Avatar - biggest movie, least impact?

[dahj]

In the recent SF franchises thread, Avatar got mentioned, and since SW TFA came out it's getting mentioned by the media every day, but it's always about how much money it made, never about it's story, characters, theme or anything related to the actual content of the film itself.

It's kind of weird that a film that everyone has seen and was well liked has left almost no trace on pop culture, there's no quotes from it, there's no memorable scenes, there doesn't seem to be a dedicated core fanbase of it, it's like it doesn't represent anything in the public eye except the money it made.

Anyway, apparently, next year a sequel is getting released, and two more in years after that.
So what do you think, can the sequels reignite interest in it? Does it have a shot at becoming a successful franchise, or has that ship sailed already?

 

[Kor]

I enjoyed watching Avatar.

Once.

The spectacle was a nice cinematic experience, including good usage of 3-D. But I just haven't been motivated to re-visit it ever again. It kind of felt like a tired old story that I've already seen a million times. I thought the same about Jack Reacher... I enjoyed it, but it feels like lots of other stories, and I just haven't ever gotten around to watching it again.

Kor

 

[John Clark]

Well, I remember the lead characters name, but did it make an impact?. Not for me, not really.
I've seen it a couple of times and enjoyed it, but as a franchise launcher, I'm not so sure. It all depends on how the next film goes for me.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Oh, it made an impact, but mostly in the money, special effects, and the advances in 3D. So, it may not really show on the surface, but the impact it did make is mostly behind the scenes.

As for a movie, I liked it back then, and I'm sure I still would if I watched it again, but I don't know if it would really be sustainable as a franchise.

 

[DWF]

I agree it did make an impact, but the movie wasn't followed up like a franchise.

 

[tomalak301]

I think Avatar and Mad Max Fury Road are going to be similar for me in a few years. I barely remember Avatar, but it's mostly the spectacle of it rather than the plot or the characters. Mad Max was this action spectacle movie that was light on plot, yet it is considered one of the best movies of 2015. Both were great at the time, but in the long run, not sure if they will make an impact on me.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

Jake and Nefertiri.

While visually spectacular, it was nothing more than Pocahantas with blue people. I still can't believe that it surpassed Titanic!

 

[Owain Taggart]

I agree it did make an impact, but the movie wasn't followed up like a franchise.

Yeah, and that's just it. They probably would have needed a bit more momentum for a franchise to happen, and any sequel at this point is bound to have a big discrepancy in its effects over the original since it so heavily relies on effects. As a movie, it's passable, though it was mostly a showcase of 3D technologies and it's also why a sequel is probably not going to be as viable.

 

[gblews]

Huh? Avatar had a HUGE following by a bunch of hard core fans. That is the reason it made so much money.There was story after story about online fans who wanted to live in Pandora. People were actually depressed that the place didn't really exist. I think folks are forgetting (or maybe just unaware) because the movie was released so long ago and so much has happened cinematically since then.

 

[RoJoHen]

Jake Sully, I think. I don't remember anybody else's name.

It was fun to watch, and it obviously looked great, but the characters and story didn't leave me wanting more. And at this point, so much time has passed that I really can't care about sequels.

 

[WiredPlanet]

I might also add Titanic, basically a remake of A Night to Remember...added with a drop of teenage romance...ok I will agree it was a better film but Titanic did nothing groundbreaking or new for cinema yet made tons and tons of millions in box office sales

 

[RoJoHen]

Much like Avatar, Titanic did some groundbreaking things in the world of visual effects. It certainly has a better story and more memorable characters than Avatar.

 

[davejames]

It may not be a scifi classic like Cameron's Aliens or Terminator movies, or have as interesting a mythology, but it's still a really well executed movie that works surprisingly well given it's cliched storyline-- and a whole lot better than MOST scifi/action movies made nowadays.

And I still found myself getting fully engrossed in it the last time I watched a year or so ago.

Although for the sequels, I admit I will probably be watching those more because of James Cameron than my interest in the Avatar world itself.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

Much like Avatar, Titanic did some groundbreaking things in the world of visual effects. It certainly has a better story and more memorable characters than Avatar.

Also, all the actors in Titanic gave an outstanding performance, and the costumes were stunning.

 

[RoJoHen]

Maybe Avatar needed a theme song. Where's Celine Dion when you need her?

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Las Vegas?

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

Avatar had a theme. Though not as popular as Celine's.

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[MacLeod]

I might also add Titanic, basically a remake of A Night to Remember...added with a drop of teenage romance...ok I will agree it was a better film but Titanic did nothing groundbreaking or new for cinema yet made tons and tons of millions in box office sales

Well there have been plenty of movies/mini-series about the Titanic and certainly "A Night to Remember" is propably the most famous one up until Titanic came out. But had it not been for the Titanic aspect would the film have been succesful if it was set onbaord a fictional ship? I somehow suspect not. Over a hundred years later the Titanic remains one if not the most famous shipwreck. Perhaps unlike othership wrecks it is an example of man's hubris, pride comes before a fall so it is good from a story telling point of view.

As for Avatar perhaps it's biggest impact was in reviving 3D, not that 3D has massively taken off since they but it hasn't fully dissapeared yet either. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing is a different debate, but as with any many things it's case of does it serve the stroy to use or enchance the story to use it or is it just being used because it's the in thing?

 

[RoJoHen]

This is the first I've ever even heard of this song.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

This is the first I've ever even heard of this song.

See what I mean by "not as popular?"