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Wkd Box Office 1218-2015 - Force Awakens does good... gOOOood, opens w/ $248m
- Thread starter xaosslug
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Dash_Riprock
Member
I think the human characters in TFA are rather more convincing, however.
In every sense.
I like Avatar btw 
AdventureRacing
Member
I feel that's similar to 3D as well. We had heard all the buzz about 3D before but because no one could ever get it right the interest in it just fizzled straight away.
I think what's happened is essentially it has just been forgotten because it was implemented so badly (and the hobbit was poorly received). It's impact or lack thereof has more to do with the hobbit than HFR itself. I think my main point is just that the fact that HFR had no impact whatsoever with the hobbit doesn't mean it won't with avatar 2.
I don't know if HFR will ever be a thing I just don't think you can judge it based on what happened with the hobbit.
Avatar's problem isn't that it's unoriginal.
Avatar's problem is that it's a fucking bore with uninteresting characters, including a main protagonist who is conceptually interesting but isn't actually interesting thanks to flat acting and dialogue. It does some things very well: The big action climax is gorgeous and the movie is very pretty. But I don't think it's a good movie.
Of course this has nothing to do with how much money the movie made (a lot).
.
I don't think reasonable people would dispute TFA isn't a soft remake, nor that Avatar isnt a retread of a story we've seen countless times before.
When both are the case it falls upon the characters and acting to save it and goddamn, I can't even remember the names of anyone in Avatar beyond Sully, and that's only because I remember it rhymed with Scully.
Years of Gillian Anderson worship paid off.
Most people seemed to hate HFR (not me), so I don't know how much of a selling point that is going to be.
SonicMegaDrive
Member
I don't dislike Avatar or anything, but I never saw what all the hype was about. It was a fine popcorn flick, but it was nothing mind-blowing. Was it really just the allure of 3D that did it for people?
crazy monkey
Banned
I hated avatar. Was totally not original in any of its story or characters.
It did make money and it is not going any where. Titanic was such a beauty there at first place. Star wars is not going past avatar by a long mile. I would be very happy if it i did but I do not think it has shot.
It did make money and it is not going any where. Titanic was such a beauty there at first place. Star wars is not going past avatar by a long mile. I would be very happy if it i did but I do not think it has shot.
Shuggananas
Banned
Yeah it was a pretty movie but the story and acting were pretty fucking low tier
igordennis
Member
Might? If its actually 40m the record is going down 100% from what i understand. It could gross 900m (i think?)
I think we are past might and now on to how much higher than Avatar will it go? I am leaning towards a 875-900 mil finish right now.
It's all about execution. Aside from the sheer visual spectacle, it had pitch-perfect theming that people around the world related to, and the main character was pretty much a blank canvas that allowed you to make you feel like you were the one going through the adventure, from start to finish. I really believe Avatar is a perfect example of pure escapism. The structure might be the same ol' "hero in strange land", but it's all about execution. Whatever you may think of the content, the script is air-tight and polished to a sheen. It's excellently paced and focused. Cameron knew what he wanted when he wrote it. It's not really rocket science...at first. Eventually Avatar became this sort of snowball rolling down a mountain. Aside from repeat viewings, it got that you gotta see it tag on it. It kept making money because it had made so much money. It kept becoming more and more popular because it was already so popular. Everyone across all demos and ages were going to see it. That helps when you're an unknown quantity. It's not a single thing, it's a mix of factors brewing in a perfect storm: Avatar was truly ushering a new 3D era in cinema and came out just when the worldwide box office was about to explode.
As far as your nothing mind-blowing comment goes, I contend it still has some of the best action set pieces put to screen in recent years. Only Mad Max is up there.
And yeah the use of 3D was fucking amazing. I personally saw it multiple times because A) I really liked it overall and B) I knew I wasn't going to get that kind of experience at home or in cinemas in the near future, so I had to make it count.
I look back on Avatar and I think it's still the 3D benchmark in cinema. Too bad nobody else in Hollywood cared like Cameron did. Even the few movies that are shot-in-3D seem like an afterthought.People in this forum like to pretend Avatar's some sort of ungodly piece of garbage, but anyone that's not a nutter will tell you that it's not. Shit, it has a higher metacrtic rating than TFA and even a higher user score LOL.
It'll be beaten within the next 5 years. It's a record that always falls quicker than expected.
Yea, the OW has already been beaten twice this year. That shit is falling.
