Quoted from Scar Tissue Films Did you see it in 2D or 3D?

I saw it in 3-D.  When it didn't feel like a ride at Universal Studios, it felt like a first person video game and I was just watching cut-scenes awaiting my chance to play.

Quoted from Splatter Boy Dressel, you where underwhelmed by the special effects!? What the hell did you expect? To be able to smell and feel the Navi!?! You must be underwhelmed by most movies...

Special effects can only take a movie so far.  It needs to be supplemented with proper storytelling, well-developed characters, good acting, and well-written dialogue.  I actually remember, when I saw the plantlife light up for the 2nd or 3rd time (two hours in) thinking "I remember when I initially thought that was cool."

Quoted from dresseme Yup, I actually checked my cell phone to see what time it was halfway through, and I never do that. I went into this movie as fresh as possible too.  Being that I work at a trailer house, I always see all the previews for movies before they come out, and I felt like I didn't want to do that with this one; especially when it was receiving such hype early on.  So I avoided everything: trailers, tv spots, plot descriptions, reviews, everything.  I don't think I've ever seen a movie that fresh, outside of someone handing me an unknown movie and saying "Here, watch this." But yeah, totally underwhelmed by it in almost every respect.

I think it's a matter of our own perception and not that something is over-the-top awesome or not.

We have to accept the fact that just like looking at a still piece of art work, some of us are going to connect on certain levels and others of us less brilliant and perceptive are going to be going "WTF they see in that"?

I have mixed feelings on Avatar. It wasn't really so much a character movie, although I felt extremely moved to tears by some scenes. That's a fact. So something was going on there and I will need to see it again to figure that out.

The effects? Well, I'm not a big effects person. Remember, I'm the one who doesn't watch where she's going; so it's not the visuals that are so apparent really. Having said that though, I recognize what a beautiful piece of moving artwork this was.

I feel that this movie is truthfully about "man" in his most ugly form, "us" breaching natural laws and despoiling the natural balance.

It's truly a very beautiful movie, but to really connect with it, I think we need to be on that frequency. Most of us, sadly, are still too reckless even with ourselves to care about the greater nature of things. We and our UNevolved natures can't grasp what it means to appreciate life's intricate balance.

Sandra

Quoted from Sandra Elstree. We have to accept the fact that just like looking at a still piece of art work, some of us are going to connect on certain levels and others of us less brilliant and perceptive are going to be going "WTF they see in that"? It's truly a very beautiful movie, but to really connect with it, I think we need to be on that frequency. Most of us, sadly, are still too reckless even with ourselves to care about the greater nature of things. We and our UNevolved natures can't grasp what it means to appreciate life's intricate balance.

This is giving people who didn't like it absolutely no credit at all, which seems kind of unfair to me.

I thought the visual experience was mindblowing. The story itself, was certainly nothing fresh.  

Quoted from dresseme This is giving people who didn't like it absolutely no credit at all, which seems kind of unfair to me.

Agree with Dres here. To be fair to Sandra however, I assume she was being slightly facetious with her comments? I've always considered her an intelligent and thoughtful person. It's clearly absurd to suggest a like or dislike for the movie represents an appreciation, or not, of said matter.

Andrew

Quoted from Andrew Agree with Dres here. To be fair to Sandra however, I assume she was being slightly facetious with her comments? I've always considered her an intelligent and thoughtful person. It's clearly absurd to suggest a like or dislike for the movie represents an appreciation, or not, of said matter. Andrew

Perhaps she could have phrased it less confrontationally, but I do think she has a point.

A large part of the film revolves around stimulating us to feel the sense of connection with Pandora/Nature. If you are not a particularly "spiritual" type person, you might not appreciate it in the same way that those who are would.

Same way a guy who really likes cars will probably get more out of the Fast and the Furious than I would (or do).

I think certain films, and Avatar may not necessarily be one, do require the audience to have a high level appreciation of certain things. One of my favourite films ,Youth without Youth, is fairly indecipherable without some knowledge of Eastern mysticism amongst other things. I reckon that the majority of people who would watch that would hate it, but it's a great film, just very demanding on the audience.

Quoted Text Special effects can only take a movie so far.  It needs to be supplemented with proper storytelling, well-developed characters, good acting, and well-written dialogue.  I actually remember, when I saw the plantlife light up for the 2nd or 3rd time (two hours in) thinking "I remember when I initially thought that was cool."

So you were underwhelmed by the story, not the special effects. The special effects were absolutely amazing, and it was backed up by a decent enough story to make it a little bit more than the mindless popcorn films that come out over the summer.

