• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Rottenwatch: AVATAR (82%)

Status
Not open for further replies.
av-6.jpg


should have been in the movie. Here's hoping its in the sequel
 
Somnia said:
So the 8th Annual VES (Visual Effects Society) just announced their nominations for this years awards. Avatar is nominated for 11 awards (cannot win them all due to being nominated multiple times in some categories though). I am going to quote which catgeories its nominated in below along with its competition, though I think it will win pretty much every category it's up for. http://www.visualeffectssociety.com/group/ves-member/ves-announces-nominees-8th-annual-ves-awards
Click to expand...

Well, my bets since it's got multiple nominations in some categories:

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Feature Motion Picture

AVATAR (lol no rly!?)

Best Single Visual Effect of the Year

AVATAR- Neytiri Drinking (even though Quaritch's Escape is my 2nd favorite scene in the movie, right after Ney'tiri holding Jake at the end... the water flowing is so incredible, everything is, really)

Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture

AVATAR - Neytiri

Outstanding Matte Paintings in a Feature Motion Picture

AVATAR - Pandora (Well, this one could escape Avatar I guess. It's hard to know what's been matte painted (well sometimes it's obvious but..) especially in a movie like Avatar... but I'm betting it'll win just to go with the flow lol)

Outstanding Models and Miniatures in a Feature Motion Picture

Coraline (Well, it's stop-motion right? I'm not sure about the use of these in Avatar. The Samson's and Ampsuits are intricately designed. Try playing the Avatar game and you'll see how the way they move just makes _sense_, like the Ampsuit turning 180º... BUT most of it was CG in the movie and even though they had a Samson model and partial Ampsuit.. really don't think it'll win this one)
EDIT: I might be mistaken though, I focused on the "miniatures" part... if 3D Modeling is included, then I guess Avatar can win.

Outstanding Created Environment in a Feature Motion Picture

AVATAR - Jungle / Biolume (I guess they have multiple noms here because different fx houses did most of the work in each one?)

Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture

AVATAR - End Battle (This one is really hard, because the filmmakers have to show how the scenes were composited I guess... All these movies are impressive in this category I guess. Even Sherlock has more scenes where there's probably awesome work, like in the fight near the end at the top of the tower..bridge..thing. I'll go for Avatar - End Battle. I know it's not just "one" rendered scene... They were even having some trouble because some elements were too far away in 3d space, and it all looks so damn awesome so...)

I'd like to hear the bets of the gaffers who know way waaay more about filmmaking than the little I do. :D
 
Black-Wind said:
I just noticed something . . . is there a reason why Grace's Avatar has a human nose?

Like, people are saying either its because she has one-of-if-not-the first Avatar before they out everything ooooorrr they simply wanted he Avatar to look more like her. Its there a correct answer to this? And if the 2nd one then is there a reason why they wanted that?
Click to expand...

Since the Avatars are technically half human DNA (right?)., Grace's nose had the dominant gene.

I actually wondered why there would be a need to mix the DNA anyway. Was it not possible to simply make a Na'vi clone or did the brains have to match up?

I'm sure it was explained & I have forgotten since.
 
JGS said:
Since the Avatars are technically half human DNA (right?)., Grace's nose had the dominant gene.

I actually wondered why there would be a need to mix the DNA anyway. Was it not possible to simply make a Na'vi clone or did the brains have to match up?

I'm sure it was explained & I have forgotten since.
Click to expand...

I think the wiki went into it about needing common DNA. Something about how the mind-transfer technology was originally used between identical twins.
 
Tarantino adds Avatar to the top of his 2009 film list

Well, Tarantino has now seen everything and has quickly put together a final list. It showed up in British tabloid writer Baz Bamigboye's Daily Mail update (via The Playlist and contains most of those old films as well as some interesting new ones. "My movie aside, I cannot NOT list Avatar at the top," Tarantino said.

Tarantino's Top 11 Films of 2009:
1. Avatar
2. Star Trek
3. Drag Me to Hell
4. Funny People
5. Zombieland
6. Chocolate
7. Observe & Report
8. The Hurt Locker
9. Julie & Julia
10. Up in the Air
11. District 9

Read more: http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/01...ar-to-his-top-11-films-of-2009/#ixzz0dAgBbwJV
Click to expand...

http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/01/19/quentin-tarantino-adds-avatar-to-his-top-11-films-of-2009/

lol
 
So I took my mom to see Avatar shortly after christmas. Then she wanted to see it in 3D last weekend after I told her how subtle but effective it adds to this movie. Her first 3D movie (not surprising, the cinemas that have it here were upgraded only in time for Avatar). She liked it even better.

