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[Sharp]

Good point. However, look at the increase from Friday to Saturday this week: 60.2%. That's gigantic compared to historical norms. Some factor either pushed it down on Friday or pushed it up on Saturday. IMHO.

A number of people postulated that the heavy snowfall in the Midwest could depress Friday's results, but I doubt that had more than a small effect.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

Probably old...but Does ‘Avatar’ have a racist message?

If haters are a race, yes it does.

 

[PrivateWHudson]

both PG and PG-13 have been significantly neutered. PG originally meant you had a chance of seeing boobs. PG-13 used to mean boobs and swearing.. at this point PG-13 means crude humor, implied graphic violence, and/or possibly non-red blood and that's about it. PG basically means "G with kid-level of violence". If there actually WAS boobs in a new PG-13 release, I'd imagine protest even louder than the smoking protest in this movie.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a PG-13 movie with a nice long steady straight on shot of boobs like Titanic. Also, they showed full frontal of Leo's drawling. Usually boobs in PG-13 were always "brief nudity". And PG was silhouetted or "everything but the nip". Although there was a great ass shot in Splash (PG I think).

 

[jmdajr]

Doesn't 16Candles have nudity and is PG?

 

[GhaleonEB]

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a PG-13 movie with a nice long steady straight on shot of boobs like Titanic. Also, they showed full frontal of Leo's drawling. Usually boobs in PG-13 were always "brief nudity". And PG was silhouetted or "everything but the nip". Although there was a great ass shot in Splash (PG I think).

Context seems to be important. Had there been boobs during the sex scene in Titanic, it might have tipped it to R. The "artistic" angle probably saved it. The MPAA double standards are so hilarious.

 

[ShinAmano]

Context seems to be important. Had there been boobs during the sex scene in Titanic, it might have tipped it to R. The "artistic" angle probably saved it. The MPAA double standards are so hilarious.

Yeah and if you are into documentary movies 'This Movie is not yet 'R'ated' is awesome.

 

[itsgreen]

Yeah and if you are into documentary movies 'This Movie is not yet 'R'ated' is awesome.

Seconded.

 

[Enosh]

Avatar just got nominated by the WGA for best original screenplay, incidentally.

the fuck?

what are the other nomies? Transformers 2?

The Avatar depression has made CNN

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/11/avatar.movie.blues/

why would anyone want to actualy live on Pandora? The quest of hunting each day in order to survive? Shiting in a hole somewhere? Having almost every living thing wanting to kill you? Fuck I can get that by moving to the rainforest, inclusive the preaty scenary but minus the USB ports to listen to some random unorganized jiberish

oh and no dragons to ride

take away the modern conforts from those people, like cellphones, cars, knifes, a house, internet, toilet etc, throw them into a forest somewhere and they won't last more than a week

 

[GhaleonEB]

Yeah and if you are into documentary movies 'This Movie is not yet 'R'ated' is awesome.

Seen it, and yup. It is.

 

[dragonfart28]

What this movie is doing is insane. It may pass Titanic which blows my mind. How does someone create the biggest movie of all time, take a huge break, come back and beat his unbeatable record.

But I remember what Titanic did and I dont see it with Avatar. That was madness unlike anything I have seen. EVERYBODY saw Titanic, whole families would go 5, 6, 7 times. That was a phenomenon that I am not sure I will see again. I see Avatar is making the money but I dont see that level of fandom. Of course with inflation Avatar is probably not even at half of what Titanic made.

Its an excellent movie but I am still trying to figure out why this movie. Is it the 3D? The story isn't the most original. I dont see it as a movie that will be treated as a Star Wars, I dont think it will be its own mythology or anything. I dont even see it as Cameron's best movie. What is the hook, why is this movie making this much money?

Sheer advertising and good timing. He's pandering to a bunch of huge segments and they're lapping it up.

