Avatar by Cameron

[johat]

Ok, I have tried to find out what it's all about but I can't really get my mind about it.
People who "merge" with aliens to co-exist on the alien planet?

Why is everyone so convinced it will look astounding? All I have seen is the teaser, and it shows absolutely nothing. It's not meant to rant, I just don't understand what it is about the movie that makes people go nuts about it?

Anyone who knows more who can help me understand what's going to be so bad-ass about Avatar?


Personally, when I'm thinking of Avatar, I'm thinking of the "anime" with the elementalistkids flying around on a big puppy.
Either that, or Hinduism/WH40K Eldar demi-god incarnated.

[r-type]

The "hype" is grounded more in the fact that they are using supposed "game-changing" 3-D camera technology that Cameron & co. have developed, or helped to develop. (Fusion 3D, IIRC). (The end result will still force you to wear glasses, so whatever, take that as you will.)

Not to mention this is his first feature film since Titanic. So naturally, this is gonna come with some of that baggage.

I'm curious about it, and certainly looking forward to it. But praise something I haven't seen yet? From a fan standpoint, sounds like bandwagon jumping to me (on the fans' part). So while I may take industry insiders' opinion with a grain of salt, I'm certainly not going to listen to anybody's blind gushing of this.

Here's a concise (albeit older) article on it:

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/avatarnews.php?id=18318


Empire will have a new interview with Cameron in their latest (June 2009) magazine.

[Xsubs]

Ok, I have tried to find out what it's all about but I can't really get my mind about it.
People who "merge" with aliens to co-exist on the alien planet?

Why is everyone so convinced it will look astounding? All I have seen is the teaser, and it shows absolutely nothing. It's not meant to rant, I just don't understand what it is about the movie that makes people go nuts about it?

Anyone who knows more who can help me understand what's going to be so bad-ass about Avatar?


Personally, when I'm thinking of Avatar, I'm thinking of the "anime" with the elementalistkids flying around on a big puppy.
Either that, or Hinduism/WH40K Eldar demi-god incarnated.

To correct you. There is actually no trailer or teaser that has been released yet. All the ones you've seen are fan made.
The reason people are quite excited about it is that A: Its a James Cameron film (all of his movies have been critically acclaimed.). B: James Cameron has described this movie as a new experience of 3D that has never been done before, and people are getting quite anxious about what sort of experience they will get.

[Mobe1969]

Ok, I have tried to find out what it's all about but I can't really get my mind about it.
People who "merge" with aliens to co-exist on the alien planet?

Why is everyone so convinced it will look astounding? All I have seen is the teaser, and it shows absolutely nothing. It's not meant to rant, I just don't understand what it is about the movie that makes people go nuts about it?

Anyone who knows more who can help me understand what's going to be so bad-ass about Avatar?


Personally, when I'm thinking of Avatar, I'm thinking of the "anime" with the elementalistkids flying around on a big puppy.
Either that, or Hinduism/WH40K Eldar demi-god incarnated.

I don't understand why cameron gets any attention. He's a lazy b'stard who has done next to nothing in the last 10 years (other than some stupid documentary and the Dark Angel finale), and all these crap action films of his are chock full of C grade actors (max b grade) and people adore him, but shit on Michael Bay. And from a technical film making side his films look shit in comparison to Bay.

[Xsubs]

I don't understand why Cameron gets any attention. He's a lazy b'stard who has done next to nothing in the last 10 years (other than some stupid documentary and the Dark Angel finale), and all these crap action films of his are chock full of C grade actors (max b grade) and people adore him, but shit on Michael Bay. And from a technical film making side his films look shit in comparison to Bay.

you are kidding me, right?? All of James Cameron's movies have been a critical success. Aliens, The Terminator, Terminator 2, Titanic(highest grossing film of all time a well) were all great masterpieces. They all had good story and character development (which is obviously the most important thing in a movie, even for an action movie)

your obviously one of those people who only like movies because of all the colourful explosions and actions and care less about story and character.
The Transformers movie may be eye candy, but the story and character development was pretty low. Thats why people always give Bay a bashing.
Sorry Bay, i like your movies, but there are much better directors out there.

