Interesting assessment, darkmirage.

Originally, when I saw the trailer, I thought to myself “Oh god. What a predictable movie, I’d rather watch Sherlock Holmes.” However, my Mom got really into it, and decided she wanted to see it.

So I went in the theater somewhat biased against the movie, convinced it would turn out like crap.

I was wrong.

I agree that the visuals are the strongest aspect of the show. They really draw the person in, and the effort spent on the landscape definitely pays off.

That said, I do wish that the natives would have lost the fight, considering that would be in-line with colonialism in the real world (as much as I like the Na’vi, I was jumping with joy when they blew up their home, convincing myself there would be a tragic ending), but I guess in order to make the audience feel good inside, they had to end it well.

And really, what is wrong with appreciating how close to reality animation can get? Do you also have a beef against photo-realistic paintings? I mean, why don’t those people stop wasting their time and just use a camera?

You narrowed your mind and missed the point. I can’t fill a cup that is already full. ;)

Erm…. just go and watch a live action movie instead?

And like the “amazing details” will be more amazing if you watch the movie “at least twice”. Seriously, wtf?

Most of my friend say that it’s being boring where the part James Cameron tried to introduce the world of Pandora to us the Viewer but I personally think that, Because we had been introduced so deep into their world so that we will understand how much they loved for their planet and so we will fell the angry of losing it.

Anyway, just watched it once in normal screening. Really wish to go for 3D screening again.

I saw Avatar in 3D last week and I while I was expecting very little from the movie, it turned out to be a pleasant experience. The story, while simple and predictable, wasn’t riddled with plotholes and shortcuts. The strange world and the Na’vi people were unique and intriguing. But it was really Ney’tiri that kept me interested ^^;

Definitely had flaws though. The movie slowed down in some areas and other parts of the film seemed entirely unnecessary. The whole scene with Grace dying and the chant made me think “wtf”. Her and a lot of the other side characters were not well developed and I had no interest or care for them.

You say the 3D version had less detail than the 2D version? I was wondering that myself. I probably will not see it again in the theater but will definitely look forward to a blu-ray release of it.

The story was so predictable I didn’t even need to follow the dialogue to go through it, and instead that really freed me up to appreciate the beauty of Pandora.

I will say, this is the first CGI + live action movie to successfully combine both aspects together in a smooth manner. Obviously there are some “uncanny valley” parts, but overall, the merge between CGI and live action was really smooth. I could almost believe the Hallelujah Mountains were actually real.

Aside from that, I am very impressed with James Cameron’s vision and perseverance in to making this movie. I read a very interesting article somewhere that stated he actually spent nearly 10 years to develop the cameras and technology required to make this film after Titanic and it truly has paid off.

I’m definitely looking forward to any future installments of Avatar, pretty much imminent since it’s already grossed over USD 1bn worldwide according to BBC. I just hope the story in the sequels will be much more compelling than the 2D-ness of the first movie.

Somehow, certain things that appeared in the movie were remniscent of some other…controversial stuff. The movie itself reminded me of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and Pocahontas.

Lol 3D subtitles rock, they’re like floating words in the middle of nowhere. I was at the side of the cinema so the subtitles looked strangely skewed, as did the rest of the supposedly wonderful 3d effects.

I couldn’t watch it in 2D because of the horribly late showtimes.
Wonder if it will look the same on my laptop screen though…..

I want to learn Na’vi too!

I’ve remember hearing that Cameron said he was going to make two more sequels, if this movie was a success.

I watched it in 3D, but I have to say that is was this human-like expressions slightly put me off the film tbh. The Navi aren’t human but their expressions and facial structures are almost exactly human. Not a major problem but for some reason it was quite jarring.

As you pointed out though, the story is completely predictable, and for me that is certainly what kills the film. What do you get out of watching something you know what is going to happen? I did like the angle they took with the disabled guy but they spend so little time with him that it didn’t matter.

I never normally have a problem with emotionally investing in CGI/Anime characters but I really couldn’t care less what happened to the characters in Avatar. I can’t even remember half of their names, but when the lady who flew the ship died I didn’t care, when the leader of that Navi tribe died I was hoping the scene ended sooner.

When the red head was dying and they where chanting everyone in the cinema was laughing. I cared a little when she died but I knew it was coming.

So in all no I don’t want to learn Navi but if there is an Avatar 2 I will probably see it in 2D and save money.

P.S. 3D Subtitles are awesome.