 Avatar |
| Review Date: December 19, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Jason C. Wilkerson, Green Bay, WI |
Initially concieved in 1999 as Cameron's follow up to Titanic, Avatar was put on hold when Cameron realized the technology did not exist yet to support his vision. Over the course of the next decade, Cameron created much of the technology he needed to make this movie possible. In 2002, Cameron watched The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and through the character of Gollum realized that his vision was finally possible. Twelve years have passed since the release of James Cameron's Titanic, will his new film prove that Cameron is still "King of the World"?
Much has been made of Cameron's Avatar long before it's release. Hailed as a revolution in 3D and CGI technology, Avatar holds a lot of expectations, not the least of which is the fact that the budget and marketing for this film add up to approximately half a billion dollars, making it the most expensive movie ever made. Of course, Cameron has been here before. Titanic cost $200 million to make, the largest budget for a feature film at the time, and just when it looked like it was going to goose that laid the rotten egg it proceeded to make $1.8 billion worldwide, making it the highest grossing film of all time. Cameron's also not new to the idea of revolutionizing the world of film with almost every movie he makes: with The Abyss he had the first all digital water effect, with Terminator 2 he had the first CGI character with realistic movement, and so on. Can lightning strike yet again?
I'm generally someone who's adverse to using all caps for anything, but: DO NOT WAIT TO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!! Also don't wait for it to come to DVD or to a TV station near you. Why, you ask? Because this movie is a movie that has to be seen the way it was intended to truly get the fully immersive experience. I watched the trailers on TV and online, and none of that compared to seeing the film in theaters in 3D. With Avatar, Cameron has truly outdone himself. When District 9 came out, I raved about the CGI effects in that movie, but Avatar is a whole other monster. With Avatar you truly cannot tell where the CGI begins and reality ends and vice versa, and on top of that it is the most beautiful film I've ever seen, CGI or otherwise. On top of that, Cameron's new 3D cameras create an experience that is in no way uncomfortable. No headaches and no motion sickness for those of you who suffer from that sort of thing. Instead, you get a highly immersive experience that leaves you begging for more (which is saying something, considering the film's run time is 162 minutes) and wanting to return when you leave.
I've seen a lot of reviews lately that talk about the film having a weak script with too many cliches and one dimensional characters. What you really get, in my opinion though, is old school story telling with a message, even though the message is drowned out in special effects and action. The script moves quickly, there is no downtime, but you also never feel like the pacing is off, or that it's moving too fast. Cameron has built a complete world, we don't just see characters and action, but we see complete eco systems, and are introduced to many characters. While the entire cast is amazing, Sam Worthington as Jake Sully and Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch are the real standouts here. Sam Worthington creates a character that you feel for, and through his progress from pawn to leader is truly believable and heartfelt. Stephen Lang, on the other hand, gives us a character that starts off just trying to do his duty, but eventually becomes a character on par with Sergeant Barnes from Platoon or Colonel Kurtz from Apocalypse Now.
I purposefully chose not to mention anything about the plot for this movie. I think this movie is going to be the revolution of movies that Cameron believes it's going to be. I've seen reviewers compare it to The Wizard of Oz (the movie to truly lead the color revolution) and King Kong (the 1933 version, which revolutionized special effects), and I wholeheartedly agree. I still can't completely fathom what I just saw, and will probably see it at least one more time on the big screen if not more. Anyone who's into film, the tech of film, or just wants to keep up with where film is going in the future should see this film. On top of that, this movie touches on so many different genres (SciFi, fantasy, romance, war films, drama, etc.) that it will appeal to almost everyone. Once again, James Cameron is "King of the World"!
5/5 |
Wow! 3-D: THE new & ONLY reason to attend a theater!
