Fox Mulder
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fatty said:
I've seen it in IMAX and Dolby 3d, and IMAX is totally worth it for your first viewing.
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Rottenwatch: AVATAR (82%)
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I've seen it in IMAX and Dolby 3d, and IMAX is totally worth it for your first viewing.
These two points are very important. Josh/Jake earns his leadership in a much more convincing way than just taming the Toruk and using the Toruk Makto "prophecy". These scenes would have been very long, though, so they must have been forced to change it.
They also had to make Ney'tiri abandon him just to be immediately wooed when Jake arrives in a Ferrari.
I very much doubt Avatar will win Best Picture. A nomination is guaranteed though. It's nominated for the Golden Globes and it's just 5 noms... Zoe Saldana also has little chance imo given the nature of her work here no matter how good it may be. However, I think Cameron has a real shot at winning best director.
Some points drawing on the criticisms of the story:
Finally. I've been looking for this shot for days now, finally found it on youtube:
This shot right here tells us everything we need to know about Humanity in the year 2154. Their superlative ambition out scales and towers above and beyond their own feeble stature. And corporatism is the law of the land.
The frequent mentions of how Earth is a dead planet, makes some people curious to see Earth and long for more time to be dedicated towards the blue planet. This doesn't appear to be what Avatar is trying to convey. The light is shed on how humanity fairs after earth, and how humanity appears to be fulfilling Agent Smith's checklist of what a cancer is. Think of it as sort of how Tarantino never actually shows the entire heist in Reservoir Dogs.
If there's one thing I'd want to know about Earth. It's the status of humanity's social climate. How is the world fairing in terms of things as Poverty? Wars? Religion ( especially since an Alien species has been discovered)? 140 years is a long time. We've changed in a shorter span, how much might humanity have changed by that time?
Perhaps the fact that we're drawing these questions on earth, is a testament to how much detailed Pandora actually is. From the extrapolation of the Na'vi's cultures traditions, ethics, to the lush flora and fauna. Coupled with our natural inclination to want know the same information in detail on Earth.
Jake's Character;
Criticism of how "empty" and a "vacuum" of a character he is, aren't well founded in the greater context of things. Jake is a paraplegic, he seems to not have anything going for himself in life. He doesn't see a future for himself. And this man, gets a chance to leave earth behind, and be part of something many only dream of.
He is a character longing for change, the moment he gets in the Lab, he rushes to see the Avatars. Displaying his eagerness to leave everything behind. As he wakes up in his new body, he's so mesmerized that he just starts running and running.
Jake is how the audience feels at the moment they're watching Avatar. His character in fact, adds to the experience. He speaks with the Colonel, the colonel seems reasonable and that's how the audience sees it at that same moment. So a deal is made. Later on, Jake+ the audience realize how there's more to the Na'vi then what we've previously conceived. So Jake changes his perspectives, representing the audience again. And so on and on. The fact that Jake's motives are simple, hinders the audience of wandering around in their minds trying to figure out what the hell is going on. You need a character like Jake in order to make a film like Avatar. There will be definitely more to him in the sequel(s) to come. And an extended cut will most certainly add more to current Jake for those who seek those depths of character
In contrast to some people. Many of my favourite moments consist of the first 10 minutes. The humbling introduction to Pandora and human advancement left me wow'd multiple times.
But that's just my opinion on the matter.
Finally. I've been looking for this shot for days now, finally found it on youtube:
This shot right here tells us everything we need to know about Humanity in the year 2154. Their superlative ambition out scales and towers above and beyond their own feeble stature. And corporatism is the law of the land.
The frequent mentions of how Earth is a dead planet, makes some people curious to see Earth and long for more time to be dedicated towards the blue planet. This doesn't appear to be what Avatar is trying to convey. The light is shed on how humanity fairs after earth, and how humanity appears to be fulfilling Agent Smith's checklist of what a cancer is. Think of it as sort of how Tarantino never actually shows the entire heist in Reservoir Dogs.
If there's one thing I'd want to know about Earth. It's the status of humanity's social climate. How is the world fairing in terms of things as Poverty? Wars? Religion ( especially since an Alien species has been discovered)? 140 years is a long time. We've changed in a shorter span, how much might humanity have changed by that time?
Perhaps the fact that we're drawing these questions on earth, is a testament to how much detailed Pandora actually is. From the extrapolation of the Na'vi's cultures traditions, ethics, to the lush flora and fauna. Coupled with our natural inclination to want know the same information in detail on Earth.
