James Cameron's "Avatar" (grading and discussion)

[Hyperspace05]

My apologies if this has been posted already - But The Charlie Rose show recently had a very good 30 minute interview with James Cameron about Avatar: http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10866 (click on Cameron's image to start the video, aired Feb 17)

It covers a lot of ground, and deals a lot with the criticisms of Avatar, including:
- "the noble savage"
- "the white savior"
- environmentalism
- his goals with the film
and much more... They also discuss Bigelow's The Hurt Locker at the end.

 

[Australis]

The Neytiri and human Jake scene really was simple and very moving. One of the things that really lifted the film, IMHO

 

[Australis]

The Neytiri and human Jake scene really was simple and very moving. One of the things that really lifted the film, IMHO

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

"The classic thinking was...if the word got out that there was an environmental message in this film, it would cost us fifty percent of our business...was there a way to cut down on this hippy, tree-hugging stuff?"

"We're in a very precarious position...we can't destroy nature. Nature will heal...but our life as a species will be radically changed."

Great interview.

 

[NIUPonyBoy]

The Neytiri and human Jake scene really was simple and very moving. One of the things that really lifted the film, IMHO

So in Disney's Pocahontas when she hugs John Smith are you moved there too?

 

[T'Baio]

My apologies if this has been posted already - But The Charlie Rose show recently had a very good 30 minute interview with James Cameron about Avatar: http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10866 (click on Cameron's image to start the video, aired Feb 17)

Thanks for that. Great interview. There's no doubt he's an intelligent man, knows his stuff, and is well aware of everything about Avatar that people diss, and has it all perfectly thought out and rationalized. He knows the business, when to compromise, how to compromise and how to strike a nerve in the masses. He's definitely the best at what he does, not only because he can do it, be also because he knows the reasons for everything he does.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

He's definitely the best at what he does, not only because he can do it, be also because he knows the reasons for everything he does.

To be absolutely fair, most of us know the reasons for our choices after we've made them and especially after they're successful.

 

[Bishbot]

I saw Aliens last week, and spotted some stuff that was similar to Avatar.

I hope you didn't have to look too hard.

TBH I got bored, and stopped watching after they found Newt, but even up to that point there was a couple of things that seemed to feature in both movies.

One thing I will say is that I wish Aliens had started at the same point as Avatar, everyone waking up from their cryogenic sleep, rather than Ripley being on "trail", that stuff almost put me into cryogenic sleep.

You... got... bored...That's just preposterous. Aliens is basically a perfect scifi action movie and Avatar isn't that far behind. I enjoyed all the little Aliens homages in Avatar and yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what they were. I don't think James Cameron is so lacking in self awareness as to unwittingly rip himself off.

 

[wamdue]

I hope you didn't have to look too hard.

TBH I got bored, and stopped watching after they found Newt, but even up to that point there was a couple of things that seemed to feature in both movies.

One thing I will say is that I wish Aliens had started at the same point as Avatar, everyone waking up from their cryogenic sleep, rather than Ripley being on "trail", that stuff almost put me into cryogenic sleep.

You... got... bored...That's just preposterous. Aliens is basically a perfect scifi action movie and Avatar isn't that far behind.

the continuity person said something about it being an extended cut, so its possible the movie was less boring, without the added bits.

 

[Harvey]

The theatrical version of Aliens is certainly leaner (the entire reel set on the colony before it is taken out is removed), but it also cuts out a huge piece of Ripley's character development.

 

[wamdue]

I think in modern film making alot of what happened before they woke up from their cryogenic sleep would be summed up, not unlike in Avatar, with Jakes history.

 

[Bishbot]

I think in modern film making alot of what happened before they woke up from their cryogenic sleep would be summed up, not unlike in Avatar, with Jakes history.

It probably would, but that wouldn't make it a better film. Just more modern. Do yourself a favour and don't watch Alien. You'll find it like watching paint dry.

Most people do seem to prefer the extended cut but I think there's an argument for both versions. I wouldn't have wanted my first viewing to be the extended cut because I think it kills a little of the suspense if you see the colony before the marines get there. On all subsequent viewings though I think the extended adds a lot more emotion (and the sequences with the sentry guns is pretty kick-ass as well).

 

[startrekrcks]

I just think it is a touching and beautiful scene that she finally got to hold him in his true form human I mean it kind of breaks down barrier and says she loves him no matter what don't you agree

 

[wamdue]

I have actually seen Alien, and whilst the aliens were in no way scary, and looked way too fake, it was never dull like Aliens.

 

[Kegg]

I have actually seen Alien, and whilst the aliens were in no way scary, and looked way too fake, it was never dull like Aliens.

Call me an old fuddy-duddy but I like either of the first two Alien films better than Ferngully.

 

[wamdue]

I have actually seen Alien, and whilst the aliens were in no way scary, and looked way too fake, it was never dull like Aliens.

Call me an old fuddy-duddy but I like either of the first two Alien films better than Ferngully.

my love for FernGully is really based on childhood innocence than anything else.

I saw that film many times as a child, and I will go to my grave with fond memory's of it, plus I thought Krysta was cute as well.

 

[Kegg]

I saw that film many times as a child,

So did I. I don't know, I've never really waxed nostalgic the way some people have about this sort of thing - and I mean generally, including, say, the Mutant Ninja Turtles, something I didn't just watch a lot of, I was a big fan of. But being an adult, yeah, I'm willing to admit it was garbage and am not inclined to wax nostalgic about that craze. Now, Star Wars, that's something else, but I still think Star Wars is basically good, or at very least the first two films were.

I thought Krysta was cute as well.

Eh. She's not exactly Ariel.

 

[wamdue]

I saw that film many times as a child,

So did I. I don't know, I've never really waxed nostalgic the way some people have about this sort of thing - and I mean generally, including, say, the Mutant Ninja Turtles, something I didn't just watch a lot of, I was a big fan of. But being an adult, yeah, I'm willing to admit it was garbage and am not inclined to wax nostalgic about that craze.

I thought Krysta was cute as well.

Eh. She's not exactly Ariel.

you can like more than one cartoon character.

Im sure if I watched Fern Gully now, I would find elements of it annonying, Batty for example, and I will complain the forest environment was not as well realised as Avatar, but why do that? Its a warm & fuzzy child hood memory, why destroy that by applying an adult review of the movie.

You never get a chance to make a second set of child hood memories why ruin the only set you will ever have?

 

[Kegg]

You never get a chance to make a second set of child hood memories why ruin the only set you will ever have?

I have a lot of them, and I'd rather not have my childhood memories defined by allegiance to bad corporate pap (as opposed to good corporate pap, of course!), because I'm sick of it now.

 

[wamdue]

You never get a chance to make a second set of child hood memories why ruin the only set you will ever have?

I have a lot of them, and I'd rather not have my childhood memories defined by allegiance to bad corporate pap (as opposed to good corporate pap, of course!), because I'm sick of it now.

I am not swearing blind allegiance to Fern Gully, pre Avatar its not something I talked about a whole lot.