Now she´s always asking when we´ll go again.

It´d be the fifth time watching Avatar for me, but she doesn´t want to go alone and I just might do it.

This is so crazy. She´s not a heavy movie goer and didn´t even want to watch Wall-E twice at the cinema. It seems to be the same with other older people as well, last time the theatre was packed with people starting from maybe ten to their 80s and at least as many older people as teens and twens. Just crazy. The 40 something women sitting next to my mom were repeat viewers as well.

But some old dude sitting next to my brother left the cinema during intermission, either a total dick or he thought it was over.
 
I'm going to attempt to see this on the weekend pending I don't have to fight to get in to the movie. I'm trying to keep my expectations in check, but it is hard.
 
Just got my issue of the Cinefex in. The quality of this magazine is amazing. I think I might set up a subscription now. Haven't got to read any of the articles just yet, but was def. worth the $12.50!
 
Another video of the Directors roundtable where they discuss what was the one scene they hated losing the most

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/mov...ectors-roundtable-the-scene-i-had-to-cut.html

Cameron says its the Tsu'tey
death scene
Says it was 100% finished and was struggling to cut it or not and took it out and put it back in a few times, and eventually took it out at the last minute. He sort of implies it will be in the special "fan" edition.

I understand, and kind of agree with his reasoning, still it will be nice to see in an alternate cut of the film.
 
16a2kpt.jpg



http://www.buf.fr/visual_effects.php?display=gallery&id=946

Buf are the company who worked on teh Earth scenes. They were supposedly completely finished.


EARTH SHOTS
The Earth Shots (one shot for the Pedestrian Crossing and 13 for the Alley) were Set Extensions that were designed specifically for 3D screening. Only the foreground was actually shot - against green screen. BUF created and integrated the background set according to the references provided by the production, adapting them to the filmed shots (aerial train, holographic commercials and surrounding buildings).

CROSSWALK
For this scene, only two medium close passes of the crowd were shot. The only visible part of the set includes the street in the foreground and the changing of the traffic light. To simulate the strip lighting, the extras were lit by blinking colored lights.

Taking into account the initial camera move on the foreground crowd plates, the shot features a wide introductory view on the crowded futuristic city. Because the stereoscopic view is more demanding than in 2D films, the depth and placement of the buildings has to be very precise and coherent. Once the main buildings were placed and the overall architecture defined, thecrowd was created, thus matching the live takes and perfectly integrating them into the 3D environment ambiance.

BUF's Art Department, led by Olivier Gilbert, also designed the holographic commercials (the “Media Sky") and billboards that populate the city. For the Full-CG commercials, we shot a few characters to integrate them in the designs of the ads. All of the Mediasky was developed with the stereo in mind, accentuating the impression of depth by enhancing the parallax between them. This is why some commercials might seem very flat if seen in 2D, while in 3D they show much more depth.

These two Earth sequences have trains that run through them. Each train was modeled and textured independently then filled with 3D extras. Next, each train was animated, lit and integrated into the shots. Due to the very bright and busy environment with heavy strip lighting and commercials, the lighting and placement of reflections were crucial to achieving realism. Additionally, the placement of the raised train tracks and their supports as well as the skyscrapers had to be very precise to ensure that the depth would be realistic when projected in stereo.

Finally, we created the Laser Pedestrian Crossing. The challenge here was that director Cameron wanted the crosswalk be floating six inches above the ground. This meant that all of legs of the characters would cross through it. This work was quite complex as we had to match-move the live characters in stereo to ensure that the interaction between the Laser Crossing and the legs would work.

EARTH ALLEY
Only the foreground of the set was shot live (the entry to the alley, back door and actors) were shot. The rest of the shot is Full CG. To achieve the best results for set extension, careful attention was paid to maintain the continuity between the filmed foreground and the CG set background. The architecture, the wet reflective materials such as walls, the ground, pipes, the blinking lights and the ground full of puddles we created had to match the live plates for shape and texture. Reflections in this very humid, dark environment also required great attention to detail. We had to ensure that the waves in the puddles would distort the reflections of the commercials in a natural manner and appear correctly in stereo. Haze and mist were also added to recreate the dark and humid atmosphere of the sequence, all in stereo. From the three points of views of the sequence, the most dramatic features are the trains and the Mediasky. It was very important to place the commercials and light the set to match the lighting on the actors. Since the shots were filmed against green screen, the resulting images were very green so quite a bit of color-correction was required to restore the actual color of the alley.

In addition, the continuity between live action and CG had to work for all points of view. Since these shots show a lot of depth, the camera calibration required a lot of precision because even a tiny difference in the spacing between the two cameras could result in a huge difference in depth perception.
Click to expand...
 
