"Avatar," with a screenplay by Cameron, will mark the director's return to the sci-fi action-adventure genre. He first wrote an 80-page treatment 11 years ago. The film centers on a wounded ex-Marine who is unwillingly sent to settle and exploit the faraway planet Pandora. He gets caught up in a battle for survival by the planet's inhabitants, called Na'vis, and falls in love with one of them. "Not only is this groundbreaking technologically, but it's an intimate story set against an epic canvas," Rothman said. "That's what Jim does. You can't compare it to anything out there. Its biggest upside, besides its revolutionary technology, is its newness. It's not a sequel to anything."
Cameron had been developing another sci-fi adventure, the comic book adaptation "Battle Angel Alita," but when Laeta Kalogridis' script for that project didn't come together after many drafts, he dusted off "Avatar," which he hadn't touched for five years. He started designing the movie in May 2005, he said.
...
For the film's lead role, the 22-year-old planetary adventurer Jack Sully, Cameron sought a new face. After global screen tests to satisfy the studio, he selected his first choice, Australian actor Sam Worthington, who has starred in "Somersault" and "Dirty Deeds" and had been considered to play James Bond. "He's got the weight, he's a tough guy -- a young Russell Crowe. They grow them differently over there," Cameron said.
Zoe Saldana, who appeared in "The Terminal" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," will portray Sully's love interest, one of the planet's primitive aliens. She will be a CG character, while Sully will exist in human (live action) and biological "avatar" (CG) form. As an avatar, the human Sully is able to project his consciousness into an alien body.
Both actors have signed on for possible future installments as well because Cameron and Fox see "Avatar" as a potential franchise. "If we make money, I guarantee there will be more," Cameron said. "If we don't, we'll pretend it never happened." Other casting will be announced shortly.
Hrm.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 13:52 (seventeen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 13:53 (seventeen years ago) link
― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 13:54 (seventeen years ago) link
― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 14:01 (seventeen years ago) link
the man knows how to write a strapline.
― the original hauntology blogging crew (Enrique), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 14:03 (seventeen years ago) link
We chose this planet because you indicated you like planets with varied inhabitants, a consistent temperature, rocky terrain, and sci-fi influences.
― and what (ooo), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 14:12 (seventeen years ago) link
― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:30 (seventeen years ago) link
― Stone Monkey (Stone Monkey), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:34 (seventeen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:35 (seventeen years ago) link
― Adam Beales (Pye Poudre), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:42 (seventeen years ago) link
― chap (chap), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:46 (seventeen years ago) link
Earth Girls Are Easy...? Anyone...?
― If you fuck with Jimmy Mod, you call down the thunder (The Famous Jimmy Mod), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:47 (seventeen years ago) link
― Stone Monkey (Stone Monkey), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:48 (seventeen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:48 (seventeen years ago) link
Wait is this about Avatar or The Fountain, and which one will history smile on more?
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:57 (seventeen years ago) link
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:58 (seventeen years ago) link
― Eazy (Eazy), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 16:03 (seventeen years ago) link
― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 18:12 (seventeen years ago) link
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 18:27 (seventeen years ago) link
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 18:28 (seventeen years ago) link
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 18:29 (seventeen years ago) link
― milo z (mlp), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 18:31 (seventeen years ago) link
That said, it's still better than Emnacht fucking up the only TV show I can think of that I actually like. (Not that I ever watch it or anything, but the point still stands.)
― Adam Beales (Pye Poudre), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 18:40 (seventeen years ago) link
― rock and roll for the rock and roll soul (nate_patrin), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 18:51 (seventeen years ago) link
I look forward to a highlander stylee battle between Cameron and Shymalan.
― N.i.c.o.l.e (Ex Leon), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 18:58 (seventeen years ago) link
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 19:03 (seventeen years ago) link
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 19:04 (seventeen years ago) link
I would pay money.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 19:11 (seventeen years ago) link
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 19:25 (seventeen years ago) link
Avatar... the Nickelodeon show has been on since Feb 05. Dibs.
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 19:30 (seventeen years ago) link
We can do better than that.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 19:34 (seventeen years ago) link
I had forgotten I'd started this thread. Which article of ultrahype/'will change movies forever!' has amused you most?
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 19 June 2009 16:21 (fourteen years ago) link
http://origin.aintitcool.com/images2009/avatarship.jpghttp://origin.aintitcool.com/images2009/avatarwaterfall.jpg
― Eazy, Friday, 26 June 2009 04:02 (fourteen years ago) link
This movie will change the way I view 3-D James Cameron movies entitled Avatar, that I'm sure of.
