Avatar - Welcome to the future of cinema!

saw it yesterday

the best thing about the 3-D is that its not obtrusive, it is used to complement the film rather than make it. They don't just randomly throw stuff in your face to make it look like its 3-d, instead they use it to show the depth of the scenery and stuff, which is what made it fantastic and believable
 
Saw it today, it was fairly enertaining, and it looked amazing. The 3D looked best when there were actual people on screen, it really looked as if you were right there with them.

As far the story...well, it wasn't so bad as to get on your nerves, but it was utter cheese, if that wasn't the case I think I'd rate it as a true classic. I mean, there's a general, with a Southern US accent, and big scars on his face, gee I wonder if he'll turn out to be a nefarious individual. Predictable from start to finish. Still fun though. 7/10 for me.
 
Wonder Pigeon said:
Saw it today, it was fairly enertaining, and it looked amazing. The 3D looked best when there were actual people on screen, it really looked as if you were right there with them.

As far the story...well, it wasn't so bad as to get on your nerves, but it was utter cheese, if that wasn't the case I think I'd rate it as a true classic. I mean, there's a general, with a Southern US accent, and big scars on his face, gee I wonder if he'll turn out to be a nefarious individual. Predictable from start to finish. Still fun though. 7/10 for me.
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There's a lot of comparisons with the original Star Wars... and I see where they're coming from. Both were ground-breaking in terms of their special effects, but weren't out of this world (hoho) when it came to the plot. Both were perfectly good plot-wise, and thus enjoyable, but nothing that marked them down in history on that alone.

The difference with Star Wars came when Lucas handed over control of the script for The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi to professionals, and then the trilogy really became legendary. Cameron has already says he plans this to be a trilogy with the overarching story in his head, and so if he can bear to allow someone else to have a good attempt at writing a script (someone who does that for a living), we might well be seeing this generation's Star Wars; the science fiction franchise that dominates for decades to come.

For what it's worth, I actually think Avatar's story was still really good (because whilst it was cheese, it was the stilton of the movie world; very, very good), and I think it was far superior to A New Hope. We'll see if the sequels can keep that level up, because it deserves to truly be remembered as one of the best.
 
I love the fact that they were after something called Unobtanium. I thought, either is supposed to be funny or they're out of their damn minds.
 
Basically it was Pocahontas, with blue aliens riding around on dinosaurs and fighting space marines, and the 3d looked amazing in some of the scenes. I loved it. If you don’t enjoy it then the child inside you is dead.
 
Am I the only one wincing with all this oscar buzz flying around?

I enjoyed it but by no means is it Oscar worthy.
 
El B said:
Basically it was Pocahontas, with blue aliens riding around on dinosaurs and fighting space marines, and the 3d looked amazing in some of the scenes. I loved it. If you don’t enjoy it then the child inside you is dead.
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It's more like FernGully: The Last Rainforest. In fact, it's the exact same plot I think.

kps88 said:
Am I the only one wincing with all this oscar buzz flying around?

I enjoyed it but by no means is it Oscar worthy.
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It will rack up a lot of technical awards I'm sure.
 
:lol: The Battle for Terra? I laughed at that, they look pretty much the same thing. Found these on youtue, pretty funny, the Pocahontas one is so similar:



I think theres plenty of films and books with similarities to Avatar, Dances with Wolves, Dune, Tarzan, Last Samurai, Fern Gully, Pocahontas etc. Its just a classic storyline motif, gets told time and time again.
 
Ixion said:
I think theres plenty of films and books with similarities to Avatar, Dances with Wolves, Dune, Tarzan, Last Samurai, Fern Gully, Pocahontas etc. Its just a classic storyline motif, gets told time and time again.
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This is the thing; it's a recurring motif in cinema and storytelling. To say that Avatar has ripped off another film is to say that all those films have ripped off the one that came before them. The "going native" theme has been around for a very long time, and stories following that thread won't stop coming out just because others have come before them.

Someone once analysed our literature (and through it, all storytelling) and came out with the conclusion that there's only ever been seven basic plots anyway. That films coming out now tend to echo films (and books) that have come before - some quite strongly - is not really a surprise.
 