Jake's Character;
Criticism of how "empty" and a "vacuum" of a character he is, aren't well founded in the greater context of things. Jake is a paraplegic, he seems to not have anything going for himself in life. He doesn't see a future for himself. And this man, gets a chance to leave earth behind, and be part of something many only dream of.
He is a character longing for change, the moment he gets in the Lab, he rushes to see the Avatars. Displaying his eagerness to leave everything behind. As he wakes up in his new body, he's so mesmerized that he just starts running and running.
Jake is how the audience feels at the moment they're watching Avatar. His character in fact, adds to the experience. He speaks with the Colonel, the colonel seems reasonable and that's how the audience sees it at that same moment. So a deal is made. Later on, Jake+ the audience realize how there's more to the Na'vi then what we've previously conceived. So Jake changes his perspectives, representing the audience again. And so on and on. The fact that Jake's motives are simple, hinders the audience of wandering around in their minds trying to figure out what the hell is going on. You need a character like Jake in order to make a film like Avatar. There will be definitely more to him in the sequel(s) to come. And an extended cut will most certainly add more to current Jake for those who seek those depths of character
In contrast to some people. Many of my favourite moments consist of the first 10 minutes. The humbling introduction to Pandora and human advancement left me wow'd multiple times.
But that's just my opinion on the matter.
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
The original script sounds a lot better.
neoism
Member
I didn't have trouble sleeping or anything, but ever sense I left the theater, I've been thinking about it. Going to see it again in a few hours!Jibril said:
Also Off Topic, I have yet to see IB. but I still think Pulp Friction is QT's best film, hell it's one of the best movie ever made!
does anyone know a better making off than this hulu feature? i've seen the 20 min interview with cameron and heard a lot about all those new-invented camera techniques but i'd also like to see them somehow in an making off feature of some sort. Do i have to wait until i see the extras on the blu ray?
DieH@rd said:
How was the picture brightness? My first viewing was in Xpand and it was a bit too dark. A friend went to watch it at the same theatre and it was too dark for him too. That was my main complaint. Image and sound seemed great but the glasses were heavy. My second viewing was in RealD and it was substantially better. The fact that I was perfectly positioned in the theatre (and I think the screen was also bigger) probably helped though.
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
gdt5016 said:
It's got that whole spectacle thing going for it, and it's not like worse movies have never won before. It's got a shot, especially with the whole ten nominees thing.
ToxicAdam said:
I'm pretty sure this movie getting even a nomination for best screenplay would be a sign of the apocalypse.
Enosh said:
I can only agree with the story on that.
The world they created is so complex and detailed. That -apart from the visuals- is what makes me love this movie.
Every plant and animal that appear in the movie... you can actually see it took months to create something so detailed. You literally get lost in the movie. You forget you are sitting in some chair watching a screen.
And that is what makes this movie awesome.
Edit: Does anyone have a pretty Avatar avatar available?
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
StoOgE said:
Not yet, probably nothing til this afternoon.
â Narayan
Member
Aye. A lot better indeed.Count of Monte Sawed-Off said:
CassidyIzABeast
Member
Cameron said himself he cut 30 minutes of finished footage because Zoe's performance was so good:lol
â Narayan
Member
Really?CassidyIzABeast said:
CassidyIzABeast
Member
yeah. It was at the end of his Charlie Rose interview.U K Narayan said:
The whole scene could´ve been great on screen and the bolded would´ve been an interesting tidbit.
I said it before, Avatar is IMO one of the best "movie experiences" so far, but with a meatier story and it´s sense of wonder it could´ve been one of the best movies in the last few years.
â Narayan
Member
What the Hell, Cameron.CassidyIzABeast said:
Man, reading all of this scriptment stuff gets me somewhat bummed. The theatrical release kind of feels like half of a package now. Ah, well, still a good film.
Valkyr Junkie
Member
"Jake" was originally "Josh" in the script? At first it read like the story was going to include his twin at the start originally.
â Narayan
Member
Definitely going to have to agree.harSon said:
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
shintoki said:
Man I felt bad for his original bird thing (banshee was it?). The guy comes back for Jake when he's all alone and abandoned and then he just ditches his savior for a flashier ride. I know why he did it, but man that poor bird must have been hurt. They were supposed to be together forever.