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| Review Date: January 25, 2010 |
| Reviewer: F. Fischer, Hayden, ID USA |
In interviews James Cameron gave on 60 Mins and Charley Rose prior to release, he discussed that his concept was to give a good story with many common themes (including fantasy and wonder of a new world, romance, war, religion, good vs evil, and the ecological tug of war between protection and use of resources) with a focus on new 3D technology that he worked with Sony and Panasonic to develop specifically for this production (thus the 10 yr time period) that would allow the artists to create a truly 'new world', with a good basic "story and plot" that he hoped would not only be entertaining but would cause people to think. Cameron also noted in one of his discussions that they had much more they could have included in the way of story but that they were limited on time, in part because they did not know if the 3-D would be too fatiguing for the eyes, and he did not underestimate the ability of viewers to complete any missing story lines for character development.
I'll tell you what "theme" ideas entered my mind during my viewing experiences (yes, we've seen it more than once and may go again! A first for us) that fleshed out the story more for me.
1) Predictable space adventure where humankind has screwed up earth to the point that they want to or must leave it and exploit other worlds. Unfortunately a truth that we keep seeing over and over again on this planet. Some call it exploitation, some capitalism at its worst, some just greed, while others call it "utilization" of the land for what humankind needs to exist, even a God Given Right. This a topic for discussion. Anyone thinking about that?
2) If a corporation is involved in a movie, it is likely evil, or at least focused only upon what 'it' sees as its sole purpose... maintain a good image so as not to piss-off the greater public and keep the shareholders happy by making ever more money. Anyone thinking about ways to make corporations more humane and earth/human friendly? Is there a way as stockholders that we can influence the way our world is exploited/used?
3) The military tension is portrayed in this case as a corporate mercenary force mostly/partially made up of EX-military, it doesn't really say. The bearing upon current events is right on! The "Military Force" in this movie is NOT, repeat NOT military! It evokes Blackwater (now Xe Services) among other corporate mercenaries, and fit the bill like few other movies of late. This was a slap NOT at members of our military, but at those individuals and mercenary businesses who employ individuals trained by the military at taxpayer expense to do the bidding FOR PROFIT of whomever is paying them. It is an expansion of, and additional warning of, Pres. Dwight Eisenhower's warning of the "Military Industrial Complex" and the road it can take us down.
4) Ah yes, the romance. Always a nice ploy when members of different races or communities can cross the barrier and love. Yes, all too typical in these stories, but hey, it is a nice dream that, if universally held, could help deter strife. And anyway, I'm a hopeless romantic; so for the like-minded this is a nice touch and I had no problem falling into it!
5) Resources/land/water first, indigenous peoples and critters unneeded and relatively worthless. My first thought here was, wow, how our Native Peoples could have used their own "Jake Sully" to help them keep their lands when our forefathers invaded. I watched this thinking that, were I of Native heritage, would likely be thinking, Damn, where was OUR Jake Sully?! Yes, this again is a story of repetition, not just in the Americas, but all over the world and for thousands of years, it is part of human history. This is a story that can be found in so many cultures, of peoples longing for a "savior" to deliver them from invaders or oppressors. Side note: To those few 'out there' who had to whine about a 'racial slur' because a 'white guy' comes to save the day of the "poor oppressed/indigenous peoples", give it a rest! Could have put anyone in the Jake Sully character and he/she would have been of a different 'race' from the indigenous Na'vi! I don't hear a lot of whining about it being a man and not a woman, or any other segment of the human population!
6) Spirituality. Some find this icky unless it is their own "brand". Many don't like the I for one really loved the "Oneness" being parlayed here. There are cultures on our planet that people lead by the 'great religions' have tried to eradicate, relegating their spirituality to paganism and mythology, but there is a beauty of Oneness portrayed here that would do us all good to try to grasp.
7) Action, Action .. and Killing. But, with a nice nod to some of our Native American (or First Nations in Canada), there is a nice showing of respect for all life in general, even in the hunting for food. Idea here is we don't NEED to kill, we don't NEED to destroy life unless we take it for good reason. Ah, but there is a thought to keep you going awhile ... who defines "Good Reason"?! All you 1-3 star folks should spend some time pondering that, as Cameron would like us to do so we can all discuss it.