[nelson]

you are kidding me, right?? All of James Cameron's movies have been a critical success. Aliens, The Terminator, Terminator 2, Titanic(highest grossing film of all time a well) were all great masterpieces. They all had good story and character development (which is obviously the most important thing in a movie, even for an action movie)

your obviously one of those people who only like movies because of all the colourful explosions and actions and care less about story and character.
The Transformers movie may be eye candy, but the story and character development was pretty low. Thats why people always give Bay a bashing.
Sorry Bay, i like your movies, but there are much better directors out there.

Critical success mean only a few people liked it. People that bash Bay are people that aren't even interested in the genre and/or don't understand it.

Cameron's movie in terms of box office and critical acclaim are hit or miss. I personally go to see his movies because of his master craftsman skills & not because of his stories.

Expecting Michael Bay's movies to have the same story and/or character development as a Kubrick film is like expecting Woody Allen to have gore in his movies (although Bay and Kubrick are highly visual directors). I don't know why people expect that?

[nelson]

Sorry Bay, i like your movies, but there are much better directors out there.

Better directors in what? Directing, writing, visuals, cgi, entertaining audiences, ...?

[johat]

The "hype" is grounded more in the fact that they are using supposed "game-changing" 3-D camera technology that Cameron & co. have developed, or helped to develop. (Fusion 3D, IIRC). (The end result will still force you to wear glasses, so whatever, take that as you will.)

Not to mention this is his first feature film since Titanic. So naturally, this is gonna come with some of that baggage.

I'm curious about it, and certainly looking forward to it. But praise something I haven't seen yet? From a fan standpoint, sounds like bandwagon jumping to me (on the fans' part). So while I may take industry insiders' opinion with a grain of salt, I'm certainly not going to listen to anybody's blind gushing of this.

Aha, yes, its easy to give cred to a movie where you "know" the director always makes an epic story. But I agree with you, I can't say I'm that interested until I actually get to see something that speaks to me.

To correct you. There is actually no trailer or teaser that has been released yet. All the ones you've seen are fan made.
The reason people are quite excited about it is that A: Its a James Cameron film (all of his movies have been critically acclaimed.). B: James Cameron has described this movie as a new experience of 3D that has never been done before, and people are getting quite anxious about what sort of experience they will get.

Ahhh... So I got owned. ... and didn't understand shit.
But as I said, regardless of who's the director/screenwriter/whatnot I aint giving anyone any real credit until I see some results.

Mr. Bay gave me some real results with both Jetfire and Devastator which makes his movie [movies] more cred and more excitement than any other "secret" bullcrap revolutionary movie I've ever heard off.
Yeah, sure Alien was a great movie, but I don't wizz my pants just thinking about his next creation of which no one knows jibbedy spliff about more than it will be "epic" and "3D" and "random cool noun".

Bay all the way.

But thanks you guys for trying to explain to my narrowminded mind (heh) what it's all about.

[johat]

(continue...)
But thanks you guys for trying to explain to my narrowminded mind (heh) what it's all about. But I just can't get my mind to accept things that are supposed to be "critically acclaimed".
That is just a sentence that doesn't mean jack shit to me. Whatever the general opinion is about anything, it doesn't mean shit to me, as long as it doesn't speak to me.

If you know where I'm going.

Just because it is supposed to be intelligent, revolutionary, enlightening and mind-blowing, doesn't mean it is.
A lot of people confuse wisdom with flashy mumbo-jumbo nowadays. Imho.

[Xsubs]

Mr. Bay gave me some real results with both Jetfire and Devastator which makes his movie [movies] more cred and more excitement than any other "secret" bullcrap revolutionary movie I've ever heard off.
Yeah, sure Alien was a great movie, but I don't wizz my pants just thinking about his next creation of which no one knows jibbedy spliff about more than it will be "epic" and "3D" and "random cool noun".

Yes, i praise the artistic vision of what Bay has for the designs of the transformers characters as well as the great action, but im just saying the execution of the story could have been done more serious and better. Also the understanding of the autobots and decepticons wasnt really there in the first movie and you didnt really have the "feel" of the Robots.

Im not trying to bash the movie because i loved the movie for its visual stand of point, but the character development and story kinda bugged me(felt a bit weak).

[BeetleJuice]

Better directors in what? Directing, writing, visuals, cgi, entertaining audiences, ...?

