Avatar by Cameron

[taybrian1]

I'm a little confused after watching the trailer. So, the guy becomes one of the aliens? What? They need to explain this more if I actually want to see it.

[Xsubs]

I'm a little confused after watching the trailer. So, the guy becomes one of the aliens? What? They need to explain this more if I actually want to see it.

The alien is his(Sam worthington) avatar. his mind is transfered to the alien body so he could coexist with the na'v people on the planet Pandora, as well as to experience their enviroment.

[taybrian1]

The alien is his(Sam worthington) avatar. his mind is transfered to the alien body so he could coexist with the na'v people on the planet Pandora, as well as to experience their enviroment.

So, it's kind of like a video game? It's just a body to let you exist in that world?

[fu2kimus_prime]

I take it this looks better on an IMAX screen? because I've just watched the trailer and it looks like a video game cut-scene.

Really want to be excited for this, love Cameron. However this has done nothing for me. So yeah as others have said quite disappointed, because the reports from comicon made it sound out of this world.

[uraydo]

I just saw the trailer two. It looks like District 9 and Battle for Tera just had a bastard son.

[taybrian1]

I just saw the trailer two. It looks like District 9 and Battle for Tera just had a bastard son.

That made me laugh so hard.

[hautbasclair]

The movie looks excelent... and it is OK to admit it.

[Mindfreak87]

I take it this looks better on an IMAX screen? because I've just watched the trailer and it looks like a video game cut-scene.

I am guessing when seeing it in IMAX 3D it will be a totally different experience. It looks like a video cut-scene as you put it because it is all CGI on Pandora.

As you can see by 1:22 into the teaser trailer the environment is heavily detailed. Considering this is going to IMAX, filmed for 3D with new technology and is mainly all CGI then people really cannot complain. And apparently it has roughly 150 minutes runtime so just think about the work that has gone into it and quit whining, enjoy it for what it is when it is released.

"The larger field of view and powerful surround sound of an IMAX(R) theatre will completely immerse the audience in a way that cannot be experienced anywhere else"

~ James Cameron

[fu2kimus_prime]

I am guessing when seeing it in IMAX 3D it will be a totally different experience. It looks like a video cut-scene as you put it because it is all CGI on Pandora.

As you can see by 1:22 into the teaser trailer the environment is heavily detailed. Considering this is going to IMAX, filmed for 3D with new technology and is mainly all CGI then people really cannot complain. And apparently it has roughly 150 minutes runtime so just think about the work that has gone into it and quit whining, enjoy it for what it is when it is released.

"The larger field of view and powerful surround sound of an IMAX(R) theatre will completely immerse the audience in a way that cannot be experienced anywhere else"

~ James Cameron

But I'm not whining, Just saying that from everything I've seen thus far it's underwhelming.

I'll go catch it in IMAX no doubt, and give it a chance. However what about the large amounts of people who have no access to IMAX theatres, are they going to be short changed? Because it's certainly not the awe-inspiring leap in visuals it's professed to be watching it in HD.

[Mindfreak87]

Yea sorry It wasn't directed at you, I have just read so much negative feedback all over the internet about this teaser that it is starting to get irritating a bit thats all.

[Tobi]

The Internet has made the world a really stupid place. It's easy for anyone in the world to sit there on his ass drinking soda and eating chips and tell Cameron his movie looks like shit. The cynism behind it says more about the American audience than the film itself. They couldn't do it. They couldn't do it with playdough and chickenwire.

The Polar Express looks like a cartoon. The Clone Wars television series looks like a video game. THIS looks like a serious feature-length film. Maybe it's because I've been reading old sci fi novels lately but I'm really digging this. I think that once people see it on the big screen, the way it's obviously meant to be presented, they'll change their tunes really fast. It gives me hope, really. It's an enormous techincal leap for film.

Finally someone that makes sense, Thanks for that. This was also shot with 3D cameras that were specifically developed for it, check out the reactions from people that have already seen the footage, they're changing their tunes already. I personally can't wait for this.