"Ever since I went to see 'Avatar' I have been depressed. Watching the wonderful world of Pandora and all the Na'vi made me want to be one of them. I can't stop thinking about all the things that happened in the film and all of the tears and shivers I got from it," Mike posted. "I even contemplate suicide thinking that if I do it I will be rebirthed in a world similar to Pandora and the everything is the same as in 'Avatar.' "

My suggestion: Go to Africa.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

Yeah and if you are into documentary movies 'This Movie is not yet 'R'ated' is awesome.

Now I really want to see this movie.

 

[JGS]

Doesn't 16Candles have nudity and is PG?

16 Candles was prior to PG-13. It had to be since it was pretty raunchy all the way around.

 

[Snowman Prophet of Doom]

I had a discussion about Avatar and racism on Facebook with a friend from college. Here's what he wrote to me:

"I understand what Cameron does with the themes of colonialism and environmentalism on a surface level.

Unfortunately, the nonhumans in the film bare too obvious a resemblance to what white people have historically perceived as other, native, indigenous, etc (People of Color) for the parallel between whites-humans and POC-nonhumans to be innocuous... See More. Ultimately I find films like Avatar to be fantasies about race that are told from a white perspective propelled by a neocolonialist metanarrative about "going native" and becoming the savior of those "your people" oppress. If you didn't find the many caricatured traits and behaviors transplanted from traditional white conceptions of African and Native American tribal society offensive, then I suggest taking a second look."

I don't necessarily agree with what he's saying, but I think the argument is valid.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

I had a discussion about Avatar and racism on Facebook with a friend from college. Here's what he wrote to me:

"I understand what Cameron does with the themes of colonialism and environmentalism on a surface level.

Unfortunately, the nonhumans in the film bare too obvious a resemblance to what white people have historically perceived as other, native, indigenous, etc (People of Color) for the parallel between whites-humans and POC-nonhumans to be innocuous... See More. Ultimately I find films like Avatar to be fantasies about race that are told from a white perspective propelled by a neocolonialist metanarrative about "going native" and becoming the savior of those "your people" oppress. If you didn't find the many caricatured traits and behaviors transplanted from traditional white conceptions of African and Native American tribal society offensive, then I suggest taking a second look."

I don't necessarily agree with what he's saying, but I think the argument is valid.

The problem with that theory is the RDA and it's employees are multi-racial and gender.

Jake Sully only happens to be White.

It's not indicative of the colonization of the New World, where the collective was White.

 

[JGS]

I had a discussion about Avatar and racism on Facebook with a friend from college. Here's what he wrote to me:

"I understand what Cameron does with the themes of colonialism and environmentalism on a surface level.

Unfortunately, the nonhumans in the film bare too obvious a resemblance to what white people have historically perceived as other, native, indigenous, etc (People of Color) for the parallel between whites-humans and POC-nonhumans to be innocuous... See More. Ultimately I find films like Avatar to be fantasies about race that are told from a white perspective propelled by a neocolonialist metanarrative about "going native" and becoming the savior of those "your people" oppress. If you didn't find the many caricatured traits and behaviors transplanted from traditional white conceptions of African and Native American tribal society offensive, then I suggest taking a second look."

I don't necessarily agree with what he's saying, but I think the argument is valid.

This was an op-ed piece in my Sunday paper. I am apparently supposed to be offended by the film. The article writer even said the Na'vi's claim to fame is sing, dancing, & being athletic...just like black people!:lol

 

[Nazgul_Hunter]

If this movie is a racist white-guilt trip; then what explains the massive appeal it's had world wide?
Clearly people are reading into it what they want: some people see white guilt; others see a defense of private property; others see communism; a lot of people see it as anti-imperialist or anti-corporations; others (like or hate) kumbaya-style eco-friendliness; some people see heathen panteism; and others just like the awesome visuals.

Pretty good for an unoriginal screenplay IMO

 

[shintoki]

Avatar and Star Trek getting WGA noms :lol

Yeah, both are sore thumbs on the lists.

