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Rottenwatch: AVATAR (82%)

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Zeliard said:
Avatar is a special case when it comes to hype and anti-hype. The backlash started months ago and effectively ended when the movie came out. The haters blew their load too early.
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Yeah, it was premature
 
Avatar becomes highest grossing global IMAX release

Avatar is projected to become the highest grossing worldwide IMAX release today [January 4] as the opening day in China combined with global holdovers push the tally past the $71m mark set by The Polar Express.

The film grossed approximately $12.7m over the weekend and boosted the tally to $67m as Avatar passed The Dark Knight’s $65m haul to become the highest initial worldwide release.

The Polar Express reached $71m after several re-releases, however Avatar will overtake that today and is projected to cross $100m later this month. Initial reports from IMAX said midnight shows at all 11 Chinese screens were sold out. Opening day results will follow.

Avatar currently stands at $20m internationally from 71 screens (rising to 82 including China) and $47.1m from 179 North American screens. The film added $8.7m domestically over the weekend, accounting for 12% of the total $68.3m domestic weekend gross from 3% of the screens.

The international take was $4m and that amount included a record international single day on Saturday of $1.425m.

“There is a momentum on this movie that is very hard to quantify,” IMAX Filmed Entertainment’s chairman and president Greg Foster said, adding that he has received texts from studio heads unable to get tickets to sold-out shows.

Foster pointed to notable single-screen performances around the world: in 17 days IMAX screens in Taipei have grossed $546,000 and $429,000; $408,000 at the Yongsan site in South Korea; and $460,000 since December 23 at the 109 Cinemas site in Kawasaki, Japan.

In further good news for the company, the extraordinary pace of IMAX ticket sales for Avatar powered IMAX Corporation to its first $100m global box office quarter for the period ending December 31, 2009.

The company said this result marked an approximately 225% increase on the fourth quarter from a year before, when global box office amounted to roughly $31m.

Approximately $54m of the $100m came from Avatar in 2009. Gross box office of Hollywood films shown on 230 IMAX screens around the world in 2009 climbed 108% to a record $270m compared to $130m in fiscal 2008.
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Avatar was over half of all IMAX revenue this quarter, but it was only released in the final two weeks.
 
GhaleonEB said:
Avatar was over half of all IMAX revenue this quarter, but it was only released in the final two weeks.
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2iivel3.gif


I bet that drink keeps tasting better and better
 
Zeliard said:
The backlash started months ago and effectively ended when the movie came out.
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Initially backlash was the result of ridiculous over-hype and initial letdown of images and trailers.

The overhype has ended and the consensus seems to be "medicore story - bad dialogue - middling acting - AMAZING effects and art design".....which means there isn't that much to rail against. I guess there's still some ridiculous hyperbole still being bandied about, but for the most part the insane hype has settled and with it so has the backlash.
 
Re: TDK and Avatar, "event" movies

Basically, TDK was an action-filled drama wrapped in event clothing. It was a faux event movie (not a diss at the movie nor its box office intake, both of which are great). Avatar is a real by-the-book-definition event movie.
 
I think you are elevating the term a bit much.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event_movie

An event movie is a film whose release itself is considered a major event, such as an anticipated sequel or a big budget film with major stars generating considerable attention.

TDK would arguably be a more legitimate event film since it was both an anticipated sequel and had more notable stars. Exactly what action film couldn't be backhandedly described as "an action filled drama"?
 
border said:
I think you are elevating the term a bit much.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event_movie

An event movie is a film whose release itself is considered a major event, such as an anticipated sequel or a big budget film with major stars generating considerable attention.

TDK would arguably be a more legitimate event film since it was both an anticipated sequel and had more notable stars.
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I disagree. I've been waiting for this movie for 5 years.

TDK was a sequel, yes.
But it was known from the start that Avatar would be ground breaking in many aspects.

That makes Avatar more of an event movie than TDK IMO
 
border said:
Initially backlash was the result of ridiculous over-hype and initial letdown of images and trailers.

