I wanted there to be a place where you can talk about one of the most hyped movies of the year, the one, the only, AVATAR.
If You Have Seen The Movie
What did you think of the movie? Did it live up to the hype? Was it everything you’ve hoped for? Are you a re-ignited James Cameron fan? Was it disappointing? Was the story easy to follow? Please leave your comments below (spoiler free) on what you thought about AVATAR.
If You Have Not Seen The Movie
Are you going to? What is your opinion of it without having seen it? Will you buy a ticket for it this year or wait until it comes out on DVD or let this one pass?
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bharathy
hi..im new for these blogs.i want to share my openion abt Avatar..I,ve watched 3 times..really it is a milestone of cinema technology..
but im soo impressed by theam of this movie..it reanalyses abt europian colonization history that how did they destroyed 3rd world country ppl who live with the nature..this movie strongly focus that we r part of the nature and what r we doing and destroying our nature by the name of morden culture!!!
December 29, 2009 at 10:24 am
Dan
bharathy, what do you think about the talk of a possible Avatar sequel? Was it worth a sequel?
December 29, 2009 at 3:39 pm
johnny thunders
i’m not even sure why people are going to see this movie. the trailer looks so boring.
i want to see it in imax, just to see it for the advancements in technology, but i hear nothing good about the story.
December 31, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Steven
I enjoyed the movie as what movies are meant to be: entertainment. Sure, the plot line was a bit of the same old same old: another film analyzing all of humanities greatest mistakes. It felt a bit like we had melded Pocahontas with WALL-E and the added cool effects and swearing. But really, what is man if not a species that continuously makes the same mistake, slightly differently, and often on a grander scale. What AVATAR does is create a BELIEVABLE reality wherein humans have expanded beyond the borders of our world. It seems strange to see our own race portrayed as the bad guys, until you realize that we’ve always been such, we were just usually fighting each other. The world of Pandora is lush and very well thought out, in part because we’re obviously meant to feel a connection and sympathy for its inhabitants. So, to answer the critics: no, the plot is not a new and exciting idea. But why does it have to be? It’s a fresh and interesting take on an old trend. I don’t think every movie that comes out needs to be a complete work of creative genius. What this movie does is spin an old archetype in a new direction. When it comes down to it, that’s all some of the greatest movies ever do. Think about the focus of Lord of the Rings and the perpetual use of archetype in Star Wars. Overall, I was complete immersed in this film, from the 3D experience to the narrative. I even found it hard to root for one side in particular. Some of the humans are clearly meant to be bad guys. And yet, some are clearly just caught in the middle. That’s where the film really succeeds. We love to watch our own race make the right decisions, and we cheer when they take our side.
Also, the 3D isworth doing for one scene alone, where the ash of a forest fire literally falls onto you. BEAUTIFUL!
January 1, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Christopher
I agree quite a bit with Steven. While the theme has been explored many times before, and the main plot was a little predictable, it didn’t matter while I was watching. There were very few times that I came back to personal awareness, and reminded myself that then ending would be the predictable ending. The fact that I completely lost myself in the film made this really stand out for me. I didn’t care that I knew how the general story would resolve–I wanted to know how the characters’ lives would change, and how they would progress. From that standpoint, I would argue that this is not a plot-driven story. Like so many of my favourites, this is a character story.
I am not a James Cameron fan. I found his ego hard to take when Titanic came out, but he has certainly created a masterpiece with this film.
The discussion isn’t complete without touching on the technology. The state of the animation is spectacular. My local theatre doesn’t have the ability to show 3D, so I may have to travel an hour away just to see it. From what I saw in 2D, however, I was very pleased that the imagery didn’t become the story, and it didn’t become gimick-y. That is to say that the story was well-planned, the characters were real (the main villain had less depth, but was still integral to the story), and the imagery was just that.
Dan asked about a sequel, and I would readily watch a sequel, although I would prefer it to be left open. I would love to revisit the location and characters, but it would be better to let them be. If there were a sequel, I would prefer it to be different characters with no overlap to the characters from this movie. Maybe a number of generations in the future, or the plight of a captured Na’vi as she/he struggles to return–or even survive in our world…
January 5, 2010 at 11:01 am
Dan
Steven and Christopher, those are both well thought-out comments and I appreciate the honesty.
I have not seen Avatar yet but I wanted to know, does the hype ruin the film, help the film, or does nothing to the film? I am a little fearful that all of the hype will cloud my view of it.
thoughts?
January 5, 2010 at 11:07 am
Christopher
Honestly, I avoid previews and the like if at all possible. Too many movies have a precis instead of a preview these days. I didn’t know what the story was when I went. I watched the trailer when I got home, and it gives more than it should.
January 5, 2010 at 11:15 am
Steven
I think I agree. Trailers are mostly hype-engines nowadays. Really, the movie going experience today tends to be a bit of a sensation of unraveling the mystery… what is this really about? Sometimes that makes it fun (Avatar- I can’t wait to put the pieces together) and other times it makes it infuriating (The Book of Eli- what IS that about?).
January 5, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Lynn
Avatar is a deeply spiritual movie. The “love” story was simply framework for the incorporation of the spirituality. I want to see it again soo.
January 9, 2010 at 11:34 pm
Jeff
Just saw Avatar for the first time, and while I gotta say that it was an incredible flick, with real emotion and decently conceived dialog, there were a couple holes that hurt the experience for me – one more than the others. What the hell is up with the floating mountains? I mean, I get it Mr. Cameron – you’re making a ridiculously visual, very fantasy oriented film. However – this movie was made under the guise of sci-fi. Usually sci-fi authors try to keep within the realm of “maybe kinda sorta somewhat believably possible”. Floating mountains for the sake of floating mountains just don’t make the sci-fi grade. That was lame, and it took me out of the movie. Also, transmitting your consciousness to another organic being is a bit of a stretch… but seeing as it’s the basis of the whole movie, I’ll let it slide. It would also have been nice to hear more about the retardedly named “unobtainium”. Why is it so valuable? Is it a fuel? Do we even need fuel at this point, seeing as we’re obviously many light-years from Earth? Does it make like, the best goddamn chicken noodle soup in the universe? Sigh… not explained well enough, although I’ll cut you some slack James – the movie was already 3 freakin hours long (not that I’m complaining, loved every minute), why make it 10 seconds longer explaining the REASON THE HUMANS ARE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE? Whatever – it’s the mountains that piss me off the most. One more thing though – what’s with everyone saying this movie has the best special effects of any movie ever, hands down? Uh… I’m sorry… you guys need to jump back 5 or so years and go watch Episode 3. Holy shit. Star Wars SHITS on the graphics in Avatar – it’s not close. You think rendering a jungle is hard? Try an entire planet covered in city blocks. You think the helicopters and shuttle were well done? Check out the scene where the giant cruiser crash-lands on Coruscant. Get back to me.
May 2, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Adam
Even though I saw it twice and bought the dvd I’m still going to go see it again in the theater. I just read this http://www.ology.com/screen/avatar-returns-theaters and went nuts!
July 8, 2010 at 2:10 pm