Avatar Trailer and Pre-Release Buzz

[cajmoyper]

I was disappointed to say the least. The visuals were absolutely amazing, maybe the best I've seen ever and the movie was incredibly well made. I wasn't expecting anything less from Cameron, but the story is tired and worn. With a movie with this much hype, I was expecting a story worthy, but we've seen the jock-type infiltrates in-our-eyes-outsiders but instead leaves all that he knows and loves behind for his new friends. I couldn't stop thinking of a glorified She' All That here.

I guess that doesn't mean I can't like it. Don't get me wrong, based on it's visual/aural presentation alone, this one's a day one BD buy for me. At this point I'll give it a C but have plans to see it again but in 3D which I didn't this time.

[metalore]

Hey everybody tell us how rowdy your theater crowds were. At what parts did they clap, gasp, laugh, or make other noises?

[Sussudio]

I would be interested in hearing RockChalk's thoughts since he gave it an F

I do really appreciate all the members who have taken the time to at least post a sentence or two corresponding to their grades. I dislike polls for the very reason that I believe they are too often used in place of actual discussion (i.e. many members take the second to vote, but never to discuss their thoughts), which is much more involving to me

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

I would be interested in hearing RockChalk's thoughts since he gave it an F

He's just science fiction Scrooge

[Duffy12]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

I would be interested in hearing RockChalk's thoughts since he gave it an F

I do really appreciate all the members who have taken the time to at least post a sentence or two corresponding to their grades. I dislike polls for the very reason that I believe they are too often used in place of actual discussion (i.e. many members take the second to vote, but never to discuss their thoughts), which is much more involving to me

Yeah, I was wondering about detective392's view on it also since he posted his grade a day before it opened to the general public.

.

[maverik1979]

Originally Posted by Grumpz

All in all, hearing about how many years this movie spent in development only to have a few cools things with some good but NOT GREAT cgi restricts my ability to justify better than a B+.

not great CGI?, sorry but you just lost any credibility in your argument right there.

[maverik1979]

Originally Posted by cajmoyper

I was disappointed to say the least. The visuals were absolutely amazing, maybe the best I've seen ever and the movie was incredibly well made. I wasn't expecting anything less from Cameron, but the story is tired and worn. With a movie with this much hype, I was expecting a story worthy, but we've seen the jock-type infiltrates in-our-eyes-outsiders but instead leaves all that he knows and loves behind for his new friends. I couldn't stop thinking of a glorified She' All That here.

I guess that doesn't mean I can't like it. Don't get me wrong, based on it's visual/aural presentation alone, this one's a day one BD buy for me. At this point I'll give it a C but have plans to see it again but in 3D which I didn't this time.

i agree that at first glance, you could just take that from the plot, however camerons real message is about the environment, and that the naavi survive in equilibrium with their surroundings, this is juxtaposed with jakes background as a marine. im not saying its the most original screenplay ever, but there is a bit more depth to it than most people are giving it credit for

[Dexter Morgan]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

Yeah, I was wondering about detective392's view on it also since he posted his grade a day before it opened to the general public.

.

He already mentioned that he meant to give the film a B instead of F.

[victorvondoom88]

Just watched it this morning and I was totally impressed. The attention to fine detail on the Navi's expressions and the overall presentation delivered the goods in my book. Yes the overall concept of the plot isn't fresh and new but neither is our behavior as humans. We've been doing the same thing for centuries and unfortunately I imagine we will keep on doing the same. For me in the end it was the backdrop of the story that makes the film. What an unbelievable world Cameron has created. Can't wait for the blu-ray !
Also I'm looking forward to seeing it again in 3-D this time.

[statikcat]

Some people I just don't understand. Forget the visuals .. the story and characters were amazing as well. Who cares if it is somewhat predictable. Do you sit and watch all movies and try to figure out the end? This isn't a freakin mystery movie. This movie is not about where are we going after point A - it's about going on the journey from point A to B, etc.

The story was executed PERFECTLY imo. You have a classic classic story done perfectly and people are complaining. This is exactly what makes an awesome, emotional, epic story. Yes, Cameron followed all the perfect points for this but movies rarely get it right. Everything about the character chemistry to the bad guy was perfect. The second time I saw it I really realized how all the story points - both big and small - were done amazingly well.

