James Cameron's Avatar

The movie, not the game.

The film opens in seven days (17th) here in Australia, and I just bought my ticket to the advance screening on the 16th. It's been a long time since I've been actually excited about seeing a film, and I honestly can't wait! Anyone else really looking forward to this movie? I know it's been the subject of a bit of discussion as some people don't see what all the fuss is about or think the promotional stuff looks dull.

Personally, I think the combination of bleeding edge technology and Cameron's skill as a film maker is going to result in one hell of a ride.

290,269 views 163 replies
Reply #1 Top

While I admit that I dont think this is the best thing since Star Wars or Star Trek, I also would like to see this considering the film maker (he has made a lot of great movies) and the many previews that I have seen

Reply #2 Top

I know it's been the subject of a bit of discussion as some people don't see what all the fuss is about or think the promotional stuff looks dull.

The commercials are rather boring; it concentrates too much on the explosions and guns. I work at a theater, so I've been able to see the first trailer a while ago. It's a lot better than the commercial is.

I really do want to see this movie, and it'll be completely free for me. ^_^ But anyways, I hope Avatar is a good movie, and not some CGI-graphics fest with no real plot. Like 2012. ^_^

Reply #3 Top

It looks silly to be honest.

Reply #4 Top

Quoting HorseStrangler, reply 3
It looks silly to be honest.

That's pretty much my opinion too.  When I heard Cameron saying he was coming back to save cinematic sci-fi, I was excited because sci-fi certainly needs to be saved when it comes to the movies.  I had visions of original ideas or even movies based on some classic novels...instead I get the Thundercats saving Ferngully.  >:(

My expectations are quite low for this flick.

Reply #5 Top

Quoting CrusaderScott, reply 4
... the Thundercats saving Ferngully.

While I don't agree with this, I nearly spat my water at my computer screen when I read it. Easily the best description of 'Avatar' I've read yet.

Reply #6 Top

Also I heard a nasty rumor that they won't be showing Kate Winslet's boobs in this movie, which sounds like a real step backwards for Cameron.

Reply #7 Top

I feel that the whole film is given away by the trailers and commercials. Humans come to planet, resource they want is below a town, bad representative for "the company/government" starts war, some soldiers see an moral issue and eventually side with the weaker part and finally war ensues. Did I miss anything?

Reply #8 Top

i feel a sense of transformers my self. i feel in some way the acting will be simular...but i am going to give the wife a nice long massage x_x , then ill get her to come with me >:D

Reply #9 Top

Quoting joasoze, reply 7
I feel that the whole film is given away by the trailers and commercials. Humans come to planet, resource they want is below a town, bad representative for "the company/government" starts war, some soldiers see an moral issue and eventually side with the weaker part and finally war ensues. Did I miss anything?

 

My sentiments exactly...I fear it'll be just another movie with barely hidden envirommental/anti-war message, making us humans look bad (again, like in 90% of the CGI movies, humans are bad) and making those Xenos the good guys..

 

oh and with that Marines guy who go some moral problem as well

Reply #10 Top

Yea. I think the creatures look cool, but the movie is certainly not going to be groundbreaking.

Certainly I want to see it, but its no Law Abiding Citizen, thats for sure.

Reply #12 Top

Quoting mbaron888, reply 11
Is this Battle for Terra with better CGI?

 

Heh...i always thought those movies were actually, the same.

 

sure is REALLY lookalike...humans coems to some alien planet to claim it for them and the peace-loving locals are in the way..and some good-hearted soldier decide to go all traitor and with the alien.

 

 

And I'm preeetty sure there's some human-alien love affair in the works.

Reply #13 Top

Quoting ZehDon, reply 5



Quoting CrusaderScott,
reply 4
... the Thundercats saving Ferngully.
While I don't agree with this, I nearly spat my water at my computer screen when I read it. Easily the best description of 'Avatar' I've read yet.