[Mindfreak87]

This was also shot with 3D cameras that were specifically developed for it, check out the reactions from people that have already seen the footage, they're changing their tunes already.

That's what annoyed me really about all of the feedback yesterday on the internet, and that was that people were judging this film from the teaser trailer in 2-D.

This film was put on delay for ~10 years long because James Cameron was waiting for the technology capable of bringing his vision to the big screen. I wouldn't go to watch this film in 2D, with booking bound to be congested for a while I would rather wait ~2-3 weeks to see it in 3D (as it should be) rather than the 2D version.

[r-type]

That's what annoyed me really about all of the feedback yesterday on the internet, and that was that people were judging this film from the teaser trailer in 2-D.

This film was put on delay for ~10 years long because James Cameron was waiting for the technology capable of bringing his vision to the big screen. I wouldn't go to watch this film in 2D, with booking bound to be congested for a while I would rather wait ~2-3 weeks to see it in 3D (as it should be) rather than the 2D version.

It's been discussed. It's just that it always tends to get drowned out by the sound of whining. (not referring to those genuinely reserved about it, but the ones "knee-jerk" deriding it as crap)

I've been keeping abreast of the tech being used (via articles from Marketsaw and such, via some peeps) when it comes to developing facial features of the Na'vi and other aspects of the movie. I can't wait for later this evening.

[alexsm]

That's what annoyed me really about all of the feedback yesterday on the internet, and that was that people were judging this film from the teaser trailer in 2-D.

This film was put on delay for ~10 years long because James Cameron was waiting for the technology capable of bringing his vision to the big screen. I wouldn't go to watch this film in 2D, with booking bound to be congested for a while I would rather wait ~2-3 weeks to see it in 3D (as it should be) rather than the 2D version.

That's because Cameron promised that everything he will show us would be the most awesome experience ever, that we are not going to be able to recognize CGI. Everyone was expecting to be impressed by the trailer, and it didn't happend.

[Mindfreak87]

That's because Cameron promised that everything he will show us would be the most awesome experience ever, that we are not going to be able to recognize CGI. Everyone was expecting to be impressed by the trailer, and it didn't happend.

Do you have a quote of him actually stating that? CGI is CGI and for most films it stands out a mile away from actual footage.

The film Beowulf was a step in the right direction in regards to CGI and did come along with motion capture.

I must admit before Comic-Con I didn't really take an interest in Avatar, but after reading word of mouth from film directors and critics I started to anticipate the film.

However after reading the on-going reviews of the 15 minute footage from Avatar day I probably was wrong and this film is incredibly over hyped because word of mouth is the 3D is practically the same and nothing has changed. But they did praise the 3D and depth / environment in slow-paced scenes.

Even if the 3D is below par the film I am sure will still be a contender for best film of the year, but there again there hasn't been that many this year so not much competition yet.

[wingzero]

James Cameron kept claiming he would have released the best and most photorealistic 3D CGI ever seen in various interviews:


----->
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/31191

Published on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 - 5:08am
Harry interviews James Cameron regarding AVATAR - Part 1!

[....]

Harry – Why so long? Why is this going to take till 2009?

Jim – Well – it’s the photorealism. You know, in terms of my ‘gung ho’ directing, I’ll be done in terms of a cut of the picture by… um… probably November of this year.

And then the rest of the time after that, which is going to be like a year and a half is just going to be me working with the effects guys day in and day out to get the visual caliber up to the highest level.

<--------


And now that the teaser trailer is out we know that it is just not true. It's really sad to see one of the most successful directors and producers in the industry to release such an average movie after all his claims. This is going to be his first failure even if the movie doesn't bomb at box office as it surely deserves. Because Avatar is a silly joke. If it was sold as a 3D CGI cartoon then everything would have been ok but it should be the best sci-fi live action movie ever made... and it looks like one belonging to the cheapest class, really.

[uraydo]

Yea sorry It wasn't directed at you, I have just read so much negative feedback all over the internet about this teaser that it is starting to get irritating a bit thats all.

