Poll: Avatar Vs. District 9

[THEMANWHOIS]

District 9 was way better in my opinion. Avatar had a pretty lackluster storyline, but amazing graphics. Plus it did not need to be 3 hours long, I probably won't see it again for that reason.

District 9 is, without a doubt, my movie of the year, perhaps even the decade (Which would make it movie of the Millenia, so far). I enjoyed every thing about that movie and truely hope that it succeeds. I understand why some people would be inclined to disagree with me, but I still love everything about it.

Saddly, I've yet to see Avatar, and am not really well equipped to compare the two. The trailers have showed me a great deal not to like, however. Dropping the whole "Dances with Smurfs," angle, it looks like the humans are not just antagonists, but they come off as the horribe cartoonish villians with no conscience at all. "We want this rare ore!" "But the Na'vi live there!" "Then we'll murder them and make more money than we can imagine." It just smacks of bad writing, but I really hope I'm wrong.

Did not mean to go on a rant like that.

you also have to understand earth is a dying planet the whole reason they left earth was to find resources.

Ok, that makes a lot more sense. I hadn't gotten that whole bit from the trailers or news yet. So, that's groovy. I just really hate it when the good guys are lily white and the bad guys are bad for the sake of being bad.

The writing was still pretty crappy. I can't even really describe it. It was very plain, sticking to the general, "I'm the bad guy, the ultimate fight is going to come down to me vs. the protagonist." It just wasn't good writing at all. Eh. At least the CGI was pretty good.

 

[Frybird]

District 9 is, without a doubt, my movie of the year, perhaps even the decade (Which would make it movie of the Millenia, so far). I enjoyed every thing about that movie and truely hope that it succeeds. I understand why some people would be inclined to disagree with me, but I still love everything about it.

Saddly, I've yet to see Avatar, and am not really well equipped to compare the two. The trailers have showed me a great deal not to like, however. Dropping the whole "Dances with Smurfs," angle, it looks like the humans are not just antagonists, but they come off as the horribe cartoonish villians with no conscience at all. "We want this rare ore!" "But the Na'vi live there!" "Then we'll murder them and make more money than we can imagine." It just smacks of bad writing, but I really hope I'm wrong.

Did not mean to go on a rant like that.

you also have to understand earth is a dying planet the whole reason they left earth was to find resources.

Yep. Also....well, just to make sure...

Spoiler: very slight Spoilers

...the humans are also very eager to try to negotiate with the Na'vi, and take much time to "get to know them" (even if they do that mostly for PR). It's only when the humans realize that there is no diplomatic solution to get thier goal when they let loose thier PMC-alike soldiers to blow the fuck out of them.
But i admit, the military guys are borderline cartoonish, but thanks to thier Chuck-Norris-Meme-Incarnate Leader, it's not that bad.

But despite all that, i don't think you will enjoy Avatars Story more than D9

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Both of them were incredible

 

[twistedshadows]

I liked them both, though I think I liked Avatar a bit more (3D was awesome).

 

[Mr.logic]

District 9 is, without a doubt, my movie of the year, perhaps even the decade (Which would make it movie of the Millenia, so far). I enjoyed every thing about that movie and truely hope that it succeeds. I understand why some people would be inclined to disagree with me, but I still love everything about it.

Saddly, I've yet to see Avatar, and am not really well equipped to compare the two. The trailers have showed me a great deal not to like, however. Dropping the whole "Dances with Smurfs," angle, it looks like the humans are not just antagonists, but they come off as the horribe cartoonish villians with no conscience at all. "We want this rare ore!" "But the Na'vi live there!" "Then we'll murder them and make more money than we can imagine." It just smacks of bad writing, but I really hope I'm wrong.

Did not mean to go on a rant like that.

you also have to understand earth is a dying planet the whole reason they left earth was to find resources.

Yep. Also....well, just to make sure...

Spoiler: very slight Spoilers

...the humans are also very eager to try to negotiate with the Na'vi, and take much time to "get to know them" (even if they do that mostly for PR). It's only when the humans realize that there is no diplomatic solution to get thier goal when they let loose thier PMC-alike soldiers to blow the fuck out of them.
But i admit, the military guys are borderline cartoonish, but thanks to thier Chuck-Norris-Meme-Incarnate Leader, it's not that bad.

But despite all that, i don't think you will enjoy Avatars Story more than D9

well district 9 actually had the most unique story i have seen in a long time avatars story is not as unique but is told amazingly well.

 

[Nils]

Uhhm, no Sherlock, lets see if you really cant associate with me(preferebly with games). Besides I said they are equal, whats so bad?

I can empathize with liking both movies, but the writing in Avatar actually made me question the greatness of Cameron's past films and want to go back to see if I was wrong. You can't really blame me for expecting more from the man.

One's screenplay is better (while also displaying some of the most stunning effects of the year), and one's budget is bigger. It's kind of a no-brainer.

