― Stone Monkey (Stone Monkey), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:34 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:35 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Adam Beales (Pye Poudre), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:42 (6 years ago) Permalink
― chap (chap), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:46 (6 years ago) Permalink
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 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Stone Monkey (Stone Monkey), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:48 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:48 (6 years ago) Permalink
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 (6 years ago) Permalink
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 15:58 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Eazy (Eazy), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 16:03 (6 years ago) Permalink
― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 18:12 (6 years ago) Permalink
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 18:27 (6 years ago) Permalink
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 18:28 (6 years ago) Permalink
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 18:29 (6 years ago) Permalink
― milo z (mlp), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 18:31 (6 years ago) Permalink
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 (6 years ago) Permalink
― rock and roll for the rock and roll soul (nate_patrin), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 18:51 (6 years ago) Permalink
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 (6 years ago) Permalink
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 19:03 (6 years ago) Permalink
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 19:04 (6 years ago) Permalink
I would pay money.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 19:11 (6 years ago) Permalink
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 19:25 (6 years ago) Permalink
Avatar... the Nickelodeon show has been on since Feb 05. Dibs.
― stoked for the madness (nickalicious), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 19:30 (6 years ago) Permalink
We can do better than that.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 January 2007 19:34 (6 years ago) Permalink
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 (3 years ago) Permalink
― Eazy, Friday, 26 June 2009 04:02 (3 years ago) Permalink
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 (3 years ago) Permalink
i'm off the Sam Worthington train if this is terrible
― wilter, Friday, 26 June 2009 04:25 (3 years ago) Permalink
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 (3 years ago) Permalink
Plus more geekery via Nikki Finke's cohorts.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 24 July 2009 04:54 (3 years ago) Permalink
― Nate Carson, Friday, 24 July 2009 08:46 (3 years ago) Permalink
TRAILER
― Alba, Tuesday, 18 August 2009 19:20 (3 years ago) Permalink
I'd go.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 18 August 2009 19:30 (3 years ago) Permalink
Avatard
― velko, Tuesday, 18 August 2009 19:31 (3 years ago) Permalink
A bit disappointing, really.
― J4mi3 H4rl3y (Snowballing), Tuesday, 18 August 2009 19:31 (3 years ago) Permalink
Lulz at "Avetar"...
― Bill A, Tuesday, 18 August 2009 19:36 (3 years ago) Permalink
http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/avatar/hd/
maybe corny
― Spencer Chow, Thursday, 20 August 2009 18:25 (3 years ago) Permalink
the cgi blue "people" look pretty cgi
― i have the new brutal truth if you want it (latebloomer), Thursday, 20 August 2009 18:27 (3 years ago) Permalink
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 (3 years ago) Permalink
cgi cgi cgi
― i have the new brutal truth if you want it (latebloomer), Thursday, 20 August 2009 18:47 (3 years ago) Permalink
So much for the "revolutionary" CGI. Looks like one big video game cut-scene
― Number None, Thursday, 20 August 2009 20:28 (3 years ago) Permalink
AVATAR takes us to a spectacular new world beyond our imagination, where a reluctant hero embarks on a journey of redemption and discovery, as he leads a heroic battle to save a civilization. The film was first conceived by Cameron 14 years ago, when the means to realize his vision did not yet exist. Now, after four years of actual production work, AVATAR delivers a fully immersive cinematic experience of a new kind, where the revolutionary technology invented to make the film, disappears into the emotion of the characters and the sweep of the story.
― velko, Thursday, 20 August 2009 20:31 (3 years ago) Permalink
Every time I see this title I think it's that Bruce Willis Second Life spoof.
― Dom J. Palladino (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 20 August 2009 20:34 (3 years ago) Permalink
cue ishtar joke?
wow does this ever (unexpectedly) look like one of those cheap direct-to-video super-scifi cheap CGI thingies.
no sign of the "whole new world of real-feeling characters thing". seems way more Polar Express than gollum...
― sean gramophone, Thursday, 20 August 2009 20:35 (3 years ago) Permalink
will the .1 of 5.1 be used to immerse us in this bold, new vision???
― Fox Force Five Punchline (sexyDancer), Thursday, 20 August 2009 20:38 (3 years ago) Permalink
Kind of gives off a Matrix sequels vibe too. Maybe it's the dreadlocks
― Number None, Thursday, 20 August 2009 20:41 (3 years ago) Permalink
― i have the new brutal truth if you want it (latebloomer), Thursday, 20 August 2009 21:53 (3 years ago) Permalink
http://cache-foo-02.gawkerassets.com/gawker/assets/images/8/2009/08/504x_Avatar-48.jpg
this looks so fruity
― i have the new brutal truth if you want it (latebloomer), Thursday, 20 August 2009 22:24 (3 years ago) Permalink
few if any major conservative organizations took up arms against it.
There was definitely at least one. I am having trouble remembering whether it was over fundamentalist concerns (movie is animist/pagan) or nationalist ones (movie likes terrorism)
― Hierophantiasis (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:00 (1 year ago) Permalink
you said no one is claiming that avatar is still culturally relevant, i quoted contenderizer at least being 'agnostic' about my assertion that it isn't; i'm not sure why he would post that other than to imply that it might still be relevant, which... it isn't.
