James Cameron's Avatar: Discuss/Countdown

[Hyperspace05]

There'll be plenty of 2-D screenings for those that don't want to see it in 3-D.

I'm not sure I can handle an almost 3 hr movie (the runtime is at least 2.5 hrs) in 3-D, but I will try it that way first.

 

[CaptainCanada]

South Park did a pretty hilarious reference to this movie in this week's episode. They called it "Dances With Smurfs".

Loved that. It was amazing how long they spent setting up that one unexpected joke.

 

[Agent Richard07]

I saw the second trailer today and it looked a bit better with more realistic jungle scenes and a semblence of a story that looks interesting. I haven't been following every bit of news, so I had to be sold mainly on the strength of the trailers. I'll be there, but I have no intention of watching this in 3D, so I'm glad that it's getting some regular 2D screenings.

 

[Neroon]

I just saw an extended trailer during tonight's "House" episode - and I am now eager to see this movie. If for no other reason than the immersion in what seems a striking blend of animation and sound. The story looks to be rather pedestrian, but this is just a trailer.

 

[LitmusDragon]

I just saw an extended trailer during tonight's "House" episode - and I am now eager to see this movie. If for no other reason than the immersion in what seems a striking blend of animation and sound. The story looks to be rather pedestrian, but this is just a trailer.

That extended trailer really sold me as well. The Naavi world looks like something from out of a Yes album cover or an old Psygnosis game. It will be interesting to see something kind of trippy like that realized on a large scale.

 

[23skidoo]

I still think Avatar is arriving about 6 years too late. I was discussing the trailer with a friend who stated he'd seen better in videogame cut scenes. I can't say I disagree with him. I've yet to see anything coming out of Avatar that hasn't already been done in Beowulf, Immortel, or even Final Fantasy The Spirits Within and that movie is ancient!

I'm keeping an open mind, but I'm still waiting for Avatar to impress me and - most importantly - inspire me enough to part with my $13 to see it in the theatre or my $30 to buy it later.

Alex

 

[Chaos Descending]

I saw the trailer during House last night (or was it Heroes?) and I was totally, and utterly, underwhelmed.

Plus, really? Generic, "white man steals the land from the Indians" plot?

 

[Trubinator]

I guess the movie is bound to be a commercial failure given its budget, inability to unite the sci-fi base and inaccessibility to the mainstream. At least Cameron finally got to make it...

 

[Hyperspace05]

LOL, I guess we'll see about that when the movie actually is released. (4 weeks from now) Because we all know that Cameron has a tendency to make movies which are inaccessible to the mainstreeam.

I'm sold on it, for all that matters. I'll be there opening weekend.

 

[Kegg]

Avatar is one of those movies I'm really looking forward to watching, and easily the least pretentious one (White Ribbon, Serious Man, gosh, ain't I precious?) - I really enjoyed both trailers, and the additional footage shown in the featurettes... while nothing original at all, this is definitely a rare case for me of a critic-proof film - so visually stunning in concept that I've just got to see it in the flesh.

I can't say I disagree with him. I've yet to see anything coming out of Avatar that hasn't already been done in Beowulf, Immortel, or even Final Fantasy The Spirits Within and that movie is ancient!

Wow, I'm not the only person on this forum who has seen Immortel. That's interesting! Any film with the line "Your filthy rapist god ambitions are shit - you're full of shit, Horus!"... is not a film I'd likely forget. Not a good film, really, but hey, French cyberpunk about floating pyramids, a blue-haired girl and the filthy rapist god ambitions of Horus and how that intersects with a Baudelaire-quoting astronaut who was frozen for decades and lost his leg... it's something, anyway. I think.

However, it's clear even from the trailers that Avatar is doing a much better job stnning visuals than three films mentioned there, at least. Avatar may not be remaking the wheel in terms of visual concepts, but (hopefully) it's progressing things to the next level. That will hopefully in turn trickle down so that even lower-budget productions can have even snazzier CGI. That's good news to me.

 

[Hyperspace05]

I still think Avatar is arriving about 6 years too late. I was discussing the trailer with a friend who stated he'd seen better in videogame cut scenes. I can't say I disagree with him. I've yet to see anything coming out of Avatar that hasn't already been done in Beowulf, Immortel, or even Final Fantasy The Spirits Within and that movie is ancient!

I have also seen those three movies - and if you can't see what Avatar does beyond them, you need to visit an optician. It just isn't even close.

And please point me to those awesome videogame cut-scenes that everyone is raving about! I've clearly missed out on some pretty spectacular ones...

 

[jefferiestubes8]

I was discussing the trailer with a friend who stated he'd seen better in videogame cut scenes.

And please point me to those awesome videogame cut-scenes that everyone is raving about! I've clearly missed out on some pretty spectacular ones...

Seconded. 23skidoo we would like game titles and description of the scene & where in the game or URL link to Youtube clip of the specific cutscenes.

3-D is entirlely different than just CGI. Be specific. What is better?

 

[Sephiroth]

so, uh, where does the little bald monk kid come in in this? or Iolo for that matter?

 

[Trekker4747]

so, uh, where does the little bald monk kid come in in this? or Iolo for that matter?

That's "The Last Airbender" an adaption of a anime series called "Avatar: The Last Airbender."

Confusion makes sense, I suspect that the "Avatar" bit was dropped at somepoint to prevent confusion with this movie.

Which looks awesome, I'll be going to see it in 3D for sure. I love Cameron's work so it'll be interesting to go see this to see what got him back into film-making considering his pretty much made nothing since Titanic.

 

[CaptainCanada]

so, uh, where does the little bald monk kid come in in this? or Iolo for that matter?

That's "The Last Airbender" an adaption of a anime series called "Avatar: The Last Airbender."

Confusion makes sense, I suspect that the "Avatar" bit was dropped at somepoint to prevent confusion with this movie.

1) Avatar: The Last Airbender isn't anime; anime is Japanese.

2) Cameron actually threatened to sue unless they dropped "Avatar" from the title.

 

[JacksonArcher]

Yes, because without James Cameron, we would have never had the pleasure of knowing the word "Avatar".

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

I heard they aren't like those big plastic glasses which many 3D movies have used in the past.

I plan on seeing it at one of the new 3D cinemas here in Newcastle, on the day it opens here (Thursday 17th December).

 

[Deckerd]

They are big plastic Joe 90 specs but they're different technology from the red/green ones. I didn't find them a problem watching Up, aside from the whole cinema looking like dorks. You forget you're wearing them to be honest.

 

[Chaos Descending]

1) Avatar: The Last Airbender isn't anime; anime is Japanese.

Only if you're NOT from Japan, does all anime come from Japan.

If you're FROM Japan, then ALL animation, regardless of origin, is anime.

 

[Trekker4747]

so, uh, where does the little bald monk kid come in in this? or Iolo for that matter?

That's "The Last Airbender" an adaption of a anime series called "Avatar: The Last Airbender."

Confusion makes sense, I suspect that the "Avatar" bit was dropped at somepoint to prevent confusion with this movie.

1) Avatar: The Last Airbender isn't anime; anime is Japanese.

Perhaps not, but it's very anime inspired in style and look.