Dead said:
Another video of the Directors roundtable where they discuss what was the one scene they hated losing the most

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/mov...ectors-roundtable-the-scene-i-had-to-cut.html

Cameron says its the Tsu'tey
death scene
Says it was 100% finished and was struggling to cut it or not and took it out and put it back in a few times, and eventually took it out at the last minute. He sort of implies it will be in the special "fan" edition.

I understand, and kind of agree with his reasoning, still it will be nice to see in an alternate cut of the film.
Click to expand...

Thanks...hadn't got around to checking 24 Frames today and was hoping we'd get more of the round table. I agree with the cut from Precious btw...would have been to much.
 
Somnia said:
Just got my issue of the Cinefex in. The quality of this magazine is amazing. I think I might set up a subscription now. Haven't got to read any of the articles just yet, but was def. worth the $12.50!
Click to expand...
The other articles are great too--The Road isn't exactly an effects-heavy movie, but it was still a fantastic behind-the-scenes look. I, too, might actually subscribe--it seems like a really quality publication, and I can see why it's considered an industry standard. It was cool to see all the advertisements from Cameron and co. thanking the effects companies for their work, too (and vice versa, especially the ad from Framestore that called it "probably the most ambitious movie ever made"). I realize that the Avatar segment is available for free online (though it's extremely difficult to find) but I encourage you all to actually buy the issue. It's just really well-done overall, from the content to the articles to the binding.
 
BOM update from their twitter regarding Tuesday #'s

"giteshpandya Avatar makes $4.2M on TUE -17% vs. last wk. Will pass Dark Knight on SAT for #2 spot on all time dom list in just 37 days."

-17%...I was guessing for a -25% or so drop due to coming off the holidays, but -17% is just =O

Also to show the legs of this film in another way...

Fastest to $100 million 24
Fastest to $150 million 18
Fastest to $200 million 10
Fastest to $250 million 6
Fastest to $300 million 3
Fastest to $350 million 2
Fastest to $400 million 2
Fastest to $450 million 2
Fastest to $500 million 1
Click to expand...
 
Somnia said:
BOM update from their twitter regarding Tuesday #'s

"giteshpandya Avatar makes $4.2M on TUE -17% vs. last wk. Will pass Dark Knight on SAT for #2 spot on all time dom list in just 37 days."

-17%...I was guessing for a -25% or so drop due to coming off the holidays, but -17% is just =O
Click to expand...

Amazing. I know it broke the record for most days over $5m, but I imagine it's done the same for consecutive days over $4m as well. I'm seeing it my 4th time this weekend, and I still have to check for tickets ahead of time because they still are selling out.
 
Dead said:
Another video of the Directors roundtable where they discuss what was the one scene they hated losing the most

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/mov...ectors-roundtable-the-scene-i-had-to-cut.html

Cameron says its the Tsu'tey
death scene
Says it was 100% finished and was struggling to cut it or not and took it out and put it back in a few times, and eventually took it out at the last minute. He sort of implies it will be in the special "fan" edition.

I understand, and kind of agree with his reasoning, still it will be nice to see in an alternate cut of the film.
Click to expand...

Heh, I love how he considers the theatrical cuts his director's cuts. True director's cuts of T2 and Aliens ftw, sorry sculli. :P
 
I really enjoyed this movie. I have to say that everything about it really had a level of life and vibrancy that a lot of movies lack. I really enjoyed all the ambiance of the movie and while I wasn't fully convinced of the Navi beforehand the movie helped them feel more natural. Man I was surprised by how big they were. Although not perfect I really cant stress how much I enjoyed this movie.



Dead said:
16a2kpt.jpg



http://www.buf.fr/visual_effects.php?display=gallery&id=946

Buf are the company who worked on teh Earth scenes. They were supposedly completely finished.
Click to expand...


Wow, that pretty cool.. I really hope an "extended edition" is made. Has their been any word about one? Also are there any other known deleted scenes?
 
Sharp said:
The other articles are great too--The Road isn't exactly an effects-heavy movie, but it was still a fantastic behind-the-scenes look. I, too, might actually subscribe--it seems like a really quality publication, and I can see why it's considered an industry standard. It was cool to see all the advertisements from Cameron and co. thanking the effects companies for their work, too (and vice versa, especially the ad from Framestore that called it "probably the most ambitious movie ever made"). I realize that the Avatar segment is available for free online (though it's extremely difficult to find) but I encourage you all to actually buy the issue. It's just really well-done overall, from the content to the articles to the binding.
Click to expand...