I can't take credit for that; Hitler said it first. :grin:

As for those of you who believe this is going to be another anti-war/anti-capitalism lecture from Hollywood, you are correct.  Cameron has actually said that this movie is about "how Western civilizations supplant indigenous cultures, in either actively genocidal or more unintentional ways."  So...yeah.  :|

BTW:  io9 has an interesting article on Avatar and the abuse of CGI:

http://io9.com/5411842/does-cgi-ruin-movies

Wired magazine's recent story about the making of Avatar contained the following passage:

'Cameron is trying to show me something with a laser pointer. He queues up a scene towards the end of Avatar and freezes the frame on an image of a large crowd of Na'vi. He uses the pointer to draw attention to an ornate headdress composed of hundreds of tiny beads. The onscreen image is amazingly crisp, and the headdress appears utterly real. Each bead was designed by a digital artist, Cameron says, so it would look handmade. "Every leaf, every blade of grass in this world was created," he says, and his laser pointer streaks across the screen, alighting on so many things I can't follow its path.'

When I read that, I thought to myself, that's everything that's wrong with CGI movies. I'm always torn when it comes to live action movies that rely so heavily on CGI'd surroundings and special effects: On the one hand, it's amazing what can be done with the technology, but on the other, it's depressing seeing what has been done with it, as well. CGI has become the atom bomb of movie special effects: Yes, we have the technology to "fix" everything, but that doesn't necessarily mean that we should use it.

Reply #14 Top

Huge sci fi fan here, but I'm not that excited about this movie.  I'll still go see it.  Who knows, maybe I'll like it.  

Reply #15 Top

Probably will go see it at some point. If not, there's always Netflix......

First impression, though, is that this will turn out to be District 9 dumbed down. And I don't know if D9 can survive being manistramified.

Reply #16 Top

I don't mean to be so down on Avatar but what is galling me is that now that we have the technology to make our sci-fi dreams come true, we are getting one movie after another that squanders the opportunity.  There are so many novels out there that have great plots plus amble opportunity to utilize CGI to its fullest (The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, any of the Honor Harrington novels, The Lost Fleet, Hammer's Slammers, any of Ian Banks' stories...on and on and on), but Hollywood is instead giving us retreads of retreads of retreads of super-soft sci-fi.  Not to sound like a gaming fanboi, but I want a movie that captures the essence of GalCiv, Sins of a Solar Empire, EvE Online or X3.  In other words, I want a movie that takes place in outer space; that deals with politics on a grand scale; that focuses upon relatable human characters who are trying to make it in a big, dangerous universe.  Instead, we're getting sci-fi movies that have more in common with fantasy than with science fiction (i.e., we get furry Ewoks and Avatar's cat creatures, and Transformers and jungle adventures).  When I think of sci-fi, those themes don't make the list.

I had faith in Cameron; I was expecting The Abyss in space (in many ways I find that The Abyss presents the most accurate interpretation of life in space, despite the fact that it takes place under water.  From the claustrophic environs, to the ever-present water [think the vacuum of space], I think The Abyss is begging to get translated into an outer-space movie).  Instead, I get a retelling of the Ewoks on Endor.

In short, sci-fi for me is THIS:

 

and NOT this:

Reply #17 Top

I think after this movie's flop, Cameron is going to get over the shiny lights and pictures, and move on to presenting a great universe AND a great storyline-movie to go along with it.

One thing that will lead me to watching this movie is the fact that, 5 years ago?, would of been something akin to my favorite movie ever.

Im all about dragons, and rainforest, and to me those flying things are alot more of a draw than the Blue people, although everything seems to be blue over there.

I could still use a couple more fantasy movies, especially if they are well done, and have to do with either rainforest OR dragons. However, I would also like some "real" sci-fi movies like those mentioned above. It does seem a growing trend that as the ability for "graphics" increases, the willingness for "story" or "originality" decreases.