I hate it when people blame a film's lack of a good story on the special effects. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the effects. The film was written over a decade ago, and so before all the special effects came into play, the story still sucked.

Quoted from Elmer So you were underwhelmed by the story, not the special effects. The special effects were absolutely amazing, and it was backed up by a decent enough story to make it a little bit more than the mindless popcorn films that come out over the summer. I hate it when people blame a film's lack of a good story on the special effects. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the effects. The film was written over a decade ago, and so before all the special effects came into play, the story still sucked.

No, I'm pretty sure I was underwhelmed by the special effects too.

I'm done with this.  I think arguing with "Avatar" fans has been one of the most aggravating film experiences of my life.  I actually had one guy tell me that the film as "nearly  beyond criticism".  I'm sorry, no film is "nearly beyond criticism", and "Avatar" definitely  is not.

Quoted from Andrew Agree with Dres here. To be fair to Sandra however, I assume she was being slightly facetious with her comments? I've always considered her an intelligent and thoughtful person. It's clearly absurd to suggest a like or dislike for the movie represents an appreciation, or not, of said matter. Andrew

Thanks Andrew. I wasn't joking, but I was talking more about myself than anybody else and speaking in very general terms.

I think the word that upset Dressel is the use of UNevolved.

If you go back and read what I posted, you might see that I'm aiming that at myself and those who didn't get the full glow expressed by some others. I received sparks, like I said, where I was truly amazed and moved, but not completely.

We're all in different states at different times and it's all a matter of relativity.

From my own personal experience, I know that just because I didn't favor something back in 19-seventy something, it doesn't mean I don't now.

Why?

So yes, I didn't mean it as any kind of put down. I feel that we are all evolving and we've all been on one path or another and will be on new paths sooner or later and see things in a new way.

I remember Syd Field tells a story like this in his book. I think he was referring to the movie Chinatown, but I would have to dip into the book again.

But initially, he saw it, and I think he said he had been coming down with a flu or something, plus it had been a hard week.... whatever,

But our perception is always changing. And also, I think that we move forward, and then drop back a little into lower states.

That's my take anyways,

But irregardless. Dressel, I'm very sorry if I made you think that I was being unfair.

Sandra

Unfortunately, I was unable to see this in 3-d. However, I liked it overall, and I didn't mind that the plot was basically Dances with Wolves and Ferngully. I was amazed by the visuals and the world that was created. I wished they showed more of the world. The Navi felt so real, and they were so detailed I could even tell the race of the actors that were playing the Navi.

I'll preface my comments by saying that Sci Fi/Fantasy are not really my favorite genre of movies, so no, this was not the best movie I've ever seen.  That said, it was an enjoyable watch and I would recommend it if only for the fact that it is a visually stunning movie.  I also think it's a tremendous accomplishment by Cameron to ahve literally created this entire world.  I envy the creativity honestly.

On the other hand, as others have pointed out, it really is Dances With Wolves set in the future and to be honest, after going to such great lengths to create this amazing world I was more than a little disappointed by this.  I mean there were literally scenes that were almost taken directly from Dances With Wolves.  I  thought that was a little cheap and at times had trouble getting past it.

Also, to each his own, but at times I felt that the cheese was laid on way too thick.  But again, everyone is going to bring a different POV into the film.  Also, I felt like they could have cut at least 20-25 minutes off of the film and still had a good flick.

In closing, as I said, fantasy/sci fi is not really my thing, but for my money, I think I'd take any of the LOTR triology over AVATAR.  This is not to say that this wasn't a really good movie and an amazing accomplishment, but at the end of the day I'm hard pressed to say that this is the greatest movie ever made.  

Quoted from dresseme No, I'm pretty sure I was underwhelmed by the special effects too.

Let me pull you out of retirement real fast. Name a movie of which the special effects didn't underwhelm you? Yes, I'm calling you out.

~Zack~

Quoted from Zack Let me pull you out of retirement real fast. Name a movie of which the special effects didn't underwhelm you? Yes, I'm calling you out.

Jurassic Park?

And seriously, calm down.  It's just a movie.


EDIT:  For a more recent example, I'd say "District 9" as well.  I use "Jurassic Park" as my go-to example, just because the effects were so amazing for its time and still hold up.

The Thing still has the best effects for its time.

I was checking the wold-wide box office of all time and it seems avatar will soon be number one....

1,6 billion dollars for titanic
1,5 billion dollars for Avatar

Both Cameron films....

Hmmm , dont forget the economic crisis , who has money to go to movies?