John Orquiola
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| #1 Posted on 23.12.09 0734.24 Reposted on: 23.12.16 0734.29 | Saw it last night in IMAX 3D. Visually, it's impressive as expected. The 3D is disorienting and feels like you're at a Universal Studios ride at first, but after about half an hour your brain stops screaming "this is wrong!", accepts the 3D, and you stop to even notice it (although at 2 hours, 40 minutes it still feels like too much.) It has some amazing action moments and it looks beautiful. In fact, the only problem I have with Avatar is that I cared so little about what was going on in the story or characters.
http://www.backofthehead.com/2009/12/avatar.html
That's my review. I gave it four stars because of the visuals, since that's what James Cameron cared about the most. Well, he achieved his technological goals, so four stars. But the rest of it... er... Promote this thread! | | samoflange
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| #2 Posted on 23.12.09 1041.00 Reposted on: 23.12.16 1041.01 | I also saw it at IMAX last night (Jordan's in Reading, is that where you went too?). I'll second everything you said: emotionless eye-candy. The overall experience was a ton of fun. I wonder what DVD sales will be like, because there's no way this has any value to me outside of an IMAX. | John Orquiola
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| #3 Posted on 23.12.09 2005.54 Reposted on: 23.12.16 2005.54 | Jordan's Natick is closer to me so that's my go-to IMAX, but I do like that Fuddruckers in Reading. | Amos Cochran
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| #4 Posted on 24.12.09 0407.33 Reposted on: 24.12.16 0407.39 | This is gonna be looked back upon as such a missed opportunity. Your review is spot on, but all the critics who've been gushing about the transcendence of the AVATAR experience are gonna be so embarrassed in a coupla years' time. Kinda like the people who gave ATTACK OF THE CLONES five stars. | Big Bad
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| #5 Posted on 25.12.09 0157.35 Reposted on: 25.12.16 0158.08 | Looked fantastic, wonderful effects, phenomenal in 3-D. And yet, it has probably the most generic story possible, thus making it one of the least-interesting movies I've seen all year. If this gets anything at the Oscars besides a technical award, it will be disgraceful. | StaggerLee
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| #6 Posted on 29.12.09 2324.08 Reposted on: 29.12.16 2324.14 | I guess I am in the minority, I thought the story was fine. Visually it was stunning, like everybody else says. But, like every James Cameron movie, there is the handful of groaner lines, mostly by Michelle Rodriguez. | John Orquiola
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| #7 Posted on 30.12.09 0747.14 Reposted on: 30.12.16 0747.19 | Actually, you seem to be in the majority. People seem to love Avatar and it's making incredible bank. I'm in the minority. I'm curious as time goes on and the gee-whiz factor dissipates, especially on DVD and Blu-ray without the 3D, if people will become less enamored with Avatar over time. Not that I'm rooting against James Cameron. I'm glad his comeback is mega-successful. I hope he directs more frequently now. | wmatistic
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| #8 Posted on 30.12.09 0914.28 Reposted on: 30.12.16 0914.36 | I liked the movie a whole lot and that's having watched it at home without the effects. Sure predictable, but a ton of fun. | DrDirt
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| #9 Posted on 30.12.09 1138.17 Reposted on: 30.12.16 1138.18 | Originally posted by wmatistic I liked the movie a whole lot and that's having watched it at home without the effects. Sure predictable, but a ton of fun.
I saw it in 3D and it was enjoyable but not this awe inspiring best of all time, mega meaningful epic. My daughter and I tried to figure all the movies he ripped off.
There was a really excellent 120-140 minute movie hiding in there. | Leroy
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| #10 Posted on 3.1.10 2101.10 Reposted on: 3.1.17 2101.18 | It might very well be due to the smaller screen on which we saw the film, but I found the 3D effects a bit obnoxious. Certainly, there were some pretty cool moments, but beyond that I don't really think 3D added anything to the film that wouldn't have come across just as well in 2D.
I also have no problem with a predictable, generic storyline. I do have a problem with sitting through 2 hours and 42 minutes of a predictable, generic storyline. The whole final battle really saved the film. | Jericholic53
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| #11 Posted on 4.1.10 0405.00 Reposted on: 4.1.17 0405.49 | Originally posted by DrDirt
Originally posted by wmatistic I liked the movie a whole lot and that's having watched it at home without the effects. Sure predictable, but a ton of fun.
I saw it in 3D and it was enjoyable but not this awe inspiring best of all time, mega meaningful epic. My daughter and I tried to figure all the movies he ripped off.
There was a really excellent 120-140 minute movie hiding in there.
It was Pochahontas with blue aliens and machine guns.
Although, I have to admit that all of the varying types of animals throughout the movie had me very intrigued and wishing there were some type of nature documentary on the whole planet. | John Orquiola
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| #12 Posted on 4.1.10 0812.17 Reposted on: 4.1.17 0812.19 | Originally posted by Jericholic53 Although, I have to admit that all of the varying types of animals throughout the movie had me very intrigued and wishing there were some type of nature documentary on the whole planet.
You mean, this? http://www.wired.com/video/latest-videos/latest/1815816633/exploring-pandora-avatars-lush-world/57970598001 | Jericholic53
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| #13 Posted on 4.1.10 1627.02 Reposted on: 4.1.17 1627.09 |
Sweet find! I have the most recent (I think) article of Wired where they interviewed Cameron and talked about how he hired botanists, animal, and language professor specialists to create the entire symbiotic ecosystem of Pandora as if it were a real thing. I was impressed by that level of commitment to authenticity. | John Orquiola
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| #14 Posted on 6.1.10 1151.15 Reposted on: 6.1.17 1151.41 | Originally posted by Jericholic53 It was Pochahontas with blue aliens and machine guns.
Found this: http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/3867/poca2u.jpg
James Cameron forgot to add the musical numbers.
(edited by John Orquiola on 6.1.10 0957) | SchippeWreck
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| #15 Posted on 19.1.10 1357.23 Reposted on: 19.1.17 1357.44 | Finally saw it in IMAX 3D and loved the hell out of it.
Yes, the story, at its core, has been done many times before. The setting, visuals, and characters make it feel fresh, though.
Even teared up a bit at,
Spoiler Below: Highlight text to read
which sucked because crying kind of fucks up the 3D. | ALL ORIGINAL POSTS IN THIS THREAD ARE NOW AVAILABLE |
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