Comments on: Review: AVATAR http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/2009/12/20/review-avatar/ Film, Comics, Music, and Books Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:58:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Nick http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/2009/12/20/review-avatar/comment-page-1/#comment-515 Nick Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:47:33 +0000 http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/?p=2043#comment-515 wow, 77 days in and Avatar is still making more money than all the other movies out. Granted it was a thursday, but damn. wow, 77 days in and Avatar is still making more money than all the other movies out. Granted it was a thursday, but damn.

]]> By: FAST CASH ADVANCES http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/2009/12/20/review-avatar/comment-page-1/#comment-372 FAST CASH ADVANCES Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:07:25 +0000 http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/?p=2043#comment-372 I loved the computer graphics on this show. It was one of the best movies yet. I loved the computer graphics on this show. It was one of the best movies yet.

]]> By: Mark http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/2009/12/20/review-avatar/comment-page-1/#comment-307 Mark Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:10:34 +0000 http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/?p=2043#comment-307 Pretty much Pocahontas meets some lame sci-fi tree hugging movie Pretty much Pocahontas meets some lame sci-fi tree hugging movie

]]> By: Mark http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/2009/12/20/review-avatar/comment-page-1/#comment-306 Mark Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:07:37 +0000 http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/?p=2043#comment-306 Yeah, I thought the movie was novelty more than anything. I have no need to ever see it again but it was cool seeing it in IMAX. The 'world is getting destroyed by humans' plot is just so overdone. Yeah, I thought the movie was novelty more than anything. I have no need to ever see it again but it was cool seeing it in IMAX. The ‘world is getting destroyed by humans’ plot is just so overdone.

]]> By: Nick http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/2009/12/20/review-avatar/comment-page-1/#comment-302 Nick Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:05:24 +0000 http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/?p=2043#comment-302 solaris is original sci-fi. I would even venture to say that the remake Steven Soderberg and JAMES 'FUCKING' CAMERON did was an original take on the original movie. Part of Tom's review points out that after ELEVEN years preping this movie, you would think the story/screenplay would have been better(I haven't seen the movie yet, I am simply paraphrasing). And it isn't like Cameron was distracted with other things(well atleast not other movies). He hasn't done a feature since Titanic. So, Cameron seems to have over focused on the visuals/world building and not focused on anything else(again, I haven't seen it yet so I am only paraphrasing). solaris is original sci-fi. I would even venture to say that the remake Steven Soderberg and JAMES ‘FUCKING’ CAMERON did was an original take on the original movie.
Part of Tom’s review points out that after ELEVEN years preping this movie, you would think the story/screenplay would have been better(I haven’t seen the movie yet, I am simply paraphrasing). And it isn’t like Cameron was distracted with other things(well atleast not other movies). He hasn’t done a feature since Titanic. So, Cameron seems to have over focused on the visuals/world building and not focused on anything else(again, I haven’t seen it yet so I am only paraphrasing).

]]> By: Tom Nix http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/2009/12/20/review-avatar/comment-page-1/#comment-300 Tom Nix Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:16:00 +0000 http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/?p=2043#comment-300 Every event in the film was telegraphed and predictable. This doesn't mean I wasn't entertained. James Cameron invited me into a world, but then kept me at arm's length with a terrible story with stock characters. I was never bored, or disconnected from what was going on. But, unlike other action films, i was never engaged with the story. I was a spectator rather than a participant. Giving a movie an almost 7/10 is not disliking a movie. I just feel a little cheated that the only part Cameron and Co didn't pay attention to is the one that actually could elevate an okay movie to a great one. In regards to the "different body" logic; it uses this idea to tell a totally generic "going native" story. How is this original, if the original idea is relegated to regurgitating every science fiction trope imaginable? The ONLY thing <strong>Avatar</strong> needed was a story to match its presentation, and I would be giving this movie a 9/10 or higher. As it stands, James Cameron was more intent to wow us with the tech he created than to tell a story that could have benefitted from those incredible effects. <strong>Avatar</strong> is an astonishingly okay movie. Nothing worse, and assuredly nothing better. Every event in the film was telegraphed and predictable. This doesn’t mean I wasn’t entertained. James Cameron invited me into a world, but then kept me at arm’s length with a terrible story with stock characters. I was never bored, or disconnected from what was going on. But, unlike other action films, i was never engaged with the story. I was a spectator rather than a participant.

