The Avatar Blu-ray Release Thread

[Reduman]

Originally Posted by Reduman

Ok, I admit I am one of the few people left on the planet, well, let's say in the Western hemisphere, who has not yet seen Avatar. I've read so many mixed reviews on the movie content, most of which seemed to indicate that the storyline at least was ... erm ... lame.
Call me old-fashioned, but in my opinion a good story is the essential ingredient to a good film. How many films have we all seen where the director gets carried away by CGI effects at the expense of the plot/storyline? Now the Avatar blu-ray comes along, bare-bones version that it is, and everyone is hyperventilating over the perfect picture and audio quality. Did that impress me? Did it make me want to buy the darn movie? Of course it did! At my age, you'd think peer pressure wouldn't be a problem any longer... sigh
Now the blu-ray slip case lies open on the table ... and I'm just about to see for myself what the fuss is all about. I will let you know what I thought (I know you were afraid I might ...) and get back on this in due course. I have a sneaky feeeling I'm going to love the PQ and visuals, but hate the storyline, which begs the question even now: Why can't James Cameron use the squillions of dollars he clearly has at his disposal to make a film which has both a fantastic plot and superb, ground-breaking visuals? Surely, it cannnot be that difficult?

Mmmh ... I have now watched Avatar in Digital 3-D (in an IMAX cinema, though it was not an IMAX presentation) and on Blu-ray. I'll stick by my original opinion, the 3-D effects and the 2-D blu-ray are technically superb. The story was far too long and not terribly original. It is a good film, but the unfortunate thing is, it had the potential for being a great one!

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Reduman

Mmmh ... I have now watched Avatar in Digital 3-D (in an IMAX cinema, though it was not an IMAX presentation) and on Blu-ray. I'll stick by my original opinion, the 3-D effects and the 2-D blu-ray are technically superb. The story was far too long and not terribly original. It is a good film, but the unfortunate thing is, it had the potential for being a great one!

It could have. I am waiting to see the comments in a few years when people will have seen it 50+ times by then and start saying they are tired of it The lack of substance will be a problem in the life of Avatar I think. Since it's using all of the CGI to be ahead and not the story it will be over taken by the next big step in CGI. In 5 years it will be just another CGI movie.

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

It could have. I am waiting to see the comments in a few years when people will have seen it 50+ times by then and start saying they are tired of it The lack of substance will be a problem in the life of Avatar I think. Since it's using all of the CGI to be ahead and not the story it will be over taken by the next big step in CGI. In 5 years it will be just another CGI movie.

Isn't that what people said about star wars?

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

Isn't that what people said about star wars?

They do indeed...which bring's me back to what I always say. People only live in the moment, they go from favorite to favorite as soon as something new is offered to them. Just two years ago it was all about The Dark Knight. That is why I say you cannot take these movies seriously for their quality and their place in history. It's all about the hype they generate and not their quality. Sure people will talk of their quality now, how the story is original, the CGI top of the line. What else will they say? But it does not last and it soon replace by something else. Unlike for example Ben Hur who did won a ton of Oscars, had amazing effects for it's time but is still considered a wonderful movie not because of all that but because it as a story. It's the major trouble of most movies made in the last 15-20 years. Lot's of hype, lot's of shinny effects, one better then the other but no substance because they forgot to make a lasting story.

[DavePS3]

Take your Blu-Ray disc and go to your local Samsung dealer. Put the disc in the player feeding to the 8000 series plasma... set the plasma on Dynamic and watch even 5 minutes of the film. It's the best I have ever seen the film look. Holy mother of God!!!!!!!!

[DaViD Boulet]

I just have to say,

I happen to think that the *story* for AVATAR is just fine. Original? It's got good guys and bad guys and a struggling main character... like just about *every* other hollywood film. If we don't go around critizing every other film for not being "original", why is AVATAR held to some different standard of measure?

