want to bail out before Bayroll here bans my ass :b

WTH, do you just like throwing the term 'generic' about? You're like one of those video game haters who automatically just go to the word generic when they can't actually substantiate their opinions any further. How exactly was it generic? Where else have you seen such a battle or fight? Besides (very loosely) perhaps Aliens?

And you honestly wanted to see a Navi kill a human with it's hands? A 10 foot muscular beast vs a 5ft 11 hobbit in comparison. Yea....really satisfying....they are hunters. Not brutes. The bow and arrow made perfect sense.

 

[Solo]

I'll bet we see a large part for Uhura in the next Star Trek movie (which will probably be the best thing since sliced bread, by the way; even with a fairly weak script, the first movie is absolutely incredible, and the next one will probably have a 10x better script).

Indeed. And with Sam and Zoe's stars both rising, when Avatar 2 rolls around, they may be able to sell it as more than just "A James Cameron film".

 

[Zeliard]

And you honestly wanted to see a Navi kill a human with it's hands? A 10 foot muscular beast vs a 5ft 11 hobbit in comparison. Yea....really satisfying....they are hunters. Not brutes. The bow and arrow made perfect sense.

Admittedly, the scene where Tsu'tey goes apeshit on a group of humans was highly satisfying.

Also tremendous from a visual standpoint. I wish they had more Na'vi-human interactions just to really emphasize how gigantic the Na'vi are by comparison.

 

[Memphis Reigns]

Admittedly, the scene where Tsu'tey goes apeshit on a group of humans was highly satisfying.

Yep. It was so bad ass me and my two buddies on either side all said "oh shit" out loud. Easily one of my favorite scenes.

 

[StuBurns]

Indeed. And with Sam and Zoe's stars both rising, when Avatar 2 rolls around, they may be able to sell it as more than just "A James Cameron film".

This film has further proved you don't even need anything more than 'A James Cameron film'. I do wonder about Sam and Zoe's costs next time. They've both been in two really big films this year, Zoe was in Pirates before, but not as any central character. They both have had huge profile boosts this year.

Spoiler

But considering the causalities in the film, at least Cameron doesn't need to fork out on a lot of returning actors.

 

[Solo]

One shot I loved that I wish the trailer hadnt spoiled during the final battle was where a guy in a helicopter leaps back to avoid an ikran attack, only to have another ikran perched right behind him which grabbed him by the head and chucked him. So awesome.

 

[nib95]

Admittedly, the scene where Tsu'tey goes apeshit on a group of humans was highly satisfying.

Also tremendous from a visual standpoint. I wish they had more Na'vi-human interactions just to really emphasize how gigantic the Na'vi are by comparison.

Only because he was up against several humans. He didn't really kill them though. At least I don't think he did as in a scene later most were still crawling about or recovering. He also used his bow as a club. Try doing that against a human in a mech though and it becomes a different story altogether. And the same against a single human just becomes pure unsatisfactory.

 

[Solo]

This film has further proved you don't even need anything more than 'A James Cameron film'. I do wonder about Sam and Zoe's costs next time. They've both been in two really big films this year, Zoe was in Pirates before, but not as any central character. They both have had huge profile boosts this year.

Spoiler

But considering the causalities in the film, at least Cameron doesn't need to fork out on a lot of returning actors.

The nice thing about Cameron's stable of actors is that they come cheap, relatively speaking. Be it unknowns (previously) like Worthington and Saldana, or character actors, and whatnot. Even people like Sigourney probably arent asking for something unreasonable.

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

 

[Zeliard]

Only because he was up against several humans. He didn't really kill them though. At least I don't think he did as in a scene later most were still crawling about or recovering. He also used his bow as a club. Try doing that against a human in a mech though and it becomes a different story altogether. And the same against a single human just becomes pure unsatisfactory.

He definitely killed them, or at least some. A few he simply flung off the helicopter like they were small dolls.