Giving a movie an almost 7/10 is not disliking a movie. I just feel a little cheated that the only part Cameron and Co didn’t pay attention to is the one that actually could elevate an okay movie to a great one.

In regards to the “different body” logic; it uses this idea to tell a totally generic “going native” story. How is this original, if the original idea is relegated to regurgitating every science fiction trope imaginable? The ONLY thing Avatar needed was a story to match its presentation, and I would be giving this movie a 9/10 or higher. As it stands, James Cameron was more intent to wow us with the tech he created than to tell a story that could have benefitted from those incredible effects. Avatar is an astonishingly okay movie. Nothing worse, and assuredly nothing better.

]]> By: Shane http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/2009/12/20/review-avatar/comment-page-1/#comment-299 Shane Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:53:29 +0000 http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/?p=2043#comment-299 I was so immersed in the movie due to what was done right, I never found the story trite. When has anyone ever switched bodies to defect to a different race? That seemed rather original to me. My only complaint about the story was the way the good vs bad was beaten over your head, "OMG greed is bad, green is good!" So yes, I guess I do think the plot lacked subtlety. This is ok for an action movie, though. All in all, the story moved me - not as much as other movies, but enough to invest me in the world and its characters. That's more than enough for me to love a movie, especially one that does everything else so perfectly. I was so immersed in the movie due to what was done right, I never found the story trite. When has anyone ever switched bodies to defect to a different race? That seemed rather original to me.

My only complaint about the story was the way the good vs bad was beaten over your head, “OMG greed is bad, green is good!” So yes, I guess I do think the plot lacked subtlety. This is ok for an action movie, though.

All in all, the story moved me – not as much as other movies, but enough to invest me in the world and its characters. That’s more than enough for me to love a movie, especially one that does everything else so perfectly.

]]> By: Tom Nix http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/2009/12/20/review-avatar/comment-page-1/#comment-298 Tom Nix Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:29:59 +0000 http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/?p=2043#comment-298 <strong>Avatar</strong> is far and away above <strong>Transformers</strong>. It's a decidedly above average standard blockbuster. <strong>Terminator</strong>, again, is the difference between unoriginal and trite. The plot is nothing extraordinary, but the execution is what makes it work. <strong>Avatar</strong>'s hype is that it was a game changer for cinema. It wasn't. It had the same 3D environments that <strong>UP</strong> had, they just did it better. It's a step forward in visual storytelling, but it isn't a giant leap forward in cinematic terms. That all doesn't effect my score. Hype is hype, and has nothing to do with the film. I truly hope that I am not coming across as a hater. The film is fine, but it is more than a little frustrating to see a movie that obviously had so much love, time, and attention placed into it completely fail on the plot and characterizations. The world is nearly perfect (even if the animals are boring), but the reasons to stay IN that world - the characters, the story, the message - fall completely flat, and the only way to engage in this movie is to marvel at the presentation. But, at the same time, <strong>Avatar</strong> is a much stronger "blockbuster" than most of this year or any year. Like I said in the review; I would be happy to revisit this world in <strong>Avatar 2: Avatarder</strong> if James Cameron gave me a deeper reason to fall in love with Pandora. Avatar is far and away above Transformers. It’s a decidedly above average standard blockbuster. Terminator, again, is the difference between unoriginal and trite. The plot is nothing extraordinary, but the execution is what makes it work. Avatar’s hype is that it was a game changer for cinema. It wasn’t. It had the same 3D environments that UP had, they just did it better. It’s a step forward in visual storytelling, but it isn’t a giant leap forward in cinematic terms. That all doesn’t effect my score. Hype is hype, and has nothing to do with the film. I truly hope that I am not coming across as a hater. The film is fine, but it is more than a little frustrating to see a movie that obviously had so much love, time, and attention placed into it completely fail on the plot and characterizations. The world is nearly perfect (even if the animals are boring), but the reasons to stay IN that world – the characters, the story, the message – fall completely flat, and the only way to engage in this movie is to marvel at the presentation.

