James Cameron's Avatar

[Kenny]

I watched "The New World" movie last night, and there were a couple lines in it (between John Smith and Pocohantas) that were almost exactly word for word

in "Avatar". Example, John Smith, " I thought that day in the field was just a

dream, but that is ALL that's real." In another line when John Smith is just

thinking to himself, as he is in the Jamestown fort, he says something like, "The

real world is out there. " (where Ponchantas' tribe lives)

No matter, they are both great films, and James Cameron's beautiful graphics made

"Avatar" stand out, even if the story had already been told before.

Tsahaylu

I agree both are great films but in different ways and for my vote Pocahontas wins the best story Oscar and Avatar the best visual display. What is worrying is that there was no mention that the story was based, even loosely, by Cameron or for that matter any of the critics on Pocahontas. With Titanic for example Cameron’s slant on it, while not the best story line, (The Longest Night takes that one) it was by far the best graphically but we always knew what it was based on.

Avatar to me signals a continuing trend in Hollywood and one that reflects the times we live in. There is a need for a new story, a new hero, and some clean, honest depictions of men, women and children overcoming or bucking the trend. What a great movie it would be if a ‘How the west was won’ style production was put out about how, despite being surrounded by selfishness, a group of people are standing firm, are obedient, trustworthy, decent, family loving, God fearing and willing to see and seek out all that is good.

:hmmm:Wonder what it would be called?

[Justice]

Saw it at a Dolby DLP 3D theater with my kids yesterday. We liked the movie.

I guess it's a story worth repeating.

[Dravin]

I agree both are great films but in different ways and for my vote Pocahontas wins the best story Oscar and Avatar the best visual display

It loses the history award though. John Rolfe not John Smith is the one who ended up married to Pocahontas.

[Justice]

You are correct. My mother's mother was a direct descendant of Pocahontas by mothers all the way back to their son (so my grandmother said).

Edited January 10, 2010 by Justice

[pam]

Audiences experience 'Avatar' blues - CNN.com

(CNN) -- James Cameron's completely immersive spectacle "Avatar" may have been a little too real for some fans who say they have experienced depression and suicidal thoughts after seeing the film because they long to enjoy the beauty of the alien world Pandora.

[Tarnished]

Audiences experience 'Avatar' blues - CNN.com

(CNN) -- James Cameron's completely immersive spectacle "Avatar" may have been a little too real for some fans who say they have experienced depression and suicidal thoughts after seeing the film because they long to enjoy the beauty of the alien world Pandora.

That is interesting, I could see how it might happen. Coming out of the movie after watching it in 3D felt surreal, I felt like I had woken from a dream I really did not want to end. I would not be surprised if this movie leads to a fan group of people who either want to be or believe they are Na'vi. We have seen this happen with Lord of the Rings, so it would be understandable to see it happen here as well.

[Bini]

^

Hm, yeh, maybe. But I always wanted to be an Ewok.

[Egowaffles]

I thought it was the single worst movie of all time

[pam]

Why don't you tell us how you REALLY feel.

BTW..I love the name.

[pam]

I don't like the name anymore.

[bytebear]

I think Cameron saw all the money George Lucas was making on his Star Wars franchise and wanted in on the action.

[Guest]

Interesting: Last weekend, I went on a date with my 2 little kids ages 6 and 8 because daddy went camping. So, I asked them what they want to do and both of them simultaneously screamed, "AVATAR!!!". I'm like, nah, really? But we already saw it! And they started jumping up and down, Avatar, Avatar... okay, so I agreed as long as it is on 2D. Both were very happy. I didn't feel the same "whoa" feeling anymore. I guess after seeing it on 3D, the 2D version was kinda "normal".

So then, after we were on the way home, my kids asked, "Can we see it again soon?". Sigh.

[boyando]

I thought it was the single worst movie of all time

I hope that Egowaffles wasn't banned, just because he or she didn't like the movie.

[ruthiechan]

Audiences experience 'Avatar' blues - CNN.com

(CNN) -- James Cameron's completely immersive spectacle "Avatar" may have been a little too real for some fans who say they have experienced depression and suicidal thoughts after seeing the film because they long to enjoy the beauty of the alien world Pandora.

""Pandora is a pristine world and there is the synergy between all of the creatures of the planet and I think that strikes a deep chord within people that has a wishfulness and a wistfulness to it," Lang said."

Well yes, of course. Because that aspect of the movie speaks truth. It is spiritually true.

This uncanny reaction to the movie speaks volumes. People need the Gospel. These fans recognized that something was missing and saw a part of that something in the movie. A direct connection to all life, to God, and to a God that was real and would help you prevail against your enemies. A connection where, when you died, you were still there, in God, with all your friends, and family, and also accessible to your posterity. We have all that in the Gospel, but they don't know it and so they yearn for something they believe to be inaccessible, when it's right here, right now.

[NeuroTypical]

Napoleon Dynomite was very good at putting viewers in two camps. You are either someone who is laughing madly within the first 15 seconds, or you're sitting there what kind of moron you married, and whether to kill me now or wait for the kids to get up and out.