I do agree that it wouldn't have been that satisfying if it were pure melee action the entire time, since the Na'vi would destroy the humans with ease there. But that one scene was enjoyable and I sort of wish there'd been more of it. You spend a ton of time with the Na'vi and the Avatars and it's sort of hard to consistently think of them as physically huge when their individual size is almost always relative to each other and their environment (which features enormous trees and huge plants).

 

[StuBurns]

The nice thing about Cameron's stable of actors is that they come cheap, relatively speaking. Be it unknowns (previously) like Worthington and Saldana, or character actors, and whatnot. Even people like Sigourney probably arent asking for something unreasonable.

He is dedicated to putting all his budget on the screen, and I definitely feel that watching his movies, however much Avatar cost (and it's not the most expensive film ever), it looks like the most expensive film ever. I find it quite charming actually that Cameron dodges the question by saying it costs the price of a cinema ticket. He is clearly dedicated to giving the audience the most for their cash imaginable.

 

[Memphis Reigns]

Yeah their huge presence is not as noticeable when around one another. I wonder if Cameron kept those scenes to a minimum so that the humans wouldn't look like complete wimps.

 

[Solo]

He is dedicated to putting all his budget on the screen, and I definitely feel that watching his movies, however much Avatar cost (and it's not the most expensive film ever), it looks like the most expensive film ever.

I love this. So true. Its not the most expensive movie ever. We know that for a fact; Spider-Man 3 alone cost more (el oh fucking el; talk about spending $250M and having nothing to show for it). Yet every inch LOOKS like the most expensive movie ever. People rag on the movie's budget, but Cameron does and always has squeezed everything out of his budgets.

 

[guise]

Saw it in 2D last week, in 3D IMAX tonight.

So much better in 3D, and just as entertaining second time round.

 

[Zeliard]

I love this. So true. Its not the most expensive movie ever. We know that for a fact; Spider-Man 3 alone cost more (el oh fucking el; talk about spending $250M and having nothing to show for it). Yet every inch LOOKS like the most expensive movie ever. People rag on the movie's budget, but Cameron does and always has squeezed everything out of his budgets.

Between Avatar, District 9 and Moon, not only has this year seen some fantastic sci-fi, but those films all prove that it's never wise to pre-judge a movie by its budget.

And actually, why did people still do that with Cameron when it came to Avatar, after Titanic was shit on for its budget prior to become the highest-grossing movie ever?

 

[WyndhamPrice]

They should get Sam Worthington into the next Star Trek in some capacity.

 

[Solo]

And actually, why did people still do that with Cameron when it came to Avatar, after Titanic was shit on for its budget prior to become the highest-grossing movie ever?

People never learn (myself included, since even after Titanic I doubted Avatar's success). I think Avatar was the final slap in the face I needed to wake up and realize that Cameron is a winner, always has been.

 

[StuBurns]

And actually, why did people still do that with Cameron when it came to Avatar, after Titanic was shit on for its budget prior to become the highest-grossing movie ever?

There's been a lot of talk about that in this thread, why people thought this would bomb. I remember some very strong claims on GAF about how well it'd do. Personally I didn't doubt it'd make cash, not because of Titanic, but because Cameron is one of the very few directors that doesn't make bad films, ever. He's known for being a relentless perfectionist, I didn't doubt Avatar would be a money maker, regardless of how 'good' it would ultimately be.

As for budgets, even with Aliens, which was low budget for the time, he did an incredible job with the cash. It still looks fantastic.

 

[Zeliard]

There's been a lot of talk about that in this thread, why people thought this would bomb. I remember some very strong claims on GAF about how well it'd do. Personally I didn't doubt it'd make cash, not because of Titanic, but because Cameron is one of the very few directors that doesn't make bad films, ever. He's known for being a relentless perfectionist, I didn't doubt Avatar would be a money maker, regardless of how 'good' it would ultimately be.

As for budgets, even with Aliens, which was low budget for the time, he did an incredible job with the cash. It still looks fantastic.