As for the FX. I never thought I would see a movie that would engage me visually as much as Jurassic Park when I was a kid. The last 30 minutes of this movie imo is some of the best stuff you can ask for in almost all depts. You just rarely see things this big anymore. Iron Man, Dark Knight, etc are all just mini versions of this epicness.

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by Romulus

I can agree with some of your nominations. I definitely see it getting nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Original Score, Best Art Direction, and Best Editing.

I would be highly surprised if it got nominated for Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor. There were much people in those roles from other films this year and while I thought they played a good role, they weren't great.

I see Avatar winning everything but Best Director and Best Picture. While Avatar is a technical achievement, I feel that Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) will win Best Director and Best Picture will go to something else. I say this because a lot of people feel (and by people, I mean the Academy members) that Avatar has a cliche story with fairly weak dialogue. They won't let that win when most likely the other Best Picture nominees are going to be far superior in that category.

Maybe not a supp. actor for the Colonel, as there might be other better performances, but, I thought he was Kick-ass in his role, not just Kicking Ass as his character. Great Villain after you thought he was a pretty cool gruff guy. As for K. Bigelow, she might get nominated & I've read many things about how "Off" that picture really is (how certain situations would NEVER occur, from people who were actually there & did explosive ordinance work like the guys in that picture). I'm sure they had military "technical advisors" like most movies like that usually do, but even though I haven't seen it, (And I Plan to as it looks great), for what Cameron did here, the time spent, the technology HE invented or helped to, the world of Pandora, everything, I'd be surprised if he doesn't win. Though, the Academy might not give him Picture or Director, thinking he was kind over the top (a bit pompous at times maybe?) back in 97' when he won everything related to TITANIC. We'll see I guess.

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

Are you being serious? This movie as the best picture of the year? And best score? U surely meant worst, right? If that is the case then the Academy Awards will have lost all credibility! Oh wait, the have lost that a long time ago, when a certain SW Ep.1 didn't win the Oscars in all technical categories, as well as best costumes and best score......

Avatar is a visual feast for the eyes, but that doesn't make it a good movie. I take Whatever Works any day over this 1D spectacle.

Why Yes I was being serious. It WILL get nominated for Best Picture (remember, this year TEN Movies get voted in, vice the usual FIVE. Even if it was still 5, I'd be surprised if it didn't get a Best Pic nod anyway. Best Score, I really thought the music enhanced everything in many parts of the movie, so Yes, again, "I'm serious". Sorry but it's called an opinion & it's mine. I guess we'll agree to disagree, which is fine.

Originally Posted by victorvondoom88

Just watched it this morning and I was totally impressed. The attention to fine detail on the Navi's expressions and the overall presentation delivered the goods in my book. For me in the end it was the backdrop of the story that makes the film. What an unbelievable world Cameron has created. Can't wait for the blu-ray! Also I'm looking forward to seeing it again in 3-D this time.

Glad you enjoyed as much as Most of us did. The CGI & detail to everyone in the world of Pandora was meticulous to say the least. I too thought James Cameron created something nobody's ever seen before, & on Bluray, this will look even More Incredible (if that's possible). Wait til' you see in 3D, that's what me and my friend were lucky enough to do last nite. Totally PACKED IMAX theater, we had Dead Center seats in the Last Row in back (bought online Last Friday ) so we had the perfect view & the 3D was IMO, Incredibly More Amazing than I thought it could be. Call it hyperbole if you will, but I'm not the Only one to hype up how amazing it looked in 3D. I can't wait to see it again, but this time it'll be in 2D/normal viewing. I'm sure it'll be bit different & I'll post my thoughts after.

[MAPdead]

I said this in another post I liked Avatar it was good and all but I think still District 9 is the best Sci-Fi movie of the year and the crazy thing is it was made for around 30 mill and Avatar has a rumored 500 mill price tag. District 9 is a prove that you dont need a super huge budget to make good effects.

[iori]

Originally Posted by MAPdead

I said this in another post I liked Avatar it was good and all but I think still District 9 is the best Sci-Fi movie of the year and the crazy thing is it was made for around 30 mill and Avatar has a rumored 500 mill price tag. District 9 is a prove that you dont need a super hugh budget to make good effects.

