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killanite
I watched avatar and thought it was great.. enjoyed it alot :) the effects were stunning and the story was weird but somehow vaguely familiar. Then my friend posted this link up on facebook and it made sense why. :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/phatino/avatar.jpg

other than the "resolve their differences" bit.. it's pretty much the same..
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:lol: So true! I was thinking something similar while watching it myself.
 
Saw it yesterday in 3D. Nice, well-known story but it works. To be honest, I think ANY nice-old story would work here, because what BLEW ME AWAY was the visual experience.

It's miles ahead of everything I saw until now. And it gives me great hope for PS4, 3D Television and GT6 or 7. :D
 
Finally watched it again... in IMAX.

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Funny... the story feels less bland the second time around. I didn't sit around overanalyzing it... I just sat back and enjoyed it... (Honestly... how is the story of "Titanic" not any more cliched than this one?)

The extra resolution in IMAX is not something that stands out at first... a testament to how good these new Dolby 3D systems are... and the red-green glasses on the Dolby version don't actually hurt the color saturation of the image so much compared to the IMAX version... but it's amazing how much better a movie filmed specifically for IMAX is than a movie that's had it added as an afterthought. No frame-flicker, no dizzying moments... nothing. 3D has come a long way since the headache inducing flicker and buzz of Captain EO at Disneyland... :lol:

But the extra resolution helps you see more of how good Avatar's CGI really is. Someone remarked that the trailers looked CGI. I'll give him that. But the movie in regular resolution doesn't. In IMAX resolution, it looks even less so.

I have more favorite "invisible" effects to add to Sam Worthington's legs, now:

1. The HUD screens. They were really nice the first time I watched them, but it's still amazing how seamlessly they blend into the movie.

2. Na'vi-human interaction. I tried really, really hard to look for breaks in how the Na'vi (and other creatures) interact with live humans. There are some issues in the fight scenes in slow-motion... but of course... in live-action movies, you don't actually have guys throwing punches at each other and actually connecting, right? Slow motion only makes it more obvious that guys are faking being hit, but the interaction per se between CGI and real characters is seamless. Between live characters and the jungle background, it's not quite there yet, but good enough so that most people won't mind or notice.

I tried real hard to find fault with this part... most I could come up with is how sharply in focus Neytiri's hair looks against Jake's face, but that could be a trick of camera focus, and the rest of that particular scene is nearly-flawless, and the skin-on-skin cpntact is perfect. It's possible that they actually used a CGI model of Jake's hand and skin to make this work. Someone deserves an Oscar for these effects.

3. More on the Na'vi... pores, the way body-paint attaches to the skin... it's hard to believe they didn't actually use skin models to do this with. And the hair is the best part of Na'vi modelling. Incredible and incredibly lifelike texturing. Actually, completely indistinguishable (on-screen) from the real thing.

4. Some people have complained about the flying creatures... but to me, they feel like the most fleshed-out part of Pandora's biota. The "horses" and "tigers" are horses and tigers with two sets of front legs. The "lemurs" are lemurs with two forearms. Neither arrangement makes much sense from a biomechanical point of view... though the "lemurs" hold a clue as to how the Navi came to have just four limbs... but the flying creatures... lovingly designed and engineered. The wings work. You look at CGI dragons and you just know that such an arrangement is implausible. Wings too long for their supports, too thin to hold the weight of the creatures (despite their length)... none of them ever look right.

Pandora's flying creatures are all plausible given the premise of slightly lighter gravity. The wings and the structures of the wings... the transitional forms (smaller species showing a vestigial fourth set of limbs as opposed to the larger species' three sets only)... the way the wings and airfoils work, how the creatures keep their balance centered. It all looks and feels very realistic.

Except for the whirling lizards... but that's so cool, I'll chalk it up to the crew wanting to do something fun.

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Bloody fun film. Would have enjoyed my second sitting more if I didn't have to buy tickets nine hours in advance and didn't get stuck at the very back of the cinema (at IMAX, the middle seats are perfect) and didn't have to drive fifty kilometers home at midnight.

I guess I could have had it worse. There was an 11 o' clock showing that would get out at 2am... and it was packed. Or even worse... there was a very glum looking kid in the line at the theater. And glum for good reason... who would buy tickets to a 3D movie and drag their kid along when he has an eye infection and a patch over one eye? That's just heartless. :lol:
 
We had a chance to watch Avatar for the 2nd time this weekend. This time in 3d. Its the first movie I have ever watch in 3d and wow what an experience. At several points in the movie it truly felt like some of the objects were right in our lap. haha I also want to point out that this is the first movie we have ever paid full price to watch 2 times in the theater. Its that good. :) 👍

ps. Did anyone else notice that Jakes avatar was quite a bit bigger by the end of the movie? I thought that was some great attention to detail. After all the training it only makes sense his avatar would be larger and more muscular.
 
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I agree with Danoff concerning the 3D aspect of the film. I saw the film at an Odeon cinema and I feel that the 3D glasses actually decrease the qualiy of the picture. The outer rim of the lens seemed to create a blurred area. I also felt the screen was too small for the 3D effects to be effective. The next 3D film I see I'm going to book seats a bit further to the front.

The story line was medicore and reminded me of Ferngully The Last Rain Forest. To be honest I went to see this film primarily for the effects. The CGI was amazing and I can't wait to see it being implemented in another film.

I really need to see this film at an Imax to compare the 3D element.
 
I also noticed I would need to sit closer to the screen if I watch another 3d movie. I still thought it was an excellent experience but it was also my first 3d experience. But you are right, in some ways it reduced the quality of the movie. Some of the objects in 3d were very blury and almost painful to the eyes. But we were also in the back of the theater.
 