8) Beauty! Wow what artwork. I know we've all likely seen many aspects of this 'world'before (I can't recall where), but if so, dynamically brought together. Any of this that was 'borrowed', read inspired, buy other artists, this should serve as a major complement. This was a world, Pandora, that I would dream to travel to. What natural dream scapes!
9) Special effects, OMG!! Now, my wife and I rate movies as potentially extremely good and worth a ticket to a theater; worth buying in Blue Ray; just a renter, or not worth the $1-3 to rent. Most fall into the last category, many into the renter, a very few into the purchase group and we can count on our hands the ones we have gone to in the last 10 years. We seldom even consider going to the theater (much less more than once to the same movie) because we have a 7.1 sound system superior to any of our theaters and our Sony XBR LCD provides a picture better than the theaters. But the 3D prospect, as well as subject, sucked us in and it was SO, so worth it! And the animation of the critters and the plants and bugs just gets better. But the emotion conveyed by the faces and movement of "characters" of the Na'vi is a fantastic technical achievement that comes home.
This new 3-D technology is a new breath of air for theater movies. The Buddy Holly glasses are a bit much, especially over my own frames, but hey, I've been so bummed ever since Cinerama, CinemaScope and Panavision died years ago (yes, I'm in my 50's for those who have to look those terms up) it is nice to see something truly amazing at the theater! Now if they can just get good sound systems and train the operators how to run a high fidelity surround system so it doesn't sound like the sub in their car is rattling the trunk lid and doors!
Now, could the characters be a bit more fleshed out? Could Jake, especially as the Na'vi, have been a bit more mature? Could the dialog have been more mature and less influenced by cliche? Sure, you bet to all. Missing aspects that would have made it a more complete movie. Is it filled with re-tellings of many themes? Sure, but how many movies are not? Does it call out many of the really bad aspects of human nature? Yes, like many good stories, movies, plays ... gives us something to work on. Does it also suggest we have many redeeming qualities? Yes - ability to love, to be empathetic to be open to change and 'new ways' and to love. Does it lean heavily on "Natural Spirituality"? You bet, unabashedly. Spirituality and connectivity with the natural world is far older than any of the worlds religions and is a basis of some. But all this aside, this movie was intended primarily to be vivid and exciting entertainment with a smattering of thought provocation that would be accessible to most viewers. I think it more than succeeds on all accounts! |
"Absolutely astounding special effects--don't even THINK of skipping the 3-D!!"
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| Review Date: December 26, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Jerry Parks, Lexington, KY USA |
****Review is for 3-D version only. Can't IMAGINE it any other way****
OK, this is the most astonishing movie I have ever seen. First word I heard leaving the theater was 'amazing!' No doubt about it.
I won't discuss the plot. Suffice it to say the plot is good, but nothing, I repeat NOTHING can match the special effects of the 3-D. Plot aside, this movie is a visual feast for the senses. The flight and fight scenes are magnificent.
Here's the least you need to know:
1. It's the best of all the action movies rolled into one. Sort of like Lord of Rings meets Jurassic Park meets Dances with Wolves meets Tarzan meets Transformers meets Narnia meets Rambo meets Eragon meets Apocalypto meets Dragonslayer--meets the most realistic video game you ever played! (You get the picture? You're IN the picture!)
2. It is 'new age' all the way. Christians will sneer at the Earth Mother, reincarnation, tree-loving motif. The 'we are all one with nature' theme isn't pushed ad absurdum, but if you aren't into it--better get used to it.
3. It's a long movie--nearly three hours, and the parking lot was packed here in Lexington. Be sure you have your snack in hand and your 'business' taken care of.
4. There's a lot of cursing--somewhat overdone in my opinion--so keep that in mind when you take the kids. The only thing remotely sexual is the 'hair-bonding' ritual (now THAT was interesting...) so sexuality is not much of an issue. There is a lot of creature 'death' however.
