"Avatar" on DVD

[Cmonster]

It’s a matter of taste more than anything else.

Really good point, Don. Well said...

The more refined your tastes, the more refined a movie you're prone to appreciate.

SC

[ctc]

>The fact that some people choose to nitpick this film and make comments about the story not being original or whatever, REALLY bothers me.

It depends on what you get out of a movie. I’m one of them folks that cares more about the ideas than the execution. Hence my affection for 50's B-Movies: poorly executed, cheap, repetitive, but you’re guaranteed a weird monster. (Note I didn’t say “good.”) Effects don’t do it for me ‘cos after seeing them and going “yeah; that’s neat,” I still got 1.25 hours of movie to get through.

But that’s me. Most folks enjoy the spectacle more than anything else. Avatar delivers that. The story is really typical; but I don’t think most folks care. (If they did, Bruce Willis wouldn’t be a star.) It’s a matter of taste more than anything else.

Don C.

[gummi]

I wasn't too keen on the movie myself, which was really disappointing as I've loved all of James Cameron's other movies. Neither the characters nor the story did anything to draw me in or make me care about their plight, and without the visual effects I don't think I would have sat through the whole thing. It was a one-time watch for me. On a side note, I never realized that James Cameron is a hippie tree-hugger.

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

How did I miss this ??? SC is Sandy Collora!!!!

You freakin Rock man! Batman Dead End Was-IS one of the best made superhero films of any length! Without dialogue you tell a tale that draws me in - your sets, design, art, and direction is top notch.

You hold a high place in superhero geekdome.

And as far as not being a fan of Avatar - I truly do appreciate the amount of work hat went into it - i marvel at the visual effects. I enjoyed the movie. I just really think the story was predictable, trite and uncreative. Cameron makes huge dollar movies because he uses predictable stories - things people expect coupled with the visuals. (huge marketing effort puts him over the top - the smartest marketing he does is uses the visuals to push the free marketing - every news venue carries it)

And not only is he famous, and an awesome filmaker with his own studio, but more importantly, he is a really nice guy!

[Cmonster]

Brue,

Thanks so much for the kind words regarding my work. I really appreciate it.

To some degree, you're right; The last two movies Cameron has made, have been pretty predictable, but the point I'm making is that he's such a talented writer and filmmaker, that even though you know how "Titanic" and "Avatar" are going to end, HOW he gets the audience to that ending is where the magic of his work, truly lies. It's not about marketing. Marketing has absolutely nothing to do with it. Some of the most heavily marketed films in Hollywood history, have been enormous flops. Good, smart marketing and a flashy trailer will get people into the theater on opening weekend, but the box office dollars that Cameron's last two films have amassed, is because of repeated viewings. Think about it; Would people pay 10 dollars (15 in the case of "Avatar") to see a movie they hated, or thought was terrible, multiple times?

SC

[BlackKnight]

I really liked the Idea of the Alien Beings somewhat belonging to real life internet, and being able to download and become compatible with other creatures of the world.

I enjoyed the Movie, thought the Blue Chick was Hot, but I also think that Chick who played her is Hot.

Them Dragons were Awesome imo.

I wasn't blown away by the over all Dances with Wolves theme, and the Movie was really far too predicable with the final outcomes of the story , to think that outside the Visual Eye Candy, it was ground Breaking.

It's a good Popcorn Flick.
I still like his Terminator World Better.

[Brue]

The same could also be said for your Batman dead end it had more substance in that 7 minutes than Burtons visions together.

Just my 2 cents...

How did I miss this ??? SC is Sandy Collora!!!!

You freakin Rock man! Batman Dead End Was-IS one of the best made superhero films of any length! Without dialogue you tell a tale that draws me in - your sets, design, art, and direction is top notch.

You hold a high place in superhero geekdome.

And as far as not being a fan of Avatar - I truly do appreciate the amount of work hat went into it - i marvel at the visual effects. I enjoyed the movie. I just really think the story was predictable, trite and uncreative. Cameron makes huge dollar movies because he uses predictable stories - things people expect coupled with the visuals. (huge marketing effort puts him over the top - the smartest marketing he does is uses the visuals to push the free marketing - every news venue carries it)

[Hector]

Wow. Lots of Avatar indifference in here and jabs at the script/story. Wow... Interesting.

I guess because I'm a filmmaker and have worked in the industry for 25 years and have also worked closely with Cameron, I have a much different perspective. I see the almost insurmountable task and sheer amount of work that goes into a picture like this one. Especially when you're not only making the film, but developing and pioneering technology along the way. Most people just live with this film for the 3 hours it's on the screen and that's it. That's actually the way 99% of people experience every film they see. Trust me, it's much different when your own sweat equity is put into something like this. Mind you, I didn't work on "Avatar", as I was neck deep in directing my first feature film at the time, but I've worked on big shows like that, and am inexorably aware of the level of detail and amount of hard work that goes into something like this.

I'll preface this by saying in no way, is this directed at anyone personally. Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinions and I respect them. That being said; The fact that some people choose to nitpick this film and make comments about the story not being original or whatever, REALLY bothers me.

Cameron is our greatest living storyteller. He is a phenomenal writer and director and the fact that he's been responsible for not one, but the TWO biggest cinematic moneymakers of all time, is no accident or mere happenstance, believe me. He has a way, like no other director I've certainly worked with, to tap into that humanity and pulse inside all of us and makes us really care about what he's putting up on that screen, whether the story is an original concept or not. Box office numbers don't lie.

Just my 2.

SC

I agree with your 2...