― dorkus malorkus (latebloomer), Friday, 26 June 2009 04:05 (fourteen years ago) link
i'm off the Sam Worthington train if this is terrible
― wilter, Friday, 26 June 2009 04:25 (fourteen years ago) link
Comic-Con bits:
The audience, many of whom camped alongside the “Twilight” fans for the privilege, were treated to a sequence of scenes condensing the tale: Jake Sully is a paralyzed Marine who volunteers to become an Avatar -- a genetically engineered human/Na’vi hybrid. He suffers several brushes with some dinosaur-types, a violent flirtation with a Na’vi princess, and an even more violent Na’vi rite of initiation. Cameron will get to test-run the film on an even bigger crowd on Aug. 21, which he’s declared "Avatar Day." The filmmaker announced he’ll be taking over IMAX and 3-D theaters around the world to screen 15 minutes of the film for moviegoers for free.In introducing the film, Cameron said it was made “for the 14-year-old boy that is very alive and well in the back of my mind.”But don’t expect a film for kids. In fact, I'd wager “Avatar” is going to be kind of heavy.“I don’t want to say it’s important, because then it sounds like you’re making a documentary,” Cameron said. But it’s “something with a conscience. In the enjoying of [the film], it maybe makes you think about the way you interact with nature and your fellow man.”After the screening, it was clear cast members Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana and Stephen Lang had become as immersed and invested in Pandora as the filmmaker himself, speaking of the Na’vi as though they were a historical fact.A professor at USC worked two years on develop their language, and Saldana said all the actors had to take movement classes to “de-humanize” themselves. She also trained in Wushu, horseback riding, archery and weightlifting to play Na’vi princess Neytiri.Said Cameron: “We know the oncology and composition of the atmosphere, the geography and species of plants, the culture and the history of the Na’vi people.”
Cameron will get to test-run the film on an even bigger crowd on Aug. 21, which he’s declared "Avatar Day." The filmmaker announced he’ll be taking over IMAX and 3-D theaters around the world to screen 15 minutes of the film for moviegoers for free.
In introducing the film, Cameron said it was made “for the 14-year-old boy that is very alive and well in the back of my mind.”
But don’t expect a film for kids. In fact, I'd wager “Avatar” is going to be kind of heavy.
“I don’t want to say it’s important, because then it sounds like you’re making a documentary,” Cameron said. But it’s “something with a conscience. In the enjoying of [the film], it maybe makes you think about the way you interact with nature and your fellow man.”
After the screening, it was clear cast members Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana and Stephen Lang had become as immersed and invested in Pandora as the filmmaker himself, speaking of the Na’vi as though they were a historical fact.
A professor at USC worked two years on develop their language, and Saldana said all the actors had to take movement classes to “de-humanize” themselves. She also trained in Wushu, horseback riding, archery and weightlifting to play Na’vi princess Neytiri.
Said Cameron: “We know the oncology and composition of the atmosphere, the geography and species of plants, the culture and the history of the Na’vi people.”
Dehumanize yourself, via all these human activities.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 24 July 2009 04:42 (fourteen years ago) link
Plus more geekery via Nikki Finke's cohorts.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 24 July 2009 04:54 (fourteen years ago) link
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eJ_G3PHZ_6I/Rzgb8QqE1QI/AAAAAAAAAdw/ewzinJgfbfM/s400/black-sabbath-dehumanizer.jpg
― Nate Carson, Friday, 24 July 2009 08:46 (fourteen years ago) link
TRAILER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYBRFJ9RArc
― Alba, Tuesday, 18 August 2009 19:20 (fourteen years ago) link
I'd go.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 18 August 2009 19:30 (fourteen years ago) link
Avatard
― velko, Tuesday, 18 August 2009 19:31 (fourteen years ago) link
A bit disappointing, really.
― J4mi3 H4rl3y (Snowballing), Tuesday, 18 August 2009 19:31 (fourteen years ago) link
Lulz at "Avetar"...
― Bill A, Tuesday, 18 August 2009 19:36 (fourteen years ago) link
http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/avatar/hd/
maybe corny
― Spencer Chow, Thursday, 20 August 2009 18:25 (fourteen years ago) link
the cgi blue "people" look pretty cgi
― i have the new brutal truth if you want it (latebloomer), Thursday, 20 August 2009 18:27 (fourteen years ago) link
duh i guess. some nice visuals otherwise.
funny how District 9 which cost maybe a 10th of what this cost still has better looking cgi characters.