I mean ... I saw that battle for Terra trailer ... and the two movies look very VERY similar. The fact that they are releasing within the same 5 year period is surprising to me (or even the same decade, due to all the parallels)

Although, the themes represented in these movies could simply been Public or Individual sentiments a decade old that have finally made it into movie scripts and onto the big screen. In this case I will watch them for Nosalgia's sake if nothing else, and buy the DVD's in order to impression young new minds of the future with these movies. Probably Battle for Terra first, due to its more kiddish style. ALthough I grew up on Walter Cronkite documentaries and didn't complain (until they stopped showing the pictures of dinosaurs xD)

So even though these pro-Rainforest, pro-Indigenous ideals are at least a decade (or two) old, it doesn't make it any less important ... just a tired and tried hat for those of us who have been here for a relatively long while. Of course, there are probably those of you that have watched so many movies, and lived so long, that your tastes for the Original, or for what is good, are probably either more specific or simply incongruent with my own views. However, I agree Avatar is probably not going to be a great movie, although I feel like im the only one that likes the initial premise. xD

 

Still doesn't match the epicness of my Adventure story which evolves into leading a nation of Lizardmen against Corporate human nationalists whose strings are pulled by aliens and a giant fiery demon. The aliens work closely with talking vultures, and they also pay Pigmy tribes well in order to constantly attempt ambush's on the main character's life. Most of the adventures simply revolve around surviving the hazards of a strange and much larger rainforest inspired by fantasy elements. However, there is always the external presence, visible influence of the men in black suits and dark sunglasses. Most confrontation with the anti-rainforest faction is done with the less-than-human minions of the Fire-Overlord. Such as the intelligent and heartless vultures, and -more commonly- a massive Caiman dubbed "broken tooth". Yes, I was in kindergarten at the time it all started, although its not such a bad premise. Change the timeline around, and cut out all the plot-irrelevant tangents (unless when needed as dramatic filler for the story), and you start to get some possibilities. Of course ... since my lair of Story is so dense with various different ideas, its impossible to synthesize the Amazon story into on particular plot or even timeline. The only genre it consistently fits into is Fantasy/Sci-Fi.

Most versions include stumbling across a dimensional rift, into a much larger world which includes not only rainforest, but all manner of biome. Although "the rainforest" including its more than massive "swamp" is by far the largest biome in the land. Out in the open, many dinosaurs and other variants roam, while deadly mutants, monsters, and man-eating plants live within the swamp. Most animals have some sort of intelligent voice, but only if they are an actual existing animal. Most mutants, monsters, dinosaurs, dragons, and other such creatures do not speak common. (although dragon's might, but there are no true dragons in the story, only many dragon-like mutants). Also, tangents include such anecdotes as many of the mutants present along the story were actually created by the author at an earlier date as experiments, and they some-how got released into this place. Its also revealed that the long-time nemesis and henchman of the Fire-Demon .... the giant Caiman dubbed "broken tooth" with a seemingly personal grudge vs main character ... was actually the first of such mutant/experiments performed by the character. Of course, the only outlier is that for most versions of the story the main character is a human child within 5-8 years of age. However, in other versions the main character is a near immortal Lizardman of Iguana origin, who commands powerful psychic powers and Ice powers. The human child as well, later on in his travels, appears to have been given powerful psychic powers by benevolent visiting aliens, which includes the power of flight via levitation as well as telepathy.

Its more or less an open book of details and ideas, with no real ending. And theoretically with no definite beginning. Although the official beginning was that the human child followed a dart-frog off into the woods, travelling from his family on a river tour, running off deeper into the jungle following this frog, becoming lost from the shore. Eventually the human child approaches a Jaguar. Said Jaguar mentions that he thinks of eating the child, and eventually the two become friends. There is something special about that Jaguar, and he ends up becoming the leading general in the child's armies, as well as chief companion in all adventures. It is later revealed (but not too late, before the first main Swamp chapter but after initial sighting of BrokenTooth), it is later revealed that the Jaguar's evil twin brother works for the bad aliens, and by extension the vultures, and by extension the fire demon, although the brother would not actually answer directly to the Fire Demon, and if there was a later decision between the good brother or the Being of Fire, the Evil Brother would choose to help out the good brother. However, as working as mercenary to the Vultures and the Aliens, (or if you prefer, the Vultures piloting a UFO) the evil brother works counter to the goals of the main party.

