Man, Avatar kinda sucked, right??

[Nwerke]

Not my cup of tea, so I've steered well clear.
One thing I am interested in though, how much can this be recognised in the medium as a film and not just a visual spectacular utilising state of the art technology to promulgate an overly simplistic infantile message of ecology and the supposedly inherent wisdom of the "nobel savage"?
And if thats the case (I don't know I'll never watch Avatar, this is all surmising from the little I do know about it) is Silent Running a better film?

Oh, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is a better film.

Well, ok, no it isn't, but sure, Silent Running is a far more cerebral thing.

Avatar's totally about the noble savage trope and a bunch of other hackneyed stuff, no argument. Doesn't prevent it from being worth a look. I was expecting to hate it, instead I had a good old time. It's spectacular, it's warm, it's likeable. Besides being as dumb as a bag of hammers.

Why not watch it and decide for yourself instead of judging from secondhand opinions? You might hate it far more than you expected, or the opposite, who knows.

 

[mbmcfarland]

That's basically why I watched it, and totally what I expected my reaction to be going into it. Instead, I came out of it feeling totally betrayed and offended. That's probably because I'm an engineer who designs a lot of systems for the military so I identified with the bad guys.

I also thought the film was somewhat hypocritical. Like it's okay for the aliens to kill the people but not the other way around. I saw a funny story about Avatar and Cameron's plans for Avatar 2 somewhere. The gist of it as at this link, which is quoted below:
James Cameron rethinks Avatar sequel after criticism from Amazon tribe - Coventry Telegraph - The Geek Files

The filmmaker invited tribal leaders of the Achuar to a screening of his sci-fi epic as part of a fundraiser to help them stop oil companies drilling near their rain forest homeland.
Cameron thought they'd approve of his film's environmental message - but he was wrong. And as a result, he is rewriting parts of the sequel.
The director said: "I've always had a story arc in mind for the sequel, but then I took a trip to South America after Avatar came out and that has altered the story line somewhat.
"I was doing a fundraiser for these people called the Achuar to get public attention. A bunch of Achuar were bussed in to watch Avatar at an IMAX theater in 3D.
"These are people who had never been in a movie theatre. They're wearing feathers and paint. And they put on the glasses and watch Avatar, the first movie they've ever seen.
"And when they came out, this one woman, a tribal elder, says 'In this movie, they solved their problems by fighting. We are not afraid to fight, but we have decided to try to solve our problems through dialogue. So this movie needs a better message.'"
"I felt like I'd been punk'd. But it made me think."

 

[Alan Castillo]

Oh dear. Not good news for the Avatar 'haters'.

Now you'll have blue kitehs who are also tame :lol

 

[Solo4114]

I can see it now.

Evil CEO: "We may have lost the last round...but we WILL have that planet! Begin...THE BALL OF YARN SOLUTION!!!"

 

[qfrost]

I'm curious what movies the original poster likes? Since you didn't like Avatar, about what films ARE you enthusiastic?

I'll offer some of my fav films: Terminator, T2, Alien, Aliens, Raiders, Predator, The Thing, ST2:Wrath of Khan, Das Boot, Serenity, Hellboy 1 & 2. and of course, the Original SW Trilogy.

But I'm usually thrilled just to see any big-budget sci-fi film make it to the screen.

 

[Nwerke]

Wow. That's, sorta, um...would anyone have predicted that reaction (or even that anecdote) from Cameron? Nice to know he's not so far gone down the Lucas route that he won't listen to anyone.

I was completely sure Avatar 2 would be a retread of the first, meaning a retread of a retread, but I think my level of interest just picked up a little.

 

[jarvis]

As far as I'm concerned it was a 300 million dollar demo reel to sell flat screens at best buy. Walk by, stop, say "that looks neat," and keep walking.

 

[p51]

Saw it in IMAX3D, after a few weeks of avoiding it.....it was ok. I liken it to a flick like Independence Day. Entertaining enough, but little more than another mindless summer blockbuster. The script was a rehash of (pick your poison: Pocahontas, Dances with Wolves, Fern Gully), I think 3D is utterly gimmicky and not worth my time. Nothing was really extraordinary about the film.