About the "racial" parts of avatar. I think it's the same as other past Cameron movies. People are putting a bit too much of their own racial thought into it. Sure some of it does seem like they just opted to go with the standard Colonial era idea. But the story is definitely takes influences on those tales/ideals now.

 

[Snowman Prophet of Doom]

The problem with that theory is the RDA and it's employees are multi-racial and gender.

Jake Sully only happens to be White.

It's not indicative of the colonization of the New World, where the collective was White.

I made that point, and this was his response:

"What Ben is saying is that the film, like most , assumes we need a white male protagonist in order to identify with the Na'vi, which you don't have to be a POC to recognize as unnecessary and problematic. In fact, in the current moviegoing environment more women than men are buying movie tickets, so assuming such a perspective is not just ... See Moreirrational, it's downright sexist.

If this film seems, at its core, about modernity rather than race relations, it's only because neocolonialism doesn't seem to be a racial issue to the group that doesn't consider itself "racialized". Your modernity is not everyone's present. "

"I could go on about how it is actually extremely relevant that the protagonist "happens to be" a white male, because it's clear that what "happens to be" is what Cameron (and most other Hollywood directors) considers to be the "default" perspective through which the audience can most meaningfully interpret the events of the film. It's relevant because the reinforcement of that notion is what paternalism is all about, and blatantly contradicts the film's decrying of imperialist attitudes. Filmmakers should be held accountable for thematic inconsistencies as well as narrative ones."

 

[Nazgul_Hunter]

This was an op-ed piece in my Sunday paper. I am apparently supposed to be offended by the film. The article writer even said the Na'vi's claim to fame is sing, dancing, & being athletic...just like black people!:lol

The only time we see non-main Avatars in the movie; they're playing basketball. James Cameron hates black people confirmed

 

[ryutaro's mama]

I made that point, and this was his response:

"What Ben is saying is that the film, like most , assumes we need a white male protagonist in order to identify with the Na'vi, which you don't have to be a POC to recognize as unnecessary and problematic. In fact, in the current moviegoing environment more women than men are buying movie tickets, so assuming such a perspective is not just ... See Moreirrational, it's downright sexist.

If this film seems, at its core, about modernity rather than race relations, it's only because neocolonialism doesn't seem to be a racial issue to the group that doesn't consider itself "racialized". Your modernity is not everyone's present. "

"I could go on about how it is actually extremely relevant that the protagonist "happens to be" a white male, because it's clear that what "happens to be" is what Cameron (and most other Hollywood directors) considers to be the "default" perspective through which the audience can most meaningfully interpret the events of the film. It's relevant because the reinforcement of that notion is what paternalism is all about, and blatantly contradicts the film's decrying of imperialist attitudes. Filmmakers should be held accountable for thematic inconsistencies as well as narrative ones."

Then you open a new slew of insults, i.e. if it Jake was Black:

"The Black man goes native and finally rises against the Whites after generations of being downtrodden by White society."

If Jake were a woman:

"Jessica Sully was obviously constricted by a male dominated society and felt her only vindication would be to embrace a more basic, primitive life offered by the Na'vi."

I could go on.

The point is, James Cameron would never win this, ever.

There would always be critizism.

 

[Expendable.]

Actuals for the weekend are $50.3, much higher! Nice.

 

[GhaleonEB]

If this movie is a racist white-guilt trip; then what explains the massive appeal it's had world wide?
Clearly people are reading into it what they want: some people see white guilt; others see a defense of private property; others see communism; a lot of people see it as anti-imperialist or anti-corporations; others (like or hate) kumbaya-style eco-friendliness; some people see heathen panteism; and others just like the awesome visuals.

Pretty good for an unoriginal screenplay IMO

Reminds me of a conversation I had with someone last week about Avatar.

She mentioned that she thought the colonization analogy was referencing diamond mining in Africa, and saw African tribal themes running through it; she has family in Africa and stays in touch with them. But she had an uncle who thought it was closer to what happened to the Native Americans, both thematically and visually. I tossed in there the overt references to Vietnam and the Iraq invasion. Of course, Cameron layered in all of these references deliberately.