I tear up every time and find it just as emotionally involving as the first time I viewed. Not many films have had such re-watchability and kept me so engaged on repeated viewings. And for me that's because of the story.

I'm sure that some folks generally don't like the story and have valid arguments. However, it seems to me that most folks critizing the "story" of AVATAR are just running with the lemming herd because it's the popular way to show you're a critical film buff. Many far worse films have garnered much higher praise, and many better films have gone ignored by these same groups. Bottom line is like what you like and don't worry about the herd.

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

They do indeed...which bring's me back to what I always say. People only live in the moment, they go from favorite to favorite as soon as something new is offered to them. Just two years ago it was all about The Dark Knight. That is why I say you cannot take these movies seriously for their quality and their place in history. It's all about the hype they generate and not their quality. Sure people will talk of their quality now, how the story is original, the CGI top of the line. What else will they say? But it does not last and it soon replace by something else. Unlike for example Ben Hur who did won a ton of Oscars, had amazing effects for it's time but is still considered a wonderful movie not because of all that but because it as a story. It's the major trouble of most movies made in the last 15-20 years. Lot's of hype, lot's of shinny effects, one better then the other but no substance because they forgot to make a lasting story.

The Dark Knight is a very good film, but it's not a classic by any means (and if I have ever said that I would have to have been very, very drunk). Classics, due to there very nature are limited. I think Avatar has a great story, but I can't see into the future and know if the film will be remembered. Only time will tell, afterall all the complaints you have put foward could be easily applied to Star Wars, yet here we are 33 years later and it has a following as strong as they come.

Also as you mention Ben Hur. Ask a 12 year old, heck, ask a 20 year old. The vast majority of them will not know of the film, little lone seen the film. Does that mean it is not a great film? Not at all, bieng a great film and deserving and worthy to be remembered doesn't necessarilly mean it will be remembered (note: i'm not saying Ben Hur wont be remembered as clearly it thus far has been). As a fan of Evil Dead I also have to ask, is evil dead a classic? I love the film, but it never had flashy effect, great acting or a great story. Yet it has a huge following still after over twenty years.

Basically my point is that you can never tell how people remember a film, or if they even will remember a film and guessing is about as spurious of a time waster as one can get. So what does that say about predictions about a film not bieng remembered as you felt the story wasn't good enough.

[Duffy12]

Also, if Cameron makes one or two sequels and dose a pretty good job in creating them, then it will most definitely be well remembered and not forgotten.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

The Dark Knight is a very good film, but it's not a classic by any means (and if I have ever said that I would have to have been very, very drunk). Classics, due to there very nature are limited. I think Avatar has a great story, but I can't see into the future and know if the film will be remembered. Only time will tell, afterall all the complaints you have put foward could be easily applied to Star Wars, yet here we are 33 years later and it has a following as strong as they come.

Also as you mention Ben Hur. Ask a 12 year old, heck, ask a 20 year old. The vast majority of them will not know of the film, little lone seen the film. Does that mean it is not a great film? Not at all, bieng a great film and deserving and worthy to be remembered doesn't necessarilly mean it will be remembered (note: i'm not saying Ben Hur wont be remembered as clearly it thus far has been). As a fan of Evil Dead I also have to ask, is evil dead a classic? I love the film, but it never had flashy effect, great acting or a great story. Yet it has a huge following still after over twenty years.

Basically my point is that you can never tell how people remember a film, or if they even will remember a film and guessing is about as spurious of a time waster as one can get. So what does that say about predictions about a film not bieng remembered as you felt the story wasn't good enough.

Evil Dead is more of a cult thing, a situation it's so bad it as too be good

However the difference with Ben Hur is yes 12-20 years old might have no idea right now what Ben Hur is. But in 20 years when they grow up (or one can only hope they will, you never know ) they will know Ben Hur and it will still be a great movie because of the story and not because of the special effects. Where will Avatar be in 20 years? Will it be nothing more then some nostalgia scifi cheese festival from decades past? It sure won't be remember as a great story.