[cjefferys]

I borrowed my friend's Blu-ray disc and liked the film much more than I thought I would. I went into it with skepticism (pressed play, arms folded, "OK, movie, impress me. Let's see what the big fuss is about") but found myself totally engrossed in the film. And my god, if it wasn't the best looking Blu-ray I've yet seen. This film looks absolutely stunning in hi def, the intense, deep colours, the incredible detail. Maybe not the same as seeing it in 3D theatrically, but I found the disc to be fantastic eye candy, and it also wasn't just style with no substance, IMO. I've got my own Blu-ray on order now.

[kennermike]

I can truly see your point and can respect your perspective of what went into the process of the film.You have a deeper understanding for the film and process also the working relationship you have stated to have with Cameron.
So to you this film is more personal.
Is Cameron a great Director sure,filmmaker sure great storyteller sure.What made the films box office hits is he did what no one else had done much like star wars back in the day.But to me the visuals far exceeded any story that there was.Not bashing the film I really enjoyed it but I was not impressed by the story.
If you take away the visuals of this film it has no substance.The same could be said for Titanic.It was just a simple love story it is the visual sinking of the Titanic that drove people into the theatres to see it.
If you take the visuals away from say terminator the film still has story.
The same could be said for Alien.They did not have the kind of visuals he has now and are amazing films.

Much the same as your new film looks to me.Not huge Hollywood budget effects, but looks very,very intriguing to me.The same could also be said for your Batman dead end it had more substance in that 7 minutes than Burtons visions together.

Just my 2 cents...

I agree my 2 cents

[fallensaviour]

Wow. Lots of Avatar indifference in here and jabs at the script/story. Wow... Interesting.

I guess because I'm a filmmaker and have worked in the industry for 25 years and have also worked closely with Cameron, I have a much different perspective. I see the almost insurmountable task and sheer amount of work that goes into a picture like this one. Especially when you're not only making the film, but developing and pioneering technology along the way. Most people just live with this film for the 3 hours it's on the screen and that's it. That's actually the way 99% of people experience every film they see. Trust me, it's much different when your own sweat equity is put into something like this. Mind you, I didn't work on "Avatar", as I was neck deep in directing my first feature film at the time, but I've worked on big shows like that, and am inexorably aware of the level of detail and amount of hard work that goes into something like this.

I'll preface this by saying in no way, is this directed at anyone personally. Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinions and I respect them. That being said; The fact that some people choose to nitpick this film and make comments about the story not being original or whatever, REALLY bothers me.

Cameron is our greatest living storyteller. He is a phenomenal writer and director and the fact that he's been responsible for not one, but the TWO biggest cinematic moneymakers of all time, is no accident or mere happenstance, believe me. He has a way, like no other director I've certainly worked with, to tap into that humanity and pulse inside all of us and makes us really care about what he's putting up on that screen, whether the story is an original concept or not. Box office numbers don't lie.

Just my 2.

SC

I can truly see your point and can respect your perspective of what went into the process of the film.You have a deeper understanding for the film and process also the working relationship you have stated to have with Cameron.
So to you this film is more personal.
Is Cameron a great Director sure,filmmaker sure great storyteller sure.What made the films box office hits is he did what no one else had done much like star wars back in the day.But to me the visuals far exceeded any story that there was.Not bashing the film I really enjoyed it but I was not impressed by the story.
If you take away the visuals of this film it has no substance.The same could be said for Titanic.It was just a simple love story it is the visual sinking of the Titanic that drove people into the theatres to see it.
If you take the visuals away from say terminator the film still has story.
The same could be said for Alien.They did not have the kind of visuals he has now and are amazing films.

Much the same as your new film looks to me.Not huge Hollywood budget effects, but looks very,very intriguing to me.The same could also be said for your Batman dead end it had more substance in that 7 minutes than Burtons visions together.

Just my 2 cents...

[Nostalgiabuff]

I loved the movie. what's more, my wife, who is not a big Scifi buff, loved it as well.

and yes, the blue chick is smokin.

[Cmonster]

Wow. Lots of Avatar indifference in here and jabs at the script/story. Wow... Interesting.

I guess because I'm a filmmaker and have worked in the industry for 25 years and have also worked closely with Cameron, I have a much different perspective. I see the almost insurmountable task and sheer amount of work that goes into a picture like this one. Especially when you're not only making the film, but developing and pioneering technology along the way. Most people just live with this film for the 3 hours it's on the screen and that's it. That's actually the way 99% of people experience every film they see. Trust me, it's much different when your own sweat equity is put into something like this. Mind you, I didn't work on "Avatar", as I was neck deep in directing my first feature film at the time, but I've worked on big shows like that, and am inexorably aware of the level of detail and amount of hard work that goes into something like this.

I'll preface this by saying in no way, is this directed at anyone personally. Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinions and I respect them. That being said; The fact that some people choose to nitpick this film and make comments about the story not being original or whatever, REALLY bothers me.

Cameron is our greatest living storyteller. He is a phenomenal writer and director and the fact that he's been responsible for not one, but the TWO biggest cinematic moneymakers of all time, is no accident or mere happenstance, believe me. He has a way, like no other director I've certainly worked with, to tap into that humanity and pulse inside all of us and makes us really care about what he's putting up on that screen, whether the story is an original concept or not. Box office numbers don't lie.

Just my 2.

SC

[Brue]

it was an average story at best. it is the Disney Pocahontas script with new names.

it was a spectacular thing to see in HD 3D on the big screen.

i see absolutely no reason to watch this on TV.

[fallensaviour]

That was Zoe Saldana. She played Uhura in the recent Star Trek film. She was also in the first Pirates film. Very attractive actress.

Thanks I knew she looked familiar.