The overhype has ended and the consensus seems to be "medicore story - bad dialogue - middling acting - AMAZING effects and art design".....which means there isn't that much to rail against. I guess there's still some ridiculous hyperbole still being bandied about, but for the most part the insane hype has settled and with it so has the backlash.
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I would not describe that as the concensus at all. To the extent there even is one, it's purely about the effects. People are split on the rest.
 
border said:
Initially backlash was the result of ridiculous over-hype and initial letdown of images and trailers.

The overhype has ended and the consensus seems to be "medicore story - bad dialogue - middling acting - AMAZING effects and art design".....which means there isn't that much to rail against. I guess there's still some ridiculous hyperbole still being bandied about, but for the most part the insane hype has settled and with it so has the backlash.
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The "overhype" with Avatar was solely surrounding the new tech and the fact that it was Cameron's first feature film in over a decade. So given that the movie is now released and the tech is being roundly praised even by the biggest detractors, this backlash against the hype was, in retrospect, particularly idiotic. Backlash before-the-fact generally is, but this one takes the cake.
 
GhaleonEB said:
I would not describe that as the concensus at all.
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It seems to be mostly where critics have rested, with their reaction largely dependent on how willing they are to forgive the film's flaws in favor of its technical accomplishments.

Gui_PT said:
But it was known from the start that Avatar would be ground breaking in many aspects.

That makes Avatar more of an event movie than TDK IMO
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They are both event movies by definition.

I'd argue that breaking new ground has nothing to do with a film becoming an "event"....in fact it frequently accomplishes the opposite effect because viewers are not attracted to the unfamiliar.
 
I just heard something on the news about Avatar. First, amusingly, they said "early reviewers called in smurf porn". :lol

Second, "it's only opening to the 1.whatever billion people in china tonight."

Holy shit. Probably not new in this thread. But, damn dawgs, 2 billion here we come?
 
border said:
I'd argue that breaking new ground has nothing to do with a film becoming an "event"....in fact it frequently accomplishes the opposite effect because viewers are not attracted to the unfamiliar.
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but the second coming of JC is certainly an event.
 
border said:
It seems to be mostly where critics have rested, with their reaction largely dependent on how willing they are to forgive the film's flaws in favor of its technical accomplishments.

They are both event movies by definition.

I'd argue that breaking new ground has nothing to do with a film becoming an "event"....in fact it frequently accomplishes the opposite effect because viewers are not attracted to the unfamiliar.
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That's the one thing I've always never understood about TDK. Ask half of the people who saw the movie what Batman Begins was and they couldn't tell you.
 
border said:
It seems to be mostly where critics have rested, with their reaction largely dependent on how willing they are to forgive the film's flaws in favor of its technical accomplishments.
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I wasn't talking purely about critical reaction, but even then that is not the concensus. There isn't one.
 
I wish I could find my photoshop disc, because GIMP is shitty.
It's not very good but anyone want it!
f4r29j_th.jpg

also that original gif was huge in size!:lol
 
To show what cinema schedules look like at the moment in China, here's an example from 福州:

201013105625777.jpg


Guess which film is taking over all the screens.
 
border said:
I think you are elevating the term a bit much.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event_movie

An event movie is a film whose release itself is considered a major event, such as an anticipated sequel or a big budget film with major stars generating considerable attention.

TDK would arguably be a more legitimate event film since it was both an anticipated sequel and had more notable stars. Exactly what action film couldn't be backhandedly described as "an action filled drama"?
Click to expand...

Im basically saying that Avatar is a true "spectacle" film while TDK is not.
 
neoism said:
I wish I could find my photoshop disc, because GIMP is shitty.
It's not very good but anyone want it!
f4r29j_th.jpg

also that original gif was huge in size!:lol
Click to expand...
it's mine

edit: or not... not clean enough :\
 
China Daily said:
The highly anticipated 3D film Avatar opened yesterday at midnight to some of the worst weather conditions to hit Beijing in half a century, but this did not appear to deter moviegoers.