5. The ending is as predictable as it is inevitable in this 'nature versus machine' extravaganza. Sort of makes you empathize with how the Aztecs must have felt when they saw Cortez coming with the metal! The last hour of so is truly the Armageddon scenario for the world of Pandora. If you're not worn out from being pounded with the visuals and Dolby super-sound, well--just buckle your seatbelts and enjoy the final ride! Nevertheless, I couldn't help joining the applause at the closing credits.
6. Finally, the special effects are astounding. You'll be reaching for the floating jellyfish 'tree seeds', dodging the flying dragon-birds, marveling at the rare mineral unobtanium's anti-gravity effect on the Hallelujah floating mountains, choking in the underwater scene, and cringing at the drops (and falls and jumps) off cliffs! This stuff is so good you quickly stop asking yourself how they did it, and simply sit there and experience it. You really are IN the movie!
There you have it, without giving away anything. Bottom line? Just pay the extra bucks and get the glasses, appreciate the creative mind that could come up with such a story, and get lost for three hours in a world of sight and sound you cannot imagine (only the smell is missing!). If this is a preview of the future of TV, I'm reserving my 3-D model right now! Wow!
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AVOID THIS EDITION - 20-40 minutes of new missing storyline and no special features. SPECIAL EDITION COMMING SOON!
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| Review Date: March 18, 2010 |
| Reviewer: M. Western, |
***THINGS YOU MUST KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY***
1. A special edition likely including 20-40 minutes of additional footage is already being leaked to media for release later THIS YEAR!
2. No special features. If you are a fan, of all the discs in your collection this is the one you really want the extra stuff. It really should be amazing!
3. No 3D presentation. New technology in TVs is out this year and should enhance the home 3D experience. I don't usually care about 3D at home but things are changing. Be ready!
4. There is also news that the movie itself will be re-released shortly with the 20-40 minutes of additional content I mentioned above. Why buy the Blu if you can see it with additional content and in the best possible 3D at theaters--- then buy the special edition just a few months later?
I have to echo the comments of a previous reviewer. The studios are becoming so brazen. They released this edition and tried to explain the poor accoutrements by saying "they wanted to save all the space on the disc for the best possible presentation". Are you kidding me? Bust out the extra discs already! Offering this bare bones BR right before re-releasing the movie with additional footage was also a classless act that spits in consumer's faces. Just rent the movie or see the enhanced version in theaters. It will tide you over until the Special Edition comes out.
Lastly, there are plenty of people adding comments that you shouldn't wait for 3D because the home experience with 3D is lack luster or most people don't have the new 3D TVs. That's partly true, however...
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT 3D! The lack of additional storyline, missing special features and blatent disregard for consumers (in an economic downturn) are what make this a bad deal. There is new home theater technology out this year that should enhance the home 3D experience. Your home theater will catch up. People who are excited about this movie should be standing together against a poor release offering, especially when there are terrific alternatives to hold us over.
Wait a few months and get a much superior release for similar money. |
Now You Have a Good Reason to Go to the Movies.
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| Review Date: January 25, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Mr. Censored, Maine |
While its initial previews made it look like FernGully meets Dances with Wolves with extra-large Smurfs in action, you can rest assured that James Cameron's epic return to the game, "Avatar," is more than meets the eye. With twelve years gone by since the director's previous record smashing film, it's safe to say that his absence has been felt. There are very few directors who throw themselves into their work like Cameron does, and more often than not, his films are not only hits, but cinematic landmarks. Like his special effects break-through in Terminator 2 - Judgment Day and the massive scope and success of Titanic, "Avatar" is yet another benchmark film.