Christopher Nolan???

How about real auteur's who write and direct their own work?

This argument is surreal - and slightly bitter from some of the die hard Bay fans in here.

Michael Bay makes popcorn entertainment for kids. Nothing more.
For that reason alone he will never be regarded in the same bracket as the other greats.
Bay tried a more serious theme with The Island. It failed. Pearl Harbor has some mega errors, Bay's kinetic editing style is not universally loved, his visual style, colors and so on are more appropriately suited for commercials, not motion pictures.

Suggesting their are no better directors than Bay is utter intellectual dishonesty.

[nelson]

Christopher Nolan???

How about real auteur's who write and direct their own work?

Nolan has directed 2 good movie (TDK & TP). Nolan's BM movies are based on comic books while Bay's TF movies are based on a toy franchise, there's no comparison.

This argument is surreal - and slightly bitter from some of the die hard Bay fans in here.

How so? Can't be any different that the surreal expectations of film snobs expecting Bay to make a Kubrick movie.

Michael Bay makes popcorn entertainment for kids. Nothing more.
For that reason alone he will never be regarded in the same bracket as the other greats.

Are you sure? His films are in the Criterion Collection next to Kurosawa, Truffaut, Renoir, Hitchcock, and Fellini.

To deny the impact Bay has had on action movies is ignorant and uninformed.

Bay tried a more serious theme with The Island. It failed. Pearl Harbor has some mega errors, Bay's kinetic editing style is not universally loved, his visual style, colors and so on are more appropriately suited for commercials, not motion pictures.

Says who? Universally loved does not equal film critics, and film snobs who have no understanding of the action genre? They criticized Bay for his style and now every action move copies his or tries to... even your beloved Nolan. Nolan is a great director but suffers from average visuals.

Bay doesn't make movies for the unhappy and miserable few. It's his style that has influence and modified an entire genre.

His films are critic-proof due to the fact that he loves doing what he does, and that has translated into billions in box office receipts. The Island didn't performed like it was expected to not because of lack of critical acclaim but because of it's narrow concept.

Suggesting their are no better directors than Bay is utter intellectual dishonesty.

No one has suggested so. But in the action genre it's hard to find someone that makes visually arresting movie and generates box office.

[lightning]

you are kidding me, right?? All of James Cameron's movies have been a critical success. Aliens, The Terminator, Terminator 2, Titanic(highest grossing film of all time a well) were all great masterpieces. They all had good story and character development (which is obviously the most important thing in a movie, even for an action movie)

your obviously one of those people who only like movies because of all the colourful explosions and actions and care less about story and character.
The Transformers movie may be eye candy, but the story and character development was pretty low. Thats why people always give Bay a bashing.
Sorry Bay, i like your movies, but there are much better directors out there.

not all of them. piranha 2 was a crappy b movie.

this is something bay never did. create a crappy directorial debut. bay started out strong with bad boys.

but i like both of them though.

[Trailbreaker]

I just saw the trailer. I dunno what to think. The blue alien people look rather uncanny to me. Still doesn't mean I won't see the movie though.

[Nenita]

I think they looks like the aliens in independence day..a little bit. No matter, I look at it me times. More trailer much actually íst promising. Hopefully that is not cut. Is here in Germany so usual. Which where other starting from 16 years is, is here usually starting from 12 then. Amusingly the whole.

[Trailbreaker]

I just saw the trailer. I dunno what to think. The blue alien people look rather uncanny to me. Still doesn't mean I won't see the movie though.

My mindset is changing right now. My previous post above I composed immediately after I saw the trailer. But after putting a lot of thought into it, I must say it looks rather exciting. The visuals look spectacular to my eyes. I mean, seeing robots or mechs fighting the Na'vi got me interested.

The Na'vi faces still look weird to me though. I have a better time looking at a the prawns in D-9. Maybe they'll grow onto me as more promotional material pops up. They look pretty badass in combat.

But the trailer is pretty sub par. With the movie being this big, the trailer obviously doesn't do it justice. Hopefully we'll see a more badass one later on.

[lightning]

Sorry Bay, i like your movies, but there are much better directors out there.

michael bay is my favorite movie director. that's why my favorite cameron movie is true lies, it's got the same tone as bad boys.

