Avatar, unspoilered thread. (Don't say you weren't warned.)

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Okay, first thing. The 3D was awesome, yes? "Beowulf", and "Journey to the Center of the Earth", the last two 3D movies I saw had something in common, a lack of background detail. They looked like they were done on a set. (Live action scenes without CG excepted in JttCotE.) Very detailed here, you can't do a jungle without that detail.

Second, the weapons pissed me off. They were using technology from the current market for most of it. Sometimes they add "Buck Rogers" covers to the guns, but they were still gunpowder and bullet guns. Nothing like Metal Storm seen, or I missed it.

Third, having any two-dimensional characters drags down the plot, and the scarfaced colonel was bare 2D. Not good in a 3D movie. But Hollywood will never get that right.

[Drewish]

I'll summarize what I said in the other thread real quick:

Amazing special effects. The technology is getting to the point where we may be in the process of passing the uncanny valley. That's freaking crazy! I mean, as far as quality goes, I have to say that the accusations I had heard of it being a cliche derivative work are false. It is not a knock-off of Dances with Wolves. It's of the calibre to define the archetype. It's certainly the best Gaia Theory propaganda I've ever seen (Topping things like Captain Planet and Illusion of Gaia even.)

Obviously any conjecture as to the vision of the director is just that. I guess it just kind of irks me in the same way that religion irks me when it claims to be the foundation of morality. I want to scream, "No! You've piggybacked on morality and perverted it and now you're claiming credit!" Here, it seems like the latest technology is being used to create a movie that is fairly luddite in its views, promising neural network uplinks and data storage immortality for the 'green' cause. These things are clearly the domain of the technocrats. It would be akin to using cheap Mexican labor to build a wall between Mexico and the U.S. The very nature of the act itself shows why it's flawed.

Also

Trigger Warning!!!1! :

"How's it feel to betray your own race?"

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It's a movie. It's a fantasy. It does that well. I didn't get upset about the anti-industrial messages in LOTR.

As for betraying his race, that's just manipulation by the CO. A military person is required to refuse to obey unlawful orders.

[Drewish]

It's a movie. It's a fantasy. It does that well. I didn't get upset about the anti-industrial messages in LOTR.

As for betraying his race, that's just manipulation by the CO. A military person is required to refuse to obey unlawful orders.

And in a world of intelligent people who think for themselves I'd be right with you on this. But one could say the same type of thing about The Passion of the Christ. People are impressionable. Fantasy can inspire and is an excellent tool for presenting an emotionally gripping view of the world. And I'm not mad. I was mad when I saw the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still (because it was blatant propaganda AND a horrible waste of 2 hours.) I'm actually kind of glad when world views are hammered out through accessible mediums because it allows the lay person who agrees with those views to be more aware of what it is they believe. I have my own beliefs for sure (And I'd love to see Atlas Shrugged brought to the screen) but I can respect this as an entertaining didactic work presenting views other than my own. I want every philosophy to put its best foot forward in art, so that we can have real and meaningful discussions about them. I can respect Avatar in the same way that I can respect the Hallelujah Chorus. I do not agree with the views there in, but as a piece of art it should be admired for its powers of inspiration.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It's a movie. It's a fantasy. It does that well. I didn't get upset about the anti-industrial messages in LOTR.

As for betraying his race, that's just manipulation by the CO. A military person is required to refuse to obey unlawful orders.

And in a world of intelligent people who think for themselves I'd be right with you on this. But one could say the same type of thing about The Passion of the Christ. People are impressionable. Fantasy can inspire and is an excellent tool for presenting an emotionally gripping view of the world. And I'm not mad. I was mad when I saw the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still (because it was blatant propaganda AND a horrible waste of 2 hours.) I'm actually kind of glad when world views are hammered out through accessible mediums because it allows the lay person who agrees with those views to be more aware of what it is they believe. I have my own beliefs for sure (And I'd love to see Atlas Shrugged brought to the screen) but I can respect this as an entertaining didactic work presenting views other than my own. I want every philosophy to put its best foot forward in art, so that we can have real and meaningful discussions about them. I can respect Avatar in the same way that I can respect the Hallelujah Chorus. I do not agree with the views there in, but as a piece of art it should be admired for its powers of inspiration.

I'd love to see Starship Troopers done with more respect for the book, but I doubt the masses would find it watchable.