All the work Cameron put into "Avatar" (which has been on the back-burner since the mid-90's) has no doubt paid off, and if its box office receipts are any indication, this is a movie that is not soon to be forgotten, and is one for the ages that will be appreciated by generation after generation. Yeah, it's that good. If this generation has a "Star Wars," then this, my friends, is it. Its visual effects are absolutely stunning and combined with the unique 3D presentation creates a world that you can truly disappear into. At times, you will forget you are watching a movie. You'll feel like you're in the jungle and you'll feel like you're a part of the battle. It's the little the things and the attention to detail that make the film so sweet. James Cameron is a perfectionist, and not for one moment does he let the 3D element of this film go to waste. It's less of a gimmick here and more of a device to transport you into the near-perfect world he has created.
While the plot itself isn't ground-breaking material - the man vs. nature thing has been done to death - it is presented in a way that manages to entertain and stimulate the senses while not beating you over the head with its message. It helps, too, that the pacing is smooth and the plot never sags. At about two hours and forty-five minutes long, you never feel the urge to look at the time or think of anything else (especially if you are seeing it in its best element - an IMAX theater). As far as the action sequences go, fans who have been craving a dose of the good stuff since "Terminator 2" hit theaters back in 1991 will feel more than satisfied, even if the bulk of it is saved for the final act.
If there are any flaws to be found, it is in the character department. While some are well-fleshed out and as three-dimensional as the film itself (Worthington, who also starred in the Cameron-less Terminator Salvation gives a strong and sympathetic performance) there are a few that seem to fall by the wayside. Take the characters played by Joel David Moore (Hatchet) and Michelle Rodriguez (The Fast and the Furious). Both characters fade in and out of the plot, and there are moments where you aren't sure where they stand. I suspect this is a case of the film being edited down to fit a fair time slot (although it could have been longer and not worn out its welcome) and there are some character moments that will be restored in a future "Director's Cut" of the film.
All in all, "Avatar" is a simply awesome cinematic experience. There have been few films to succeed with such broad goals, and yet, Cameron has managed to come back after many had either written him off or assumed he was done, and changed the game completely. Yes, it's hard to swallow all the hype that has accompanied this project, but if ever there was a film so deserving, it is this. If movies are meant to take you away to a different world to escape reality for a few hours, then "Avatar" more than does its job. Experience it now, while it's still in theaters. This deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible, and is a film you won't want to hold out for on DVD.
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One of the better movies I have seen in a while..
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| Review Date: January 10, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Victoria K. Collins, nowhere,SC |
| I thoroughly enjoyed this movie! I was not really interested in it at first, I kept hearing how great the graphics were so I decided to give it a chance! I had also never been to a 3-d movie so this was a first for me! Boy was I glad that this was my first 3-d experience! The story was fantastic even my six yr. old sat through the whole 2 1/2 hours glued to the screen! I recommend that if you have an imagination and heart to go see this movie. If you don't well you're really missing out on a great film with a director that has surpassed all others! |
Awesome
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| Review Date: January 2, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Vol G. Williams, Nine Mile Falls, Washington USA |
The excitement had been building for a couple of days. Finally the day had come. We were going to see the Imax 3D Avatar experience on the opening day for the 11:30 matinee. We piled in the car and drove the 20 plus miles into town to the downtown IMAX theater. We got our popcorn and drinks and picked up our 3D glasses. Entering the screen room, we were pleasntly surprised to find good seats right in the middle about half way up. Everyone was chattering away and I could feel the anticipation in the air. We enjoyed the previews for upcoming movies, especially the 3D preview for the upcoming Alice in Wonderland, with the Cheshire Cat floating in front of your nose.
Then the movie started and we sat mesmerized, no....stunned is a better word, right up to the very end. I have two words to describe this movie: Absolutely Astounding! James Cameron out did himself with this movie. The color, the effects, the acting were superb. There are a lot of big special effects movies these days and for most of them, that's the most you can say. But like all of Cameron's films, this one has a great story. The actors are so convincing in their roles that you become involved in their lives. When a movie can elicit deep emotions from the audience like anger, concern, sadness, and joy for the characters then it can only be regarded as a great film. I thought Segourney Weaver did an outstanding job, as always, playing the gruff Dr. Grace Augustine. I liked the way her personality shifts, when she is in her avatar Na'vi body, to the sweet and concerned teacher of children. And I can't say enough about the performance of Zoe Saldana, unknown to me before this movie, for her portrayal of the Na'vi "princess" Neytiri. The passion, expression, and emotion she puts into this role makes her alien character totally believable.
