James Cameron's Avatar is one of the best movies of 2009. I've seen it twice, and I saw it in 3D the 2nd time, and I just loved it. Go see it. It would be so cool to be on Pandora.
I hear it's very good. However, I can't even look at the commercials without getting sick to my stomach. Something about the special effects in that movie messes with my eyes. I will probably never see it. Darn.
I liked it, visually it was awesome but the story could of been better.
Between the fact that it's 3D only and I can't see in 3D and the fact that it's a rather shameless rip of an old sci-fi story, I think I'll be skipping it despite the hype.
The plot is essentially Furngully with Smurf Cats. Visually stunning movie, though. See it in 3d if you can.
Quote from: Moonblossom on January 01, 2010, 10:51:16 PM
Between the fact that it's 3D only and I can't see in 3D and the fact that it's a rather shameless rip of an old sci-fi story, I think I'll be skipping it despite the hype.
Um, what? It's not only in 3D. I know of 3 versions, the normal theater version, the 3D Theater version, and the IMAX 3D version. And in all fairness, a lot of the "great movies" are inspired by other stories. And if you wanted to claim "rip-off" you could have claimed "The Last Samurai" which is NOT a sci fi story. But oh well, skip it if you want.
Quote from: Knightfire on January 03, 2010, 05:24:36 PM
The plot is essentially Furngully with Smurf Cats. Visually stunning movie, though. See it in 3d if you can.
Smurfy Cats...someone has been watching "Bum Reviews" I see. But yes, see it in 3D. My personal reccomendation is to find a theater that is showing it in IMAX 3D. Trust me.
Sukebe, the only theatres in Montreal that are playing it are the 3D version. I looked very hard, because several of my friends wanted to see it. They went without me.
As for it being "inspired", read these:
http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00028333.html
http://moviestinger.com/is-james-camerons-avatar-a-rip-off/
http://io9.com/5390226/did-james-cameron-rip-off-poul-andersons-novella
War vet handicapped? Check.
War vet uses mental/avatar system to escape? Check.
Stealing resources from another planet? Check.
BLUE CAT PEOPLE? CHECK.
Yeah, totally a fucking coincidence.
Quote from: Moonblossom on January 03, 2010, 08:51:10 PM
Sukebe, the only theatres in Montreal that are playing it are the 3D version. I looked very hard, because several of my friends wanted to see it. They went without me.
Boo hoo, guess you're out of luck. Oh well, if you're not going to see it anyways, why complain about your friends going without you? Btw, you said it was ONLY in 3D...not that it was only available in 3D where you were.
Every great idea is a "rip off" of something else. The original Transformers was a rip off of a cheap toy line in Japan, Star Wars is a rip off of Flash Gordon, the Droid is a rip-off of the iPhone. Do people still enjoy them? Not everyone, but yes, people still do. I was able to enjoy it without knowing ANYTHING about the hype. In fact, I DIDN"T want to see it at first because I was upset that it caused one movie to change it's title to, "The Last Airbender" and that James Cameron put aside the live action adaption of "Battle Angel Alita." And yeah, I noticed that Avatar had a lot of elements from other media, and was able to look past it.
If it had been available in non-3D I probably would have gone simply to keep my friends company, they tend to pay for my movies. Stop being such a sarcastic jerk. Why do you even care so much that I'm pointing out what a pathetic and unoriginal rip it is? Are you a mindless fanboy, or do you enjoy proverbially fellating mediocre directors who know how to build hype on things they steal?
As for the other movies you listed, yes they have similarities to other things. This, however, has multiple blatantly lifted elements. It's not inspired by, it's not in the spirit of.. It's a GIGANTIC BILLION DOLLAR MOVIE that refuses to even credit poor Poul Anderson. By all rights and purposes he should be getting royalties, since he essentially wrote the basis for the script. However, rather than man up and have the testicles to admit it, James Cameron's run off and hid in a corner, and first claimed he "never" read the story, and later switched his song to "oh maybe I read it when I was young, but I don't remember." You can bet your fawning little ass that had someone done the same shit to Almighty Lord Cameron, he'd be screaming Na'vi Blue murder and threatening lawsuits faster than I can roll my eyes.
