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Avatar the movie!

3K views 24 replies 14 participants last post by  Jarl Bloodwolf 
#1 ·
So for all those who want to discuss avatar and are deciding if they want to see it. here's my opinion.

It's one of the best animated movies i have ever seen and one of the best movies that i have seen overall. I don't think the 3D makes much of a difference and the glasses aren't that good and can't cope with the fast movements in the movie.

Also i advise anyone watching it to sit very close towards the screen, second row from the front of the screen. I have never done this before, but me and my amte were forced to because the other seats were taken and the closeness of the seats makes this movie truely epic. this is probably the only movie that i would recommend to sit at the front seats.

Finally, when i went in there, i didn't come out till 4 hours later due to advertisement at the start etc, so if your planning to watch it, give the movie four hours. The movie lasts almost 162 minutes however and i have no idea how i was in their for four hours.

One last thing, if you want watcha movie without popcorn, then i suggest taking in more than 1 super large popcorn, because me and a mate finished it ( well i ate most of it ), before we even got through half the movie :p. Plus a large drink!

thanks
antique_nova
 
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#2 ·
I was hoping to go and see this with a friend today, but I'm not sure if that's still going to happen...

Most of the stuff I've heard about this movie is good - but you don't think 3D makes that much of a difference? I could see it locally in 2D, if I want 3D I have to go for a bit of a trip... (only a half hour or so, but it is around 40 degrees C outside today, and unpleasantly windy!)
 
#3 ·
Visual effects alone are worth seeing. IMAX 3D is really the only way to watch it.

The plot wasn't too terribly stunning though. Seemed like they had a contest somewhere to see who could fit the most Hollywood cliches into 1 movie. Essentially "romeo and juliet" with a backdrop of "mankind is destroying the world", "evil, heartless corporations" and "soldiers for hire" with a sprinkling of "nobody listens to scientists". Mix and stir.

One character did kinda suprise me. The Marine Colonel clearly put some levels into the "Arch Villain" prestige class and had a healthy "I'm a Badass" feat tree to go along. He can survive for X in a non-breathable atmosphere, where X= however long he needs to lay a smackdown, or until it's suitably dramatic to don a mask.

Criticisms aside, the initial statement still holds true, worth it for the visuals alone.
 
#5 ·
Please note that there are some spoliers here, but probably nothing you've haven't heard.





I saw the film in 3D IMAX on Saturday. I must say, it took me about 24 hours after watching the film to decide whether or not I liked it.

he CGI effects are absolutely fantastic, especially with that odd tech that they used to paint the actors as the Navi. Didn't feel like CG at all, which was fairly amazing.

At times it seemed like they were really trying to pimp the special effects more than the story. It threw me off a bit, but I'll take gliding through the trees for a bit.

Movie is definitely a tad on the long side for me, like it was loosing some momentum.....or maybe the plot was just a bit too predictable. The story itself had a fairly stereotypical Colonial movie feel. I'd liken the movie very closely (in some aspects) to Dances with Wolves.

It's kind of funny, I made that comparison before I read any of the reviews on the movie. I only saw the trailer once and did not read up on this at all so I could go in with no real expectations. But, seriously, it was like a retelling of the Colonials vs. Native Americans.

Plot and dialogue had its ups and downs. Some moments you could really get in the character's heads and feel what they were feeling. The Marines bringing down the Hometree and the ensuing massacre actually had me getting emotionally involved. And that usually never happens to me during movies

At other times the movie felt really detached. Out of the group of 7 I went with the majority of them disagreed with me, who knows, maybe I'm just jaded.

Biggest gripe I had was too much moral book-thumping and going overboard on the shamanism. Despite the science and engineering backgroup, I really relate to esoteric aspects, but this movie pushed it a bit heavily I think. Still, it was interesting getting into the minds of a different culture.

Uhmmmm....anything else?


Sigourney Weaver - awesome
Zoe Saldana - Excellent preformance. Seriously, this girl made the movie for me.


Definitely see this sucker in IMAX. You may get vertigo at times. But DAMN its fun flying through the air (how many times have I said that now?)





