Avatar redux

Bilge_Rat · 10-04-10, 08:06 AM

just thought I would share this story. We all know what a huge hit "Avatar" was. I saw the movie only once, on a 3" screen on a flight about 6 months ago, not the best way to enjoy it.

Over the weekend, I rearranged furniture and hooked up my bluray DVD player to our LCD HD tv, so I figured what is the best movie to test the image & sounds? and went to rent "Avatar" bluray.

When I came home, my wife rolled her eyes, she hates Science Fiction, War or action movies and tends more towards chick flicks/romantic movies.

She who must be obeyed mentioned something about some work she had to catch up on, so I told her "just stay 5 minutes, it's like Titanic, you'll like it".

Within 10 minutes she was hooked, she teared up when the village was destroyed, cheered when the colonel met his end and we wound up watching it a second time.

now "Avatar" is gorgeous on Bluray/HD tv & w. a good sound system

; but the real power of the movie is in the story telling, you don't hook a customer like my wife with special effects.

James Cameron does have the knack. His two biggest hits so far "Titanic" and "Avatar" are at the core, just basic love sories, but he does know how to tell the story in a captivating fashion. Others have tried to copy the formula without the same success, for example "Pearl Harbour".

Dowly · 10-04-10, 08:24 AM

Aye, it wasn't all that bad in the end.

Weiss Pinguin · 10-04-10, 10:06 AM

Eh, your mileage may vary I guess. The whole time I was rooting for the humans

jumpy · 10-04-10, 01:41 PM

it was all a bit 'dances with wolves' if you ask me.
Looked great in 3d though.

antikristuseke · 10-04-10, 01:46 PM

Avatar is not bad as a technical showcase, but in all other aspects it is medicore, enjoyable and very pretty, but nothing special.

Bilge_Rat · 10-04-10, 03:47 PM

The special effects are nicely done, but "Iron Man", "Star Trek", "Hellboy", "Terminator Salvation" all had very nice special effects without connecting with a substantial female audience.

"Inglorious Basterds", "The Hurt Locker", "Up in the Air" all had more interesting, innovative story lines and better acting.

The story in "Avatar" is very simple and predictable: Boy meets Blue Alien girl, Boy and Blue Alien girl fall in love, Boy surmounts various obstacles to win over Blue Alien girl and live happily ever after...actually, the story line is very similar to the one in Titanic if you substitute "very rich" for "blue alien".

so why did it click with audiences? it can't just be the 3d, although that seems to be what Hollywood thinks. Is it perhaps that audiences are suckers for a well told love story, even a predictable one?

Takeda Shingen · 10-04-10, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

"Inglorious Basterds"

That film is excellent.

Sledgehammer427 · 10-04-10, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat

...actually, the story line is very similar to the one in Titanic if you substitute "very rich" for "blue alien".

YES!
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who noticed that.

Legionary74 · 10-04-10, 04:32 PM

Avatar sucked.

CaptainMattJ. · 10-04-10, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jumpy

it was all a bit 'dances with wolves' if you ask me.
Looked great in 3d though.

oooooh no no no.

It was literally, a TOTAL imitation of Pocahontas.

bookworm_020 · 10-04-10, 07:53 PM

Did anyone think the fight scene at the end was a repeat of the one in Alien? I enjoyed the movie, in particular 3-D, but it did feel like James Cameron was borrowing ideas from previous films....

Castout · 10-05-10, 06:36 AM

Avatar is worth buying in Blueray imo.

Ask your wife to watch Dances with the wolves(Kevin Costner) with you
your second choice would be Forrest Gump.

The first would tell if someone has a heart.

10-05-10, 07:36 AM

This thread makes me so glad my GF likes horror movies for some reason.

Weiss Pinguin · 10-05-10, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bookworm_020

Did anyone think the fight scene at the end was a repeat of the one in Alien? I enjoyed the movie, in particular 3-D, but it did feel like James Cameron was borrowing ideas from previous films....

Yup, just dressed them up in new effects and set them to 3D.