He's rolling in money he does not deserve, and the movie is nowhere near as original or as avante-garde as people claim it is.
http://www.barcelonareporter.com/index.php?/news/comments/james_cameron_avatar_in_major_a-hole_dispute_i_dont_owe_you_a_fking_signatu/
The man is truly a gentleman and a scholar, and I revoke all my prior commentary.
XD
Trust me, the story gets better. XD
But wait, there's more!
http://www.destructoid.com/avatar-s-smoking-character-is-a-criticism-of-gamers-159516.phtml
When is Sigourney Weaver smoking a cigarette not just Sigourney Weaver smoking a cigarette? When she's a ~*~metaphor~*~ for the vile way gamers disrespect their bodies.
Good lord, Cameron's spent so much time kissing his own ass, his head's now firmly wedged inside his anus.
Like I said, it gets better
http://www.tmz.com/2009/12/26/james-cameron-avatar-fan-signing-autograph-refuse-good-day-la/
Before this becomes the Hate James Cameron, I would like to say I enjoyed the movie. I didn't really see it for it's plot, but how the sotry was presented with the special effects. I don't think the creatures were quite as realistic as some people say they were, but I still watching them in 3d.^^
Quote from: Glitch on January 04, 2010, 05:51:11 PM
Before this becomes the Hate James Cameron, I would like to say I enjoyed the movie. I didn't really see it for it's plot, but how the sotry was presented with the special effects. I don't think the creatures were quite as realistic as some people say they were, but I still watching them in 3d.^^
At least I'm not the only one to notice that the creaures don't look all that real. To Bad because the scenery I've seen in clips and ads looks pretty good.
I don't care that the movie has an unoriginal plot. It's still fun to watch though.
I do find it annoying that so many people think it's the greatest movie of 2009 when there are many other good movies that came out this year that have great visuals that go along with a great story.
It's not a terrible plot. It's not bad enough to make you want to stop watching. But it is filled with a lot of cliche simple-minded ideas. The world portrayed is very black and white and the ending...well it was a little too convenient.
But Star Wars is a cliche story about good vs. evil and it's still a good movie.
One thing Avatar is really missing are any interesting characters. Only Quattritch and Dr. Augustine seem to have any character to them at all, and even then it's veryu simplistic.
The graphics were good enough that there were a few shots when Neytiri first flies on her Banshee that I almost thought it was an actress on the flying lizard's back for a minute.
I'm looking forward to the sequel though: "James Cameron's Orbital Bombardment"
That movie does not sound like it will have a happy ending at all trooper...
(._.)
still havent seen it yet, though saw the blurbs how world wide its broken the $1 billion dollar mark.
I think I'll just wait til its out on dvd/ blu ray in a few months. :P
the only movie i actually wanna see is a vampire movie called " Day Breakers "
REAL vampires dont freaking sparkle.
there, had to say it. :P
I eventually saw it, in the 3D, had to wait in line for two hours the other day. From the commercials I just didn't see the point, but with so much hype I just figured it was something I had to see. And I looooooooooooooooooved it! I haven't seen a movie this good in a really long time, I will probably get it on dvd.
I feel bad. I walked in to the Metreon on opening day, and didn't particularly care for the movie...
The effects were amazing, and occasionally I felt they passed the uncanny valley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley), but the plot and characters actually took me out of an otherwise immersive experience.
Quote from: Jerry on January 05, 2010, 12:04:56 PM
still havent seen it yet, though saw the blurbs how world wide its broken the $1 billion dollar mark.
I think I'll just wait til its out on dvd/ blu ray in a few months. :P
the only movie i actually wanna see is a vampire movie called " Day Breakers "
REAL vampires dont freaking sparkle.
there, had to say it. :P
And you had to say it in a thread that was completely about something else?
It does look like James Cameron ripped off from that book. The book is almost as old as he is or the other way around.