[AshtonBlack]

It's a movie. It's a fantasy. It does that well. I didn't get upset about the anti-industrial messages in LOTR.

As for betraying his race, that's just manipulation by the CO. A military person is required to refuse to obey unlawful orders.

And in a world of intelligent people who think for themselves I'd be right with you on this. But one could say the same type of thing about The Passion of the Christ. People are impressionable. Fantasy can inspire and is an excellent tool for presenting an emotionally gripping view of the world. And I'm not mad. I was mad when I saw the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still (because it was blatant propaganda AND a horrible waste of 2 hours.) I'm actually kind of glad when world views are hammered out through accessible mediums because it allows the lay person who agrees with those views to be more aware of what it is they believe. I have my own beliefs for sure (And I'd love to see Atlas Shrugged brought to the screen) but I can respect this as an entertaining didactic work presenting views other than my own. I want every philosophy to put its best foot forward in art, so that we can have real and meaningful discussions about them. I can respect Avatar in the same way that I can respect the Hallelujah Chorus. I do not agree with the views there in, but as a piece of art it should be admired for its powers of inspiration.

I'd love to see Starship Troopers done with more respect for the book, but I doubt the masses would find it watchable.

I found the book quite moving. The film, unfortunately was made for the mass market. I think we've grown up enough to have "serious" sci-fi. "The Moon" and "District 9" are good examples.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I'd love to see Starship Troopers done with more respect for the book, but I doubt the masses would find it watchable.

I found the book quite moving. The film, unfortunately was made for the mass market. I think we've grown up enough to have "serious" sci-fi. "The Moon" and "District 9" are good examples.

It was a treatise on social responsibility. One way that could be implemented. Andrew, you'd find it interesting, I think.

And now, back on topic.

Ashton, have you seen Avatar? If so, what did you think about the weapons? Am I right in grumping about that?

[AshtonBlack]

Not seen. Only going to be able to see it in 2D, not anytime soon and as for movie weapons, it makes me sad in the pants when there are glaring holes in the science/research. But we each have our own skewed preconceptions. What's betting that 99.99% of people wouldn't realize?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Not seen. Only going to be able to see it in 2D, not anytime soon and as for movie weapons, it makes me sad in the pants when there are glaring holes in the science/research. But we each have our own skewed preconceptions. What's betting that 99.99% of people wouldn't realize?

Okay, when you go, watch for the twin mag long gun and tell me if it reminds you of anything.

[Elessarina]

Ashton, have you seen Avatar? If so, what did you think about the weapons? Am I right in grumping about that?

But that's Cameron..Aliens had similar weaponry.. the thing is what's the alternative.. phasers?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Ashton, have you seen Avatar? If so, what did you think about the weapons? Am I right in grumping about that?

But that's Cameron..Aliens had similar weaponry.. the thing is what's the alternative.. phasers?

Just being nitpicky. The rail gun technology is already available, so carrying cartridges by the ton into space is not going to be required.

[Elessarina]

Just being nitpicky. The rail gun technology is already available, so carrying cartridges by the ton into space is not going to be required.

I don't know a lot about modern weaponry but wouldn't a "bullet" of sorts still be required?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Just being nitpicky. The rail gun technology is already available, so carrying cartridges by the ton into space is not going to be required.

I don't know a lot about modern weaponry but wouldn't a "bullet" of sorts still be required?

The bullet is, but the gunpowder isn't. So about 1/3 the weight of the cartridges won't be need. And a rail gun properly designed could saw down that big tree in no time. I've toppled trees with .50 caliber machine guns, but it took a while and they were never over a foot thick. Boring to try to knock one over if it's larger.

[BrettA]

Not seen. Only going to be able to see it in 2D...

I'm curious - or nosy ... is the "not going to be able to" due to a lack of stereopsis (as is my case) or something else? I saw ~30 minutes or more of it in October, but would also go for 2D.

[drl2]

Okay, I've allowed myself to wander into this thread now that I've seen the film. Overall I rather enjoyed it, but the actions of the female pilot (somehow didn't catch the character's name) didn't make sense to me. There's a huge difference between refusing to fire on innocents and turning on your comrades-in-arms. I wasn't convinced she had enough emotional investment in the Na'vi or the science team to "go native" and sacrifice herself for them.