A friend of mine wrote a much better review:


Story was completely predictable, villain totally one dimensional, standard Hollywood thing. It is not even worth spoiler covering the plot, because there really is nothing surprising in there beyond the basic premise. It's typical sci fi civilization vs primitive tribe theme and environmentalism. And at the start of the movie, I really felt none of the plot made any sense. That being said...

Holy shit batman on a stick, I absolutely LOVED it! And this coming from someone usually being a total snob about such things and swinging that critics axe very harshly for such movies. Yes, I came in with low expectations, not really anticipating much more than nice visual effects and turn off your brain, and it delivered as such, but surprisingly there was more to it than that.

First of all, I have to say Cameron is an absolute genius. In 77 George Lucas style, he comes and create this entire new universe that gradually just pulls you in until you're not even watching a movie any more, you're in a different different solar system far far away, in the future, and feels completely convincing. The budget is supposed to be one of the highest ever, with rumored figures everything from $200-300M, and it shows. 60% of the movie is CGI, but I can't say a single shot really feels like that, in best LOTR fashion. The flying vehicles, the creatures, and most shocking of all, those blue characters the Na'vi people, it all feels very genuine. But it is not only a visual extravaganza, it is also a film epic, and monumental craft of cinema history, worthy consideration AFI material due to technical achievements.

Why is it so good on a technical level? Well, first of all, the film was filmed with two camera lenses rather than modified in post production to give a convincing stereo visual effect, and this is where the movie really shines. Let's not kid ourselves, if you're walking into a small multiplex theater with a poor speaker system and a small screen 5 months from premiere at a $5 matinee without 3D glasses, or worse, watching this on DVD, you completely and utterly missed the point. If you do that, I feel sorry for you, you failed epically, you missed out the fun. You should see it in a IMAX theater or similar high end theater with a RealD Sony 4K projector in full 3D splendor. In fact, if you're not able to watch it in 3D, you should not even bother, IMO.

The reason this is important, this is really the first time where 3D is not used as a stupid gimmick, rather it is a natural extension of the movie that is completely necessary to reach the level of immersion the director intended. In many ways, this is really the first proper 3D movie, and that is why you should see it.

I should also mention everything from cinematography, makeup, costumes, editing, set design, art direction, sound mixing / editing is at the very highest level, and if it does not win an oscar for visual effects, it would be an upset. But enough of the technicals. This also happens to be a good entertaining movie because I actually ended up caring about the characters on some emotional level. What a shocker. The 3 characters pulling off the star performances are Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver).

I was 100% wrong about my concerns for this movie. Narnia, Harry Potter, Golden Compass and an endless list of fantasy movies in the later years can go suck it as far as I'm concerned, because this is the first time since LOTR I really cared.

Beautiful lush environment, a rich tribal culture, and natives that you can really sympathize with. I have always been bugged to hell and back by poorly done CGI, especially when they attempt to make human like figures, which all too often spawns the Jar Jar syndrome. The only real convincing attempt in recent years was Gollum in LOTR. Cameron not only reached that level, he surpassed it. The natives act and convey emotions so naturally, it seems counter intuitive to even suggest they were made by CGI. I stopped thinking about it real quick, and pretty much assume they are real aliens. These characters are actually more lifelike and complex than the human actors. In contrast the human colonists appears artificial, one dimensional and actually primitive compared to the natives basic way of life. And then Cameron takes it to the next level and tells us a love story, and... it feels real. I was outraged by the attack on the life tree. Their whole culture and religion feels so pure, it's tempting to get plugged into one of those chambers and live the the life as a Na'gi in the paradise that is Pandora. Where is my bow and arrow? Where is my flying beast?.

Avatar isn't a particularly deep movie, and it doesn't have anything to say that you haven't seen in other movies before (the climactic fight seems lifted straight out of a previous Cameron film), but it's likely one of the best moviegoing experiences you'll ever have.

Highly recommended (in a good 3D theater, IMAX / high end movie palace)
5 stars out of 5
 
#6 ·
Spoilers involved.