― i have the new brutal truth if you want it (latebloomer), Thursday, 20 August 2009 18:29 (fourteen years ago) link
cgi cgi cgi
― i have the new brutal truth if you want it (latebloomer), Thursday, 20 August 2009 18:47 (fourteen years ago) link
So much for the "revolutionary" CGI. Looks like one big video game cut-scene
― Number None, Thursday, 20 August 2009 20:28 (fourteen years ago) link
It still cracks me up that the primary theme of the movie is "got a problem? CONNECT IT TO YOUR SPACE DICK"
― DJP, Monday, 14 December 2020 19:52 (three years ago) link
Hahahahaha
― Everything's Blue In This Whorl (Raymond Cummings), Monday, 14 December 2020 20:09 (three years ago) link
I'm still expecting him (or someone) to just pull the plug on the whole misbegotten adventure and simply chop up these sequels into a Disney+ series.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 14 December 2020 22:15 (three years ago) link
still never seen this and i feel good about it
― the serious avant-garde universalist right now (forksclovetofu), Monday, 14 December 2020 23:01 (three years ago) link
it was fun, dammit!!!
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Monday, 14 December 2020 23:06 (three years ago) link
you get to see Sam Worthington's entire career arc in one film
My favorite part of watching this with our 9 year-old a few months ago (hey, quarantine means we have to dig deep to entertain him and it kept popping up on Disney+), was him going "unobtainium, dad, that's dumb".
― soaring skrrrtpeggios (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Monday, 14 December 2020 23:09 (three years ago) link
Worthington was good in his Terminator, iirc.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 14 December 2020 23:16 (three years ago) link
No he wasn’t
― DJP, Tuesday, 15 December 2020 03:04 (three years ago) link
nobody was good in that terminator
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 15 December 2020 03:07 (three years ago) link
DJP you actually put it best years ago
ftr this movie was a diseased dick
― Vajazzle My Nazzle (HI DERE), Friday, January 22, 2010 2:12 PM bookmarkflaglink
My lack of depth perception cancelled out the only reason I've ever heard to watch this.
― onlyfans.com/hunterb (milo z), Tuesday, 15 December 2020 03:16 (three years ago) link
hardtofindium
― You will notice a small sink where your sofa once was. (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 15 December 2020 03:33 (three years ago) link
I don't remember that Terminator movie being particularly good or memorable, but I don't recall it being bad because of him.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 15 December 2020 04:33 (three years ago) link
it was shit because of McG.
― Lover of Nixon (or LON for short) (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 15 December 2020 04:53 (three years ago) link
It’s 2021 and ‘Avatar’ Is About to Overtake ‘Avengers: Endgame’ as Highest-Grossing Movie of All Time https://t.co/HbjUKpdvkt pic.twitter.com/SsYaZZQK4i— Variety_Film (@Variety_Film) March 12, 2021
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 12 March 2021 21:25 (three years ago) link
not enough versions
Breaking AVATAR 2 news: NATO chief John Fithian in press session with #CinemaCon media just said that James Cameron's sequel "will have more versions" than any movie in history: IMAX, 3D, PLF, high-res, high frames-per-second rate, variable sound systems, in 160 languages, etc.— Barry Hertz (@HertzBarry) April 26, 2022
― mark s, Wednesday, 27 April 2022 10:08 (two years ago) link
lol the earliest "avatar 2" thread is older than many ilxors
― mark s, Wednesday, 27 April 2022 10:09 (two years ago) link
“Avatar 2 (Version)”
― Eric B. Mash Up the Resident (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 27 April 2022 10:22 (two years ago) link
I wanna see the 160 language version
― circa1916, Wednesday, 27 April 2022 14:49 (two years ago) link
Dogme 95 version
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 27 April 2022 15:19 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7IpgFIz9ng
― Eric B. Mash Up the Resident (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 27 April 2022 15:27 (two years ago) link
More NATO aggression
― jmm, Wednesday, 27 April 2022 15:28 (two years ago) link
"will have more versions than any movie in history" is a selling point on par with "from the producers of"
― When the Pain That You Feel is the Bite of an Eel, That's a Moray (Old Lunch), Wednesday, 27 April 2022 17:50 (two years ago) link
Avatar 31 will star Freddie Prinze, VI
― Deez NFTs (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 27 April 2022 17:53 (two years ago) link
Dogme 95 lol
― Cow_Art, Wednesday, 27 April 2022 18:24 (two years ago) link
Never in the history of art!
― Eric B. Mash Up the Resident (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 27 April 2022 18:26 (two years ago) link
Lol, Neanderthal.
did roger dean ever get paid for any of this?
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/znJTFDTemj3st5vMC9KxnB-1024-80.jpg
― mark s, Thursday, 28 April 2022 13:19 (two years ago) link
ans = no: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/james-cameron-vanquishes-artist-in-avatar-copyright-lawsuit-111514
this shd be the next ALAB podcast
― mark s, Thursday, 28 April 2022 13:21 (two years ago) link
These sequels will never come out, won’t they?