But, at the same time, Avatar is a much stronger “blockbuster” than most of this year or any year. Like I said in the review; I would be happy to revisit this world in Avatar 2: Avatarder if James Cameron gave me a deeper reason to fall in love with Pandora.

]]> By: Shane http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/2009/12/20/review-avatar/comment-page-1/#comment-297 Shane Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:18:40 +0000 http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/?p=2043#comment-297 Sure, Avatar had a $73 M opening for US and Canada, but got $232 M worldwide. I doubt this will be a financial disaster. Why is it that US box office numbers are the most primarily considered, anyway? Thus meaning sequels will likely be made, for which Cameron has already written stories for and stated that with an established world and background he can employ a richer story. Looks like you may get the best of both worlds in...4 more years. And honestly, NORMAL people actually liked the story and characters. I don't know, maybe normal people are dumb and easy to please. Did either Terminator have rich characters? Or hell, even that complex of a story? It seems to me that a lot of the negative attention that Avatar is receiving is sort of a preemptive complaint against its (And Cameron's) success, or some kind of attachment to the general disdain thrown (deservingly) at the Transformers movies. Avatar is nowhere near the same plane as Transformers, so it bugs me that it is getting similar treatment by the more intelligent movie-goers. Sure, Avatar had a $73 M opening for US and Canada, but got $232 M worldwide. I doubt this will be a financial disaster. Why is it that US box office numbers are the most primarily considered, anyway?

Thus meaning sequels will likely be made, for which Cameron has already written stories for and stated that with an established world and background he can employ a richer story. Looks like you may get the best of both worlds in…4 more years.

And honestly, NORMAL people actually liked the story and characters. I don’t know, maybe normal people are dumb and easy to please. Did either Terminator have rich characters? Or hell, even that complex of a story? It seems to me that a lot of the negative attention that Avatar is receiving is sort of a preemptive complaint against its (And Cameron’s) success, or some kind of attachment to the general disdain thrown (deservingly) at the Transformers movies. Avatar is nowhere near the same plane as Transformers, so it bugs me that it is getting similar treatment by the more intelligent movie-goers.

]]> By: Tom Nix http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/2009/12/20/review-avatar/comment-page-1/#comment-296 Tom Nix Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:05:42 +0000 http://www.theredcircle.com/blog/?p=2043#comment-296 The reason I gave it such a high score was <em>because</em> of the world building. Pandora is a great planet (well, moon), and one that has a lot of promise. But I felt nothing for any of the characters at all during the entire runtime of the movie. Also, Ian, trite and unoriginal are different things. <strong>A Fistful of Dollars</strong> is highly unoriginal, but it works. Hell, <strong>The Lord of the Rings</strong> isn't so hot plotwise either. But the characters are given time to simmer and develop. <strong>Avatar</strong> is simply content to go through the motions with a beautiful backdrop and expect the gorgeous effects and environments to keep the audience involved. It doesn't work. Aside from viewing couple of strong action scenes down the line on a 3D HDTV, I have no need to watch this movie again. The reason I gave it such a high score was because of the world building. Pandora is a great planet (well, moon), and one that has a lot of promise. But I felt nothing for any of the characters at all during the entire runtime of the movie. Also, Ian, trite and unoriginal are different things. A Fistful of Dollars is highly unoriginal, but it works. Hell, The Lord of the Rings isn’t so hot plotwise either. But the characters are given time to simmer and develop. Avatar is simply content to go through the motions with a beautiful backdrop and expect the gorgeous effects and environments to keep the audience involved. It doesn’t work. Aside from viewing couple of strong action scenes down the line on a 3D HDTV, I have no need to watch this movie again.

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