I will not talk about the plot for this movie because I don't like revealing spoilers. Suffice it to say that if you choose not to see this movie, especially in 3D and if possible in IMAX, then you will be missing a singularly unique experience you may never get another chance at. I doubt that any 3D DVD or blu-ray version that comes out could possibly do this film justice. Recall the dismal failures for the Polar Express and Journey to the Center of the Earth. Now, after writing this review, I realize I have to go and see it again. I know my kids will want to. |
Visually Spectacular and Spiritually Rewarding. A Love Story
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| Review Date: December 27, 2009 |
| Reviewer: B. Marold, Bethlehem, PA United States |
Avatar, above all else, is a love story. I'm convinced that this is the reason why many people come back to see it again and again. It is about love in the face of heroic difficulties, but its the connection between the two main characters which lifts the movie above the level of all the other great action / scifi movies we've seen.
Another, somewhat subliminal view of the movie is that it represents all the major stages of life, especially the rebirth of baptism, growth into belonging in the community, marital union, and death. Ultimately, it gives one the sense of a sinner's return to a state of grace in the garden.
In order to answer some critics, I am certain, as Cameron says himself, that the story is a gemish of every SciFi novel and film he has read or seen. There is even a hint of 'Return of the Jedi' in that both Pandora and Endor are habitable moons of gas giant planets, similar to the moons of Jupiter.This is not a bad thing. People have been retelling the same story over and over for centuries. The post-Biblical story of Simon Magus was resurrected and retold as the Faust story ever since the fourteenth century.The question is, does Cameron tell it better? I suspect he comes out in the lead by a nose
The skeleton of the story is similar to 'white man scouts indians, white man goes over to Indians, white man helps Indians fight cavalry, indians win'. My dim memory of 'Little Big Man', with Dustin Hoffman, suggests this was the best exemplar of this skeleton. The big advance ofer that skeleton is based on the Avatar process, and on the one hand, the advantages it gives to Jake Scully to make contact, and on the other hand, the disadvantages, when the colonel back at home base can cut him off from his Avatar body in the blink of an eye.
The second leg of this movie is the absolutely perfect technical realization of Pandora and its inhabitants. I don't think that even the floating mountains are original (I have a suspicion these showed up in a Larry Niven story) I am certain the huge trees and the sentient connections between the flora and fauna are not original. But the details of how all these were realized is impecable. I am not well versed in movie technology, but I hav seen very good movies, such as Ridley Scott's Gladiator, where the editing, especially in heavy action scenes, is very, very choppy. But Russell Crowe keeps your attention, so you don't care. A slip in filming or editing in 'Avatar' would have been disastrous. But there are no slips. Not one. Cameron and Co get all the little stuff exactly right, even so far as to invent the Na'vi language which sounds both familiar and foreign at the same time. The only 'background' aspect of the film which doesn't POP is James Horner's score. It is 'good enough', but not so good I will run out and buy a CD.
The third leg of this movie is the aura of spirituality evoked by the unique combination of story, backstory, and effectiveness of the actors portraying the Na'vi to show how they feel. As Sigourny Weaver said recently, Cameron was able to develop at least three very good female characters in this movie. Zoe Saldana was especially effective in being alternately tough and vulnerable behind her Na'vi persona. We are used to this by now, ever since Gollum turned out to be the most interesting character in 'Lord of the Rings'. As heroic and inspiring as LOTR was, Avatar is even better, and it knows when to stop. I literally cried through the second half of the film, so taken was I by the evocative spirit of the Na'vi and their environment. This is tree-hugging writ large, very large. I was even taken aback when I ran into a passage in 1 Timothy 4:2-4 which warned against itching ears, and wandering away to myths. I can wish that the level of spiritual octane in our religious services and teachings could come close to the artistry being applied here to 'mere myths'.