The story includes large battles between allies and enemies, although the main party of 5 or so never diverts course. Its always on a constant quest forwards for something, although destination is often unknown. It could be considered an ongoing exploration into the Wide and Vast world of interdimensional rainforest,swamp, and other (collectively referred to as Amazonia, referencing the location of the initial "incident" where the child locates the talking Jaguar). Along the way they come in contact with allies, ect. In one particular battle, the main party has several vehicles which are important to the current mission, although they have to cross a location with no floor (wether quicksand, or enemies in the water, or what-have-you) ... so many howlermonkeys help carry personel and equipment to the otherside, while fighting off the enemy to buy them time to escape. then the party reaches a treacherous ravine/ocean/something, where a small but treacherous body of water is traversed by them with the help of sea-turtles.

Usually most "super battles" which actually include the Fire Demon are in the Lizardman version of the story. Where the lizardman takes upon monstrous form to match the size of the Fire demon, and he uses Ice powers to combat the DemonLord's fire powers and bodily flames. Lizard also has psychic powers, include flight of any form. In this way you might almost say the main character has the powers of an Ice-Dragon, although isn't much from day-to-day other than an Iguanid Lizardman with extraordinary Ice and Psychic powers

Reply #18 Top

Just because it's James Cameron, I would give it a shot. :)

 

Reply #19 Top

Quoting carlobee, reply 18
Just because it's James Cameron, I would give it a shot.

 

May I remind you of Titanic? One hour into that one I was pleading for my friend next to me to kill me and end my sufferings. We could not leave since he had his girlfriend with him. Truly horrible...

Reply #20 Top

A rather biased opinion considering Titanic is the highest grossing film of all time and has survived in that position against The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and The Dark Knight. In any case, Cameron has never made a bad movie, I see no reason to think he'd begin here.

Reply #21 Top

By that argument American Idol and So you think you can dance is the best the world has given us :)

Reply #22 Top

Given that Dan Brown's books sell so well there isn't always a correlation between how good something is and how much money it makes (I don't care about the religious debates, the simple fact is the books are absolutely awful).

 

I'm waiting for the reviews anyway.  Then we'll see.

Reply #23 Top

The first reviews are up on Metacritic. 10/10 from Empire.

Quoting joasoze, reply 21
By that argument American Idol and So you think you can dance is the best the world has given us

How? Neither hold the title of the highest ratings of all time? Titanic was showered with critical praise upon it's release and has made more money than any other film to date. Its not in my top 10 films of all time, but that doesn't make it a bad movie - and clearly more people enjoyed the film than not. Your opinion is the minority, not representitive of the whole and as such, as I said, it is slanted by bias; you not liking the film doesn't mean it was a bad film.

Reply #24 Top

I want a movie that takes place in outer space; that deals with politics on a grand scale; that focuses upon relatable human characters who are trying to make it in a big, dangerous universe. Instead, we're getting sci-fi movies that have more in common with fantasy than with science fiction (i.e., we get furry Ewoks

Very ironic that you mention ewoks when starwars is all of those things that you mentioned, as is the latest star trek movie (minus the politics). I can't believe that you are still dissapointed about ewoks are all these years. Get over it. Star wars has the big space battles, etc. Star wars is not "pure" sci-fi, but thats what makes it so good.

The isn't more sci-fi of the kind that you like because there isn't a big enough audience for it to be marketable.

Anyway, I hope that there is something more to the story in avatar that wasn't shown in the trailer. Should be pretty good thoigh.

Reply #25 Top

Given that Dan Brown's books sell so well there isn't always a correlation between how good something is and how much money it makes (I don't care about the religious debates, the simple fact is the books are absolutely awful).
Wrongo! There is a correlation, it's just inverse....