[Guest]

We saw Avatar again (that's what the kids wanted to see. Sigh.) but on IMAX 3D this time.

So, I have seen avatar in RealD 3D, 2D, and Imax 3D. And I can tell you, what a big difference there is between RealD 3D and linear digital 3D used in our IMAX theater.

RealD 3D puts "real" depth into the picture so that you are looking INTO the screen. Linear digital 3D makes depth perception by "popping" the scenery out of the screen which gives me that "Disneyworld" feel. It's a bigger eyestrain because it is closer to you which you don't really feel much in Disneyworld because you are only there for 25 minutes - for a nearly 3 hour movie, though... Man. The linear lenses are big and cumbersome because you have to have it at a certain angle to see the full effect - the sides tend to get blurry if you move your head. There is ghosting especially on fast action shots - lots of this in Avatar.

But, I have to say, the size of the IMAX screen tends to give you minute detail which really gave me a renewed appreciation for Avatar's CGI effects. Just paying very close attention to the expressions on Neytiri's face when she finds out that Jake knew about the sky people wiping them out and then again when she grieved over her father, it really, truly is REAL acting that got cgi-captured. You see this same expression when Uhura grieved for Spock's mother. For those who haven't seen the movie, Neytiri is played by Zoe Saldana who also played Uhura in the last Star Trek.

The hair on a cgi character is usually the most cartoonish feature, but in Avatar, the hair is so real - in the regular screen, you can see a lot of "feathering" of the hair from the braids - which comes as a result of your hair having different lengths since you shed and grow hair every day in real world. This gives the hair a "realness" to it. Also, the texture of the hair was so detailed that it "feels" real. In the IMAX screen, though, you see the "feathering" reflect different highlights - darker towards the base, very light colored towards the tip. It is truly amazing.

It is very interesting that the facial expressions and hair look more real than the blazing fire! I guess you can say that fire burns differently in Pandora's atmosphere to explain that.

Even with the IMAX, the perceived weight of a cgi object is not quite as real as real world but it is a thousand times better than the old cgi effects - like Jurassic Park for instance - where a giant T-Rex feels as much weight as a little raptor from the impact it makes on the ground. But then, I'm fairly certain this is why Cameron put the world on Pandora with a lighter gravitational pull than earth - to mask this marked difference in weight perception.

Man, I tell ya, that movie could be just a bunch of people running around the forest without any bit of a storyline and I would seriously enjoy it just looking at all that amazing technological advancement! It truly redefines CGI.

Edited January 30, 2010 by anatess

[pam]

You sound like my son anatess. He has seen it 5 times now. I still have yet to see it. Still just can't seem to get up the inclination to see it.

[ADoyle90815]

I saw it on IMAX 3D and it was probably the best movie I've seen in a while. I even loved the trailers in that format, especially the documentary about the Hubble telescope repairs, as it was almost like being there.

[Wingnut]

With all the success that Avatar has had with 3D filming, a lot of other films are making the switch to 3D now, too. A remake of Clash of the Titans is being delayed so that it can be converted, and I read yesterday that the next (and last) two Harry Potter films are being converted to 3D.

Can anyone say "disapparate"? :)

[pam]

I heard about Clash of the Titans yesterday. Not every dang movie has to be 3D.

[Wingnut]

I even read speculation that the next Spiderman movie might be 3D.

[Bini]

With all the success that Avatar has had with 3D filming, a lot of other films are making the switch to 3D now, too. A remake of Clash of the Titans is being delayed so that it can be converted, and I read yesterday that the next (and last) two Harry Potter films are being converted to 3D.

Can anyone say "disapparate"? :)

About a month ago, hubby read online that some electronic brands (Samsung was one of them I believe) are now making higher-end flat panel televisions that are 3D compatible. So it's no surprise I suppose. I think 3D will eventually be the "norm" for watching movies, be it at the cinema or at your own personal home-theatre :]

[bytebear]

3D is a gimmick, but it's a lucrative one. With the price of admission $5 more than the regular movie, and IMAX being even more, you don't think the studios are going to cash in? I am very disappointed at hearing about Harry Potter. It will distract from the story and make it cheesy. And if the only thing Avatar has going for it are cool special effects and really good 3D, then how good a movie is it really?

[Dravin]

And if the only thing Avatar has going for it are cool special effects and really good 3D, then how good a movie is it really?

Depends on what you demand of your movies. I found plot holes (well, more plot demanded stupidity) in it after the fact, identified them before hand for that matter. Saw the foreshadowing that may as well have been a solar eclipse for its subtleness. However, I was throughly entertained over the course of the movie. It wasn't a cinematic masterpiece, but I honestly didn't expect it to be.

I do find the idea of a trend to simply shove 3D into movies because they can to be disturbing. If it works for the movie, and it works well, great. If it doesn't though, it's like slapping a spoiler on a stock VW Bug.

Edited January 30, 2010 by Dravin

[pam]

I was reading an article yesterday that they are thinking of bringing out 3D tvs for the home.