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iMAX is best enjoyed from the center of the theater (depending on screen size), so that you're not looking up at an enormous wall of screen or craning your neck down to see the bottom of it.

Never settle for seats at the edge. 3D... in a skewed perspective? Nasty. Even worse in iMAX because the screen is so wide.

And yes... it sucks when there are foreground objects at the edge of the screen...
 
iMAX is best enjoyed from the center of the theater (depending on screen size), so that you're not looking up at an enormous wall of screen or craning your neck down to see the bottom of it.

Never settle for seats at the edge. 3D... in a skewed perspective? Nasty. Even worse in iMAX because the screen is so wide.

And yes... it sucks when there are foreground objects at the edge of the screen...
 
This movie is a god. The only criticism I have is that the storyline is a little unclear at the beginning...but aren't most movies like that?
 
Finally got tickets and saw it in 3D IMAX. The visuals were cool, the 3D was cool, the story was about 95% of Dances with Wolves like I figured it would be. I didn't mind it but I don't think I would see it again.
 
Very good movie, I give it 4 stars, but here are four things among others that keep it from legendary status in my book.

1. All I could think when watching the storyline was "I've seen this before". The story line was not original enough. Sure, the whole avatar thing was unique, but once that wore off it was the same bad/overpowering guys taking land from the little guys/indians story we've seen so many times.

2. James Cameron failed in making me care about the characters. When Sigourney Weaver's character died I wasn't touched one bit. And I am a very emotional person who cries alot during death scenes in movies but this one got nothing out of me. A testament to how cardboard the characters were. When her first line was "Wheres my cigarette" I knew the characters wouldn't be any good

3. The action scenes were great, but they lacked umph because what were they shooting? Blue indians with arrows? For the most part it was a slaughter. And those huge flying machines can be taken down by one grenade? You would think deep in the future they would be a bit safer and able to loose one engine without crashing. The action scenes would have been better if the natives were more of a match and had some interesting firepower themselves.

4. Pandora is a bit overrated in my book. Because in the end its just one big nasty sweaty jungle with a bunch of fantasy freak animals that are loosely based on what we see here on earth.
 
The first two, I think most of us had same sentiments. The third, I actually liked that part of the film. Last, generally, I agree.
 
FINALLY managed to get some time free and a ticket to the IMAX 3D version of Avatar... Theres only one cinema here in Amsterdam with an IMAX screen and it has been sold out everynight since Christmas... truely amazing and annoying at the same time... But tonights the night... Cant wait... Hope my expectations havent been raised to high by the hype!! :)

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Saw the movie yesterday and I was blown away by the visuals in this movie... Some of the action sequences are absolutely mind-blowing. 3D is used to good affect and the overall atmosphere was portrayed very well. Only gripes about the movie were the weak plot/storyline which has been done way too much imo and the cast of human characters kind of put me off... especially the general... Came straight out of Tekken... LOL For the rest a great entertaining movie that sucks you in with its crazy visual effects... 7.5/10 Would have been a bit higher if the plot was new and refreshing...
 
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Panasonic unveiled its 3D televisions yesterday. I think it would suck to have to put on 3D glasses every time I want to watch tv.
 
Well I finally saw it. Durn good movie. Too bad it wasn't 3D IMAX. I'm tired of sold-out shows.
 
Word is that they're going to re-release it this fall with 20 extra minutes of footage. I'm down, likely for three times, just as I did this round.
 
Avatar comes out this month and Heather keeps bringing up that we should get the PS3 for the blu ray player to watch Avatar. I havent decided if I want to get the PS3 again yet. No sense in buying the regular version of Avatar then getting the blu ray version later. I still havent decided yet if its worth it. If GT5 was out it would make it a much easier decision.
 
How is the 3D going to work when it comes out on Blu-Ray/DVD?
 
I am not concerned with the 3D. I just want the movie on blu ray. I actually enjoyed the movie more when it was not in 3D. But that is a good question, maybe the 3D version will come with glasses or something. We still have our 3d glasses from when we watched Avatar in 3D. We watched it in regular and then again later in 3d.
 
Without 3D it's just a crappy story with blue people running around for 2hour and 30 minutes. I mean just change the colour settings on your TV to make Kevin Costner blue and watch Dances with Wolves.

I don't think most TV's can do the type of 3D that Avatar had in it. You need a display made for it. I'm not sure though.
 
I disagree 100%. I loved the movie even the regular version. I actually forgot all about the 3d until you just mentioned it. But really I am not interrested in the 3d version at all.
 
Joey D
How is the 3D going to work when it comes out on Blu-Ray/DVD?
Click to expand...

The 3D version isn't due out this year, and possibly not even next. Even then you'll need a 3D spec Blu-ray player (or just a PS3) and obviously a 3D TV and the glasses that go with that particular set.

Or are you talking about how the 3D effects will look on a regular TV?

It's not a 3D film for the sake of 3D, like a majority of them are, where you get stuff flying out of the screen at the audience. From those i know who've seen it in 2D thought it was great too.
 
Thought this movie was great. Only the second movie iv seen at the cinema in 3D, but what an experience. Cameron has been away from directing for far too long, but welcome back big man, you are probably the second most successful director ever(Spielberg takes 1st place). Yeah, yeah, Avatar's story has been seen and done dozens of times, but here's the thing - i went to the cinema in Carlisle to see it, and the queue for it was almost to to the front door - 3 WEEKS AFTER IT'S RELEASE. Im sure that this isnt just in Carlisle. Goes to show that people have fallen in love with this film, big time. Cameron's a genius.
 

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