I'll have to hunt that down at the book store
 
turnbuckle said:
Amazing. I know it broke the record for most days over $5m, but I imagine it's done the same for consecutive days over $4m as well. I'm seeing it my 4th time this weekend, and I still have to check for tickets ahead of time because they still are selling out.
Click to expand...
Pretty sure it is, yes, which is impressive for a non-summer movie. I think the record for consecutive days over 1 million is probably out of reach, though--Titanic has it and it's over 100.
 
Sharp said:
Pretty sure it is, yes, which is impressive for a non-summer movie. I think the record for consecutive days over 1 million is probably out of reach, though--Titanic has it and it's over 100.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that Titanic record seems impossible. The only way that happens is if theatres keep extending its run on their 3D screens.
 
ryutaro's mama said:
Holy crap, that shot is EXACTLY as it was described in the scriptment.

I'm soooooo hyped.
Click to expand...

Was about to say this. That's exactly how I imagined it would be. Reminds me of Blade Runner.
 
jett said:
Heh, I love how he considers the theatrical cuts his director's cuts. True director's cuts of T2 and Aliens ftw, sorry sculli. :P
Click to expand...

Erm, no. He considers the AVATAR theatrical cut his directors cut. Nowhere does he say that of his other films. In fact, if you listen to the introduction or commentary on his other films, you would realise that he much prefers the directors cuts on those.

@ the pic: ma'jesus!
 
They need to release the extended cut in theaters this summer or something.
 
turnbuckle said:
Yeah, that Titanic record seems impossible. The only way that happens is if theatres keep extending its run on their 3D screens.
Click to expand...

Well we should hear soon how long the IMAX extensions are going to be, but it sounds like it will be extended on IMAX (will run along with Alice apparently) and theaters are also extending their 3D count 10 more weeks. Will be interesting.
 
I love how it seems a lot of work was put into the scenes, yet it was all for nothing. They were even ready for 3D exhibition.

what a shame :(
 
PantherLotus said:
Does anybody get that Tarantino's list is in backwards order?
Click to expand...

Well, the article states its in no real order, avatar is his top!

Edit: Looking at that picture, I do hope they don't pull a martyr/jesus whatnot, its like putting more clichés on top of clichés

Double Edit: My lack of reading comp :X, its early damn it
 
Fix'd, didn't catch the double negative, anyway, Im just hoping cameron can take into some new territories in terms of the story itself, (i.e. something other then the jesus cliché )
 
Somnia said:
Well we should hear soon how long the IMAX extensions are going to be, but it sounds like it will be extended on IMAX (will run along with Alice apparently) and theaters are also extending their 3D count 10 more weeks. Will be interesting.
Click to expand...
I mean yes, it will be interesting because it could mean Avatar gets past $700 million, but I don't think it will really help its chances at this particular record. It would literally need another ten weeks of consecutive million-plus dollar days from here; even if it maintains drops of 17% week-to-week (which is pretty absurdly unlikely) it goes below a million around week nine. Of course, if it drops like that, by the time that happens it will have made another $68 million on weekdays alone, $151 million more on weekends, and be coming off of a $9 million+ weekend, adding it to its $720+ million gross and nowhere near the end of its run.

All of which is to say, even in a ridiculously unlikely scenario like the one I just outlined (but one I'm not willing to rule out entirely given Avatar's run so far) Titanic doesn't really have anything to worry about when it comes to that particular record.
 
Sharp said:
I mean yes, it will be interesting because it could mean Avatar gets past $700 million, but I don't think it will really help its chances at this particular record. It would literally need another ten weeks of consecutive million-plus dollar days from here; even if it maintains drops of 17% week-to-week (which is pretty absurdly unlikely) it goes below a million around week nine. Of course, if it drops like that, by the time that happens it will have made another $68 million on weekdays alone, $151 million more on weekends, and be coming off of a $9 million+ weekend, adding it to its $720+ million gross and nowhere near the end of its run.

All of which is to say, even in a ridiculously unlikely scenario like the one I just outlined (but one I'm not willing to rule out entirely given Avatar's run so far) Titanic doesn't really have anything to worry about when it comes to that particular record.
Click to expand...

Oops sorry didn't mean to imply it would get that record was only commenting on you part about loss of 3D screens...I fully agree titanic will keep that record.

There is a good possibility that Avatar is going to end up at 700+ at this point. With Presidents Day weekend coming up it will yet again see a decent Holiday weekend on top of getting Oscar buzz which will help also. Avatar should be at 550m by the end of this weekend and will pass Titanic between Feb. 1st-3rd imo. Then Oscar buzz (and presidents day weekend) should kick in and keep its legs going. Who knows how high it will go, but I see 650m at the minimum at this point.
 