Although the actual fight scenes in Avatar were pretty righteous. (I have never wanted a robot suit as badly as I did when I saw the movie)

Castout · 10-05-10, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rilder

This thread makes me so glad my GF likes horror movies for some reason.

Well as long as she didn't choose you for the same liking

10-04-10, 08:06 AM	#1
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,855 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	Avatar redux just thought I would share this story. We all know what a huge hit "Avatar" was. I saw the movie only once, on a 3" screen on a flight about 6 months ago, not the best way to enjoy it. Over the weekend, I rearranged furniture and hooked up my bluray DVD player to our LCD HD tv, so I figured what is the best movie to test the image & sounds? and went to rent "Avatar" bluray. When I came home, my wife rolled her eyes, she hates Science Fiction, War or action movies and tends more towards chick flicks/romantic movies. She who must be obeyed mentioned something about some work she had to catch up on, so I told her "just stay 5 minutes, it's like Titanic, you'll like it". Within 10 minutes she was hooked, she teared up when the village was destroyed, cheered when the colonel met his end and we wound up watching it a second time. now "Avatar" is gorgeous on Bluray/HD tv & w. a good sound system ; but the real power of the movie is in the story telling, you don't hook a customer like my wife with special effects. James Cameron does have the knack. His two biggest hits so far "Titanic" and "Avatar" are at the core, just basic love sories, but he does know how to tell the story in a captivating fashion. Others have tried to copy the formula without the same success, for example "Pearl Harbour". __________________

10-04-10, 10:06 AM	#3
Weiss Pinguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Auburn, Alabama Posts: 3,333 Downloads: 101 Uploads: 0	Eh, your mileage may vary I guess. The whole time I was rooting for the humans __________________

10-04-10, 01:41 PM	#4
jumpy Admiral Join Date: May 2003 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 2,139 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	it was all a bit 'dances with wolves' if you ask me. Looked great in 3d though. __________________ when you’ve been so long in the desert, any water, no matter how brackish, looks like life

10-04-10, 03:47 PM	#6
Bilge_Rat Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: standing watch... Posts: 3,855 Downloads: 344 Uploads: 0	The special effects are nicely done, but "Iron Man", "Star Trek", "Hellboy", "Terminator Salvation" all had very nice special effects without connecting with a substantial female audience. "Inglorious Basterds", "The Hurt Locker", "Up in the Air" all had more interesting, innovative story lines and better acting. The story in "Avatar" is very simple and predictable: Boy meets Blue Alien girl, Boy and Blue Alien girl fall in love, Boy surmounts various obstacles to win over Blue Alien girl and live happily ever after...actually, the story line is very similar to the one in Titanic if you substitute "very rich" for "blue alien". so why did it click with audiences? it can't just be the 3d, although that seems to be what Hollywood thinks. Is it perhaps that audiences are suckers for a well told love story, even a predictable one? __________________

10-04-10, 07:53 PM	#11
bookworm_020 Navy Seal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sinking ships off the Australian coast Posts: 5,966 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Did anyone think the fight scene at the end was a repeat of the one in Alien? I enjoyed the movie, in particular 3-D, but it did feel like James Cameron was borrowing ideas from previous films.... __________________ "There is always one person in any organization who knows whats going on, That person must be fired"

10-04-10, 08:24 AM	#2
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Aye, it wasn't all that bad in the end.

10-04-10, 01:46 PM	#5
antikristuseke Silent Hunter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Estland Posts: 4,330 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Avatar is not bad as a technical showcase, but in all other aspects it is medicore, enjoyable and very pretty, but nothing special.

10-04-10, 04:32 PM	#9
Legionary74 Ensign Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 220 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Avatar sucked.

10-05-10, 06:36 AM	#12
Castout Silent Hunter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Jakarta Posts: 4,794 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 6	Avatar is worth buying in Blueray imo. Ask your wife to watch Dances with the wolves(Kevin Costner) with you your second choice would be Forrest Gump. The first would tell if someone has a heart. __________________ My blog: http://exposingsingapore.wordpress.com/

10-05-10, 07:36 AM	#13
Rilder Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	This thread makes me so glad my GF likes horror movies for some reason.