Not to mention the first Terminator. Very low-budget and it doesn't even try to hide it. In fact, Terminator's movie's budget probably helped it set that incessently dark, grimy, industrial mood. Cameron doesn't need a high budget to make great films - it just helps, because he's exceptionally good at using technology to enhance his storytelling.

 

[Matchew]

I know the story has been seen before, and there were some cheezy lines but overall the movie hit a home run. I think the thing that pushed me over the top was the depth and detail to Pandora and the Na'vi people, I have never been so drawn in to a movie before.

Same for me. The people, the world just draws you in. I didn't really like the previews and wasn't expecting to much, but a good movie. I left felling like I just watched one of the best movies that I ever seen. The movie might be 3 hours but it felt like an hour long. I want more of Pandora.

 

[brandonh83]

Man I want to put some mother fuckers out of their stupid existence. I can't say a goddamn thing about this film without people who haven't even seen it telling me "oh I heard it's just a sci-fi Dancing With Wolves" and "the plot sucks" only because these are the two frequent things they "hear" about the movie.

Holy fucking shit christ give me a gatlin gun, a locomotive, infinite ammo and a license to kill.

 

[Ford Prefect]

It boggles my mind that people are taking this Pocahontas of the Blue Injuns movie seriously. If there's one well-worn thematic trope I can't stand it's patronizing depictions of the magical savage, and this is probably the worst example of it I've ever seen. Also, when it comes to 3D, the attached previews alone (for some Shrek-y dragon movie) used the gimmick more tastefully and effectively.

 

[StuBurns]

Not to mention the first Terminator. Very low-budget and it doesn't even try to hide it. In fact, Terminator's movie's budget probably helped it set that incessently dark, grimy, industrial mood. Cameron doesn't need a high budget to make great films - it just helps, because he's exceptionally good at using technology to enhance his storytelling.

Very exciting to see what he does with Sanctum. He's producing it, working on the script and I believe directing the second unit work. Really small budget, to demonstrate you can make high quality live action 3D for a reasonable price. Should be very cool to see what he'll do with it.

Man I want to put some mother fuckers out of their stupid existence. I can't say a goddamn thing about this film without people who haven't even seen it telling me "oh I heard it's just a sci-fi Dancing With Wolves"...

Is that meant to be a bad thing? Dances with Wolves is awesome, but yeah, they have a lot in common.

 

[guise]

Even the effects in the Abyss look great today. I dont know how he does it, but Cameron doesnt seem to be affected by the special effects in his movies looking dated

 

[Solo]

Man I want to put some mother fuckers out of their stupid existence. I can't say a goddamn thing about this film without people who haven't even seen it telling me "oh I heard it's just a sci-fi Dancing With Wolves" and "the plot sucks" only because these are the two frequent things they "hear" about the movie.

Holy fucking shit christ give me a gatlin gun, a locomotive, infinite ammo and a license to kill.

Eat their eyes like jujubes, mang!

 

[Matchew]

It boggles my mind that people are taking this Pocahontas of the Blue Injuns movie seriously. If there's one well-worn thematic trope I can't stand it's patronizing depictions of the magical savage, and this is probably the worst example of it I've ever seen. Also, when it comes to 3D, the attached previews alone (for some Shrek-y dragon movie) used the gimmick more tastefully and effectively.

I disagree about the 3d I thought it was used correctly; I really don't want some random shit flying at me just for the sake of having shit flying at me. The 3d in Avatar made sense. Your example of Shrek can't be compared to Avatar, because Shrek is kids movie were kids expect shit to be flying at them because they want shit flying at them.

A little off topic, but the new Shrek look like shit, and I'm a fan of those movies.

 

[brandonh83]

Is that meant to be a bad thing? Dances with Wolves is awesome, but yeah, they have a lot in common.

Well it's okay to compare one film to another because of certain things, but this is being used in a negative context, as in, it's completely ripping off DWW. It's like, Avatar's story might share some things in common but... uh... I don't recall DWW having groundbreaking technology, massive aerial battles, giant mechs... plot points may be similar, but not entirely. It's just really stupid to watch Avatar and then all you can say is "it's exactly like Dancing With Wolves." Is that really all you took from the entire experience?