Quote from: SukebeStudios on January 03, 2010, 05:45:14 PM
Quote from: Moonblossom on January 01, 2010, 10:51:16 PM
Between the fact that it's 3D only and I can't see in 3D and the fact that it's a rather shameless rip of an old sci-fi story, I think I'll be skipping it despite the hype.
Um, what? It's not only in 3D. I know of 3 versions, the normal theater version, the 3D Theater version, and the IMAX 3D version. And in all fairness, a lot of the "great movies" are inspired by other stories. And if you wanted to claim "rip-off" you could have claimed "The Last Samurai" which is NOT a sci fi story. But oh well, skip it if you want.
Quote from: Knightfire on January 03, 2010, 05:24:36 PM
The plot is essentially Furngully with Smurf Cats. Visually stunning movie, though. See it in 3d if you can.
Smurfy Cats...someone has been watching "Bum Reviews" I see. But yes, see it in 3D. My personal reccomendation is to find a theater that is showing it in IMAX 3D. Trust me.
I like Bum Reviews :P
The plot was a lot like "Dances with Wolves".
Y'know, at about 1/12th the cost to make Avatar, I think the effects in District 9 looked a lot more belivable.
I don't believe that this thread was intended as a thread to debate if James Cameron is or is not an asshole. Nor accusations if the story was plagurized or not. This was a thread created by someone who enjoyed the movie and wanted to share their experience with others.
Regardless of that, Moonblossom, you are being a bit of a hypocrit in this thread. You call Sukebe a jerk, but yet you are the one who began taking this thread down the path of negativity and who is the one being the jerk. I can be almost certain that just about every movie/anime/book you ever loved appears to mirror some other past movie, book, or short story from our past in one way or another.
I read the plot summary for "Call Me Joe" (linked below) and I can see some similarties there, but it is surely not a blantent 100% ripoff like everyone is trying to make it out to be.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_Me_Joe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_Me_Joe)
You want to talk ripoffs, lol? I can do this with just about anything.
Daybreakers: The lead character is from a seemingly superior race that is taking advantage of another type of humanoid species for their "resources." The lead character then meets a female of the other species. Soon he emerses himself in the world of the lower species and befriends them, even though at first they had their doubts if they could trust him. He learns their ways and eventually goes "native" and offically becomes one of them. Eventually, he leads the lower species in a revolt against their oppressors.
OMG, what a blantent ripoff of Avatar!!! :D
Quote from: Liquid on January 22, 2010, 02:04:38 PM
You want to talk ripoffs, lol? I can do this with just about anything.
Daybreakers: The lead character is from a seemingly superior race that is taking advantage of another type of humanoid species for their "resources." The lead character then meets a female of the other species. Soon he emerses himself in the world of the lower species and befriends them, even though at first they had their doubts if they could trust him. He learns their ways and eventually goes "native" and offically becomes one of them. Eventually, he leads the lower species in a revolt against their oppressors.
OMG, what a blantent ripoff of Avatar!!! :D
Its not a ripoff, its more like a generic archtype of a plot.
More like a coincidence since both films were in production about the same time.
This isn't the only rip off James Cameron has done. It turns that Titanic wasn't originally from his imagination. Cameron just copied some event that actually happened a long time ago and made it a movie. I feel so betrayed!!
Quote from: Glitch on February 07, 2010, 06:04:15 PM
This isn't the only rip off James Cameron has done. It turns that Titanic wasn't originally from his imagination. Cameron just copied some event that actually happened a long time ago and made it a movie. I feel so betrayed!!
lol. Around the time the movie was in the theatres this Bay Area radio station was talking about the movie and the real history and how the ship sinks and all that. Some lady called into the radio station and was IRRATE because by telling her the ship sinks they had spoiled the movie for her. It. Was. Hilarious. :D
Quote from: Liquid on February 08, 2010, 03:00:02 PM
Quote from: Glitch on February 07, 2010, 06:04:15 PM
This isn't the only rip off James Cameron has done. It turns that Titanic wasn't originally from his imagination. Cameron just copied some event that actually happened a long time ago and made it a movie. I feel so betrayed!!
