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GHM · « **Reply #100 on:** 8 Jan 2010, 11:15 pm »

Quote from: Wind Chaser on 8 Jan 2010, 11:03 pm

GHM, you lost me on that note. A mere observation has nothing to do with analysis.

Exactly..you've even over analyzed a joke..WOW.

There's no original script for any movie these days..it has all been done. Why so stringent on Avatar?

satfrat · « **Reply #101 on:** 8 Jan 2010, 11:29 pm »

Quote from: GHM on 8 Jan 2010, 11:15 pm

Exactly..you've even over analyzed a joke..WOW.
There's no original script for any movie these days..it has all been done. Why so stringent on Avatar?

I think it's simply a trait of an audiophile to overanalyze each and every detail, whether it be music or a movie. Me, I'd rather enjoy the moment, if possible. With Avatar, I think enjoyment will be a given for myself.

Next week, seeing Avatar in IMAX 3D is on the top of my list.

Cheers,
Robin

PhilNYC · « **Reply #102 on:** 8 Jan 2010, 11:35 pm »

Quote from: GHM on 8 Jan 2010, 11:15 pm

Exactly..you've even over analyzed a joke..WOW.
There's no original script for any movie these days..it has all been done. Why so stringent on Avatar?

Here's the thing...it's not like I watched this movie, analyzed it, then decided I didn't think it was any good. Rather, I watched it, felt a little disappointed, then went back and analyzed why it disappointed me. There is a difference. There are plenty of movies with not-so-original premises and storylines that I have really enjoyed...it all lies in whether the director is successful at making me suspend disbelief or not be distracted by holes in the story.

In the case of Avatar for me, there were too many scenes that made me think about other movies (specifically Pocahontas and Tarzan) *during* the movie...and therefore I was distracted. On the other hand, I did not watch The Departed and think back to every scene from Infernal Affairs...or watch West Side Story and think about every scene from Romeo & Juliet.

Bigfish · « **Reply #103 on:** 8 Jan 2010, 11:40 pm »

Quote

In the case of Avatar for me, there were too many scenes that made me think about other movies (specifically Pocahontas and Tarzan) *during* the movie...and therefore I was distracted. On the other hand, I did not watch The Departed and think back to every scene from Infernal Affairs...or watch West Side Story and think about every scene from Romeo & Juliet.

Okay, so why is this a bad thing? The majority of the posters here and all over the net rate this movie very high. I think the average rating on the net is 4 out of 5 stars.

You did not like it - okay!

Ken

GHM · « **Reply #104 on:** 8 Jan 2010, 11:44 pm »

Quote from: PhilNYC on 8 Jan 2010, 11:35 pm

Here's the thing...it's not like I watched this movie, analyzed it, then decided I didn't think it was any good. Rather, I watched it, felt a little disappointed, then went back and analyzed why it disappointed me. There is a difference. There are plenty of movies with not-so-original premises and storylines that I have really enjoyed...it all lies in whether the director is successful at making me suspend disbelief or not be distracted by holes in the story.

In the case of Avatar for me, there were too many scenes that made me think about other movies (specifically Pocahontas and Tarzan) *during* the movie...and therefore I was distracted. On the other hand, I did not watch The Departed and think back to every scene from Infernal Affairs...or watch West Side Story and think about every scene from Romeo & Juliet.

I'm a HUGE movie buff..I can tell you I have never sat in a theater packed with people that were ALL mesmerized by a movie like this movie. I couldn't believe how everyone just stared at the screen..and I mean everyone.

We each have our own opinions... no problem.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #105 on:** 8 Jan 2010, 11:59 pm »

Quote from: Bigfish on 8 Jan 2010, 11:40 pm

Okay, so why is this a bad thing? The majority of the posters here and all over the net rate this movie very high. I think the average rating on the net is 4 out of 5 stars.

You did not like it - okay!

Ken

Funny thing is...I did like it and said so in my first post in this thread. Just thought I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't reminded of my kids' DVDs throughout. And then other people continued on this discussion, suggesting that borrowing from other films was not a bad thing, and I just continued to discuss it. Since this is a discussion forum, I'm not sure why this is a bad thing...? No one is flaming others...just talking about a movie...

PhilNYC · « **Reply #106 on:** 9 Jan 2010, 12:00 am »

Quote from: GHM on 8 Jan 2010, 11:44 pm

I'm a HUGE movie buff..I can tell you I have never sat in a theater packed with people that were ALL mesmerized by a movie like this movie. I couldn't believe how everyone just stared at the screen..and I mean everyone.

We each have our own opinions... no problem.

Well, clearly you were staring at the audience instead of the screen...

Bigfish · « **Reply #107 on:** 9 Jan 2010, 12:04 am »

Quote

Funny thing is...I did like it

Good to know!

Ken

GHM · « **Reply #108 on:** 9 Jan 2010, 01:01 am »

Quote from: PhilNYC on 9 Jan 2010, 12:00 am

Well, clearly you were staring at the audience instead of the screen...

That's a good one!!

I guess that's payback for me telling you ..you probably analyze sex as well...

I've seen it once..plan to go back and watch it again this weekend!
Awesome movie..loved it in 3D!

JackD201 · « **Reply #109 on:** 9 Jan 2010, 01:47 am »

I keep on reading how there are only really 7 basic plots. Problem is that there seems to be disagreement on what the 7 are.

