First review of Cameron's Avatar

Onkel Neal · 12-17-09, 12:17 PM

It does seem like the great action movie I've been waiting for.

Review, some plot setup, no real spoilers.

FIREWALL · 12-17-09, 12:29 PM

I'm looking forward to seeing this movie and later buying it in bluray.

A mixture of animation and real actors is fascinating.

Tho wasn't this kinda done in Beowolf ?

Dowly · 12-17-09, 01:49 PM

My main concern is that this'll be a "techdemo" movie. Showing off "Hey look at us, we spend ****loads of money and made these CG characters! Arent we cool!!??".

Looking at the trailer, Beowolf looked much more realistic with their CG characters.

But worry not Cameron, you have hyped this movie so much that ppl will see it and you get money, fortunate for you one has to pay BEFORE seeing the movie, tho.

Skybird · 12-17-09, 02:12 PM

From the trailers and excerpts I have seen I got the impression of a video game constructed around very earthly standard motives for a very earthly standard plot. Probably visually entertaining, technically a demo like Dowly said, and by content and story: nothing remarkable.

I'm all for stunning visual presentation - if it serves the purpose of transporting a good, complex story and believable character depiction. If the technical overkill is just self-purpose, and story and character psychology let me down, I tend to stay unimpressed nowadays. a good movie has not just one of these three factors, but all three of them.

GoldenRivet · 12-17-09, 02:30 PM

My interest level in "Avatar" has been resting right at zero since i first heard of it.

i dont know, maybe it will be the "star wars" of the current generation... but for me to get excited about something, my skirt has to be blown WAY up over my head these days.

and Avatar just isn't doing it for me.

SteamWake · 12-17-09, 02:43 PM

From the article

Quote:

Cameron cheerfully concedes that the human race may be bound for extinction—he sets his story in 2154, when earth's resources will already have been depleted

Is that a 'message movie' I smell?

Sailor Steve · 12-17-09, 02:48 PM

Possibly, but that could also make Mad Max or A Boy and His Dog 'message movies'.

SteamWake · 12-17-09, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Possibly, but that could also make Mad Max or A Boy and His Dog 'message movies'.

True I guess I will have to see it to know for certain.

Weiss Pinguin · 12-17-09, 02:55 PM

I do really want to see this movie,
BUT

Everywhere I read it seems like lots of people are making this out to some groundbreaking new project. James Cameron has done lots of groundbreaking work, but IMO this looks like it'll be another action movie. Sure it'll have cool effects, but I don't really see how this is so much more advanced than any other action movie coming out in the next year.

But yeah, I do still want to see it

Catfish · 12-18-09, 09:12 AM

Hello,
Cameron spent a lot of years (10+) for his "Avatar", and when the asking began to become a pita he used to say "the technical stuff isn't ready yet" - seems the graphic potential is ready now. For him it was a real heart thing, and i guess i will see it anyway, regardless how the critics develop

But then it just seems he put the conquering of the north american continent a few years into the future, so it might be better to digest (with some "distance") lol. Well it's not so easy, Cameron seems to think there's a solution for all, as long as you have the technical stuff ..

Greetings,
Catfish

Onkel Neal · 12-18-09, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Possibly, but that could also make Mad Max or A Boy and His Dog 'message movies'.

Awesome reference! The girl that led Don Johnson into the other world, she looked exactly like my first wife.

Avatar, tickets bought, will see it this afternoon at 3pm. We'll see...

AVGWarhawk · 12-18-09, 09:46 AM

I'm interested in your take on the movie Neal. Perhaps I will take my girls over the Christmas break if you think it is worthy.

nikimcbee · 12-18-09, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Possibly, but that could also make Mad Max or A Boy and His Dog 'message movies'.

I heard one review of it that described it like "Dances with Wolves".

wait, Ol' Mcbee just had an idea...SH5 "Dances with Wolves."

goldorak · 12-18-09, 01:39 PM

CG is so fake that I can't stand it anymore.
A little bit is necessary in films, but when the only real thing are actors forget it. If I have to see a videogame then I'll play one on my computer thank you very much, in the end its even more interactive than what I can experience at the movie theater.
Oh and lets not forget that silly 3d thing that requires a pair of polarized glasses. Call me when real 3d is ready and doesn't require to wear a pair of freaking glasses just to enjoy a movie.