Somnia said:
Oops sorry didn't mean to imply it would get that record was only commenting on you part about loss of 3D screens...I fully agree titanic will keep that record.

There is a good possibility that Avatar is going to end up at 700+ at this point. With Presidents Day weekend coming up it will yet again see a decent Holiday weekend on top of getting Oscar buzz which will help also. Avatar should be at 550m by the end of this weekend and will pass Titanic between Feb. 1st-3rd imo. Then Oscar buzz should kick in and keep its legs going. Who knows how high it will go, but I see 650m at the minimum at this point.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think $650m is a pretty reasonable low-end projection, though I wouldn't necessarily call it the minimum. $700m is doable but will be a challenge, and if it does cross that mark I suspect it does it just barely a la Titanic.

Edit: I will confess to calling $650m an unattainable upper bound less than a month ago, so take my box office prognosis with a grain of salt.
 
vicktormerv said:
Fix'd, didn't catch the double negative, anyway, Im just hoping cameron can take into some new territories in terms of the story itself, (i.e. something other then the jesus cliché )
Click to expand...
I think the only Jesus relation to the scene is that Jakes life on earth is pretty much dead and his life on Pandora afterwards is essentially his rebirth.

Doubt it has anything to do with messiah symbolism
 
Sharp said:
Yeah, I think $650m is a pretty reasonable low-end projection, though I wouldn't necessarily call it the minimum. $700m is doable but will be a challenge, and if it does cross that mark I suspect it does it just barely a la Titanic.

Edit: I will confess to calling $650m an unattainable upper bound less than a month ago, so take my box office prognosis with a grain of salt.
Click to expand...
Well, less than a month ago the movie had just come out. So I think I'll forgive you this one point.

FWIW, if we assume ~$8m for Wed/Thurs, and then 25% weekly drops from there (which is conservative since it's exhibinting ~20% drops), Avatar hits $716m.

I'm with you in thinking between $650m and $700m is likely, but over $700m is certainly possible.

Ma'god. 0_0
 
I love how the lighting reflects the Bio-Lume forests on Pandora. Whats artificial on earth is natural there :lol
 
After reading around half of the Cinefex article and skimming through the rest, it's unfortunate that they seemingly don't talk about the stereoscopic aspect of the movie at all(except for one line). I really would like to know how did the amazing window/glass/reflection 3D effect came about and how it was realized, it's something that I have never seen before.

Other than that, it's an incredibly in-depth article. Sure you can quote it here and there, but it's impossible to summarize. If you are truly interested in knowing pretty much everything regarding how this movie was shot and made, this is what you need.
 
Scullibundo said:
Rolling Stone article on 'The Impossible Reality of James Cameron'. Seems to have been written a while ago but just released.

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/31820418/the_impossible_reality_of_james_cameron
Click to expand...
It's a good read, but the editorial note due to the timing of release literally made me laugh out loud.
The pressure is on. The film has a budget of $230 million, and if it fails at the box office it'll be a fiasco not only for Cameron and Fox but also for the entire movie industry. [Ed Note: Since this story was originally published, Avatar has gone on to earn upwards of $1.6 billion dollars worldwide, challenging Titanic as the most successful film of all time.]​
What a difference a month makes. :lol
jett said:
After reading around half of the Cinefex article and skimming through the rest, it's unfortunate that they seemingly don't talk about the stereoscopic aspect of the movie at all(except for one line). I really would like to know how did the amazing window/glass/reflection 3D effect came about and how it was realized, it's something that I have never seen before.

Other than that, it's an incredibly in-depth article. Sure you can quote it here and there, but it's impossible to summarize. If you are truly interested in knowing pretty much everything regarding how this movie was shot and made, this is what you need.
Click to expand...
Yup. I read through most of the rest of it yesterday, and couldn't come up with a snippet to talk about here. It goes into such detail that it's very hard to summarize. The ways they describe the various methods Cameron and company overcame technical and logistical challenges - often with hilariously low-tech solutions (blocking out the banshee and helicopter flight paths by walking around the set with hand-held models) was just incredibly fascinating.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

RIP Cora (my avatar)
46
738
gamingforum1 replied
Funk musician Sly Stone, 82, has passed away
11
577
GeekyDad replied
What's the deal with your avatar.
2 3
131
1K
Sand Dan Glokta replied
Brian Wilson Legendary founder of the Beach boys dies at 82
28
890
LiquidMetal14 replied
Avatar Error?
7
491
Nocty replied
Top Bottom