Different people are predisposed to see different things based on their life experiences and background. I think it's to Cameron's credit that there are many different interpretations of the themes.

On that note, here's the libertarian take on it.

The defense of property rights in Avatar is so clear that, at one point in the movie, when the bad guys are justifying their war on the grounds that they need "Unobtainium," I turned to a libertarian friend and said, "This is the Kelo decision." Recall that the Supreme Court, in Kelo v. City of New London, decided that it was all right to take Suzette Kelo’s property from its low-tech use as a house so that a major corporation could use it for a "grander" project.

Which brings me back to whether this movie was an attack on capitalism. I think not. To the extent that it makes any statement about capitalism, Avatar is a defense of capitalism. Capitalism is based on property rights and voluntary exchange. The Na’vi had property rights in the crucial tree and various other properties surrounding it. Did they own it as individuals or as community tribal property? We can’t be sure, but probably the latter. They had refused to sell the property to the outsiders. There was nothing the outsiders could give them that would make it worth their while. What should we, if we are good capitalists, conclude? That, just as in the Kelo case, the people currently sitting on the land value it more than the outsiders. The land is already in its highest-valued use.

We all see what we want to see.

I maintain that Cameron's screenplay is more clever than it's generally credited as being.

 

[Blackhead]

My suggestion: Go to Africa.

Go to Scotland

Then you open a new slew of insults, i.e. if it Jake was Black:

"The Black man goes native and finally rises against the Whites after generations of being downtrodden by White society."

If Jake were a woman:

"Jessica Sully was obviously constricted by a male dominated society and felt her only vindication would be to embrace a more basic, primitive life offered by the Na'vi."

I could go on.

The point is, James Cameron would never win this, ever.

There would always be critizism.

Er, so? One shouldn't care whether a film is racist or not because some people (or rather, different people) will criticize it either way?

 

[ryutaro's mama]

Er, so? One shouldn't care whether a film is racist or not because some people (or rather, different people) will criticize it either way?

I'm saying Cameron would have detractors no matter what he did.

 

[LeMaximilian]

I maintain that Cameron's screenplay is more clever than it's generally credited as being.

A lot of the discussions have come from the general theme of the movie surrounding the plot. I've had hours of discussions with my friends concerning the science of the film, and how awesome the biology of Pandora was. A planet that's essentially the internet from a biological computer where all it's inhabitants can look up data and connect with everything else. Even the que's as being personal USB cables that can attach to almost everything. Shit's pretty badass for being written back in the mid 90's.

 

[maharg]

Reminds me of a conversation I had with someone last week about Avatar.

She mentioned that she thought the colonization analogy was referencing diamond mining in Africa, and saw African tribal themes running through it; she has family in Africa and stays in touch with them. But she had an uncle who thought it was closer to what happened to the Native Americans, both thematically and visually. I tossed in there the overt references to Vietnam and the Iraq invasion. Of course, Cameron layered in all of these references deliberately.

Different people are predisposed to see different things based on their life experiences and background. I think it's to Cameron's credit that there are many different interpretations of the themes.

On that note, here's the libertarian take on it.


We all see what we want to see.

I maintain that Cameron's screenplay is more clever than it's generally credited as being.

I don't think you're providing a strong defense of its cleverness by saying it's spammed with every war allegory imaginable deliberately. It would be a pretty sad story (or piece of art in general) indeed that had only one workable interpretation available to it, so that's not in itself a qualification for depth. In fact, it tends to make things shallower, imo. Breadth of subject over depth.

 

[Blackhead]

I'm saying Cameron would have detractors no matter what he did.

And I'm saying that doesn't provide a counter argument to Snowman Prophet of Doom's friend.

 

[JGS]

I don't think you're providing a strong defense of its cleverness by saying it's spammed with every war allegory imaginable deliberately. It would be a pretty sad story (or piece of art in general) indeed that had only one workable interpretation available to it, so that's not in itself a qualification for depth. In fact, it tends to make things shallower, imo. Breadth of subject over depth.

