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Alex B.

I liked that the 3D was subtle. None of that gimmicky crap with people pointing at the camera and what not.
 
When the XBox 360 came out, my good friend bought only the most beautiful games available for the system, regardless of if they sucked or not. He'd show it off to anyone who came into his house. Eventually, he realized that pretty != good, and dropped them in favor of more fun games.

The 3D movie thing is sort of like that. There was a time when every 3D movie needed 3D gimmicks because "HEY, LOOK WHAT WE CAN DO!" I think we're past that now, though, and the 3D is just there to enhance the experience rather than to be the poor setup to a lame joke. I was proud of UP! when they didn't resort to gimmickry.

I feel like we've grown.
 
Honestly Rob, I always felt that 3D was a gimmick until this movie. Totally changed my mind about what it can do. It's been a long time since I felt so immersed in the world of the film.
 
I know I'm alone here, but I for one LIKE gimmicky 3D, and felt like the extra immersion I got from the movie was not worth the headache and $3 if I wasn't gonna have huge awesome stuff thrown at my face.
 
Super high tech cinema?

Dudes, I live in a third world country and even *I* get access to the Real3D transparent 3D glasses awesomeness... 15 minutes from my house. For a bit less than 7 USD a ticket, which is expensive as FUCK for a movie ticket down here. Top notch theater, too.

I haven't seen bi-colored 3D glasses since like the late 90s.
At leat you dont see Avatar, in its Real 3D glory, with shitty portuguese dubbing.

In Brazil, its Portuguese dubbed, or subbed, except the subbed version isnt in 3D (and I have no idea how one could put subs in a 3D movie)[/QUOTE]

That sucks. Here we had all 4 options.. dubbed and subbed in 3D and dubbed and subbed in 2D.

The subtitles in the 3D version are actually pretty well done, they are in an actual "layer" of the 3D and they even show behind some stuff that's "popping out" (mainly screens from the bunker and other translucent stuff that doesn't really block them).
 
Z

Zumbo Prime

In another forum, a lot of people seem to be offended and disgusted by the shallow depth and the weak story of the movie. I'm probably going to watch it again.
 
On a Chinese forum, a bunch of Chinese were disgusted that the guy betrayed the human race. *That* is what they had a problem with.
 

ElJuski

Staff member
In another forum, a lot of people seem to be offended and disgusted by the shallow depth and the weak story of the movie. I'm probably going to watch it again.
The important thing is if you personally know how fucking moronic the movie is. if you are entertained, and understand it's inspid, well, huzzah.
 
I don't get why anyone was expecting more from such an obviously effects based film... frankly i was surprised the story didn't suck more.

On a Chinese forum, a bunch of Chinese were disgusted that the guy betrayed the human race. *That* is what they had a problem with.

Why, i mean people do it all the time for simple profit (should i get you some lead for your toys sir?).
 

fade

Staff member
In another forum, a lot of people seem to be offended and disgusted by the shallow depth and the weak story of the movie. I'm probably going to watch it again.
The important thing is if you personally know how fucking moronic the movie is. if you are entertained, and understand it's inspid, well, huzzah.[/QUOTE]

Which is pretty much the only way you can find any Disneyesque movie entertaining. Though I don't think I'd call it insipid so much as trite. I've eaten burgers a bunch of times, but I still don't find them insipid.
 
A

Alex B.

How is it different from something like Star Wars, which was equally full of cliche and relied heavily on effects?
 

fade

Staff member
Seriously? Star Wars was full of cliche story bits, but with fresh characters, interesting personalities, and effects that we hadn't seen a billion times before. It deviated strongly from the norm in so many ways, whereas Avatar just feels so off-the-shelf in every way.
 
A

Alex B.

I'll grant that Star Wars had much more memorable characters and is infinitely more quotable, but otherwise it's basically just a remake of The Hidden Fortress with more whining and space battles ripped from old World War II movies/stock footage.

Don't get me wrong, I love Star Wars, but nostalgia clouds our view of it.
 
I'll grant that Star Wars had much more memorable characters and is infinitely more quotable, but otherwise it's basically just a remake of The Hidden Fortress with more whining and space battles ripped from old World War II movies/stock footage.

Don't get me wrong, I love Star Wars, but nostalgia clouds our view of it.
Do you know anyone in the US that has seen Hidden Fortress? I didn't even know SW took ideas from Hidden Fortress until I saw the Criterion Collection. I know 2 people that have seen Hidden Fortress and I have a bunch of movie-nerd friends. They have all seen Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, and Rashomon.

Besides, think of when SW came out. Compare it to the movies of it's time, and especially sci-fi movies. There was nothing like it. It was revolutionary. Avatar was all style, but no substance.
 
I totally agree with Roger Ebert:
Watching "Avatar," I felt sort of the same as when I saw "Star Wars" in 1977. That was another movie I walked into with uncertain expectations. James Cameron's film has been the subject of relentlessly dubious advance buzz, just as his "Titanic" was. Once again, he has silenced the doubters by simply delivering an extraordinary film. There is still at least one man in Hollywood who knows how to spend $250 million, or was it $300 million, wisely.
I find it hilarious that people are making the pretentious assertion that one must view this movie as moronic. Go watch Transformers 2 then Avatar and let me know what's moronic. The story isn't brilliant nor original but far from moronic, in my opinion of course. If someone else's is negative of it great but lets avoid the "Ur dumb if you don't think this thing is dumber!" malarky.

Unless it's Transformer 2.
 