― JIM THOMETHEUS (zachlyon), Tuesday, May 8, 2012 1:57 PM (41 seconds ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
i voiced my "agnostic" doubts simply to make the point that unfounded claims are unfounded. i quibble with the unsupported blanket assertion that the film never meant anything to anyone.
i agree, fwiw, that avatar has dropped precipitously off the cultural radar. i came into this round of the discussion agreeing on that point and haven't changed my position.
beyond that, i've only defended what i see as the film's strengths, primarily thematic but also cinematic.
― 10. “Pour Some Sugar On Me” – Tom Cruise (contenderizer), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:04 (1 year ago) Permalink
dear lord it's almost 5 PM
we ALL win.
― Hierophantiasis (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:06 (1 year ago) Permalink
no? you said no one is claiming that avatar is still culturally relevant, i quoted contenderizer at least being 'agnostic' about my assertion that it isn't; i'm not sure why he would post that other than to imply that it might still be relevant, which... it isn't.
Your assertion, if I've traced it back right, is that the film had no cultural currency, that it was garbage from the start, that no-one connected to it. This seems like the same argument as goole/Adam earlier, that people only went to it for the hype. If I've got you/contenderiser wrong sorry about that, but I don't think he's arguing what you think he is.
― Andrew Farrell, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:07 (1 year ago) Permalink
i quibble with the unsupported blanket assertion that the film never meant anything to anyone.
i quibble w ur strawman tbh
― JIM THOMETHEUS (zachlyon), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:08 (1 year ago) Permalink
y'all
"the general mainstream" is not synonymous with "everyone, ever"
So we're looking at the world's biggest cult hit?
― Andrew Farrell, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:11 (1 year ago) Permalink
it's the opposite of a cult hit! everybody saw it but nobody cared about it much after a while.
― goole, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:12 (1 year ago) Permalink
^^^^^^^^^^^
― JIM THOMETHEUS (zachlyon), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:15 (1 year ago) Permalink
Right, but still we get back to $1,000,000 gross on week 17.
― Andrew Farrell, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:15 (1 year ago) Permalink
to be fair that's about $28 without 3D
― JIM THOMETHEUS (zachlyon), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:17 (1 year ago) Permalink
Not to mention the $4,000,000 on 800 screens when it was re-released four months after that - that's what fascinating, that there were still people who couldn't get enough of this film that's faded from cultural view since.
― Andrew Farrell, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:18 (1 year ago) Permalink
I think the porn industry usually has the answers here
― frogbs, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:20 (1 year ago) Permalink
no one was ever going to give a fuck about jake sulee and the noble blue people, and no one was going to go nuts over the story from fern gully and dances with wolves and a billion other movies.
i do agree that the film has lost its pop cultural currency. that's it.
― 10. “Pour Some Sugar On Me” – Tom Cruise (contenderizer), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:22 (1 year ago) Permalink
ok great semantics i'm out
― JIM THOMETHEUS (zachlyon), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
― Andrew Farrell, Tuesday, May 8, 2012 2:18 PM (4 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
otm. the fade is fascinating, imo. it doesn't necessarily prove anything specific about the film or its place in the long-term cultural memory, what posterity will say, but it does raise a lot if interesting questions.
― 10. “Pour Some Sugar On Me” – Tom Cruise (contenderizer), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:25 (1 year ago) Permalink
People forget there was "mega-schadenfreude" that preceded "Titanic," too. Which of course had its own horrible script, etc., but it at least had characters you cared about. And it was totally all about class, maaaaaan. At a time of great economic prosperity! Subversive, man, subversive.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:29 (1 year ago) Permalink
Is there usually mega-schadenfreude whenever a film is too long in production and known to be way over budget, or does the director have to be sort of widely-resented first?
― Hierophantiasis (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 21:58 (1 year ago) Permalink
I think there needs to be some degree of hubris and/or ambition involved, sure. But I'm not sure mega-schadenfreude became a thing until the "Heaven's Gate" to "Ishtar" era, when over-budget Hollywood career/studio-killing disasters became a big punchline.
I will say that, pre-"Titanic," I don't think Cameron was resented, though he was ambitious. Post "Titanic," sure, he made a nice target. But then, if "10-foot tall blue people in 3-D" doesn't bring the advance LOLs ...
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 22:25 (1 year ago) Permalink
Don't forget Liz's Cleopatra though...
― Hierophantiasis (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 8 May 2012 22:41 (1 year ago) Permalink
While it was in theatres: "It's a lot better than you think." "The 3d is amazing."
As soon as it was out of theatres: "Should I see this through Netflix?" "See what? Oh, probably not."
I think it has the cultural relevance of the halloween blizzard of '91. If you're from the midwest, you know what I mean. If not, don't worry about it.
I guess it has relevance in that it helped to hasten the switch from film to digital, generate a buzz around 3D, and forced a lot of early adapters to spend a lot of money.
