AVATAR

[mtlhddoc2]

Are you judging the sound quality or the driving? Or the upholstery? You may as well say movies are the same technology as cave paintings. They're both pictures on flat surfaces, after all.

Peter: no, not the same at all. It is the difference between a donkey cart and a jet engine in your analogy. This movie even describes it as the same thing with more bells and whistles.

[Miyabi]

You're still wrong.  For things like Polar Express they used primarily Maya and Alias, for Avatar they used primarily Adobe products.  COMPLETELY different products and technologies.

[mtlhddoc2]

Well, since Polar Express used sony's "Cinema 4D" and "Bodypaint 3D", and not either of those above.....

and this film, for 3D capture, used Krakatoa and software from "The Foundry" as well. I am sure they used Adobe products, but then again, i did today too and it wasnt for 3D motion capture filming, which, to my knowledge, Adobe does not do.

[Eerongal]

You're still wrong.  For things like Polar Express they used primarily Maya and Alias, for Avatar they used primarily Adobe products.  COMPLETELY different products and technologies.

It's also the first movie to use the "Sony Fusion 3D Camera System" that was announced back in 2007, which is an upgrade to their old fusion system that cameron loved using.

Also, if i remember correctly, it was the first film to render the scene in real time as the actors motion captured the scenes.

They also used a new way of using motion capture for facial expressions. (which was just a specialized helmet with a small camera in their face.)

[Miyabi]

I'm not sure if they used it for the motion capturing, but they used it for nearly everything else.

[Patriotic Kaz]

It may be nothing new but the execution is well done.

[Recovering_Cynic]

So I watched the movie in 3D, and I feel that it was worth the $11 I spent on it, which is saying something, since I am a little stingy when it comes to forking out that kind of money on a flick.  That being said, it was . . .  lacking.  The movie was black and white (metaphorically speaking of course), with no shade of grey anywhere to be seen.  Essentially the characters and character motivations were flat and uninteresting, yet at the same time fun to watch and well executed.  The plot was trite and tired and preachy, yet at the same time gripping in its execution.  Paradoxical, I know, but true.  To analogize, it was like seeing a tricked out chevy pinto, with fireballs on the sides and led lights underneath, and a horn that plays the Al Gore National Anthem when honked . . . cool to see, but in the end, it's still a pinto, and you're only going to get so much mileage out of that.  The movie was beautiful and well done, and as long as you don't pay too much attention to the man behind the curtain, you'll enjoy it.

[Peter Ahlstrom]

I think the car analogies are getting us nowhere.

Avatar does not have an original story, and many of the characters have little depth. However, for me, it hit all the right emotional moments at the right times. The film was beautiful and had a fantastic atmosphere, but ultimately if it had not hit those emotional beats it would not have been satisfying to me. But it was.

[Recovering_Cynic]

Er, Peter, you just said the same thing I did, only using different words, and noticeably lacking--and scornful of--car metaphors.  (I happen to like the car metaphors, but then I'm the metaphor kinda guy.  Besides, it was meant for entertainment value, and not to be taken completely seriously.  Way to be the murderer of fun. . .) 

I also found the film satisfying because it hit the right emotions at the right moments.  Then again, I kind of liked Eragon (the book--the movie was hideous) for the same reasons.  It was trite, predictable, and somewhat lacking in depth, but it was a page turner that held your attention.   I read through it once for pure popcorn pleasure, but had no intention of coming back.  Avatar has a little more staying power because of the eye candy, but not much.  I'll probably watch it again to appreciate the beauty of the film and the excellent execution, but that's about all the mileage I'll get out of it.

[Patriotic Kaz]

I dislike car metaphors..... and i think the movie wasn't necessarily a masterpiece but b/c it was so much fun it does rank in my top 10 (I feel the same way about Zelazny's Jack of Shadows. However it is not in my top 10 books more like 25 and it happens to be a collectible)

[Bookstore Guy]

Avatar does not have an original story, and many of the characters have little depth. However, for me, it hit all the right emotional moments at the right times. The film was beautiful and had a fantastic atmosphere, but ultimately if it had not hit those emotional beats it would not have been satisfying to me. But it was.

I think you summed it up here.  In spite of the unoriginal story, the execution of it, combined with the incredible visuals, made AVATAR a great movie.  It had flaws, but so does every other Cameron movie.  They are still almost all great movies.

I also wear glasses, and I had no probs with the 3D.  I enjoyed the 3D.  I do want to see it in 2D at some point for comparison, but that will likely be on bluray.

As for all this arguing on whether the visuals are good or not...discuss it after you've watched the movie on a format other than some guy recording it in the theater.

[mtlhddoc2]

Emmy DVD's arent good enough?

Very rarely will you find a torrent taht was some idiot taping in a theater. they are usually copies of Emmy DVDs.

[Bookstore Guy]

Emmy DVD's arent good enough?

Very rarely will you find a torrent taht was some idiot taping in a theater. they are usually copies of Emmy DVDs.

Bleh.  DVDs. 

Im kidding.  Hopefully you get a moment (or 3 hours) to watch the movie.  It isn't the best movie EVAH, but it is entertaining.  The blue aliens and the world of Pandora are all very awesome CG.  Many of the other creatures...well, not nearly as good.  There is a section where displacer beasts...err...viperwolves are chasing the main character around.  Very poor CG.  Yeah.

A friend of mine just wrote up a super long review comparing the movie to the original scriptment that Cameron made in the mid 90's.  A great review that highlights the movies strengths and weaknesses.  Once he posts it somewhere I'll link it.

[Recovering_Cynic]

An interesting set of videos:

http://www.theweek.com/article/index/104725/Top_4_AvatarPocahontas_mashup_videos

[Chaos]

So, Avatar hasn't even been out for a month and it is the second highest grossing movie of all time (unadjusted for inflation), behind Titantic. That's immensely remarkable.

And I'm dragging two of my friends to see it later in the week.