Avatar wows critics at its London opening today.

[techs]

You apparently never saw Galaxy of Terror.

Holy Shit! I saw that movie in the theater when it first came out and have been looking to rent it for years.
I actually enjoyed it. I wasn't sure of its exact name, but now that I know it I looked it up. Cameron was the Production Designer (whatever that is) on the film.
And Bill Paxton was the "Set Dresser" before he took up acting.

 

[dennilfloss]

I just hope this isn't like Ewoks vs Empire where the tribal primitives beat the technologically more advanced foe.

 

[sdifox]

I don't like the theme of the movie. It's like they slapped as many awesome-kinda things together it seems. ALIENS! SPACE! WAR! ACTION! PEWPEW LAZERS!

whut? those are all within 1 genre. Sci Fi Action....

 

[Dulanic]

I love this forum. All reviews so far are great... Lame it's going to suck. I like to listen to xxxxxx... LAME their mainsteam, I heard them on the radio.

Everything that gains any kind of popularity or fame, people here just have to bash because it makes them cool.

 

[Terzo]

I love this forum. All reviews so far are great... Lame it's going to suck. I like to listen to xxxxxx... LAME their mainsteam, I heard them on the radio.

Everything that gains any kind of popularity or fame, people here just have to bash because it makes them cool.

I think many of us are wary because all the praise seems to be pointed at the technological prowess of the film. I believe that, but my concern lies with the story. I remember reading a while ago (don't ask for source, I honestly can't remember where and it may have been here) that Avatar was supposed to be the first new movie in a while that goes to create its own universe, similar to the way Star Wars created a popular setting. If Cameron went to the length to create his own universe, I hope that he could spin a better yarn than "Dances with Smurfs", as South Park succinctly puts it.

Maybe the story is unique and not rehashing a story that we've heard several times before. However, considering the considerable amount of money that has been spent on the film, it wouldn't surprise me if Cameron decided to go with a safe and unoriginal story. Probably because spending the money on a (supposedly) incredible visual experience is a safer and easier move than creating an original story that could very well blow up in his face and turn this into a financial failure.

 

[StageLeft]

Maybe it's not his fault that the advertising blitz has overhyped it. RT premier reviewers are meaningless as they are all review whores (or many). If the reviews stay positive in a week or two--and probably they will be still overwhelmingly positive--then I may in fact put in the effort to see this in theater

 

[StageLeft]

I was excited for Transformers 2, I wanted to see robots hit each other in glorious HD... until the critics destroyed it. 19% at RT. No matter how excited I am for a movie, if it gets universally panned I'm not watching at a theater.

But Avatar is 100% so far (with nods from Variety and Hollywood Reporter), so I am doing yes cartwheels over here.

I watched t2 in a rare moment of desperation and...it wasn't that bad. CERTAINLY it was MUCH better than Matrix 2, which was generally well received even if not as well as the first.

 

[darkswordsman17]

The stuff I've seen basically is, wow, when you see it in 3D (as it's supposed to be viewed) it looks amazing, not like the trailers. Oh, and the story isn't as bad as expected.

I think Cameron might want to send a thank you card to Michael Bay for lowering expectations.

I still have no interest in this movie, but if it keeps getting good reviews I'll see it. I haven't seen any of the new 3D stuff, and still am not really sold on it at all, so maybe this will change my mind. While I'm not going to give him a free pass, I do have more faith in Cameron than certain other directors, that he can make a corny/cliched movie still somehow thoroughly enjoyable.

I wish it had Michael Biehn though. He would have been perfect for the general. Not to take anything away from this guy, but Biehn kicks ass.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I couldn't care less about the story here to be honest. I'm going in to this movie specifically for the special effects and if the story just happens to be good then that's just an added bonus. I like technology, and if his special effects are truly groundbreaking then this will be worth my $10-$15 to see in a real theater.

And to the guy asking who in the world would sink that kind of money into a 3D film, well, that's the point. Hopefully this is a game changer. I mean hell guys just back up and realize that this is James Cameron. Hasn't he done enough to earn your trust yet? Just go watch the movie and reserve judgment until then.

BTW, read the article in the most recent Wired regarding this movie if you haven't already. Pretty interesting, especially the segment referring to how Cameron almost made $0 on Titanic.