― a la bouquet marmoset (Austerity Ponies), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 13:54 (1 year ago) Permalink
otm. 50 years from now it'll be like "the robe"-- "wait, THAT was the move that put digital projection and 3D on the map? and a zillion people went to see it? um, alright."
― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 14:08 (1 year ago) Permalink
that's assuming our civilization is still intact in 50 years
it'll become a gnostic gospel in our post-civilization forest society
― et tu, twinkletoes? (remy bean), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 14:13 (1 year ago) Permalink
Titanic used class the way countless romances have, except the template is usually poor girl-rich boy.
"10-foot tall blue people in 3-D" doesn't bring the advance LOLs
/racist
― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 14:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
"culturally irrelevant" until hype for avatar 2 starts & ppl pretend forget that the 1st one was shit, paint selves blue
― johnny crunch, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 14:25 (1 year ago) Permalink
...And the 'poorish' girl-rich boy thing is there, but it's to stomp on snarling Billy Zane.
xp
― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 14:26 (1 year ago) Permalink
Billy Zane. I don't know why, but that dude puts me off.
― He's sick of the Swiss. He don't like em. (Austerity Ponies), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 14:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
mean
― A Little Princess btw (s1ocki), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 17:04 (1 year ago) Permalink
I hate Zane too. Total movie-killer.
― Hierophantiasis (Jon Lewis), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 17:39 (1 year ago) Permalink
You know which movie's incredibly high place on the adjusted B.O. gross list always shocks me? The Sting. Now there's a movie with a seemingly limited cultural cachet.
http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm
― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 17:49 (1 year ago) Permalink
Unless that just represented the perfect storm apex of '70s nostalgia.
the sting rules
― A Little Princess btw (s1ocki), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 18:43 (1 year ago) Permalink
^ otm
― 10. “Pour Some Sugar On Me” – Tom Cruise (contenderizer), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:22 (1 year ago) Permalink
― johnny crunch, Wednesday, May 9, 2012 7:25 AM (7 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
have been thinking about that throughout this discussion. cameron's supposedly got two sequels in the pipeline. if they're hits on anything like avatar's scale, then i suspect that all this "culturally irrelevant" talk will seem a little silly in hindsight. "invisible in the moment, from where i'm standing" isn't precisely the same as "irrelevant", after all.
― 10. “Pour Some Sugar On Me” – Tom Cruise (contenderizer), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:35 (1 year ago) Permalink
This movie didn't come across anti-war, it came across more pro-one dimensional woodland tribal innocents vs. one dimensional US military racists. Maybe slightly more anti-war than Star Wars in that the idyllic Navi is far more hippie than the rebels. But still, total time showing military technology, lingering on awesome attack helicopters, glorifying explosions, etc. Still felt like it glorified war, only in a context that made it way easy for left wingers to want one side to win.
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:41 (1 year ago) Permalink
yeah, i wouldn't call avatar anti-war in general. any antiwar reading is stymied by cameron's obsession with heroic combat and military tech. hell, it's pro-war if anything.
it does take a strong stance against imperialist aggression (lol safe targets) and not-so-subtly critiques america's military "adventurism" in the middle east (esp in just-post-bush-era context).
― 10. “Pour Some Sugar On Me” – Tom Cruise (contenderizer), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:50 (1 year ago) Permalink
have been thinking about that throughout this discussion. cameron's supposedly got two sequels in the pipeline. if they're hits on anything like avatar's scale, then i suspect that all this "culturally irrelevant" talk will seem a little silly in hindsight. "invisible in the moment, from where i'm standing" isn't precisely the same as "irrelevant", after all.― 10. “Pour Some Sugar On Me” – Tom Cruise (contenderizer), Wednesday, May 9, 2012 4:35 PM (18 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― 10. “Pour Some Sugar On Me” – Tom Cruise (contenderizer), Wednesday, May 9, 2012 4:35 PM (18 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
or they could be like the star wars prequels and make a shit-ton of money without anybody really being that enthusiastic about them.
― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:54 (1 year ago) Permalink
honestly re. the question of whether avatar is anti-imperialism or anti-bush or something just solicits a "who cares?" from me. the stakes are pretty much nil.
― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:55 (1 year ago) Permalink
loving how the matrix: revolutions is still culturally relevant in 2012, it's a popular cultural touchstone among my friends
― dayo, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:56 (1 year ago) Permalink
People who left the movie wishing they could be a blue person vs. people who left the movie wishing they could ride in one of those high-tech military body suits.
Stressing again, little kids LOVED these. That is, I have never heard a little kid play Luke. They all want to be Anakin, for play, for Halloween, for whatever. Mission accomplished, Lucas.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:56 (1 year ago) Permalink
"Matrix" sequels remain undeniably relevant as examples of "what not to do."
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 9 May 2012 21:57 (1 year ago) Permalink
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, May 9, 2012 4:57 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
yeah, these are some of the worst studio pictures of the last 20 years.
― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Wednesday, 9 May 2012 22:01 (1 year ago) Permalink