Topic: Latest Avatar Trailer

[Critter]

There's a lot of hype about this film and I was wondering, based on the trailers what you all think? Personally I think it looks visually stunning and I can't wait to see it.
Not sure how to embed youtube videos.

[Dragonfire]

I think it looks interesting, though I'm still not completely sure what it is supposed to be about.  I'll probably give it a chance.

[Achim]

I am a fan of Cameron's work. He can even make a schmaltzy love story interesting (to an extent), but is usually best with the full-blown action stuff; obviously Aliens or True Lies.

When the title Avatar was first announced I somehow was very skeptical as I had no idea where this was going. However, after seeing the trailers I think it's a great idea with loads of potential and even if that fails it may still make for a great visual experience. I am not so convinced about the 3D (I wear glasses, but did otherwise enjoy the opening of the last Harry Potter) but we'll see.

Cameron has yet to disappoint me. Is it time...?

[Critter]

While I love most of Cameron's work I was not a fan of Titanic. It just wasn't my type of film.

I think I agree with you both when I say I'm still unsure of the storyline but more than anything this looks like it will be great visually. As someone who is obsessed with special effects, especially creature design I was pratically drooling over the keyboard while watching the native people and all those wonderful creatures.

[Najemikon]

I think this is going to be an overall disappointment. While the action sequences look astonishing, the amount of cgi is so much that it looks like a cartoon, not helped by how ridiculous the blue-skinned natives are. Plus as some have already pointed out, the story is obviously going to be a Dances With Wolves, The Last Samurai, maybe even Lawrence of Arabia clone.

I found this very funny!

[Critter]

Who is it that makes those Hitler videos? I've seen loads of them, it's always the same footage but with different subtitles. I saw a very funny when when Hitler was dissapointed about the Sarah Connor Chronicles being cancelled.

And Jon I can see how the amount of cgi could turns some people off. It reminds me of Tim Burtons upcoming Alice in Wonderland as people are already complaining that it also has too much cgi. The film was always going to be heavily cgi though, I read that Cameron first wrote the script 10 (or was it 20?) years ago but had to put off making the film until now as he felt the technology wasn't there yet.

[Najemikon]

I think lots of people dive in on those videos, Critter. It's fairly easy to do if you have the patience and the right software. And they all work so well!

I don't have a problem with any amount of cgi, but I think the blue-skinned creatures are a step too far. They don't look convincing to me. However, I'm being unfair and when it's screened properly, they may make a lot more sense.

At this stage though what does seem to be obvious is how derivative the story is. If it's taken him 10+ years to copy such a well-used plot, that makes it worse. There is nothing original in that trailer; it looks like it is an action movie designed to show off technology, but the story at heart is not science-fiction. There might be aliens, it might be set on far off worlds in the far off future, yet what they do has already been done countless times. If there are at least angles that it will be nihilistic or ironic, it's stepping on Starship Troopers territory.

Look at it another way and consider the sci-fi milestones down the years. Metropolis, Forbidden Planet, Blade Runner, Alien are all original. Even The Matrix had a lot of ambition while giving into action conventions. The fact is, aside from a few examples like those, movies are way behind other mediums when it comes to sci-fi. Even games like Bioshock and Half-Life have more interesting premises than this. I've read the British comic 2000ad for years and they've been there, done that and got the t-shirt so far as stories like this are concerned, and gone much, much further.

Again, I'm probably being unfair. After all Aliens was hardly a sci-fi milestone, being sequel and essentially a war movie model, but the cynic in me says Cameron has to make this an accessible demo for his new technology because thick studio executives won't accept it if it's anything less than a massive hit.

[Critter]

Nah I think you have a point about the plot there. From the trailer it seems mainly about somone going to the opposite side in a war for devious reasons then falling in love/changing his mind about which side he is on. I have seen so many movies with that basic outline it's not funny, I mean the exact same thing happens in The Lion King 2 haha.

By the way Jon how do I embed youtube videos into a post?

[DJ Doena]

By the way Jon how do I embed youtube videos into a post?

Code: [Select]

[youtube]YoutubeID[/youtube]

[Critter]

Thanks.

[snowcat]

Ughh, James Camerons "Star Wars"

According to a magazine, the plot follows a ex marine who is almost paralysed in combat on earth, he is picked to join the Avatar which will enable him to walk, he ends up in a jungle-esque place filled with strange life forms

Im not bothered about the amount of CGI, Im bothered about "Star Wars syndrome", George Lucas waited to make the prequels because "the technology wasn't there" :/ I hope im wrong about it and it comes out good, im sure he will make his money back the amount of hype the film has got! its been all over Total Film and Empire for months.

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To clarify, im not bad mouthing the film, im just saying "Star Wars Syndrome" I hope it does not have!

[Critter]

It's cool I know what you mean about the hype. We don't have Total Film here but I subscribe to Empire and it has been all over it for ages. I just hope it doesn't end up like a Transformers type thing where I sit there marvelling over how smooth the animation of the robots is and just how cool they look while some crappy, overused storyline passes me by.

[Achim]

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To clarify, im not bad mouthing the film, im just saying "Star Wars Syndrome" I hope it does not have!

I see what you did there... 

[snowcat]

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To clarify, im not bad mouthing the film, im just saying "Star Wars Syndrome" I hope it does not have!

I see what you did there... 

XD Im so glad somebody got it!

[Achim]

Now that I am tinking, I should have said:

What you did there I see.