Yes the plot is very predictable and it is probably just me (and the fact that i have yet to pull a girl, or go out with one), but i felt that the rushed the whole romantice bit abit too much and skipped alot of it, no hugging and no romantice evenings looking at the sky or something like that makes the hallmarks of many movies ok the love scene in the soul tree area worked but apart from that nothing much happened ( i am not asking/hoping for a full blown sex scene here), plus the battle looked abit hit and miss. The individual parts of the fight were way too short. It felt like a long story told short. The look of the movie, the creatures and certains parts of the movie flowed really really well, but as hockeyman said, it just lost momentum. The best part of the movie was the time he first met another na'vi and the way they showed the bond of him and the female na'vi, the soul tree part when he picked him woman ( one of the most carefully worded i love you scene that i have ever seen and the best ). The image of a fleet of helicopters was mesmerising and the fight to tame his own beast for the first time.
thanks
antique_nova
 
#9 ·
Honestly I thought the romance aspect was fairly well done, it is a movie after all and you can't spend too much time on any one thing. Considering the whole thing takes place over several months and the Na'vi have a very different culture....I found it fairly believable.

I really, really like the Na'vi equivalent of the phrase "I love you!" and the esoteric reasoning behind it. I generally don't find move romance overly believable, but this was fairly welcome in my opinion.

i saw it 3d imax.

it was definitely interesting, but i thought overall the movie was OK.....

SPOILER




so all the aliens abandon him and reject him, but then fall in love with him again when he returns on a bigger, faster, redder mount? come on....
This was probably the biggest thing that bugged me about the movie. Seemed to very much say "Why yes, exploiting the native's beliefs to become a leader is perfectly acceptable...all to save them." Probably the weakest part of the movie in my opinion.


Still, I suppose I haven't put my own rating in. I'm fairly jaded when it comes to movies (IE I thought Dark Knight wasn't very good/etc).

Avatar gets 4/5 stars from me.

The time spent making such a fantastic and beautiful world (and a unique people) come to life and make me sympathize with them; and make me feel not like I'm watching the story, but living it with them.....that wins it for me.
 
#10 ·
Spoilers!



I really, really like the Na'vi equivalent of the phrase "I love you!" and the esoteric reasoning behind it. I generally don't find move romance overly believable, but this was fairly welcome in my opinion.
Glad you share the same opinioin. but the scene where they were talking about which woman he was to choose was very well scripted.

so all the aliens abandon him and reject him, but then fall in love with him again when he returns on a bigger, faster, redder mount? come on....
You need to understand that reinacting a long legend is something that changes the laws of minds. The last na'vi, the only na'vi, to unit all the tribes rode on one of those things. So make a big statement and get people to listen to you in any culture is to re-enact their legends or do something that they believe is near impossible and only the destined are able to do.

Take prime ministers for example, obama, got peoples attention when he sought to close down guantanimo bay. Many doubters and/or haters would not have supported him or even given him a chance to change their minds and listen to him if he had not attempted that.

Their are obviously many more examples in the real world and in lots of other movies, but that's the first example that popped into my head.

But,yea that was a weak part in the movie, they could have atleast showed how hard it is to tame that thing and they could have given James Sully something better to say than, "I need to step up a level", or similar.

thanks
antique_nova
 
#12 ·
It is more then that though.

SPOILER







There were only 5 people in all of time to tame one. It's more then "I have a fancy new car" it's "Look, I have been chosen and this Monster proves it. Listen to what I have to say so we can live"
 
#14 ·
I've seen the movie twice now. First time in 3D and the second time not in 3D and i must say the 3D was A LOT better! It's what the movie was made for first of all, and second of all it just looks ten times better! It did take me about 30 minutes to get used to the 3D and at first i hated it, but towards the end/when most of the movie is in the na'avi land (sp?) it is amazing.

I highly recommend the movie for the visual aspect and also just the fact that the guy created a whole new way to shoot movies (and actually make it beleivable, those aliens looked really real). If you want a great story and aren't too interested in the looks then skip it.

And MasterShake i agree with you entirely haha i thought the girl was just a bit shallow obviously she's attracted to power ;) sad how woman do that haha
 
#16 ·
Well, I finally managed to drag myself to a cinema and see Avatar, so I can finally contribute to this thread. Not that I'm really going to say anything that hasn't already been said, I suppose, but maybe I'll say something a little different!

I'm not all that excellent at reviews, so I'll just ramble for a bit and see what comes out.