Count Duckula said:
This is the thing; it's a recurring motif in cinema and storytelling. To say that Avatar has ripped off another film is to say that all those films have ripped off the one that came before them. The "going native" theme has been around for a very long time, and stories following that thread won't stop coming out just because others have come before them.

Someone once analysed our literature (and through it, all storytelling) and came out with the conclusion that there's only ever been seven basic plots anyway. That films coming out now tend to echo films (and books) that have come before - some quite strongly - is not really a surprise.
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Yeah I agree, I don't really think its a genuine criticism to see elements of other works when you're dealing with a storyline such as this, theres just recurring themes and archtypes in these sort of stories. Heres the 7 basic stories by the way, mix in a bit of the Heroes Journey and you've got yourself a book!

The Seven Basic Plots: Christopher Booker Examines Common Narratives in Storytelling | Suite101.com
 
A side from the obvious visuals, I loved the thought and detail that went into the creating the Pandoran world.
 
Seeing this on Imax next monday, feel like a kid again going to the cinema.
 
I tried watching it on the imax, it was booked completely over the weekend, I'd get in there in advance
 
olesmyhero said:
It's more like FernGully: The Last Rainforest. In fact, it's the exact same plot I think.


It will rack up a lot of technical awards I'm sure.
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Yep it deserves those as well but there's talk of best picture and director which doesn't make much sense to me.
 
Wonder Pigeon said:
Its the perfect movie for furries. I bet deviant art has exploded since it was first released.
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zoe-saldana-as-neytiri.jpg


Neytiri :drool:
 
Absolutely brilliant. The storyline is a bit predictable but you forget about it as the movie goes along. The graphics are just amazing.
 
Great movie, saw it in 3d, pretty epic in terms of some great visuals especially in fight scenes, whilst busy you can still see exactly whats happening. Annoying how in 3d you try and focus on something 'behind' what is in focus but it doesn't work, feels like your eyes are stuffing up :P .

Probably couldn't sit through it all again though, maybe just a cutting of the fight scenes.

We had a full cinema, some spastics tried to get a clap going at the end... made me cringe.
 
Christofaux said:
Great movie, saw it in 3d, pretty epic in terms of some great visuals especially in fight scenes, whilst busy you can still see exactly whats happening. Annoying how in 3d you try and focus on something 'behind' what is in focus but it doesn't work, feels like your eyes are stuffing up :P .

Probably couldn't sit through it all again though, maybe just a cutting of the fight scenes.

We had a full cinema, some spastics tried to get a clap going at the end... made me cringe.
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That is certainly one thing that made me like this movie. Take for instance the Transformers movies. I know action happens in them, it just happens so fast that I don't know what the action is. I just hear sound effects and assume some robot got punched.
 
Saw it a few days ago in 3D. Very stunning visuals; if I were to watch it again, I wouldn't just skip to the fight scenes because the scenery is too beautiful to miss in the non-action parts.

I have but two small nerd-gripes with this movie.
1. If Pandora is truly low-gravity, as stated explicitly by the colonel, then how come objects fall so quickly?

2. Again, the colonel says that the Na'vi are very hard to kill, but it seems that a few bullets is all that is needed.

These two aside, they do not detract from the excellent final product which is Avatar.
 
JezChan said:
Saw it a few days ago in 3D. Very stunning visuals; if I were to watch it again, I wouldn't just skip to the fight scenes because the scenery is too beautiful to miss in the non-action parts.

I have but two small nerd-gripes with this movie.
1. If Pandora is truly low-gravity, as stated explicitly by the colonel, then how come objects fall so quickly?

2. Again, the colonel says that the Na'vi are very hard to kill, but it seems that a few bullets is all that is needed.

These two aside, they do not detract from the excellent final product which is Avatar.
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The low gravity thing annoyed me aswell. The Na'vi fell through the air quicker than the Mech suits which seemed to float down.
Great movie though.
 
I'm going to watch it in a hour, hope it lives up to the hype!
 
JezChan said:
Saw it a few days ago in 3D. Very stunning visuals; if I were to watch it again, I wouldn't just skip to the fight scenes because the scenery is too beautiful to miss in the non-action parts.

I have but two small nerd-gripes with this movie.
1. If Pandora is truly low-gravity, as stated explicitly by the colonel, then how come objects fall so quickly?