I think the above is fair.
Anyone who can't see that Avatar is "Dance with Wolves" in space and a happier ending didn’t see both movies... Ask anyone about the movie, and you never hear, "Wow, what a great and moving story!" NO, you always hear this every time, "Man, what great effects!"
I saw it in the theater and was impressed with the work put into it, but not the story. I actually fell asleep during the middle of it. Seriously, it has the exact same “learning to speak the native language” scene almost word-for-word you see in “Dances with Wolves”!
I did think the ending was exciting, through. I bought the first edition of the DVD and have watched the last half hour more than a few times, but that’s it. For all the effort put into it (LOVE the uniforms and weapons, though and I wish someone would make a good set of those neat BDUs), they should have had a more intriguing script to work with. You really have to wonder if Michael Blake and Kevin Costner ever considered suing for royalties for having their script ripped off like that.

 

[Toni Plutonij]

Maybe Cameron made this one to test the technology, and REAL movie will actually be Avatar 2?!?!

Or other idea, maybe he made this one some simple script-wise, so it'll be easier to top it with the Avatar 2?!

Who knows

 

[Aeneas2020]

I didn't quote the poster because their post was so long back now but I wanted to address the issue of the main female character being a strong female role model.

I completely agree however we should not put this movie on a pedestal just because it has the stones to portray a "woman" as strong. Let us try and judge the movie objectively and of course each person is entitled to their own opinion. However in mine the script was poor and overused tripe the acting was wooden the special effects were well not my cup of tea (i won't call them **** poor lest i get flamed). In any case there are plenty of movies out there with strong female leads that get none of the acclaim and credit of this crappy movie and we shouldn't applaud cameron just because he has a track record of liking strong female characters in his movies if that costs the very movies he makes their respective souls.

 

[Zombie Killer]

I waited for the Blueray to see this and actually enjoyed it. I went into it thinking i was going to hate it. I will say this thing is some real eye candy on the 60" Kuro. Sure the story is kinda like DWW, sure there is the typical environmentalist BS tone but if you take the story/environment/situation as is presented i think it's pretty good. Is it realistic? Hell no, thats not why i go to movies. If you ask me, the story is as good as any Alien sequel, any Predator sequel, or any of Episode 1,2 or 3. Alien and predator movies have some of the dumbest non original story lines around. All could be said to copy one old horror film or another. Aliens either kill you or use you to mutiply. Sounds like a vampire or warewolf movie to me. Yet everyone acts like they are some original story. The players are original but the story is always the same rehashed concepts. You guys really think the Star Wars movies are original concepts? The world and people yes, the fight and story? No.

 

[NoTsOsErIoUs]

Why not watch it and decide for yourself instead of judging from secondhand opinions? You might hate it far more than you expected, or the opposite, who knows.

I hear ya, I hear ya. I almost always agree, first hand experience is the only way to go. But there is next to no secondhand opinion at play here. Something instinctive is telling me not to waste my time. I think I'm just put off by the over-use of this new "groundbreaking technology" that seems to kill any pretense at a good story.
I suppose the simplist way to put it would be if I look at a fire I think, wow! Thats pretty. But I know if I put my hand in it I'm going to regret it.

 

[Forestmoonstudio]

I enjoyed it. It's a MOVIE.
You escape from your sad life for three hours.
I like stories that I feel I am swept into. Yes... this story has been done before but it did sweep me in.
If it,(AVATAR) or STAR WARS, or any other film takes your imagination and brings you into the story...then they have done their jobs.
I think because we are older. We have forgotten how to use our imaginations like we did when we were kids.
Let your mind take you back when you were a kid and you might enjoy it more.

 

[NoTsOsErIoUs]

Thats just the problem, I'm not a child anymore (ok maybe sometimes, gotta admit). "When I became a man I put away Childish things". Now I'm fully aware of the irony of this post on a forum that could be seen as a manchild's playground but.... I want more complexity and meat to a story I choose to see on the screen these days otherwise I feel I'm in danger of retrogressing.
Now If you'd said it's only a CHILD'S MOVIE, I would totally agree. But then I can only ever engage with it on a visual spectacular level.