Buddahaid · 12-18-09, 02:30 PM

I'd rather watch balsa wood rockets on a string with sparklers!

Buddahaid

12-17-09, 12:17 PM	#1
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,383 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	First review of Cameron's Avatar It does seem like the great action movie I've been waiting for. Review, some plot setup, no real spoilers. __________________ SUBSIM - 26 Years on the Web

12-17-09, 12:29 PM	#2
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	I'm looking forward to seeing this movie and later buying it in bluray. A mixture of animation and real actors is fascinating. Tho wasn't this kinda done in Beowolf ? __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

12-17-09, 02:12 PM	#4
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,602 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	From the trailers and excerpts I have seen I got the impression of a video game constructed around very earthly standard motives for a very earthly standard plot. Probably visually entertaining, technically a demo like Dowly said, and by content and story: nothing remarkable. I'm all for stunning visual presentation - if it serves the purpose of transporting a good, complex story and believable character depiction. If the technical overkill is just self-purpose, and story and character psychology let me down, I tend to stay unimpressed nowadays. a good movie has not just one of these three factors, but all three of them. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

12-17-09, 02:30 PM	#5
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	My interest level in "Avatar" has been resting right at zero since i first heard of it. i dont know, maybe it will be the "star wars" of the current generation... but for me to get excited about something, my skirt has to be blown WAY up over my head these days. and Avatar just isn't doing it for me. __________________

12-17-09, 02:48 PM	#7
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Possibly, but that could also make Mad Max or A Boy and His Dog 'message movies'. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

12-17-09, 01:49 PM	#3
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	My main concern is that this'll be a "techdemo" movie. Showing off "Hey look at us, we spend ****loads of money and made these CG characters! Arent we cool!!??". Looking at the trailer, Beowolf looked much more realistic with their CG characters. But worry not Cameron, you have hyped this movie so much that ppl will see it and you get money, fortunate for you one has to pay BEFORE seeing the movie, tho.

12-17-09, 02:55 PM	#9
Weiss Pinguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Auburn, Alabama Posts: 3,333 Downloads: 101 Uploads: 0	I do really want to see this movie, BUT Everywhere I read it seems like lots of people are making this out to some groundbreaking new project. James Cameron has done lots of groundbreaking work, but IMO this looks like it'll be another action movie. Sure it'll have cool effects, but I don't really see how this is so much more advanced than any other action movie coming out in the next year. But yeah, I do still want to see it __________________

12-18-09, 09:12 AM	#10
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,765 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	Hello, Cameron spent a lot of years (10+) for his "Avatar", and when the asking began to become a pita he used to say "the technical stuff isn't ready yet" - seems the graphic potential is ready now. For him it was a real heart thing, and i guess i will see it anyway, regardless how the critics develop But then it just seems he put the conquering of the north american continent a few years into the future, so it might be better to digest (with some "distance") lol. Well it's not so easy, Cameron seems to think there's a solution for all, as long as you have the technical stuff .. Greetings, Catfish

12-18-09, 09:46 AM	#12
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	I'm interested in your take on the movie Neal. Perhaps I will take my girls over the Christmas break if you think it is worthy. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

12-18-09, 01:39 PM	#14
goldorak Admiral Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,320 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	CG is so fake that I can't stand it anymore. A little bit is necessary in films, but when the only real thing are actors forget it. If I have to see a videogame then I'll play one on my computer thank you very much, in the end its even more interactive than what I can experience at the movie theater. Oh and lets not forget that silly 3d thing that requires a pair of polarized glasses. Call me when real 3d is ready and doesn't require to wear a pair of freaking glasses just to enjoy a movie.

12-18-09, 02:30 PM	#15
Buddahaid Shark above Space Chicken Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,319 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	I'd rather watch balsa wood rockets on a string with sparklers! Buddahaid