― DAMAGED by Black Flat (Boring, Maryland), Thursday, 28 April 2022 14:04 (two years ago) link
They've just announced the release date of the first (December 16th), which is why anyone's talking about them - and the trailer will be in cinemas with the Doctor Strange movie next week
― Andrew Farrell, Thursday, 28 April 2022 14:07 (two years ago) link
maybe they can combine it with the movie Anvil and make it Anviltar
― Deez NFTs (Neanderthal), Thursday, 28 April 2022 14:21 (two years ago) link
james cameron give the (trans) people what they want... a battle angel sequel
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Thursday, 28 April 2022 15:22 (two years ago) link
I would watch the heck out of Anviltar tbh
― Legalize Suburban Benches (Raymond Cummings), Friday, 29 April 2022 11:22 (two years ago) link
And I’ll probably watch these sequels, actually
― Legalize Suburban Benches (Raymond Cummings), Friday, 29 April 2022 11:23 (two years ago) link
So you're the guy
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 29 April 2022 14:15 (two years ago) link
it took me what, 13 years to see this? idk why except that ppl were like “it’s an incredible spectacle with pretty much nothing beneath it” and i was like “i don’t need another cameron film like that”
but at this point i’m pretty down with a movie that suggests we need to connect to the lifeforce that binds us to the earth and to each other to destroy all colonists
gimme avatar 2
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Friday, 8 July 2022 18:45 (one year ago) link
I love avatar unabashedly
― covidsbundlertanze op. 6 (Jon not Jon), Friday, 8 July 2022 19:08 (one year ago) link
me too. some folks I know IRL (who think Wes Anderson is the GOAT and sneered at this film) did a lot of mental gymnastics to hold this film to different standards than other action movie spectacles.
(the discourse was much better ITT). also lol at jjjusten takedown of Shakey and Dan rejoinder upthread.
― We were clothed, except for Caan, who was naked. Don't know why. (Neanderthal), Friday, 8 July 2022 19:21 (one year ago) link
I refuse to believe any of you are excited about this. I mean, I believe it, but at the same time, I refuse. Love me some Cameron, hate that he's wasted his time with these Smurfs.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 8 July 2022 20:22 (one year ago) link
I'm excited for the new one too but I can look at enormous CGI trees and characters jumping on floating rocks all day. I understand 200% why people would get nothing out of this franchise
― Vinnie, Saturday, 9 July 2022 01:58 (one year ago) link
I enjoyed the first one fine at the time but have barely thought about it since and can’t imagine spending an entire career on this thinly imagined nonsense.
― Tsar Bombadil (James Morrison), Saturday, 9 July 2022 02:29 (one year ago) link
the coded racial stuff felt v icky & outdated to me in 2009, its hard for me to imagine it playing any better in 2022
― nobody like my rap (One Eye Open), Saturday, 9 July 2022 03:04 (one year ago) link
My wife hadn’t seen Avatar and we started watching it together recently. After an hour she didn’t understand why she was watching a boring film that looks like a video game without the fun of being able to play it and decided to stop watching – and I totally got her point.
― Chewshabadoo, Saturday, 9 July 2022 14:30 (one year ago) link
xpI mean it’s not particularly sophisticated in its deployment, but ‘industrialized colonists v. naturist natives’ is kind of an archetype and I’m not sure what coded racial stuff is in there that’s particularly icky? Seemed intentionally broad. Unless you’re referring to something specific that I’m forgetting.I liked Avatar. I mean a lot’s been written about how it made a bazillion dollars yet made absolutely minimal cultural impact considering. It did evaporate off of me almost immediately. But, y’know, had fun seeing it in IMAX, good spectacle, action set pieces were solid.I’m actually kinda stoked for Part 2. I’m a sucker for underwater shit.
― circa1916, Sunday, 10 July 2022 00:37 (one year ago) link
I rode the 3D Avatar ride at Disney World in February and it was awesome. It made me want to see another Avatar movie. (Because it would be a lot cheaper than going to Disney World again.)
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Sunday, 10 July 2022 01:41 (one year ago) link
Avatar: The Way Of Holding Your Water:
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/avatar-way-of-water-runtime-1235251391/
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 31 October 2022 18:17 (one year ago) link
Film expert Gregg Turkington (as seen on AMC) just called this the greatest movie of all time
― frogbs, Thursday, 15 December 2022 19:34 (one year ago) link
nonsense. that would have to be either The Greatest Show on Earth or The Greatest Story Ever Told.
― more difficult than I look (Aimless), Thursday, 15 December 2022 19:59 (one year ago) link