Eat their eyes like jujubes, mang!

That would be too easy.

 

[Karma Kramer]

It boggles my mind that people are taking this Pocahontas of the Blue Injuns movie seriously. If there's one well-worn thematic trope I can't stand it's patronizing depictions of the magical savage, and this is probably the worst example of it I've ever seen. Also, when it comes to 3D, the attached previews alone (for some Shrek-y dragon movie) used the gimmick more tastefully and effectively.

:facepalm

 

[StuBurns]

Well it's okay to compare one film to another because of certain things, but this is being used in a negative context, as in, it's completely ripping off DWW. It's like, Avatar's story might share some things in common but... uh... I don't recall DWW having groundbreaking technology, massive aerial battles, giant mechs... plot points may be similar, but not entirely. It's just really stupid to watch Avatar and then all you can say is "it's exactly like Dancing With Wolves." Is that really all you took from the entire experience?

The story reminded me of it a lot, how could it not? But it's a very different film, despite the very similar plot. In fact if you take DWW and mix it up with At Play in the Fields of the Lord you basically have the exact plot outside of aliens.

Spoiler

DWW has the man living with the others, falling in love with a woman, betraying his evil people, and leading them to victory. Keeping a log throughout the movie, the log coming back to bite him in the arse. And Fields of the Lord have the people live with the others to make them move from their home because it's on a deposit of a highly demanded material (gold in that case).

Cameron has sighted both movies as influences, however a film is so much more than the bases of the plot, as much as I love both of those films, they are completely unlike Avatar, and my experience of them are totally different.

 

[jett]

It boggles my mind that people are taking this Pocahontas of the Blue Injuns movie seriously. If there's one well-worn thematic trope I can't stand it's patronizing depictions of the magical savage, and this is probably the worst example of it I've ever seen. Also, when it comes to 3D, the attached previews alone (for some Shrek-y dragon movie) used the gimmick more tastefully and effectively.

lolwut

 

[Doubledex]

The funny thing is.... I was against AVATAR. Hated the trailer, hated the hype around it (all these geeks and the talk about the budget etc.) and now.... I saw it for the fourth (and not last) time a few minutes ago. It's the best movie I have ever seen.
I simply love it. Simply outstanding. Neytiri is awesome and the real star of the movie was PANDORA!

Simply the best movie ever (for me)!

All this shit-talk about the story is :lol Sorry, but the story was simple (for young and old) and beautiful. The movie had a lot of messages and it was nicely told!
But hey, there will always by haters around good stuff. Always! It doesn't matter how good something is. There will always be some haters. And I can proudly say: FU!

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 22576]

moved to new page.

 

[mrkgoo]

The story reminded me of it a lot, how could it not? But it's a very different film, despite the very similar plot. In fact if you take DWW and mix it up with At Play in the Fields of the Lord you basically have the exact plot outside of aliens.

Spoiler

DWW has the man living with the others, falling in love with a woman, betraying his evil people, and leading them to victory. Keeping a log throughout the movie, the log coming back to bite him in the arse. And Fields of the Lord have the people live with the others to make them move from their home because it's on a deposit of a highly demanded material (gold in that case).

Cameron has sighted both movies as influences, however a film is so much more than the bases of the plot, as much as I love both of those films, they are completely unlike Avatar, and my experience of them are totally different.

Don't forget that "Costner" has exactly the same letters in his name as "Worthington" (if you don't count the last 4 letters).

 

[Deleted member 22576]

Alrighty, going to see this for my second time with my Sister and her Boyfriend tonight.
The nearest RealD screen is 10 miles away, while the Dolby3D theater is literally down the street.

All RealD screens are the same right?
It's like a guaranteed quality type of thing?
I can vouch for my locla D3D theater, I saw My Bloody Valentine there.. I'm just a little iffy on the extra drive to a theater I have no experience with...
I typically don't associate the town it's in with really nice theaters, but it's on the RealD theater finder map.