First, the story; I will admit it's not ground-breaking stuff. It's a fairly standard and somewhat predictable affair, but I guess this has the benefit that it feels 'real,' like it's something that could actually happen. And for me, it was still engaging, managing to make me feel for the characters and the various troubles that befall them.

The characters; I guess, being constrained by a relatively basic story, you wouldn't really expect deeply complex and explored characters, but again, to me at least, they all felt believable. I thought most of the actors did a pretty reasonable job with their roles, although I suppose Sam Worthington deserves a bit of a special mention for pulling off the paraplegic Jake Sully rather well.

The visuals; Well, this is what really makes this movie, as most have already mentioned. I only saw it in 2D, but it was still stunning. You really do get the sense that the world is alive, the way so many things react to the presence of the characters. I'm not sure if I could handle seeing it in 3D, I'm worried my brain might just start melting or something!

Summary; I guess, to be a little harsh, it's the visuals and the imagination that's gone in to them that are carrying this movie. Yes, the story is solid and the characters are believable, but they really only make it a decent film. With the addition of the Na'vi world, that rather spectacular visual element, it does lift the film a little.

And at the end of all that rambling, I'm just going to say I enjoyed it! And I think that's enough from me on the matter.
 
#18 ·
i hope that the director actually sees that it was the special effects that made the movie not the story, because he spent most of his time making sure the effects were right. Now that's done, make a good story! and he will win more oscars than any other mvoie out there! Don't you guys get the fealing that he wanted an ok movie, but the effects is what he wanted for the first movie, this first movie could be a taster for what's to come for the trilogy ^^.
thanks
antique_nova
 
#19 ·
I'm fairly sure they've already announced plans for a sequel, although I think it was just a passing remark on a radio news report somewhere so how reliable that is I don't know.

But I'm not sure how well a sequel would work, to be honest. The end of the movie doesn't leave much room for development - you've only got the Na'vi and a handful of humans left on the planet. You need some kind of conflict in order to have a story develop, and given that the Na'vi generally seem to live in peaceful harmony with their planet... I don't really see where that's going to come from. Unless they bring the humans back, but then we have the first movie all over again and what's the point in that?

I don't want to see a movie where they've just produced some implausible happening for the sake of making a sequel. That said, I can see some interesting directions they could take their next instalment...
 
#20 ·
Sequel is confirmed. I think the Director intended another 3 movies...

I agree with Deadstar_MRC with all his points 4 posts up. 3d is awsome!

But some things in the movie are unrealistic.

At the start of the movie the general states that the locals are hard to take down, yet in the the battle it was a piece of cake!

Soldiers with no armour... How does that work?

Re-enforced Glass... which arrows go through...

what else... Don't know :)
 
#23 ·
If you work out the arrows length, their a bit less than two metres, the length of a man, might damage reinforced glass and from three metres away - its only glass.
Great film IMO and I feel myself inclined to honour it in some way, maybe make a Na'vi model.
Back on topic, 3D makes it a lot better but having seen it in 2d as well I am still captured by the character's emotions, the plot is simple but the alienness of the na'vi, the paraplagenic jake and the raving Grace felt like real people.

The only problem that I have with Avatar is that I knew the general plot after one minute and once i saw the great leonoptyrex (the dragon thing)(and ye, i know its proper name, so what?) I knew the whole plot but i was still enthralled by the attention to detail on the way there.
The battle scene didn't make much sense, there were loads of banshees and then about 30 seconds later there were 15 at the most. The cavalry charge was a FAIL, they sort of got ahnihalated. And the other plot hole for me is that Grace was "too weak" to transfer her mind.


As for the sequel maybe GW will fund it and they'll get invaded by the ultramarines. Avatar 2: The Battle of the Blue.
 
#24 ·
If you analyse this film completely you can find MILLIONS of plot holes in it, also a noted point I came across was all the EXTREAMLY subtle inuendo hidden amongst the film. After reading more into it I found out about the na'vi unique mating style involved their hair (for anyone who asked what would happen if two navi bonded their hair) and it brings a whole new light on
"don't play with that, you'll go blind" sentence from grace during the beggining.

Apart from that though AWESOME FILM!!!! Definitly one to go on my top 10 list.
 
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