Is anyone excited about the movie "Avatar"? - Page 5

vivaldirules · 12-24-2009, 08:03 AM

I went to see Avatar last night solely to get a 3D rollercoaster ride. I love the intense effect that some movies have when they make me feel queasy. IMAX films of flying through snow-covered mountains that make me woozy are great and I was hoping for something like that with Avatar. But I didn't get it and I never reached for my aspirin. The new 3D technology is way cool compared to the old kind (are these polarized?) But the Avatar action, although it was loud and fast and intense, was somehow pretty tame and I never once had the sensation that I was falling or felt disoriented. That was pretty disappointing. The best 3D action I saw all night was a promo of a Tim Burton movie with Johnny Depp that looked cool.

It may just be the CGA (CGI?). Although Avatar had it in quantity, the quality was not as good as Gollum in LOTR - was that 5 years ago? It was all too synthetic and smooth and unreal - not nearly as good as I had expected. I never had any hopes for any other elements of the movie (which, I'm sorry, but I found all of it to be laughable so it was a bit entertaining in that way). I know this isn't my flavor of movie. I never go to see summer blockbuster movies because they do absolutely nothing for me except entertain my kids. So don't bother listening to me.

kennyc · 12-24-2009, 08:09 AM

Thanks for the review!

Bob T · 12-24-2009, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Thanks for the review!

Agreed...thanks!

I believe the wife and I will go Christmas day and see it as all our family obligations happen today....

Bob

Trubu · 12-24-2009, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

It may just be the CGA (CGI?). Although Avatar had it in quantity, the quality was not as good as Gollum in LOTR - was that 5 years ago? It was all too synthetic and smooth and unreal - not nearly as good as I had expected.

I think if you went back and looked at LOTR now, it's not nearly as good as you remember (though it was extremely good at the time). Avatar's CGI characters are leaps and bounds beyond what WETA achieved with Gollum; the lighting, animation, textures, etc are just on another level.

I really enjoyed the movie; Cameron's writing is strictly workmanlike, but he's an amazing visual storyteller. I really got swept up in the world that he built here; there are portions of the movie that play almost like a travelogue on an alien planet, and I think those were my favorite parts.

vivaldirules · 12-24-2009, 09:16 AM

I should add that while I saw Avatar in 3D, I did not see it in 3D IMAX. That might have made it cooler but $10.50 was already too much for me and I didn't want to drive to an IMAX theatre.

daffy4u · 12-24-2009, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

It may just be the CGA (CGI?). Although Avatar had it in quantity, the quality was not as good as Gollum in LOTR - was that 5 years ago?

That's was my impression just from the trailer on my TV. So far I'm still just gonna Netflix the Blu-Ray.

Thanks for the review puppy. BTW, love your chapeau!

Scott Nielsen · 12-24-2009, 10:21 AM

I did not expect to enjoy it but I have to admit I actually did. It's a great spectacle and visually pleasing.

It wouldn't be difficult to poke holes in it but I chose not to.

kennyc · 12-24-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

I should add that while I saw Avatar in 3D, I did not see it in 3D IMAX. That might have made it cooler but $10.50 was already too much for me and I didn't want to drive to an IMAX theatre.

$10.50? You were ripped man! We did it for $6.50.

vivaldirules · 12-24-2009, 10:31 AM

An adult ticket for a 3D IMAX showing in the evening in Houston would have been $14.75 (plus a 40 minute drive for me). An afternoon showing of the 2D film on a smaller screen would have been "only" $5.75.

kennyc · 12-24-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

An adult ticket for a 3D IMAX showing in the evening in Houston would have been $14.75 (plus a 40 minute drive for me). An afternoon showing of the 2D film on a smaller screen would have been "only" $5.75.

I actually, unfortunately, paid for it twice. Bought the tickets through Fandango before I realized there were actually 3 different releases (mobi, tpz, epub

). I bought 4 tickets for $4.50 (no refunds or exchanges) for the 2D version and then had to go back and buy 4 more at $6.50 for the 3D version so Actually I paid more -- $11.00.

Still well worth the money for my money.

Timoleon · 12-24-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

I should add that while I saw Avatar in 3D, I did not see it in 3D IMAX. That might have made it cooler but $10.50 was already too much for me and I didn't want to drive to an IMAX theatre.

How did your kids like it? I found the IMAX experience, combined with the 3D and ear-blowing audio, completely captivating.

On a side note, I've just read that the new "HDMI 4" specification is coming out, and that it will bring 3D to TV! Hold onto your hats...

Timoleon · 12-24-2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I've heard (hearsay) that the eye can try to follow the "3D" motion in the out-of-focus areas, and that can lead to problems/eye-strain for some perhaps? I think the "trick" was to follow the main action/in-focus bits if affected. I personally fear motion-sickness may be a problem for me, as I'm quite susceptible (Spyro the Dragon is my nemesis

), but our small, local theatre is unlikely to provide the 3D experience anyway.

But perhaps for you, Timoleon, as they say, "a little from Column A and a little from Column B".

