If you haven't read Harry Harrison's DeathWorld, it is worth the Amazon search. I read it as a kid, loved it and just bought it for my son who loved it.
I decided to re-read it after 30 years and was shocked that "Avatar" is a ripoff or at least a "tribute" to the book.
There are a lot of recycled themes in SciFi, but this was pretty close.
Anyone else read it or agree?
Live in peace and harmony, blah, blah, one with nature, guns never solve anything...
There's nothing original in "Avatar" except the technology used to make the movie.
Basically, you can add it to the list of stories it ripped off, including: Ferngully - The Last Rainforest, Pocahontas, Dances with Wolves, Aliens and The Abyss (amongst others I can't recall right now).
lol at the shock of Cameron ripping someone off and acting like an innovator.
The Complete List Of Sources Avatar's Accused Of Ripping Off
Only that isn't the complete list. At all.
And it's not the first time. Terminator. Demon with A Glass Hand.
On and on.
Well in that case, it's not a "rip off", it just weaves together very common themes with spectacular technology. I thought it was the greatest movie ever when I first saw it, really good the second, but it doesn't have any "staying power". It is a great demo movie for stores that sell TV's.
Luke/Star Wars is basically King Arther; good vs evil, magic sword, wise magician.
William Shakespeare told the same old stories in a new way.
Let's face it, we say we want original ideas, but we really don't.
Avatar technology will help scifi movies.
Kerr Avon said:
Exactly LOL Not much in that movie that isn't ripped off. Still enjoyed it though
Cameron is big on borrowing and always has been. He just does it really well.
There was a joke in Hollywood that JC already made StarshipTroopers, he called it Aliens.
Guess what. Aliens is a much better movie.
OH come on, why is it that suddenly inspiration is ripping someone off.
And not even that's original. All done before in the prequels and LOTR etc. Unless you mean the 3d... and even that's highly debatable.Kerr Avon said:
except, no. some civilian bimbo that know better tactics etc than trained soldiers? virtually the exact same out-the-airlock ending as the previous movie? etc etc....joeranger said:
And blowing it away in the Sulaco would be a good idea WHHHHYYYYY?Wolfie138 said:
Did you forget that Queen is about a ton of acid waiting to happen?
Jettisoning it from the airlock is the only smart move.
Actually, it's not a retelling of Starship Troopers. It's Cameron's retelling of the Vietnam War, only instead of having the heavily armed U.S. forces verses the low-tech Vietnamese, it's a group of soldiers with severally advanced weapon technology getting their asses handed to them by a non-technologically advanced alien species (That really rings some bells, doesn't it?)joeranger said:
Last edited by CB2001; Jul 18, 2012 at 7:00 PM.
I hear there was some boating incident he stole from too.
He knows. (Joe that is; he's a massive Aliens fan like myself).CB2001 said:
I would suppose this joke might stem from the fact the actors on Aliens had to read Starship Troopers prior to production.
Kevin
Yes, HUGE ALiens fan. I don't think Viet Nam comes into play. I think the lack of discipline and uniformity was only to drive home the idea that they are really far from home/base.
In fact, with Aliens, I think JC actually was ahead of some military ideas; helmet cam, mics, smart gun, remote piloting.
If trapped on a desert island and I could only get movies from "1 director", he might be the guy. (even if he borrows)
Well, Cameron stated in one of his interviews was that the film was sort of a sci-fi retelling of Vietnam. I remember watching it on one of the DVD releases. And looking at the film, especially with the Special Edition (where one scene highlights it, which happens to be Hudson's "Me and My Squad of Ultimate Badasses" speech), it is even more noticeable (even Hudson's "What do you mean THEY cut the power?" line that made it into the film sort of backs up the underestimation that a technically inferior species could outsmart them, a group of Marines who came in packing the highest quality in firepower).joeranger said:
True. But if it were me, I'd make sure the movies were pre-Titanic.In fact, with Aliens, I think JC actually was ahead of some military ideas; helmet cam, mics, smart gun, remote piloting.
If trapped on a desert island and I could only get movies from "1 director", he might be the guy. (even if he borrows)
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