 

[Dulanic]

I think many of us are wary because all the praise seems to be pointed at the technological prowess of the film. I believe that, but my concern lies with the story. I remember reading a while ago (don't ask for source, I honestly can't remember where and it may have been here) that Avatar was supposed to be the first new movie in a while that goes to create its own universe, similar to the way Star Wars created a popular setting. If Cameron went to the length to create his own universe, I hope that he could spin a better yarn than "Dances with Smurfs", as South Park succinctly puts it.

Maybe the story is unique and not rehashing a story that we've heard several times before. However, considering the considerable amount of money that has been spent on the film, it wouldn't surprise me if Cameron decided to go with a safe and unoriginal story. Probably because spending the money on a (supposedly) incredible visual experience is a safer and easier move than creating an original story that could very well blow up in his face and turn this into a financial failure.

Oh I don't necessarily disagree. Will I go see it? Yeah, probably. I'd love to see how great it ends up looking in IMAX 3D. Do I think it is going to be the best movie ever? Oh hell no. I just find it funny more per how this forum just reacts to anything that is "popular", it is just oh so cool to smash stuff that is popular. That is all my point really is. It applies to alot of things that get brought up on this forum and I just find it hilarious how much of a clique of anti anything popular that it actually is almost a majority.

When it comes down to it, will I go see this? Yeah I probably will. Will it be the best movie ever? Nope. Will I judge stuff before knowing? No, I'm not going to sit there and say OMG they spent that much money and yet it's going to be garbage not even worth a rental without having any good basis to judge it by yet. By the amount of good reviews, I do believe it will be worth watching. The story, well we will see. But I do tend to agree that the storyline will not be the best ever.

 

[Zepper]

Apparently it's larded with anti-U.S. propaganda, so wear your industrial strength BS filter. Typical SoCal space cadets...

.bh.

 

[K1052]

Anyone waiting for video will probably think it sucks once they see it. The entire movie heavily leverages cutting edge 3D visual effects which you obviously won't get at home. Cameron made this movie to be seen theatrically in either IMAX 3D or Digital 3D, end of story.

 

[lokiju]

I've been saying in all these hate threads about this movie that people need to reserve judgment until it's actually out.

If anyone can pull off something that is amazing, it's Cameron.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Cameron bitches. Recognize.

But yeah, will be awesome. 100% at Rotten Tomatoes right now.

How many reviews?

 

[PlasmaBomb]

You apparently never saw Galaxy of Terror.

I did not, nor Piranhas 2.

Craptackular?

 

[stag3]

will pass until the dvd/blu ray is out probably

 

[Red Dawn]

I love this forum. All reviews so far are great... Lame it's going to suck. I like to listen to xxxxxx... LAME their mainsteam, I heard them on the radio.

Everything that gains any kind of popularity or fame, people here just have to bash because it makes them cool.

That's not possible

 

[Paratus]

Before I use my jump to conclusions mat: Is Bill Paxton in Avatar?....

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

IMAX 3D or bust

Variety review: "Cameron delivers again with a film of universal appeal that just about everyone who ever goes to the movies will need to see."

Oh god.

*looks for nearest Imax 3d theater*

 

[Drakkon]

It looks amazing after seeing a 15 minute 3d clip at a conference I attended (score one for Adobe!) but it made me motion sick. I couldn't watch the entire flight on the winged beast deal or during the chase scenes through the forest and had to take the glasses off and look away. Before i did it was truly amazing what they had accomplished. Its still the Smurfs re-imagined though

 

[Dulanic]

That's not possible

Sorry, they believe it makes them cool

 

[Aharami]

Sadly this would actually legitimately explain the popularity of abominations such as Transformers 1 and 2.

those two movies were laughed at by the critics (esp the 2nd one - 19% on RT)

 

[JDub02]

hopefully this one will work as a substitute for the gay vampire movie that my wife wanted to see. i told her the only vampire i wanted to see was kate beckinsale in tight leather .... and then the fight started.

 

[PimpJuice]

So people are calling it the second coming of Jesus ". . .for its digital effects."

Sounds like fail.

The real fail will be when you see the movie after calling it out

 

[Ns1]

How many reviews?

12, avg rating 8


I might go see this if it sticks 85%+ on RT, but I gotta say: I'm impressed with the initial reviews, much better than I thought