....And how is TFA any better with its half assed storytelling, lame 3rd act, and 2+ hours of build to a convoluted and disappointing climax.
Sunday and Monday are good early indications of its legs through the holiday, though, which was the big question alongside the opening. I mean there's holiday legs and there's an 11% Sunday drop; between that and Monday's figure, it's pretty clear Avatar's domestic record is going to fall pretty hard.
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
Even if I agreed with that... compelling characters and a sense of humor.
All this is true. And seeing this stuff in the theater, with the perfect 3D implementation was just overwhelmingly awesome. Avatar was very well crafted, but it was above all else an amazing theatrical experience.It's all about execution. Aside from the sheer visual spectacle, it had pitch-perfect theming that people around the world related to, and the main character was pretty much a blank canvas that allowed you to make you feel like you were the one going through the adventure, from start to finish. I really believe Avatar is a perfect example of pure escapism. The structure might be the same ol' "hero in strange land", but it's all about execution. Whatever you may think of the content, the script is air-tight and polished to a sheen. It's excellently paced and focused. Cameron knew what he wanted when he wrote it. It's not really rocket science...at first. Eventually Avatar became this sort of snowball rolling down a mountain. Aside from repeat viewings, it got that you gotta see it tag on it. It kept making money because it had made so much money. It kept becoming more and more popular because it was already so popular. Everyone across all demos and ages were going to see it. That helps when you're an unknown quantity. It's not a single thing, it's a mix of factors brewing in a perfect storm: Avatar was truly ushering a new 3D era in cinema and came out just when the worldwide box office was about to explode.
As far as your nothing mind-blowing comment goes, I contend it still has some of the best action set pieces put to screen in recent years. Only Mad Max is up there.
And yeah the use of 3D was fucking amazing. I personally saw it multiple times because A) I really liked it overall and B) I knew I wasn't going to get that kind of experience at home or in cinemas in the near future, so I had to make it count.
People in this forum like to pretend Avatar's some sort of ungodly piece of garbage, but anyone that's not a nutter will tell you that it's not. Shit, it has a higher metacrtic rating than TFA and even a higher user score LOL.
(Sculli's .gifs)
Compelling characters? Both movies have your typical cookie cutter summer blockbuster protagonist, and villains. BTW, Avatar to me wins it with its screen chewing villain.
...And sense of humor? I really don't feel like getting into debate of who had the best light chuckle moments. I guess TFA wins it thanks to BB 8. But I'm not going to act like TFA had Die Hard like one liners.
All this is true. And seeing this stuff in the theater, with the perfect 3D implementation was just overwhelmingly awesome. Avatar was very well crafted, but it was above all else an amazing theatrical experience.
(Sculli's .gifs)
I look at this shit and the one thing I actually fail to understand is why is it that nerds of all people seem to hate on Avatar the most. In your gifs I see an alien dragon fighting against a 22nd century assault aircraft and a humanoid mecha jumping out of said exploding vehicle.
I mean, really.
Interfectum
Member
Hilarious post.
Stephen Lang Mech fight finale is super underrated. Just that shot alone gives me a boner.
PhoncipleBone
Banned
They hate it because it was too popular.
I still wish he took that last arrow through his face instead of his chest.
Matt_
World's #1 One Direction Fan: Everyone else in the room can see it, everyone else but you~~~
BattleMonkey
Member
Because it's a shitty movie. It's not much different from Transformers, all spectacle, no substance or feeling, just an event picture.
Being a nerd doesn't mean you automatically love anything sci-fi or fantasy. Quite the opposite. We argue over every detail of every property. We're far pickier about this stuff than general audiences.
Dash_Riprock
Member
All this is true. And seeing this stuff in the theater, with the perfect 3D implementation was just overwhelmingly awesome. Avatar was very well crafted, but it was above all else an amazing theatrical experience.
(Sculli's .gifs)
Man the CGI has aged. Nowhere near as bad as some other films, but its still noticeable for me.
DudeWithNoName
Member
What's that character's name again? Oh yeah, nobody knows.
How does that movie end? I can't recall exactly, but I think everyone became friends or something.
3rd act was fine outside of the no-suspense dogfight. Storytelling was fine. Retread/remake doesn't instantly make it bad. And the climax was
Rey awakening. Luke was basically a really long post credit scene.
Even if you think Avatar is some soulless husk , the craftsmanship on display (art direction, cinematography, direction, action staging) are in peak form. That comparison in particular is just comically wrong.