I think it's clever because although I see similarities, there were done uniquely.

For example, the relationship between Neytiri & Jake was was familiar yet unique. Considering that the romance began at their sex scene, there was never a question they belonged together and it had nothing to do with knowing the plot outline. I've seen a romance arc a million times (Thanks to my wife's love of the rom-com genre). This one worked naturally imo so that what they said and di for each other at the end made complete sense and not just a way to carry a predictable story.

That's good storytelling.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

And I'm saying that doesn't provide a counter argument to Snowman Prophet of Doom's friend.

Sure it does.

It's relevant because the reinforcement of that notion is what paternalism is all about, and blatantly contradicts the film's decrying of imperialist attitudes. Filmmakers should be held accountable for thematic inconsistencies as well as narrative ones."

So it's a contradiction because the main character here is White?

Are there no White people in the future?

Did all White people agree with the colonization of America?

So Cameron should change his image of the character to what exactly?

Maybe one of my examples?

Who cares if the protaganist is White?

I certainly don't.

 

[GhaleonEB]

I don't think you're providing a strong defense of its cleverness by saying it's spammed with every war allegory imaginable deliberately. It would be a pretty sad story (or piece of art in general) indeed that had only one workable interpretation available to it, so that's not in itself a qualification for depth. In fact, it tends to make things shallower, imo. Breadth of subject over depth.

That last comment had more to do with the previous response - see my other posts on the subject - than the war allusions I was referring to in that post. I personally enjoyed the layers to the avatar metaphor and how it fits into the overall themes. I thought it was a clever bit of writing.

And again, Cameron's objective with the film was to make it accessible to a wide audience. I'm all for depth rather than breadth, but I think he supplied that in other areas, while still making the broad themes very accessible and open to interpretation.

A lot of the discussions have come from the general theme of the movie surrounding the plot. I've had hours of discussions with my friends concerning the science of the film, and how awesome the biology of Pandora was. A planet that's essentially the internet from a biological computer where all it's inhabitants can look up data and connect with everything else. Even the que's as being personal USB cables that can attach to almost everything. Shit's pretty badass for being written back in the mid 90's.

And also, stuff like this.

 

[FirewalkR]

A lot of the discussions have come from the general theme of the movie surrounding the plot. I've had hours of discussions with my friends concerning the science of the film, and how awesome the biology of Pandora was. A planet that's essentially the internet from a biological computer where all it's inhabitants can look up data and connect with everything else. Even the que's as being personal USB cables that can attach to almost everything. Shit's pretty badass for being written back in the mid 90's.

It was toned down for the movie though. The original scriptment is stronger in that aspect. In it the clans communicated through the network, Ney'tiri warned the tribe she was coming with Jake for example... they didn't just hear what seemed like unclear ramblings of ancestors, Eywa provided in the sense that it instructed the Na'vi on where to proceed next (they were nomadic clans) so they wouldn't exhaust the resources of a certain area, there were no wars since there was no unorganized competition for resources. Eywa eradicated diseases by providing antidotes (it was trying to eradicate humanity, which it perceived as a disease)... Seems like much of it was toned down so they could have had wars in the past, generating the need for "someone who united the clans", so there could be the prophecy and Jake could fulfil it.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

It was toned down for the movie though. The original scriptment is stronger in that aspect. In it the clans communicated through the network, Ney'tiri warned the tribe she was coming with Jake for example... they didn't just hear what seemed like unclear ramblings of ancestors, Eywa provided in the sense that it instructed the Na'vi on where to proceed next (they were nomadic clans) so they wouldn't exhaust the resources of a certain area, there were no wars since there was no unorganized competition for resources. Eywa eradicated diseases by providing antidotes (it was trying to eradicate humanity, which it perceived as a disease)... Seems like much of it was toned down so they could have had wars in the past, generating the need for "someone who united the clans", so there could be the prophecy and Jake could fulfil it.

Wow.