[swishbig]

I don't understand why cameron gets any attention. He's a lazy b'stard who has done next to nothing in the last 10 years (other than some stupid documentary and the Dark Angel finale), and all these crap action films of his are chock full of C grade actors (max b grade) and people adore him, but shit on Michael Bay. And from a technical film making side his films look shit in comparison to Bay.

You obviously haven't seen any movies! I personally think Cameron is a great director despite his big ego and honestly he takes more time to make movies than Bay. Cameron and Bay are my 2 favorite directors and Transformers has been my favorite movie of all time but after watching Avatar, I have to say it was a far better experience and the story was deep but unoriginal. The only reason why Transformers 2 gets so much hate along with bay is because they don't understand his style of directing. But I think both directors are great!

[Bayhem]

I liked "Avatar" and I don't like the Oscars in general, but Sigourney Weaver is really pushing it.

- http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailym...rney_weave.php


- http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/sig_...wpEzJ9GGMKmG6O


I'm starting to lose respect for this woman.

[Hardkore]

So does anyone plan to get the DVD/Blu-Ray next week?

I'm not,I'm waiting til Nov. when it comes packed with all the special featues,behind the scenes stuff and all.This one is just the movie.

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/03/16/av...-22-earth-day/

Additionally, the $29.98 DVD and $39.99 Blu-Ray will not come packed with extras — or any extras at all — because both Cameron and the studio wanted to deliver the film in all of its ground-breaking digital glory, which, of course, takes up precious disc space. Nevertheless, Fox says that a loaded, multi-disc edition will hit stores in November.

[Xsubs]

I liked "Avatar" and I don't like the Oscars in general, but Sigourney Weaver is really pushing it.

- http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailym...rney_weave.php


- http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/sig_...wpEzJ9GGMKmG6O


I'm starting to lose respect for this woman.

I sort of agree with sigourney here.

I mean, Cameron did create his own movie from scratch. He wrote Avatar. He Directed the movie. He developed his own 3D technology. He designed most of the creatures. He created all the Characters. He was part producer of Avatar. Best of all, he created his own beautiful world for the film.........Pandora.

[Bayhem]

Cameron did create his own movie from scratch. He wrote Avatar. He Directed the movie. He developed his own 3D technology. He designed most of the creatures. He created all the Characters. He was part producer of Avatar. Best of all, he created his own beautiful world for the film.........Pandora.

Of course, it goes without saying. But Weaver went too far and attacked "The Hurt Locker" just because it's a "small movie that nobody saw". So, just because it's a small independent movie directed by a woman, and not a lot of people saw it, it's not good enough to win an Oscar or any other award?

Come on...



Not to mention playing the gender card.

[D'vasbulique]

I grew up on Transformers. It (along with Voltron) where my favorite cartoons to watch. I'ts awsome to see it "come to life" via modern day technology...thanks cgi.

Anyway,I saw the first one (dozens of times) and certainly plan on seeing the second one. I think anyone who saw the first one was hoping and praying that there would be a second. And while I haven't seen the second one yet....I am already hoping and pryaing that there will be a third.

I just hope that the decepticons win in this one....I'm tired of the gods guys always winning...it's predictable.

[hautbasclair]

I grew up on Transformers. It (along with Voltron) where my favorite cartoons to watch. I'ts awsome to see it "come to life" via modern day technology...thanks cgi.

Anyway,I saw the first one (dozens of times) and certainly plan on seeing the second one. I think anyone who saw the first one was hoping and praying that there would be a second. And while I haven't seen the second one yet....I am already hoping and pryaing that there will be a third.

I just hope that the decepticons win in this one....I'm tired of the gods guys always winning...it's predictable.

What?

Having Bay, Cameron, Nolan and Scott is the same thread is priceless. Let's not ruin it.

[lightning]

if i compare transformers revenge of the fallen to avatar, i like transformers 2 a lot more.

avatar itself is a pretty good movie on it's own. but for me, it's not the best movie of the year. at best i give it 3 out of 5. even star trek is way better than avatar.

the thing that troubled me with avatar is that it didn't look original. it looked like a collection of old movies like ferngully, the last samurai, the abyss, the emerald forest etc.

the 3d thing didn't impress me at all. it's the story that drives the movie, not gimmicks.