MiamiWesker
Member
It's all about execution. Aside from the sheer visual spectacle, it had pitch-perfect theming that people around the world related to, and the main character was pretty much a blank canvas that allowed you to make you feel like you were the one going through the adventure, from start to finish. I really believe Avatar is a perfect example of pure escapism. The structure might be the same ol' "hero in strange land", but it's all about execution. Whatever you may think of the content, the script is air-tight and polished to a sheen. It's excellently paced and focused. Cameron knew what he wanted when he wrote it. It's not really rocket science...at first. Eventually Avatar became this sort of snowball rolling down a mountain. Aside from repeat viewings, it got that you gotta see it tag on it. It kept making money because it had made so much money. It kept becoming more and more popular because it was already so popular. Everyone across all demos and ages were going to see it. That helps when you're an unknown quantity. It's not a single thing, it's a mix of factors brewing in a perfect storm: Avatar was truly ushering a new 3D era in cinema and came out just when the worldwide box office was about to explode.
As far as your nothing mind-blowing comment goes, I contend it still has some of the best action set pieces put to screen in recent years. Only Mad Max is up there.
And yeah the use of 3D was fucking amazing. I personally saw it multiple times because A) I really liked it overall and B) I knew I wasn't going to get that kind of experience at home or in cinemas in the near future, so I had to make it count.
People in this forum like to pretend Avatar's some sort of ungodly piece of garbage, but anyone that's not a nutter will tell you that it's not. Shit, it has a higher metacrtic rating than TFA and even a higher user score LOL.
Good point but I think for me when I view avatar as just another sci fi blockbuster flick it's how it hasn't made a mark outside its moment in time. Avatar was a product of a perfect moment with 3D coming out. Ask the general public to name any character in avatar, I bet most can't. Ask anyone who Luke or Darth Vader is, everyone knows. Star Wars transcended movies, Avatar has not.
That said there are sequels coming, there is a chance for a bigger Mark. But as of now I see it as some perfect storm that happened and vanished. To me titanic still feels like it is far more popular and a much bigger part of pop culture than avatar, that movie felt like the biggest movie of all time, Avatar does not.
(BTW this is from an American point of view, I have no clue how the rest of the world views it. Maybe there is avatar memorabilia all over.)
I never quite get the "I don't even remember what happened!" complaint that's so frequently brought up about movies. I haven't seen Avatar since the year it came out but I remember all the major plot points. Hell, I remember the plot and finale for Jingle All The Way.
BattleMonkey
Member
It has nothing to do with how well it's put together, I'm responding to why "nerds" seem to not like Avatar.
Dash_Riprock
Member
Because it had characters I actually gave a damn about.
Because the actors were not phoning-it-in/hamming it up/stiffer than cardboard (Jesus Christ I cannot believed Hollywood pushed James Worthless to be a movie star)
Because not everything was in front of a green screen and looked like a video game
Because the plot actually had some subtleties and did not beat you over the head with its themes.
And most of all, because unlike Avatar, the protagonists were not so insufferable and self-righteous that I wanted the bad guys to nuke them all from orbit in the end.
The blue people plug their USB ports into the MP3 tree after murdering the evil humans. Wheelchair guy downloads his files to the MP3 tree and they live happily ever after.
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
Avatar has one character with any depth at all, and not much. TFA has three new ones plus Solo. None of them are cookie cutter.
And given some people have said TFA has too much humor, yeah, it has a lot more humor than Avatar. I wasn't even thinking if BB-8.
Avatar has superior action and visuals, but from a story and character standpoint it's awful. There's a reason I couldn't remember anybody's name from it.
Yeah, well what is the name of the post man that Sinbad plays? Tell me! TELL ME NOW! I bet you don't even know the name of Arnold's character off the top of your head either.
DudeWithNoName
Member
My point is, Star Wars and its characters are memorable, while Avatar not so much. All things being equal, if a person saw each movie just once back to back, in a decade guess which one they'd recall accurately, including names?
I remember the toy is called Turboman, and I remember the blue people are called Navii. So I remember both movies equally.
We have just proven that Avatar was as culturally significant as Jingle all the Way.
I was responding to "it's a shitty movie" which does have to do with how well put together it is.
Charles Foster Kane
Rosebud
The CGI has aged pretty well, actually.
DudeWithNoName
Member
Yeah, I will too in the next few days. It's a great movie and been years for me as well.
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