James puts so much thought into backstory.

 

[FirewalkR]

Wow.

James puts so much thought into backstory.

And then betrayed his original intentions a bit. Still, I don't complain much, I'll probably watch it for the 4th time next Friday. o The sense of wonder is unparalleled.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

And then betrayed his original intentions a bit. Still, I don't complain much, I'll probably watch it for the 4th time next Friday. o The sense of wonder is unparalleled.

You ever read the early scriptment of T2 were he describes the whole sequence of breaking into SkyNet, sending Reese through and then re-programing the T-800? I wish that had been filmed somewhere.

Or his scriptment of Spider-man? The organic webbing that Raimi used?

Cameron's idea.

 

[Ollie Pooch]

i think this really needed the earth scenes to show the contrast between jake's life there and his life on pandora.

i feel that even though it's the old story of 'rise up and rally the natives together to beat the military' he was also (quite selfishly, imo) defending his own newfound sense of freedom, mobility and purpose. the 'this is our land!' stuff was a little cringeworthy but i think it's as much about himself as being this huge saviour and defending the na'vi.

also noticed some even more glaring cuts, where it appeared stuff was removed - the 'what are you doing, jake?' shot after the love scene is a good example. really keen to see what will be put back in for the BR. god, i'm tired. didnt' get out til 12.30 again

 

[GhaleonEB]

i think this really needed the earth scenes to show the contrast between jake's life there and his life on pandora.

i feel that even though it's the old story of 'rise up and rally the natives together to beat the military' he was also (quite selfishly, imo) defending his own newfound sense of freedom, mobility and purpose. the 'this is our land!' stuff was a little cringeworthy but i think it's as much about himself as being this huge saviour and defending the na'vi.

also noticed some even more glaring cuts, where it appeared stuff was removed - the 'what are you doing, jake?' shot after the love scene is a good example. really keen to see what will be put back in for the BR. god, i'm tired. didnt' get out til 12.30 again

Knowing what was cut is kind of frustrating, thinking back on the film. There are so many small scenes cut that would have added a lot to the film, and a lot of it was character work: the extended dinner scene when Jake first joins the Na'vi; the confrontation between Quaritch and Selfridge; the shot of Neytiri taking Jakes hand early in the Banshee training sequence; Norm's scene opening Hell's Gate; damn near everything with Grace.

I really, really want an extended cut. The difference between this and even a three hour version would be pretty significant.

 

[Count Dookkake]

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a PG-13 movie with a nice long steady straight on shot of boobs like Titanic. Also, they showed full frontal of Leo's drawling. Usually boobs in PG-13 were always "brief nudity". And PG was silhouetted or "everything but the nip". Although there was a great ass shot in Splash (PG I think).

Dreamscape shows boobies bouncing during a sex scene... with children watching from under the bed.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Dreamscape shows boobies bouncing during a sex scene... with children watching from under the bed.

I forgot how awesome that movie was.

 

[Combine]

Though her character was already pretty awesome, having the whole side-story of Neytiri's sister would have definitely added a ton of more depth to her. Not to mention the whole aspect of Grace's school explaining why the Na'vi are currently so antagonistic toward Sky People.

Although, one would have imagined that

Spoiler

The Na'vi would have already declared war following the death of one of the chieftains daughters

 

[ryutaro's mama]

I really, really want an extended cut.

+1

 

[neoism]

No...but in Jaws (PG) there was full frontal and graphic violence that would get that an R rating easy these days.

That's was before PG-13, if I'm not mistaken, Steven Spielberg, helped come up with the PG-13 ranting for Temple of DOOM.

 

[AniHawk]

That's was before PG-13, if I'm not mistaken, Steven Spielberg, helped come up with the PG-13 ranting for Temple of DOOM.

PG-13 rating happened in part because of Temple of Doom.

 

[StoOgE]

Temple of Doom and Gremlins were what caused PG13 to be created.

A bunch of parents bitched about the violence in the movies that were rated PG. Spielberg (being attached to both) suggested the PG13 for in between R and PG.

