20 minutes of Avatar footage screened at Comic-Con

[chrisspringob]

AICN's Quint describes it here (spoilers, obviously):

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/41793

But the 3-D is eye-popping, some of the best use I’ve seen recently… maybe since Captain Eo in my youth. Cameron’s not just content to give you a Viewmaster depth, but he also puts layers on our side of the screen… not so much in the SCTV comin’ atcha way, but in that the only depth isn’t perceived through the window of the screen… it’s also in the audience itself, filling the peripherals as things move by.
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All the Pandora stuff that was shown was incredibly detailed, layer upon layer of movement, life, detail. But it seemed to be completely mo-cap and computer animated. While I thought it looked fantastic I think people need to reel in their expectation a bit.

What I saw were glimpses at a fantastic bit of storytelling, a rich fantasy tale, by a master of the artform, but the CGI creatures and characters are just that. They’re amazingly executed, no doubt, but it’s not like when you saw your first CG dinosaur and you said, “This is a game changer” to yourself.

What I hope Cameron gives us is the character work to fill out this highly stylized universe and he hasn’t given me any reason to doubt him yet. This presentation was all about showing off the visual eye-molestation brought to you by Weta Digital, Workshop, Cameron and his talented crew.

Someone posting on another messageboard said it was announced that Fox is planning to show 15 minutes of footage for free at 3d IMAX theaters around the world on August 21st. I'm looking for confirmation on that though.

EDIT: Yes, it's been confirmed here:

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=25400

Hot on the heels of the Avatar footage came a huge announcement from Cameron. August 21st is to be Avatar day with 15 minutes of footage to be screened for free to audiences around the world.

“We wanted people who couldn’t come to Comic-Con to be able to see what you’ve seen so we’re going to take over as many IMAX and 2D cinemas on August 21st,” explained Cameron. We’re going to allow international audiences to come and see footage from Avatar for free on August 21st.”

 

[Kelso]

When are we getting a freakin' trailer?

 

[Anwar]

Nuts, I was hoping this had to do with the Live-action Avatar film (you know, the Nick cartoon)...

 

[Trubinator]

That's disappointing. Normally, I wouldn't give a shit and just expect an amazing Cameron film. But it seems as though the entire story may be built around accepting the technology. I hope I'm wrong though. I hope the story stands on its own and allows the audience to stop caring whether the CGI is real or not.

 

[Kelthaz]

Nuts, I was hoping this had to do with the Live-action Avatar film (you know, the Nick cartoon)...

Yeah, me too. I'm looking forward to Cameron's film, but it's nothing compared to The Last Airbender.

 

[CommodoreKong]

Wow at E3 James Cameron spent 20 minutes talking about Avatar and the Avatar game without showing a trailer for the movie or game, he must of gave a 2 or 3 hour speech before they rolled the footage at Comic-Con.

 

[RAMA]

 

[chrisspringob]

When are we getting a freakin' trailer?

August 21st, the same day that they'll be screening the 15 min. of footage around the world:

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/avatarnews.php?id=57438

On August 21, the world will get its first look at director James Cameron’s motion picture epic AVATAR, when Twentieth Century Fox and Cameron debut the film’s trailer everywhere – while select cinemas and IMAX® theaters will screen extended footage prepared by the renowned filmmaker for this global “Avatar Day” event.

The worldwide trailer launch will be presented in all formats, including IMAX® 3-D, IMAX® 2-D, digital 3-D, digital 2-D, and 35mm 2-D. The trailer will also be available online.

The extended look at AVATAR will unspool only on August 21 – and only in 3-D – in select theaters and IMAX®. Details on locations and reserving tickets for this extraordinary and unprecedented experience will be announced soon.

In addition on the 21st, Ubisoft® will unveil the trailer for their videogame James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game, and Mattel will reveal the action figures for the film’s Avatar and alien Na’vi characters.

That's disappointing. Normally, I wouldn't give a shit and just expect an amazing Cameron film. But it seems as though the entire story may be built around accepting the technology. I hope I'm wrong though. I hope the story stands on its own and allows the audience to stop caring whether the CGI is real or not.

To be fair, Quint's take was one of the more skeptical I've seen. Most people who saw it (at least, based on online reaction) said they were blown away:

http://au.movies.ign.com/articles/100/1005883p1.html

With that, 25 minutes of Avatar in 3D played, and it surpassed all expectations and anything the guy who gave us Terminator 2 has ever done. What Cameron has done with CGI and performance capture, and making it look photo-real in 3D, is akin to what Miyazaki has done with animation.

Also, we now have an official website:

http://www.avatarmovie.com/

 

[Anwar]

The movie's about Nightcrawler?