Cheers,
Marc (who can rarely resist a Simpsons quote)

Yea, Marc --- I think you are exactly right about trying to follow the action at the edges of the screen. If you think about it, when we look at something to see it best, we look at it head-on (except for faint stars at night --- but that's something different). So it is probably best to focus on the center of the movie screen. But everything was so lush and amazing, I just wanted to drink it all in and look everywhere! I think that's where my nighttime headache may have worked its way in.

vivaldirules · 12-24-2009, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timoleon

How did your kids like it? I found the IMAX experience, combined with the 3D and ear-blowing audio, completely captivating.

On a side note, I've just read that the new "HDMI 4" specification is coming out, and that it will bring 3D to TV! Hold onto your hats...

One of my daughters apparently sat and giggled and tittered the entire movie as I did. My other daughter loved it and thought it was awesome. To each his/her own.

sahmad88 · 12-24-2009, 01:28 PM

I had the same feeling as Daffy4U did when seeing the trailers. I love sci-fi, but it looked too - military comes in and treats the natives like animals they can do with as they please. Not my cup of tea.

Anyway, my husband really wanted to go so I went with him. We saw it in 3D (not IMAX) and it was spectacular. I still left with a pissed off feeling at how the military reacted, but it was visually astounding. As people have said, it was an old story, but I still enjoyed it.

It was my first 3D movie with the new technology. At first, I found my eyes kept wanting to go into double vision, but eventually I got used to it. Once I did, the 3D was great. I didn't get seasick and no headaches. It was worth the money to see it in 3D.

If you are someone who likes science fiction, enjoyed Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card and also enjoyed Dances with Wolves, I think you will like this one.

tomsem · 12-24-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trubu

I think if you went back and looked at LOTR now, it's not nearly as good as you remember (though it was extremely good at the time). Avatar's CGI characters are leaps and bounds beyond what WETA achieved with Gollum; the lighting, animation, textures, etc are just on another level.

I really enjoyed the movie; Cameron's writing is strictly workmanlike, but he's an amazing visual storyteller. I really got swept up in the world that he built here; there are portions of the movie that play almost like a travelogue on an alien planet, and I think those were my favorite parts.

Actually WETA did a lot of the special effects for Avatar. New Zealand tax credits saved them $30 billion on the production costs.

12-24-2009, 08:03 AM	#61
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	I went to see Avatar last night solely to get a 3D rollercoaster ride. I love the intense effect that some movies have when they make me feel queasy. IMAX films of flying through snow-covered mountains that make me woozy are great and I was hoping for something like that with Avatar. But I didn't get it and I never reached for my aspirin. The new 3D technology is way cool compared to the old kind (are these polarized?) But the Avatar action, although it was loud and fast and intense, was somehow pretty tame and I never once had the sensation that I was falling or felt disoriented. That was pretty disappointing. The best 3D action I saw all night was a promo of a Tim Burton movie with Johnny Depp that looked cool. It may just be the CGA (CGI?). Although Avatar had it in quantity, the quality was not as good as Gollum in LOTR - was that 5 years ago? It was all too synthetic and smooth and unreal - not nearly as good as I had expected. I never had any hopes for any other elements of the movie (which, I'm sorry, but I found all of it to be laughable so it was a bit entertaining in that way). I know this isn't my flavor of movie. I never go to see summer blockbuster movies because they do absolutely nothing for me except entertain my kids. So don't bother listening to me. Last edited by vivaldirules; 12-24-2009 at 08:08 AM.

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12-24-2009, 08:09 AM	#62
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,897 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Thanks for the review!

12-24-2009, 09:16 AM	#65
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	I should add that while I saw Avatar in 3D, I did not see it in 3D IMAX. That might have made it cooler but $10.50 was already too much for me and I didn't want to drive to an IMAX theatre.

12-24-2009, 10:21 AM	#67
Scott Nielsen Groupie Posts: 155 Karma: 112134 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kuala Lumpur Device: iPad, K3, K4, T1	I did not expect to enjoy it but I have to admit I actually did. It's a great spectacle and visually pleasing. It wouldn't be difficult to poke holes in it but I chose not to.

12-24-2009, 10:31 AM	#69
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	An adult ticket for a 3D IMAX showing in the evening in Houston would have been $14.75 (plus a 40 minute drive for me). An afternoon showing of the 2D film on a smaller screen would have been "only" $5.75.

12-24-2009, 01:28 PM	#74
sahmad88 Zealot Posts: 120 Karma: 567 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: nook color	I had the same feeling as Daffy4U did when seeing the trailers. I love sci-fi, but it looked too - military comes in and treats the natives like animals they can do with as they please. Not my cup of tea. Anyway, my husband really wanted to go so I went with him. We saw it in 3D (not IMAX) and it was spectacular. I still left with a pissed off feeling at how the military reacted, but it was visually astounding. As people have said, it was an old story, but I still enjoyed it. It was my first 3D movie with the new technology. At first, I found my eyes kept wanting to go into double vision, but eventually I got used to it. Once I did, the 3D was great. I didn't get seasick and no headaches. It was worth the money to see it in 3D. If you are someone who likes science fiction, enjoyed Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card and also enjoyed Dances with Wolves, I think you will like this one.

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