Also from the original script, Jake/Josh crying when he got to walk in the Avatar would have been infinitely more effective than what was in the film.
harSon said:
Without a doubt.
harSon said:
Definitely going to disagree.
The visuals are 100% in service of the world/experience. They are so good I don't even think about them.
The best part of Avatar is the sense of adventure, joy, and wonder running through the whole movie. The visuals serve each of those.
CassidyIzABeast
Member
Josh SullyValkyr Junkie said:
Grace Shipley
Norm Cheeseman
:lol
Jibril said:
Avatar has a lot in common with the original Star Wars. They both presented fascinating new worlds to audiences through simple stories that have been told time and again, while dazzling them with incredible visual fx. The next hurdle Cameron faces is meeting or surpassing the Empire Strikes Back with Avatar 2. Empire is where the Star Wars universe really expanded, grew the characters, and grabbed the viewer with the story alone, knowing that the visual fx wouldn't be as impressive the second time around.
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
Solo said:
Realy? I didn't see it the rest of the movie. Could have just missed it though. Thought he was riding his red thunderbird the rest of the time.
shintoki said:
I think it goes a little more than that. She said every Navi knows the story of the the dragon rider (forgot the technical name), when he came and united the tribes together in the time of great sorrow. When she saw him riding in with the dragon, she knew he was the one that could save them. I think that's why she said something along the lines of "I was afraid for my people...but not anymore".
Count of Monte Sawed-Off said:
He sets it free at the end of the movie.
bggrthnjsus
Member
i wish they would've left the toruk taming part out...i mean it was an easy vehicle (both literally and figuratively) to unite the clans, but still it was pretty unbelievable, even in the context of a mostly unbelievable movieSolo said:
bggrthnjsus
Member
yeah but i am pretty sure the last toruk rider was an actual na'vi who probably knew what he was doing, not just some yokel from earth...which is why i think that bothered people, that some (basically) nobody could do that and they would automatically trust him afterward. that was the unbelievable partaznpxdd said:
bggrthnjsus
Member
i know, and that's what made it so much more irritating to actually see it happenSolo said:
I dunno, I thought they set up the Toruk Makto scene well with his first conversation with Neytiri about it in the hometree where she specifically tells him the tales of the Leonopteryx riders who are saviors are the greatest legends that ALL Na'vi know of. Given how religious/spiritual the Na'vi are, it's probably akin to the "second coming" for them seeing Jake ride one of them.
And he did give up the Toruk at the end of the movie where you see it flying away and him saying that Toruk Makto was not needed anymore. Jake should still have his old Banshee, it's Neytiri who lost hers.
And he did give up the Toruk at the end of the movie where you see it flying away and him saying that Toruk Makto was not needed anymore. Jake should still have his old Banshee, it's Neytiri who lost hers.
bggrthnjsus
Member
i don't really think i would've cared if i saw him earn his leadership in a more convincing way than the toruk makto thing, i think i would've been perfectly satisfied if they would have just like grudgingly accepted the fact that they were about to get bombed to shit and needed to listen to him for a minute. then he could earn his place with them through his actions in the final battle, rather than by borrowing a really nice ride for awhile.
Count of Monte Sawed-Off said:
It's implied I think, when he let his thunderbird fly off in the end, saying there is no need for it anymore. Still, I felt bad for the Ikran. I do agree that is was a bit like the people took Jake back because he is the fifth person ever from the village to own a Ferrari.
It is had for me to remember where exactly all the time went in the film. I mean, for such a long film, a lot of things were let very sketchy and vague. Maybe it was right decision though, to leave out a lot of the things from the scriptment. I'm sure you can fit a much meatier story into the running time, I mean, a lot epics have done it more economically. I think Cameron preferred to give the time to longer sequences of set-pieces, which might add anything to the characters or story, but I guess give those like gdt5016 that sense of 'joy'.
bggrthnjsus said:
Well, I thought about that as well and one possible explanation is that all Na´vi are too scared of the toruk or would never consider being worthy to ride one. Jake saw it, wanted it and just took one without having doubts about it or a cultural side to consider. He´s a marine, after all :lol
Pretty much this is what I thought. Toruks are both feared and revered by the Na'vi, and any other Predator. Given the Na'vi's level of spirituality and how ingrained it is in their psyche's, they wouldn't ever go seek one out. Jake has pretty much none of that and just goes and gets one, though saying it's one one of those choices everything leads up to.Binabik15 said:
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