ElJuski

Staff member
I totally agree with Roger Ebert:
Watching "Avatar," I felt sort of the same as when I saw "Star Wars" in 1977. That was another movie I walked into with uncertain expectations. James Cameron's film has been the subject of relentlessly dubious advance buzz, just as his "Titanic" was. Once again, he has silenced the doubters by simply delivering an extraordinary film. There is still at least one man in Hollywood who knows how to spend $250 million, or was it $300 million, wisely.
I find it hilarious that people are making the pretentious assertion that one must view this movie as moronic. Go watch Transformers 2 then Avatar and let me know what's moronic. The story isn't brilliant nor original but far from moronic, in my opinion of course. If someone else's is negative of it great but lets avoid the "Ur dumb if you don't think this thing is dumber!" bullshit.

Unless it's Transformer 2.
Dude, it doesn't mean it's not entertaining. But that story is dumb and cheeseball as hell. Yes, Transformers 2 is much worse, but relatively, dumb is a deep well. And yeah, sorry you're being so offended throughout this thread...but really, come on. There's so much better storytelling offered in the universe at large. You know, it can be a fun, entertaining movie and still be stupid! There's not much offered in this movie in the way of anything more than broad paint strokes and pilfering from really old story types. If it still entertains you, hey, great. But I think people should realize that fact--and because of that or despite that--come to their conclusions.

I don't think it's bullshit at all. And I think that, even by jokingly adding Transformers 2 as "it's okay", you're only setting up a standard for yourself, which you're angry about because you actually like this movie. But can you really say that there's any merit beyond dumb romance and jockey action going on here? The only substance in this movie is the pretty moving things on the screen.
 
:aaahhh: If you think I'm offended or angry then I think you have seriously misread my posts (heck I even edited out my naughty word as you were writing your reply because I thought it sounded pissy and thats not what I meant at all, malarky much better suits my views). I"m enjoying the discussion on it and agree with much of the good and bad of the movie.

It sounds like the movie offended some here and you are annoyed that anyone dares disagree with your personal opinion of it.
I could care less if anyone likes the movie or if it just makes them want to have a Wes Anderson marathon to wipe the memory from your mind (which is how I got rid of my memories of Transformers 2, so I can promise you it does work) or if you thought it was awesome, just that to say we all must, MUST understand that it's moronic with kind of a vague "or else you are an idiot" tone is silly. I've said over and over that it's nothing special or new in the story department, I don't even disagree with the assertion that someone could watch it and think it's moronic, but that blanket pretentiousness is, as I already said, better reserved for truly horrible stuff.

Of course it's just my opinion. It was fun and cliche'd but done well. I wish that didn't bother you but I really can't do anything about it. Will it make you feel better if I say I agree the story, in it's basic form WAS dumb (or maybe actually "simple" is a better term)? We can just disagree on how the dumb story was executed.
 

ElJuski

Staff member
None of this bothers me in any way. You can all have your opinions. I just think that people purporting that the story has any depth in it are wrong :p Obviously calling them morons is a bit harsh, so yes, sorry for calling those hypothetical people morons.
 
None of this bothers me in any way. You can all have your opinions. I just think that people purporting that the story has any depth in it are wrong :p Obviously calling them morons is a bit harsh, so yes, sorry for calling those hypothetical people morons.
See when you start calling people names because they disagree with you thats usually when I assume someone is offended. Thats why I haven't called you a boogersnotface. To hide my offense. You boogersnotface. :tongue:
 

ElJuski

Staff member
And, Krisken, I think it's fine to say that you enjoyed the movie. My god, I love True Lies, another shlocky James Cameron flick. But it is completely insipid in its story. Doesn't make me stupid; I like it for what it is. I'm just saying let's just call a dumb movie a dumb movie.
 

ElJuski

Staff member
None of this bothers me in any way. You can all have your opinions. I just think that people purporting that the story has any depth in it are wrong :p Obviously calling them morons is a bit harsh, so yes, sorry for calling those hypothetical people morons.
See when you start calling people names because they disagree with you thats usually when I assume someone is offended. Thats why I haven't called you a boogersnotface. To hide my offense. You boogersnotface.[/QUOTE]

I'm not offended. Just being a dick on the internet >: ]
 

fade

Staff member
See, everyone keeps saying "story story story", but what got me more than the story was that, well, everything else felt so done, too. I could swear I've seen all those ships before, and exoskeletons that looked just like that, and the unimaginative Na'vi...
 

ElJuski

Staff member
Personally, I hated the animal designs. The whole thing felt like it was trying to copy the new digitally added crap in the re-done Star Wars. I did like the mechs, though! Those I can honestly say I found entertaining. And the Colonel. I still love him to bits.
 
See, everyone keeps saying "story story story", but what got me more than the story was that, well, everything else felt so done, too. I could swear I've seen all those ships before, and exoskeletons that looked just like that, and the unimaginative Na'vi...

Meh, videogames have everything = simpsons did it...
 
And, Krisken, I think it's fine to say that you enjoyed the movie. My god, I love True Lies, another shlocky James Cameron flick. But it is completely insipid in its story. Doesn't make me stupid; I like it for what it is. I'm just saying let's just call a dumb movie a dumb movie.
I know, I'm just messing around. I'm just surprised the movie got so many comments. It's pretty. The story is predictable and unsurprising and foreshadows so heavily it feels like you're being hit in the head with the script.

Yup, dumb movie is dumb. Still surprisingly fun to watch.
 
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