Liu Hui, manager of Beijing's UME Huaxing International Cineplex, said her theater offers two options for moviegoers, one in 3D and the other in IMAX 3D, which offers better visual impact.

"For the midnight premiere, we were at 90 percent capacity for the 3D version and 100 percent for the IMAX 3D," she said, adding that the tickets for the IMAX 3D screening sold out two days prior to opening.

The -16 C temperatures and up to 30 cm of snowfall on Sunday appeared to be more of a blessing than a burden, based on the demographic for the first day's turnout.

Due to the severe weather, local authorities closed schools yesterday, leaving many students, teachers and their parents an entire day to catch a film. And in this case, the turnout was overwhelmingly for Avatar.
According to a ticket seller at UME's Anzhen theater surnamed Gu, almost all the people who came yesterday bought tickets for Avatar.

When asked what piqued their interest in the film, most in the ticket lines for Avatar said that they were big fans of director James Cameron.

"He's a very important director in movie history," said Liu Liwen, a sophomore at the Central Academy of the Arts, who came to see a 12:30 pm show with his girlfriend. "Also, because I heard of the big budget and the 3D - I was sure it was going to be a landmark movie."

Most of Beijing's big cinemas offer a 3D experience but only two show Avatar in IMAX 3D: UME Huaxing International Cineplex and the China National Film Museum Theater.

The 3D digital effects were a major draw for those in line to purchase tickets. For many, Avatar was the first film they would watch in 3D.

"I don't know what to expect," said one woman waiting in line for Thursday's tickets at UME's Huaxing outlet. "But I can't wait."

Cameron attended a promotional event for the film in Beijing on Dec 23 that catered specifically to the Chinese press. Heavy promotion across the country for Avatar, which included websites, magazines and television, seems to have had the desired effect.

"After seeing previews of the show on TV, I knew I wanted to see it," said Zhao Yang at UME's Anzhen location yesterday afternoon.

The Canadian-American director is best-known for directing Terminators I and II and Titanic, which grossed 360 million yuan ($52.7 million) at the Chinese box office in 1998, a record that was broken by Transformers II 10 years later.

The Transformers sequel, which earned 400 million yuan, was topped by 2012, which made 460 million yuan when it screened late last year.

"But one thing people should also consider is that this movie has special requirements," Liu explained. "It's in 3D so it's shown in fewer theaters."

"However, this time of the year is really advantageous because of the upcoming Spring Festival," she said.

Liu, who has experienced the mania for both Transformers and 2012 at her theater, is optimistic about Avatar's potential. "I think Avatar will probably reach 500 million yuan."

Weng Li, spokesperson for China Film Group Corporation, was also upbeat about the overall performance of Avatar.

"The movie will create a box office record of 500 million yuan easily," he was quoted as saying by Sina.com yesterday.[...]
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LINK
 
border said:
I think you are elevating the term a bit much.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event_movie

An event movie is a film whose release itself is considered a major event, such as an anticipated sequel or a big budget film with major stars generating considerable attention.

TDK would arguably be a more legitimate event film since it was both an anticipated sequel and had more notable stars. Exactly what action film couldn't be backhandedly described as "an action filled drama"?
Click to expand...

Solo has this need to downplay TDK in every way he can. :P
 
jett said:
Solo has this need to downplay TDK in every way he can. :P
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If thats true, then a lot of people here have the opposite problem. Anyways, like I said, its not a dig at TDK. That movie was a big event, in North America, opening weekend. Avatar is a colossal event, worldwide, daily thusfar.
 
I agree with Solo. Avatar is more of a family film, and just has more universal appeal in general. TDK was a must-see movie event partly due to Heath Ledger's death (all talk surrounding TDK and leading up to its release after January was dominated by Ledger), though it would have undoubtedly been huge regardless.
 
Vic said:
In the end, it's dumb to compare TDK with Cameron's new money printing machine.
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Maybe, but such is the nature of the beast. The next major blockbuster (no, not Inception, you crazy nutjobs :lol ) that makes a major splash will be compared back with Avatar, and so on.
 