This seems an amalgamation of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets her back along with the fish out of water (dude out of body?) and the classical hero plot (training, test of manhood, failure, redemption)

I'm a fan of mythology. I have been since my brother would read me stories from Bullfinch before I could even walk. Cameron borrows heavily from Mythology and I see no fault in that if his goal is to deliver a message that harks closely to that of our races' oral histories which by the way are more similar than they are different regardless of continent. Too deviate would be to alienate the viewer.

Do I find it derivative? Frankly I do HOWEVER I'm of the thinking that if you want to create something of mythic proportions you'll find best results in sticking to story arcs that hew closely to what the population identifies with as mythic.

I find that in this case the local perspective was presented almost as well as that of The Last Samurai, actually better than Dances with Wolves and much better than any Tarzan movie ever made. Avatar is actually allegorical in that is asks us to view ourselves through the eyes of the tall blue folks in effect making them our own avatars much the same way Victor Fleming asked us to view ourselves 70 years earlier via The Lion, The Scarecrow and The Tinman in the only other depression era, visually game changing, three hour long epic the Wizard of Oz from 1939.

The CGI here has definitely removed the trauma I suffered from Jar Jar Binks. I thank Cameron for that!

S Clark · « **Reply #110 on:** 9 Jan 2010, 03:21 am »

Just saw the 3d Avatar tonight. Wow! It doesn't matter whether some don't like it- critics panned the Jazz Singer and talkies as "just a gimmick". This movie ranks with "The Wizard of Oz", the original Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and Matrix in that the viewers experience movies in a more engaging way than before.
Don't worry about the damned screenplay, just go see it for the experience. You will be amazed.

viggen · « **Reply #111 on:** 9 Jan 2010, 04:36 pm »

Well, I enjoyed the original Matrix more. The whole kungfu+ cartesian philosophy Matrix theme is more interesting than the Pocahontas+Iraq War folly Avatar theme.

Just my two cents that a few elements in the film were taking direct jabs at the Iraq war specifically private companies hiring a private army to do its dirty work all in the name of maximizing share holder wealth a la Haliburton/Blackwater.

Saw this movie last night. Was definitely entertained by the visuals which kept me entertained thoroughly for the entire 2 hrs and 45 mins. Definitely worth the $15.5 per admission. But, that's about it. Don't think I'd be watching it 5+ times as I did with Matrix.

pardales · « **Reply #112 on:** 9 Jan 2010, 04:41 pm »

The effects were thoroughly captivating. The 3D was fun. The story.....yeah as cliche Disney as everyone has said. Worth my $10. Good visual fun.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #113 on:** 9 Jan 2010, 04:54 pm »

Quote from: viggen on 9 Jan 2010, 04:36 pm

Well, I enjoyed the original Matrix more. The whole kungfu+ cartesian philosophy Matrix theme is more interesting than the Pocahontas+Iraq War folly Avatar theme.

Just my two cents that a few elements in the film were taking direct jabs at the Iraq war specifically private companies hiring a private army to do its dirty work all in the name of maximizing share holder wealth a la Haliburton/Blackwater.

Saw this movie last night. Was definitely entertained by the visuals which kept me entertained thoroughly for the entire 2 hrs and 45 mins. Definitely worth the $15.5 per admission. But, that's about it. Don't think I'd be watching it 5+ times as I did with Matrix.

SPOILER**********

When the natives' home tree was toppled, it reminded me a lot of 9/11 and peoples' reaction to the twin towers falling. And then the scene afterwards with the natives walking thru the ashes in the aftermath also reminded me of the 9/11 aftermath of people walking around lower Manhattan in all the dust...

*********END SPOILER

viggen · « **Reply #114 on:** 9 Jan 2010, 05:07 pm »

The tree came down side ways whereas Twin Towers came straight down.. heh.

satfrat · « **Reply #115 on:** 13 Jan 2010, 02:12 am »

4.5 out of 5 stars! Without a doubt 1 of the most entertaining movies I can remember seeing in a long time. I hated to see it end,,, well almost. I had to wizz like you read about it for the last 1/2 hour of the movie but I just grinned and beared it.

I wasn't gonna miss a second of that movie.

Frankly I loved the plot, storyline, definitely the visuals, sound effects,,,, I couldn't find any faults to that movie whatsoever.

If it weren't for the fact that towards the end of the 161 minute movie, I had to take a wizz so bad that i could taste it, I would have given this movie a 5 for 5!!!

Oh yeah, Sherlock Holmes sucked.

2.5 out of 5.

Cheers,
Robin

Tyson · « **Reply #116 on:** 13 Jan 2010, 02:30 am »

satfrat · « **Reply #117 on:** 13 Jan 2010, 02:41 am »

Quote from: Tyson on 13 Jan 2010, 02:30 am

Tyson · « **Reply #118 on:** 13 Jan 2010, 02:54 am »

Oh, I liked Avatar, I just thought it was a funny comparison.

satfrat · « **Reply #119 on:** 13 Jan 2010, 03:01 am »

Quote from: Tyson on 13 Jan 2010, 02:54 am

Oh, I liked Avatar, I just thought it was a funny comparison.

Well Tyson, I read every post, heard it all and after seeing the movie and at the end of the day, all I can say about all this & that is

. I got my money's worth in spades and I got out of there with dry pants.

Cheers,
Robin