[DRS]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

Also, if Cameron makes one or two sequels and dose a pretty good job in creating them, then it will most definitely be well remembered and not forgotten.

Considering that Cameron has made some of the greatest sequels of all time, I'm sure he will deliver with A2

[kukini]

I hope he does truly deliver and the sequel is just not a ride on the cash cow. Avatar brought us to Pandora now what will happen that will keep us there? A tribal civil war? Eywa punishing the tribes for something? An ocean tribe with a new ocean diety rising up against Eywa? Come on James, give us something truly epic.

[SellmeyourDVD]

Originally Posted by DavePS3

Take your Blu-Ray disc and go to your local Samsung dealer. Put the disc in the player feeding to the 8000 series plasma... set the plasma on Dynamic and watch even 5 minutes of the film. It's the best I have ever seen the film look. Holy mother of God!!!!!!!!

[odvan]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Where will Avatar be in 20 years? Will it be nothing more then some nostalgia scifi cheese festival from decades past? It sure won't be remember as a great story.

Look, could you share your crystal ball?

In 20 years Avatar trilogy would be like classic SW trilogy - one of the most favorite and likable franchises ever.

[thunderforce]

Originally Posted by odvan

Look, could you share your crystal ball?

In 20 years Avatar trilogy would be like classic SW trilogy - one of the most favorite and likable franchises ever.

I would say that will depend on how many more he makes .

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by odvan

Look, could you share your crystal ball?

In 20 years Avatar trilogy would be like classic SW trilogy - one of the most favorite and likable franchises ever.

In 20 years they'll be making Avatar 6...I bet.

[Trekofile]

It will be in 5D! Touch, taste, smell, depth and orgasm!

[garyrc]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

Also as you mention Ben Hur. Ask a 12 year old, heck, ask a 20 year old. The vast majority of them will not know of the film, little lone seen the film. Does that mean it is not a great film? Not at all, bieng a great film and deserving and worthy to be remembered doesn't necessarilly mean it will be remembered (note: i'm not saying Ben Hur wont be remembered as clearly it thus far has been). .

[QUOTE=odvan;3267893]It's a remake. So you are saying that remake has groundbreaking story? Hypocrisy at it's best.
QUOTE]

My daughter, now 24, first saw Ben-Hur when she was about 12 (we thought it was too violent for those much younger than 12). Since then she has repeatedly shown it to friends. Young people in my ex cerise class have discussed it, because the NuStep reminds them of the slaves rowing in the galley. I hope the PQ in the upcoming Blu more closely resembles that of the 70 mm we saw back in the day.

A remake, yes, but the old version was a silent film, and while spectacular, does not have the character or spiritual depth of the 1959 one, to say nothing of Dr. Rozsa's score. As to the story, that was in the novel first. Elements of the story had shown up in many others, but that's O.K. It is a timeless classic.

[odvan]

garyrc
You are probably don't get the point. All haters heard somewhere that story/screenplay/dialogs in Avatar sucks, and they repeat it and moreover add ridiculous things like BH has a great original story. Second remake, based on novel, but that's ok, "timeless classic".

Avatar has fantastic story. And you know why? Because it has unique appeal. It doesn't matter, boy or girl, age, nationality - all over the globe it works similar. That's confirm that movie is a masterpiece.

[Duffy12]

Originally Posted by odvan

Ben Hur, btw, based on novel. Extremely original material.

Yeah, I have to wonder if some people bash 'Apocalypse Now' because it is not wholly original and based off of someone else's novel.

.

[Weirded Wonder]

Originally Posted by Spymaster

It did? Gee! All it stirred in me was boredom!

Everyone in the house that watched the film with us were blown away by the Special Effects but thought the story lacked any vibrance or soul for that matter. Complete eye candy. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with eye candy, I just like brains and not bimbos...