Avatar

[The Amazing Shenazin]

so who else is pumped for James Cameron's Avatar!?

it seems like there's some backlash because of all the hype it's gotten, but personally I think it looks awesome

I mean it's James Cameron's first movie in over ten freakin' years, how could you not be excited about that? and in my opinion save for maybe Piranha Two: The Spawning, he's not made a bad movie

unfortunately there's no Imax theater playing it in 3D anywhere near me, but my local theater has digital 3D, so I'll be seeing it in that

[Mandril]

I did not expect much from Avatar after seeing the trailers, promotional interviews and such. With all the blue people and jungle-mayhem, I thought this was supposed to be the bastard child of an episode of the Smurfs and Tarzan.

However, it's getting alot of critical acclaim. I'll have to throw my preconceptions out the window.

[Lyfeforce]

Going to give this a shot this weekend with my fellow friend/movie buff and his two step kids. I'm hopeful because when Cameron shoots for the moon with effects, he doesn't dissapoint. That, plus Power-Loader looking mechs FTW.

[ChubbyHuggs]

I plan on watching it, but I haven't had money since today (pay day).

[Jon Snyder]

Why does everybody keep ragging on the blue people? Keep an open mind, folks!

[The Amazing Shenazin]

I saw it tonight, it was fucking awesome!

[KarenGellender]

I have been informed by my boyfriend that we ARE seeing Avatar next week- it is non-negotiable. I will report back.

[seltzermx]

I must say that Avatar is the best big budget anime I have ever seen.

[Mad March Harris]

I saw Avatar during the Christmas break and thought it was decent. The script was pretty bad and predictable but the world and art direction were great. The helicopter flower lizard things in particular were pretty funky.

The main character had a pretty weak American accent, though. It bothered my brother a lot but there was one point towards the end (the point where everyone is sad before the big final battle) where his accent broke almost completely and it just sounded like an Australian talking for about five words and I just sort of cocked my head to the side and thought "really?".

I'd say it's worth seeing.

[ChubbyHuggs]

I liked it a lot, from all aspect.

Script is predictable, but I mean what movie that's come out in the last 20 years hasn't been. The CGi is incredible and the 3D effect weren't at all cheesy. As of course for and Cameron movie you have to expect some Celine Dion song in it. :p

Go watch it!

[Mad March Harris]

Script is predictable, but I mean what movie that's come out in the last 20 years hasn't been.

A lot of them. I saw Sherlock Holmes a few days after and it was way less predictable than Avatar. Avatar was predictable on a level where someone familiar with basic storytelling could go to the bathroom and then come back and say "so did he do that thing yet?" and someone who has seen Last Samurai or Dances With Wolves could fall asleep for 30 minutes and then say "did he do these things yet?".

[seltzermx]

Script is predictable, but I mean what movie that's come out in the last 20 years hasn't been.


I don't know about you, but I was totally shocked at the ending of Titanic. THE SHIP SANK! I mean WTF, when has that ever happened!!??

[ChubbyHuggs]

A lot of them. I saw Sherlock Holmes a few days after and it was way less predictable than Avatar. Avatar was predictable on a level where someone familiar with basic storytelling could go to the bathroom and then come back and say "so did he do that thing yet?" and someone who has seen Last Samurai or Dances With Wolves could fall asleep for 30 minutes and then say "did he do these things yet?".

Dude, you could watch Disney's "The Great Mouse Detective" and predict Sherlock Holmes. :p

[Mad March Harris]

Dude, you could watch Disney's "The Great Mouse Detective" and predict Sherlock Holmes. :p

I'm not sure how to argue this without just calling you dumb. If you consider "He'll solve the case" as being a predictable movie then, yeah but I would be legitimately impressed if you could actually explain most of the points outside of vague bullshit that just follows the hero's journey (the literary thing).

[ChubbyHuggs]

I'm not sure how to argue this without just calling you dumb. If you consider "He'll solve the case" as being a predictable movie then, yeah but I would be legitimately impressed if you could actually explain most of the points outside of vague bullshit that just follows the hero's journey (the literary thing).

You can't argue, because what I said is true. Sherlock Holmes movies are very predictable plot wise. The only things within the plot that are for guessing is how a contraption worked or what chemicals they used to do it. Now, I'm not going to say none of you are chemist or engineers, but unless you are I'm guessing it's a pretty hard guess. I was just illustrating a point on how easy it really is to predict the movie. Either way, we shouldn't argue and you shouldn't be calling anyone dumb. I know you said it was less predictable. I'll give you some key predictions in a PM if you really want to hear them, but this is about Avatar. We've digressed enough.