Everyone is just made that Cameron stole his title from the Nickelodeon show, that is releasing a movie around the same time.

That's what annoyed me really about all of the feedback yesterday on the internet, and that was that people were judging this film from the teaser trailer in 2-D.

If I'm not wowed in 2D I seriously doubt that the "gimmick" of 3D will do a better job of impressing me.


I mean, come on. I see in 3D every day.

[Xsubs]

That's because Cameron promised that everything he will show us would be the most awesome experience ever, that we are not going to be able to recognize CGI. Everyone was expecting to be impressed by the trailer, and it didn't happend.

Bear in mind that they're still working on the CGI till the end of November when its actually complete. What we saw in the trailer was work thats still in progress.

[alexsm]

Do you have a quote of him actually stating that? CGI is CGI and for most films it stands out a mile away from actual footage.

The film Beowulf was a step in the right direction in regards to CGI and did come along with motion capture.

I must admit before Comic-Con I didn't really take an interest in Avatar, but after reading word of mouth from film directors and critics I started to anticipate the film.

However after reading the on-going reviews of the 15 minute footage from Avatar day I probably was wrong and this film is incredibly over hyped because word of mouth is the 3D is practically the same and nothing has changed. But they did praise the 3D and depth / environment in slow-paced scenes.

Even if the 3D is below par the film I am sure will still be a contender for best film of the year, but there again there hasn't been that many this year so not much competition yet.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still expecting Avatar to be a great film as nearly every previous Cameron ones had been, is just that I was expecting the trailer to excite me and it didn't happend.

I just found it worst than ROTF or HP 6 (always talking about the CGI) even in trailers. And less impressive than the first Transformers trailers where. Also found Davy Jones really most impressive than all the Na'vy. And as some other said, some shots looked more like a cartoon than a live action movie.

I expect a great movie, I hope it will be, but I think the first checkpoint has been missed. I just was more excited before the trailer than after.

[alexsm]

It may be a lightning thing, as Bay said (IMO quite wisely) in the Transformers DVD comments, not every light is fine to make the CGI look real. With the inadequate light (i'm not saying bad) the best FX can look fake. As happends in lots of shots in the last Star Wars trilogy or Peter Jackson's King Kong.

[Mindfreak87]

James Cameron kept claiming he would have released the best and most photorealistic 3D CGI ever seen in various interviews.

Well in my opinion the CGI is the best we have seen thus far in any feature length film where CGI is the majority of its entirety, but being set in an imaginary vibrant, lush planet with its own race it is hard for us to believe it is realistic because it isn't as it is nothing we have ever seen.

If you go through the trailer frame by frame at the close up shots of facial features you will notice texture, detail in hair, teeth, lips and eyes which are all very good. My only argument is the design of the race, they are very flat and bland which can only be blamed on the person who designed them (not sure if it was James), and not be blamed on the CGI team.

And as Xsubs has said they still are working on the CGI and will be for an additional 3 months until late November according to James Cameron.

[Mindfreak87]

I have snapped some screenshots from my own personal encode of the video, so quality won't be at its best.

The first screenshot I think is the best and in my opinion it does look pretty real (the expression, lighting, setting, texture & detail).

http://i26.tinypic.com/2qtwqck.png
http://i29.tinypic.com/s6hz4h.png
http://i25.tinypic.com/33wp55i.png

[r-type]

Just left the preview. Whoa. trailer didnt do it justice.

[sora]

Just seen the footage in 3D. The enviroment CGI was great, fun to see the landscape in depth-feel as if an audience is actually walking around Pandora. (I liked the "flying with a dragon" shot.) I hope they'll improve the textures and motion of Na'vi to make their (a little toony) design blend in to photo-realistic scenery and live-action humans.

Looking at the trailer and the footage, the story seems like a classic "A white man learns from innocent natives". However, Cameron said in his comment that there's no spoiler in the footage, so I want to see more than just that.

[Michael Do]

was great!