I completely agree.

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by MAPdead

I said this in another post I liked Avatar it was good and all but I think still District 9 is the best Sci-Fi movie of the year and the crazy thing is it was made for around 30 mill and Avatar has a rumored 500 mill price tag. District 9 is a prove that you dont need a super hugh budget to make good effects.

I didn't get a chance to see that one but Really want to Soon. It's prob. a straight-out SCI-FI movie whereas Avatar (IMO) is not Just Sci-Fi. It's 150 yrs in the future, involving a fantasy world (Pandora) with creatures who are kind-hearted & timid for the most part, right? Most Sci-fi pics feature creatures who are 180 degrees opposite of that, ready to destroy or fight Humans for whatever reason. I'm betting I'm going to really enjoy District 9 from all I've read here, mostly people raving about it & such. It just looks like a totally different movie from this one in many areas.

[statikcat]

Originally Posted by MAPdead

I said this in another post I liked Avatar it was good and all but I think still District 9 is the best Sci-Fi movie of the year and the crazy thing is it was made for around 30 mill and Avatar has a rumored 500 mill price tag. District 9 is a prove that you dont need a super huge budget to make good effects.

D9 made good use of it's budget for sure but was still obviously lower budget. Although then we have movies like Wolverine that were made with 150m and look like 40m like D9

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by statikcat

Some people I just don't understand. Forget the visuals .. the story and characters were amazing as well. Who cares if it is somewhat predictable. Do you sit and watch all movies and try to figure out the end?

Here's something I would challenge every member of this board--or at least anyone who reads this--to ponder (regardless if I'm "right" or not):

I firmly believe that knowing a movie's ending ahead of time (whether you've guessed it or read it/someone told you) should not matter if the movie is well crafted and well executed. If discovering the ending ruins a movie, then I believe the movie was never that good to begin with since the weight of the movie should not rest solely in its ending (which is namely why I have a problem with plot twists). If a plot point is planned, developed, and executed in a superb fashion, losing any sort of "shock value" should have very little impact in the grand scheme of the movie...again, IF it has a strong enough execution.

Before anyone immediately retorts with examples of "The Sixth Sense" or others, I would ask you to truly and thoroughly consider for a few moments longer what I am suggesting (and this might be reason to start a new thread ). That's all

Edit: started a new thread on it

[statikcat]

I agree with Sussudio but also the ending was not entirely predictable. It was kind of obvious Jake would likely become a Navi but you did not know for sure. The other big (main) question is would one of them die at the end? That was pretty suspenseful in itself and while you have a good idea where the movie is going .. you know that in movies like these main characters die at the end all the time. So you at least had that as an unknown. Imo the movie had plenty of unknowns in just the basic exploration of Pandora. A bunch of story twists would have been too much. I am glad the story had a familiar feeling to compliment all the crazy stuff on Pandora. It was a good balance.

[thebluemax]

Originally Posted by MAPdead

I said this in another post I liked Avatar it was good and all but I think still District 9 is the best Sci-Fi movie of the year and the crazy thing is it was made for around 30 mill and Avatar has a rumored 500 mill price tag. District 9 is a prove that you dont need a super huge budget to make good effects.

I blind bought "District 9" hope I like it.

[thebluemax]

Originally Posted by jebhdb

You'll be missing out. This movie needs to be seen in 3D at the theater to get the full experience. This is one time where its definitely worth the time and money to go see it.

I may go to Imax once the crowds settle

[DC_Street]

Originally Posted by statikcat

I agree with Sussudio but also the ending was not entirely predictable. It was kind of obvious Jake would likely become a Navi but you did not know for sure. The other big (main) question is would one of them die at the end? That was pretty suspenseful in itself and while you have a good idea where the movie is going .. you know that in movies like these main characters die at the end all the time. So you at least had that as an unknown. Imo the movie had plenty of unknowns in just the basic exploration of Pandora. A bunch of story twists would have been too much. I am glad the story had a familiar feeling to compliment all the crazy stuff on Pandora. It was a good balance.

the ending threw me off, I really wasn't expecting it. I "knew" that Jake's Avatar was going to be killed but he ended up becoming one of them, crazy awesome ending! We need a sequel now!