David Lynch is responsible for the NC-17 ratings replacing X. The porn industry abused the "X" rating for marketing purposes and ensured any legit non-porn X rated movies couldn't get a release.

They are considering renaming that a "Hard R" instead of NC-17 because NC-17 films still can't get distribution.

 

[JGS]

I can't sleep, so scrolling the web I came across this:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iddf4077045b31afc4278751727b6d4ca

Avatar was nominated for a cinematography award. I'm trying to figure out how this is possible since the most brilliant scenes technically did not involve cinematography (or did they).

I was thinking about this because I remember how I keep complimenting Pixar on their cinematography. It's the best because they can go anywhere and show anything and have the skills to do so. I then mentally correct myself since that really isn't the case.

There's obviously more to it than what I'm thinking, but how is Avatar even in the same league as the other nominees? If there isn't a good reason, then Ratatoille needs to get a retroactive win.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

It should be nominated for cinematography. It was the best work Cameron has ever done under somebody else's credit title. :lol

Also, if you see the camera rig he uses, he does indeed use a camera. He still plans his setups like anybody else, he can just move artifacts and objects to his liking. His compositions in the film were fucking unreal. I hope AVATAR or Basterds wins cinematogaphy.

 

[Salazar]

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/01/11/china-bloggers-reviews-of-avatar/

The Chinese bloggers review Avatar. Some are serious, and some are wry.

1. The first element of any war is human. Learn from the Na’vi, have a winning spirit, and don’t be afraid of any advanced weapons.
2. The Na’vi’s system of hereditary rule proves that democracy is not universally applicable.
3. Na’vi’s collectivism has won over capitalism.
4. Loyalty has to be put in the number place in any appointment of key personnel. Defeat of the human race is due to the irresolute thinking of Jake.
5. The human race’s army has not united resolutely under the leadership of Colonel Miles Quaritch, as a result there is internal struggle. Unity is iron, unity is steel!
6. Dr. Grace Augustine shows the weaknesses of intellectuals, which are not to be trusted.
7. Forced demolition in China is relatively civilized; we haven’t used the army yet.
8. Anyone watching Avatar for the second time will be subject to 20% luxury tax.
9. Increase our effort in research & development. Start Avatar programs in provincial / ministerial levels or above. What we need to emphasize is: useful idealism is materialism.
10. Planet Pandora is an inseparable part of our motherland.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

Just came across this on Variety.

 

[hirokazu]

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/01/11/china-bloggers-reviews-of-avatar/

The Chinese bloggers review Avatar. Some are serious, and some are wry.

wat.

 

[JGS]

It should be nominated for cinematography. It was the best work Cameron has ever done under somebody else's credit title. :lol

Also, if you see the camera rig he uses, he does indeed use a camera. He still plans his setups like anybody else, he can just move artifacts and objects to his liking. His compositions in the film were fucking unreal. I hope AVATAR or Basterds wins cinematogaphy.

Good points & I don't have a problem with that.

However, I do wish that flat out animated films got more credit for it too in some kind of way since only a few of them stand out. I mentioned Ratatoille because some of theings they did in that film could not have been easy to think up or execute such Remy running through walls of a building, the kitchen escape scene, or the look and feel of Paris. Infact I would find it hard to believe they did any of it with similar setting up that is involved with Avatar.

I was just under the impression that cinematography also involved making whatever it is being filmed better in a more real sense.

 

[SirFodderton]

I don't remember it being families going to Titanic 5 or 6 times. I remember it being teenage to middle aged women who went that many times. I remember footage of the lineups and even inside the theatres after a couple weeks of it being out and them being filled something like 70%+ with women.

I had to go watch it for an english field trip in junior high. Then we had to write an essay on it. I was 14 at the time and seeing nudity on screen with your teachers and classmates was interesting. I remember one kid couldn't come because his parents wouldn't let him see the booobs.

I also remember a father and son watching it just for the sinking of the ship and leaving right after.