lol. Around the time the movie was in the theatres this Bay Area radio station was talking about the movie and the real history and how the ship sinks and all that. Some lady called into the radio station was was IRRATE because by telling her the ship sinks they had spoiled the movie for her. It. Was. Hilarious. :D
That is strange because the trailers shows the ship sinking. Everybit of information about the movie was about the sinking.How the hell could she not know the ship sank? XD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJarz7BYnHA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLzKwTcGO_0
I saw it twice, the first in IMAX 3D, then in just normal 3D. I highly recommend seeing it in IMAX if you can. It'll blow you away.
As for the plot, yes it was a pretty generic plot that has lots of similarities to other movies, but then again... I can't think of a movie that hasn't. o_O Anyway, it was the way that they told the story that got me. Very unique.
Plus, of course, the visuals were just so damn amazing, I felt as if though I was there. After the movie ended, I had completely forgotten all about the people in the theatre. Then I got post-Avatar depression... =p
But yes, I have to say that I am happy that there is finally a movie that blows everything else from the water. I'm not a big movie person, very picky, and I wasn't really looking forward to it that much, but when I saw it... O.O
I am happy to say that it is my 2nd favorite movie of all time. Howl's Moving Castle will always be my first. c(^.^c )
(I wish I could see it more, but unfortunately... I can't even buy food, so I can't pay $17 just to see it, although it is completely worth it. T_T)
If all you do is read the reviews and not actually have any personal opinion and say it looks dumb, then... I don't know what to say. You're gonna miss something that has hopefully changed the way people make movies and it won't be the same once it's out of theatres. T_T
There's no need to harp on Cameron for his exploits away from the camera, there's plenty of fuel for the Avatar bonfire just by watching the movie. My friends and I watched it opening night in 3D, and I had the "best" reaction to the movie.
Reaction: You *have* to see Avatar in theaters for the experience, it's visually mind blowing. That being said, it's also one of the most trite cliche piles of refuse that's been made in the last decade or so, it made me yearn for something new and exciting like a Uwe Boll movie.
Even James Cameron was surprised he won the Best Director award, he even commented he thought Katheryn Bigelow(The Hurt Locker) was going to win.
After that long of a production time, I'd have thought the man that made T2 would have brought more to the table than his mixed bag of stock characters. The only thing more painful than the characters cliche-ness is their dialogue, I have no idea how on Earth that was the best script he could come up with. The core theme of the movie, take your pick white man's guilt or green guilt, can be traced back to any of the environmentally conscious Miyazaki movies; if Cameron's Smurfs had their ballsacks hanging out it'd be Pom Poko in space. Realistically, if this movie hadn't been as visually stunning as it was, there would be nothing but talks about what a monumental failure of a film it is. It's success only shows how eye candy is all that's really necessary to get people wooed nowadays. His awards for the movies are proof enough of that.
James Cameron's Avatar does for the colour Blue that J.J. Abrahms Star Trek (gag) did for Lens Flares.
You know when it came to that awkward love scene I accidently laughed out loud like a hyaena and pissed people off...at the thought of The main character getting a stiffy inside his chamber thingy when he was doing it with that Na'vi princess HAHAHAH.
Quote from: failure on February 16, 2010, 11:10:23 AM
That being said, it's also one of the most trite cliche piles of refuse that's been made in the last decade or so, it made me yearn for something new and exciting like a Uwe Boll movie.
I know the movie had it's flaws, but that is one hell of a low blow. XD
Quote from: failure on February 16, 2010, 11:10:23 AM
Reaction: You *have* to see Avatar in theaters for the experience, it's visually mind blowing. That being said, it's also one of the most trite cliche piles of refuse that's been made in the last decade or so, it made me yearn for something new and exciting like a Uwe Boll movie.
*ouch*
That's kinda hitting below the belt, ... but you still win the Internets.