Solo said:
If thats true, then a lot of people here have the opposite problem. Anyways, like I said, its not a dig at TDK. That movie was a big event, in North America, opening weekend. Avatar is a colossal event, worldwide, daily thusfar.
Click to expand...

What are you trying to say here? TDK was the first movie to gross 500 million domestic since 1997, and was the highest grosser worldwide of 2008. It had considerable legs for a summer movie, it wasn't just "an opening weekend". It was an event. It as THE tentpole movie of 2008. Just because Avatar is a bigger box office monster it doesn't delete what TDK accomplished.

Your previous post was dumb, dumb, dumb and completely unnecessary in this thread. :P
 
Timbuktu said:
To show what cinema schedules look like at the moment in China, here's an example from 福州:

201013105625777.jpg


Guess which film is taking over all the screens.
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What's the words for words translation of "Avatar" in mandarin?
 
irfan said:
Yes.
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The comparison stands in so far as it's all that's between Avatar and #1 at this point (or rather, all that will stand in the way in a few weeks). But yeah, not much further than that.

It says a lot about the recent exposion in international box office that Avatar is currently #4 on the all-time world-wide charts, but "only" #15 on the domestic chart right now.
DanielPlainview said:
I know many of you voted in our reader's poll and here are two results that you will probably be happy about:





You can check out the rest of the results here.
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Damn straight, on both counts. :D
 
jett said:
What are you trying to say here? TDK was the first movie to gross 500 million domestic since 1997, and was the highest grosser worldwide of 2008. It had considerable legs for a summer movie, it wasn't just "an opening weekend". It was an event. It as THE tentpole movie of 2008. Just because Avatar is a bigger box office monster it doesn't delete what TDK accomplished.

Your previous post was dumb, dumb, dumb and completely unnecessary in this thread. :P
Click to expand...

Never said it did. As much as you accuse me of incessantly downplaying TDK (which I admit, can be fun, just look at the reactions it gets without fail), you have a need to always put words in my mouth.

As for what I am trying to say, here is it quite simply: Avatar shit TDK's box office haul out dead in 17 days. Which is the bigger event?
 
So I went to buy tickets today for tomorrow.. all imax showings are sold out but i wanted reald anyway so i got those instead.

My friend went to see it yesterday, all showings were sold out so he decided to go see another movie. Problem was that everyone else at the theater who went to see avatar (but couldn't) ended up watching something else instead since they were denied. My friend and his girl ended up leaving because all movies were sold out :lol

6puxi1.jpg


Gold Jerry, Gold!
 
:lol
that pocahontas thing is awesome. i've never seen that, or fern gully - i'm gonna have to check them out to see the similarities!
 
julls said:
:lol
that pocahontas thing is awesome. i've never seen that, or fern gully - i'm gonna have to check them out to see the similarities!
Click to expand...
Very similar in the story arc, wildly different in the details and execution.
 
demosthenes said:
You can do this w/ the new Star Trek and Star Wars episode 4. Does it make Star Trek bad? Fuck no.
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What is Star Trek derivative of? I mean yes, its composed of tons of sci-fi tropes, but I cant think of one movie/book in particular that it steals liberally from, like Avatar from Pocahontas or A New Hope from The Hidden Fortress.
 
mosaic said:
The Dark Knight has the most honest portrayal of a schizophrenic I've ever seen, interwoven into a comic book movie. It's like Batman meets Silence of the Lambs. The audience appeal isn't there, given that gramma and a whole host of other folks don't want to wake up drenched in their own piss from nightmares.
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244qi46.gif
 
are there any good wallpapers for this movie out there? I dont want to use one of the shitty ones provided by the official website or anything like that..
 
Vic said:
What's the words for words translation of "Avatar" in mandarin?
Click to expand...

a fan da

Means nothing but it is a somewhat close phonetic translation from English.

Also it should be noted that all big releases in China do that to the box office. Their box office is really weird. Storm Warriors came out on the 10th and a week later I couldn't find a theater that had more than 2 showtimes a day because the Donnie Yen movie occupied all the screens.
 
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