 

[Mozared]

you also have to understand earth is a dying planet the whole reason they left earth was to find resources.

So obviously, the reasonable thing to do was to find an inhabited planet, give it's population (of which you know jack all - they might have more powerful weapons than you) the finger and wage war on them. Who needs diplomacy or talking?

I haven't seen Avatar yet either, but feedback I heard about it from three or four different sources has indicated that my original ideas about what it was like seemed to be spot on - which means it can't be very good, let alone be as good as District 9.

 

[dreadedcandiru99]

Is it okay to like both of them? Because I do.

I enjoyed both as well. But I will admit that Avatar surprised me, I didn't expect it to be as good as it was.

Same here. I mean, I had basically the entire plot figured out a month in advance just from watching the trailer, and there were a few bits of dialogue where the movie might as well have had a THIS WILL BE IMPORTANT LATER subtitle flash across the screen ("Only five people have ever ridden the taruk!", "Eywa doesn't take sides in a fight.", some other ones) and it occasionally got pretty hokey, but hey, the first Star Wars was hokey and predictable too and I still loved it. I also liked that, as one review put it, Cameron used the 3D to draw you into the movie, rather than hurling the movie out at you (you know, by having lots of cheap scares and actors throwing stuff at the camera and everything). I've seen it twice already, and plan on going back.

 

[darkfire613]

Can't really comment on this as I haven't seen Avatar yet (this evening...!), so I said both, as it looks like I'll really enjoy Avatar, and I also loved District 9.

 

[MelziGurl]

I haven't seen either movie and on top of that, I haven't seen a movie that's blown me away since LOTR. So yeah, we'll see.

 

[Dark Prophet]

I liked them both. You really can't compare them, they both have their strong points. District 9 is uncompromised hard core acton movie with a unique story and charachters and although visualy pretty damn nice it's a rag-doll a really cool one but still a rag-doll. Avatar on the other hand is a visual nuke. Like nothing you have ever seen before. And yes the story has been told before but it has never been told that well, charachters although lacking originality are done just right. Now although I like both movies and I LIKE THEM BOTH A LOT I need to stand up for Avatar a bit because of the arguments against it. Like: Cameron spent so much money on it so it has to be good and District 9 had someones lunch money for budget and is also good and therefore District 9 is better. So remember that D9 had the Jacksons CGI and visual effects team working for it and and for Hollywood standards thet did it for free. Also Avatar did not spend that much, Spider Man 3 spent more the last adventure of Jack Sparrow and CO. spent more and I'm pretty sure that the last Transformers spent more.

 

[SeanTheSheep]

I really liked both, but I would have to say, as it's so huge and immersive, Avatar, but if you're thinking about buying DVDs/Blu-ray of them GET BOTH.
You will not regret it, unless you're a hater, are you a hater?

I'm usually not one to be a hater, but I don't mind this time. I really don't.

Don't be hatin' on a playa!
Seriously, in my opinion, they were both very very good movies, though Avatar was more fun and extremely pretty, but it's totally OK to like D-9 better.
Though I would still get both, even if you didn't like Avatar, because other people do, and will want to watch it, meaning you can let them borrow it, and act like you're better than them because you bought it, and they aree too lazy/poor to get it themself.

 

[Karlaxx]

I haven't seen Avatar and I probably won't, but I would put money on me liking district 9 more. Few movies trump that one for me.

And those are the family Christmas specials.

 

[Jaranja]

saw district 9 it was pretty awesome so avatar has it's work cut out for it. haven't seen avatar planing on seeing it soon so i will return with my final verdict.

Do you know what "having your work cut out for you" means?

 

[Nils]

Don't be hatin' on a playa!
Seriously, in my opinion, they were both very very good movies, though Avatar was more fun and extremely pretty, but it's totally OK to like D-9 better.
Though I would still get both, even if you didn't like Avatar, because other people do, and will want to watch it, meaning you can let them borrow it, and act like you're better than them because you bought it, and they aree too lazy/poor to get it themself.

Yeah... I'd have to admit, avatar would make for some good background noise at a party or something.

 

[Ocelot GT]

District 9 was far better done and with a more interesting concept and the story unfolded before you, rather than just dropped in your lap.

 

[Lemon Of Life]

They are both superb. Just watched Avatar in 3D, and was a fantastic visual spectacle, and I for one enjoyed the story, it kept the movie going. And the last fight scene is badass. Even though it was 3 hours long, can't wait to watch it again with my family. I guess I'm a sucker for sparkly colours.

District 9 had more of a gritty, documentary style approach, which worked great, really sucked me in, and gave it a different feel. Not as grandiose as Avatar, but an awesome film nevertheless. The hilarious gore was a plus.

Good poll idea, I reckon these are the two best films that came out this year, by a county mile.

 

[GeneralGrant]

District 9 was a hell of a lot better. Avatar was an incredibly simplistic plot, District 9 was much more complex. The only area where Avatar wins is in nature cinematography.