2. Again, the colonel says that the Na'vi are very hard to kill, but it seems that a few bullets is all that is needed.

These two aside, they do not detract from the excellent final product which is Avatar.
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1. I don't remember him saying it was low-gravity, though I may have just missed that. I certainly didn't get that impression from watching the film; it seems to be about the same as Earth, as you say, with things falling quickly and no languid steps or the like.

2. Yes, I noticed that, too. They still seem to go down nice and quick from a few bullets, despite what the colonel said. Of course, he could just have been saying that to keep the new recruits (whom he was briefing at the time) on their toes, and not let them take their superior firepower for granted on a hostile world.

And I think I noticed a continuity error, which isn't like Cameron! Right at the end, when the humans are all being led off the world, it mentions how only a few have been allowed to stay, and then cuts to Norm and the other scientist in their masks. But in the very next shot, which is still of the column of people being evicted, you can see Norm's avatar strolling about. How is he there in person and as an avatar, given that he needs to be in a pod to be an avatar!

Also, I was sure there were more than three avatars; where were all the others? I guess it's possible those "others" were the one I thought belonged to Norm, but when Jake runs outside with Norm following him, Grace is there with her avatar and at least one other - and I'm sure you see loads more when they're settling down to sleep. Where the hell were all of those guys throughout the film?

And I'm seeing it again tonight :D
 
I have no self-control. I always fecking read spoilers when I haven't seen the movie.

Oh well, on the low-gravity thing, it's possible to have gravity that is much lower than earth and still fall extremely quickly. Earth's gravity causes a falling object to accelerate at 9.8m/s2*.

Even at half that gravitational pull, an object will still accelerate at 4.8m/s2 which will look pretty damn quick to the naked eye.

The gravity on our moon is less than a fifth of what it is on earth.






*I have no idea how to do super-script
 
JezChan said:
Saw it a few days ago in 3D. Very stunning visuals; if I were to watch it again, I wouldn't just skip to the fight scenes because the scenery is too beautiful to miss in the non-action parts.

I have but two small nerd-gripes with this movie.
1. If Pandora is truly low-gravity, as stated explicitly by the colonel, then how come objects fall so quickly?

2. Again, the colonel says that the Na'vi are very hard to kill, but it seems that a few bullets is all that is needed.

These two aside, they do not detract from the excellent final product which is Avatar.
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I think the second point is true:

The colonel even in a mech has a very difficult time fighting Jake's Avatar at the end of the film, I don't think he meant they're physically hard to kill, just exceptional warriors
 
Ixion said:
I think the second point is true:

The colonel even in a mech has a very difficult time fighting Jake's Avatar at the end of the film, I don't think he meant they're physically hard to kill, just exceptional warriors
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I thought he mentioned that they have a much denser bone structure which makes them harder to take down
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Oh well, on the low-gravity thing, it's possible to have gravity that is much lower than earth and still fall extremely quickly. Earth's gravity causes a falling object to accelerate at 9.8m/s2*.
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But for there to be an implied loss of muscle strength and bone density, as stated in Avatar when you go and see it, there would be a significant difference between gravitational field strength on the surface of Earth and Pandora.

As for gravity on the moon, it's about 1/6 of Earth's gravitational field, and when you watch those astronauts jumping around the rate at which they accelerate is noticeably lower than what it would be on Earth.
 
JezChan said:
But for there to be an implied loss of muscle strength and bone density, as stated in Avatar when you go and see it, there would be a significant difference between gravitational field strength on the surface of Earth and Pandora.

As for gravity on the moon, it's about 1/6 of Earth's gravitational field, and when you watch those astronauts jumping around the rate at which they accelerate is noticeably lower than what it would be on Earth.
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A reduction by 50% is a significant difference.
 
Look, all I'm saying is that in the movie, it looks faster than what it should be. Even if it is decreased by a factor of x, it can still be noticed; it just seems natural that since we see things fall every day, if something's not falling as fast as usual, we think something's not right. In the movie, the acceleration of the falling things (don't want to spoil it for you) looks pretty normal to me.

EDIT: @ CD
Maybe the military guys pulled the plugs on all the other avatars seen in the opening stages.
 
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