Poll: Avatar, what's the big deal?

[A velociraptor]

Before the hate starts, yes I have seen Avatar. I just really wasn't that impressed with it.

I mean, yes it was pretty; but that's about it. There really wasn't any really significant plot twists that you couldn't see coming a mile away, there was no idea or situation that really made you think, and while the characters weren't as one dimensional as some other movies that begin and end with the letter "T", the characters really weren't that deep.

The movie was visually stunning, yes; but there was really nothing here other than the CG that hasn't been done before and better and I for one have no plans of ever watching it again. Thoughts?

 

[The Salty Vulcan]

Well, I loved it, and thought it was the best film of 2009.
I'd rate it up there with other epics like Lawrence of Arabia.

But that's just my opinion.

But really, people just need to stop over-analyzing it.
It's a popcorn film, it's just to entertain you..

Similiar opinion actually and I agree with you completely/

It's not going to change the world or anything.

Ahhh well. It is but not in the way you think. After Avatar films and motion capture technology is never gonna be the same. Also, I doubt pop culture is gonna come away from the film unscatched

 

[oliveira8]

I was expecting some sort of Seinfeld joke....I'm so disappointed.

The movie was great. Did it's job. Even though I wasn't really impressed the first time I saw it, at the second go I just let the visuals take me in and stopped caring. The story is quite well executed. Star Wars:New Hope is boring and uninteresting story wise to. Nothing that wasn't done before or better, but I don't see people rip SW a new hole.

In short Avatar was good. Very good in some occasions. Could have used less silly villain but he had a knife glued to his mech so I can forgive it.

Also what movies beginning and ending with the letter "T"?

 

[RyQ_TMC]

Before the hate starts, yes I have seen Avatar. I just really wasn't that impressed with it.

I mean, yes it was pretty; but that's about it. There really wasn't any really significant plot twists that you couldn't see coming a mile away, there was no idea or situation that really made you think, and while the characters weren't as one dimensional as some other movies that begin and end with the letter "T", the characters really weren't that deep.

The movie was visually stunning, yes; but there was really nothing here other than the CG that hasn't been done before and better and I for one have no plans of ever watching it again. Thoughts?

I agree with pretty much everything you say (although saying "the characters really weren't that deep" is a massive understatement) and yet I enjoyed it immensely. It was just my kind of film - mindless entertainment with stunning visuals and the plot progressing at a decent pace, thus not boring despite being the definitive example of "predictable story" and almost 3 hours long.

I'd rate it second best of 2009 after District 9, but then again, I've only seen three new films last year, so...

 

[MiracleOfSound]

It's a wonderful, magical return to the days when cinema was all about wowing us.

My favorite movie in years.

 

[DannyBoy451]

Someone please explain to me why Avatar is so great.

Spoiler: Lol, Originality

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Someone please explain to me why Avatar is so great.

Spoiler: Lol, Originality

Your observation is even less original than the story.

It's a wonderful, magical return to the days when cinema was all about wowing us.

My favorite movie in years.

Damn straight.

It's sad how cynical we've become. Movies didn't always have to be deep and clever to be accepted.

Then again... that was before the internet...

 

[Lord Krunk]

It's a wonderful, magical return to the days when cinema was all about wowing us.

My favorite movie in years.

Wouldn't agree that it's the best, but you are absolutely right.

 

[Acier]

I love how today we say derivitive is synonomous with being bad.

And while I love the film, I do wish they had made the villain a little less silly and their motives a bit more clear.

But like other's have said in this thread, it's not a mind blowingly deep movie, but it never tried to be.

 

[rossatdi]

It's not going to change the world or anything.

Ahhh well. It is but not in the way you think. After Avatar films and motion capture technology is never gonna be the same. Also, I doubt pop culture is gonna come away from the film unscatched

I'm really worried this is going to encourage more CGI based films. As routinely demonstrated - CGI battling CGI is at best souless, at worst, pointless.

 

[The Salty Vulcan]

It's not going to change the world or anything.

Ahhh well. It is but not in the way you think. After Avatar films and motion capture technology is never gonna be the same. Also, I doubt pop culture is gonna come away from the film unscatched

I'm really worried this is going to encourage more CGI based films. As routinely demonstrated - CGI battling CGI is at best souless, at worst, pointless.

This is one of the reasons why Avatar has been labeled "A Game Changer" although thats a rather negative thing. The positive however is that motion capture technology now has something in can best and that future filmmakers can do even wilder things that we can imagine.

 

[Acier]

It's not going to change the world or anything.

Ahhh well. It is but not in the way you think. After Avatar films and motion capture technology is never gonna be the same. Also, I doubt pop culture is gonna come away from the film unscatched

I'm really worried this is going to encourage more CGI based films. As routinely demonstrated - CGI battling CGI is at best souless, at worst, pointless.

WellI think avatar's was great. I'm normally not a huge fan of CG effects, and I do still think a well done practical effect will win anyday. But I think Avatar is a step in the right direction for making CGI much much better

 

[DannyBoy451]

Someone please explain to me why Avatar is so great.

Spoiler: Lol, Originality

Your observation is even less original than the story.

True, but my oppinion didn't take fifteen years and $237,000,000 to be presented to you.

 

[Booze Zombie]

I can't enjoy mindless entertainment without Arnie or Stallone in it.

 

[Xanian]

Spoiler: Lol, Originality

That had me rolling...

Bah. It was fun. The story is old, the world is...actually fairly oceanic with a smattering of Furry-love and ridiculous.

Oh...and blue...

But otherwise it was pretty.

Hey, some stories are classic for a reason.