***

Avatar is a very good movie in my opinion technically and plot wise. Some cheesy sayings but a good script, but come on? You can't try to be original with everything you do. Somethings just aren't meant to have really original story lines and even when they do not a lot of people like them, so I think this worked out for the best. The real point behind a movie is how you create it and tale your own version. Whether this is a very advanced and futuristic version of Dances With Wolves doesn't really matter as much as how it's told. :p

Come on how can you not like this:
http://cache.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/185993_S/Avatar-Predictably-Dominates-The-Weekend-Box-Office.jpg
http://www.bscreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/avatar-james-cameron-movie-1024x576.jpg

[HoodedMiracle]

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/524391

[Mad March Harris]

I'll give you some key predictions in a PM if you really want to hear them, but this is about Avatar. We've digressed enough.

When you're predicting something that's already happened it's called retrodicting (or just making a statement) and anyone can do it. If there were a movie coming out in the next little while that I actually had an interest in seeing I'd call you out to predict it but I'm sure neither of us really wants to keep this up.


Avatar is a very good movie in my opinion technically and plot wise. Some cheesy sayings but a good script, but come on? You can't try to be original with everything you do. Somethings just aren't meant to have really original story lines and even when they do not a lot of people like them, so I think this worked out for the best. The real point behind a movie is how you create it and tale your own version. Whether this is a very advanced and futuristic version of Dances With Wolves doesn't really matter as much as how it's told. :p

You honestly think that the Avatar script is good? I've been thinking about the actual script for a bit recently and setting aside issues of predictability and unoriginality, the actual writing is really bad. The amount of cliche characterisation and cheese is staggering. Unobtainium? Are you kidding me? I guess Just-Out-of-Reach-ium and We-Need-More-of-it-um were both taken. And the army guy saying "You're not in Kansas anymore" is all kinds of awful.

Not that I dislike Avatar or anything but seeing people talk about it as anything other than a technological achievement just bothers me. James Cameron is an awful writer. Since his movies do well he's obviously very creative, a talented director, and probably a solid screenplay writer (which is different from regular writing), but his ability to write an actual story and dialogue is definitely very weak. Everyone loves Aliens but I've never heard anyone quote dramatic scenes from it. Same for Terminator. People pull the cheesy 80s/90s "cool" lines like "I'll be back" but his movies are about the world and setting, not particularly the characters.

[ChubbyHuggs]

The characterizations and cheese are what make it. "You're not in Kansas anymore," matches that Colonel, because he's an old school asshole. I mean they are humans on a different planet, so the only new stuff or lingo you could expect is words they made for that planet. I'm not a scientist, so I wont criticize the word, Unobtainium. That is unless you tell me it's a chemical we find in our kitchen. :p

The most original line from that movie is, "Toruk has always been the hunter, not the hunted, so why would he ever think to look up."

If you want something chalked full of "originality" watch Juno or something... God, I hate that movie. Anyways, but you are right. Most of his movies are more about the world and settings he creates and the characters are kind of on the back burner. I just feel Avatar is at least 80% better than most of the movies that have come out recently.

P.S. If you want a good quote to leave on you can't go wrong with Ghostbusters II, "Death is but a door, time is but a window, I'll be back."

[Mad March Harris]

I'm not a scientist, so I wont criticize the word, Unobtainium. That is unless you tell me it's a chemical we find in our kitchen. :p

It's not that it's scientifically wrong, it's that it's embarrassingly hamfisted. In a movie criticising war you wouldn't let a writer get away with calling the evil empire "Evil Empiria".


I just feel Avatar is at least 80% better than most of the movies that have come out recently.

I'd agree but mainly because it's a decent movie in a field currently plagued with awfulness. Outside of Avatar and Holmes the only movie I remember seeing that was good at all was Inglourious Basterds in the fall.

[ChubbyHuggs]

"Evil Empiria."
I couldn't stop laughing at that for some reason.



Outside of Avatar and Holmes the only movie I remember seeing that was good at all was Inglourious Basterds in the fall.

I'd through my glove in for District 9. :D

[The Amazing Shenazin]

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/524391

I love that, so much