 

[CB2001]

I tried to sit through 10 minutes of this film on HBO and couldn't even make it passed the 8 minute mark. Seriously, Mr. Cameron, if you expect me to respect your Twinkie, meaning a film that is all filler and no substance, and give you two hours of my time with a film with a ****-poor collage of "Aliens", "The Abyss", "Pocahontas" and "Dances with Wolves" as a story, then you are severely insulting film-goers. And those that have fallen in love with this film obviously are blinded by the razzle-dazzle of the overloaded amount of CG put into it. Sorry, Mr. Cameron, but you have officially lost your touch. You should have just done a "Terminator 3" and then leave the industry with a bang.

 

[julie1231]

Meh! It was okay.

Maybe the 3D and IMAX made it better. I can see that.
:lol

Formal Prom Dress
Wedding Ideas
Cheap Wedding Dress

 

[Colin Droidmilk]

I'm curious what movies the original poster likes? Since you didn't like Avatar, about what films ARE you enthusiastic?

What??

You imply Avatar is the greatest film of all time. Not easy ground for even Avatar-lovers to defend, I'd've thought...

 

[Colin Droidmilk]

I waited for the Blueray to see this and actually enjoyed it. I went into it thinking i was going to hate it. I will say this thing is some real eye candy on the 60" Kuro. Sure the story is kinda like DWW, sure there is the typical environmentalist BS tone but if you take the story/environment/situation as is presented i think it's pretty good. Is it realistic? Hell no, thats not why i go to movies. If you ask me, the story is as good as any Alien sequel, any Predator sequel, or any of Episode 1,2 or 3. Alien and predator movies have some of the dumbest non original story lines around. All could be said to copy one old horror film or another. Aliens either kill you or use you to mutiply. Sounds like a vampire or warewolf movie to me. Yet everyone acts like they are some original story. The players are original but the story is always the same rehashed concepts. You guys really think the Star Wars movies are original concepts? The world and people yes, the fight and story? No.

I never had a problem with the Pocahontas rehash. Of course great films can be story rehashes - A Fistful Of Dollars is a rehash of Yojimbo. My problem is that every clip and trailer I've seen sucks balls re dialogue and animation - yes, that's right, I find the animation utterly mediocre. Cameron, like Lucas, should've watched the quality control on weight, over-fluid cartoony movement, unreal, vidgame camera motion - something I have finally lost all patience with. I just don't want to watch ANY more sub-JP cgi, and certainly not in a film that even the enthusiastic Martyn considers to be as 'dumb as a bag of hammers', because I've also lost patience with dumbness in the movies. I mean, 'Titanic' was too dumb for me. I so wish that thing had been made by Spielberg instead.

 

[Jamanticus]

Fair enough, Colin Droidmilk.

I think the main thing Cameron and the animators didn't take into consideration when they had those actors doing their thing in the suits covered in ping-pong balls was that they were taking human motions and putting them unaltered on new CG bodies that have noticeably different proportions than a human's. Thinner bodies, longer torsoes, longer limbs. Makes parts of the Na'vi move too fast to me (like the head turning at a normal speed, but an arm swinging much faster than a really long, thin arm should swing), makes them feel not completely contiguous with their own physiology, if I'm making sense.

 

[JOATRASH FX]

What if the viewer doesn't have a sad life? :lol

No, seriously. I've definitely still got my inner child but the thing is that Avatar insults the intelligence of said child. Star Wars left a lot of room for the imagination to run wild. Avatar didn't really do that- at least not for me. Everything felt so streamlined, explained and clear-cut. The actual world of Pandora, while designed in an epic way, was just "too much". Compare it to LOTR, the crew at WETA and PJ did a much better job at making the world of Middle Earth a wondrous place to visit. Pandora was just "too much"- not in the sense that I couldn't keep up with everything but rather that they didn't trust enough in the majesty of individual elements and let them really sink in.

I enjoyed it. It's a MOVIE.
You escape from your sad life for three hours.
I like stories that I feel I am swept into. Yes... this story has been done before but it did sweep me in.
If it,(AVATAR) or STAR WARS, or any other film takes your imagination and brings you into the story...then they have done their jobs.
I think because we are older. We have forgotten how to use our imaginations like we did when we were kids.
Let your mind take you back when you were a kid and you might enjoy it more.