So it's Dances with Wolves but with really tall smurfs?
James Cameron's Avatar: Discuss/Countdown
- Thread starter T'Baio
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Since none of use have seen it so far (as far as I know), you have access to the same publicity materials we have.
Why don't you see it yourself and find out? 
Hmmm....King Kong is a fairly apt comparison, yeah, though I think I dug the story in King Kong more than Avatar. But then, keep in mind, I tended to like King Kong more than most other SF fans I know.
But Avatar is clearly a bigger step up in visuals compared to its contemporaries than King Kong was in its time. And by that I'm as much talking about the 3d effects as the actual CG.
Since none of use have seen it so far (as far as I know), you have access to the same publicity materials we have.
I've seen it. I discuss it here:
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=110469
I haven't seen "Dances with Wolves", so I can't make the comparison. But I can say that they really beat you over the head with the "Na'vi = peaceful Native Americans" trope....over and over and over.
chrisspringob, did you forget to vote in your own poll in that thread? Thanks for the heads-up... I suspect most discussion will head to that thread shortly.
Thanks for the heads-up... I suspect most discussion will head to that thread shortly.
Well I finally got my tickets for a Saturday night showing. (in RealD 3D)... Unfortunately that is the earliest I can see it.
But I am excited!
But I am excited!
Dear god, I was afraid they'd go there and they did. Oh well, as long as I go in assuming the story will be garbage, I might not be disappointed.
Keep in mind you might not think the comparison is as bad as some other people did.
Yeah it's fine if you go in with lowered expectations... It is always healthy.
Just don't go in expecting to dislike any film - keep an open mind for any film you see.
Even if a lot of plot points are lifted from "Dances With Wolves"... You do realize that "Dances With Wolves" is not exactly original either, right? It cribbed the entire western/indian film genre liberally. Plus the 'hero goes native' trope is a LOT older than that.
Besides that, some reviews have noted that the film is actually more similar in plot to "Dune".
Just don't go in expecting to dislike any film - keep an open mind for any film you see.
Even if a lot of plot points are lifted from "Dances With Wolves"... You do realize that "Dances With Wolves" is not exactly original either, right?
It cribbed the entire western/indian film genre liberally. Plus the 'hero goes native' trope is a LOT older than that.Besides that, some reviews have noted that the film is actually more similar in plot to "Dune".
Haha, so the dude is also Mua'dib with some equivalent to the weirding way?
Then again, I suppose Dune also had elements of a white dude helping the "natives" fight the evil colonialists - except then it was because his entire family was destroyed and he didn't have anywhere else to go.
Then again, I suppose Dune also had elements of a white dude helping the "natives" fight the evil colonialists - except then it was because his entire family was destroyed and he didn't have anywhere else to go.
Geez, do you always take plot analogies that literally? Or are you just trying to generate some controversy?
All I can report is that some reviewers thought the plot was more similar to "Dune" than it was to "Dances With Wolves". And that is a relative statement, not a 'shot for shot' or 'plot point for plot point' remake statement.
It will be interesting to see if people can maintain the same high standard for 'plot originality' that they developed for "Avatar", and apply that to all future movies they see. Interesting indeed.
Well, other movies don't have a hype train chugging along to hyperbole-ville at full speed. 
And to be fair, I'm fairly jaded when it comes to science fiction in general anyway because it's usually derivative or problematic in some other manner. It's not like I'm piling on simply because it's Avatar or James Cameron in particular, it just happens to the be the topic du jour.
Heck, I'm looking forward to Book of Eli because I'm a fan of Gary Whitta (the writer), but I'm sure I'll have problems with it anyway.
As I said, now that I know that I shouldn't expect anything from the plot/story, I can be happy just focusing on the 3D explosions.
And to be fair, I'm fairly jaded when it comes to science fiction in general anyway because it's usually derivative or problematic in some other manner. It's not like I'm piling on simply because it's Avatar or James Cameron in particular, it just happens to the be the topic du jour.
Heck, I'm looking forward to Book of Eli because I'm a fan of Gary Whitta (the writer), but I'm sure I'll have problems with it anyway.
As I said, now that I know that I shouldn't expect anything from the plot/story, I can be happy just focusing on the 3D explosions.
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