A week after writing this review, it occurred to me that there are mythic undercurrents to this movie, especially in the realization of the Na'vi which dig deep into some of our most basic notions of the divine. In some early Jewish writings, Adam and Eve are described as being clothed in effervescent light (just like the Na'vi) and who must be clothed with artificial clothes when they fall from grace. The Na'vi are literally, still connected to their God, and fight to preserve that connection.
As an aside, I have to add that allowing for the layers of special effects, Zoe Saldana is simply outstanding in this flick. Give us more!
LOTR surprised me, because I thought it couldn't be done, but it was. Avatar did not surprise me, but that doesn't mean it failed, because it simply lived up to expectations, as the expectations were very, very high. |
Fantastic! The best movie in a long time
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| Review Date: December 19, 2009 |
| Reviewer: William Merrill, San Antonio, TX United States |
| So many movies promise much in the trailer and then fall flat in the theater. Avatar is one of the rare cases where no trailer can match the thrill of the film itself. I've written many customer reviews for Amazon but rarely award five stars. With Avatar, I did not hesitate to give it the top rating. It has all of the following in large measures: fully captivating storytelling, amazing visuals, excellent voice acting for the animated portions, and even such things as the score and credits worked really well. And none of that even touches on the breakthrough technologies we've all heard about in the pre-release hype. I saw the movie in 3D, and I certainly encourage everyone to do the same. Often modern 3D movies don't really seem to take full advantage of the possibilities of the form. Avatar has an unprecedented number of scenes with breathtaking 3D views. Then there's the brilliant creativity and imagination at work in designing the world of Pandora itself. The color palette used for the flora and fauna is simply beautiful to behold, and so many of the creatures are just way cool, especially the flying ones. On the quality of animation, it's not perfect. I have yet to see any CGI that's 100 percent believable where things like facial expressions are happening, but Avatar comes very close. As CGI characters engaged in conversation, I was not distracted by the fact that I was watching CGI vs. live action. And I had fun comparing the avatars' facial features to the live actors/characters they were based on (Sigourney Weaver's, for instance). in all, I haven't enjoyed a movie-going experience this much in a long time! |
BE CAREFUL!!!!!
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| Review Date: March 17, 2010 |
| Reviewer: M. Stephenson, |
As it turns out, Fox has craftily decided to milk "Avatar" for every possibly penny, since the debut DVD/blu-ray will be a bare-bones release -- and it will be one of the first major films to appear in home video without any of the regular special features, such as theatrical trailers, deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes footage.
If you want all the extra features, you'll have to wait until November, when you can buy a second "Avatar" DVD, currently titled the "Ultimate Edition," which will include all of the fancy stuff. And then, if you have really deep pockets, you can come back to the video store next year and buy a third, 3-D, version of the DVD.
So in a nut shell... This Blu-ray/DVD release JUST has the movie on it! NOTHING ELSE. NO EXTRAS, NO TRAILERS, NO SPECIAL FEATURES. |
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Loved the writeup…Though I quite did not like the film at all. All it seemed was concentrated on getting the visual up.
I have been hearing so much about this movie lately that I did not want to miss a chance to see it on the big screen. I have 3 boys and my fiancee that I took to see the 3D version. Almost 3 hrs long, and a full bladder later I walked out in a daze. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion so here is my own. Absolutely the best movie I have ever seen. The bar has been raised and I believe it will be a very long time before anyone can come close to meeting it. Breath taking scenery, superb music, great storyline, roles perfectly met…. So many great things to be said of this film, but I will simply state this. I have 3 boys, all 3 with different personalities and likes/dislikes with movies. For the first time ever all 3 sat perfectly still without falling asleep and eyes wide for almost 3 hours. Tell me that there’s not something amazing about this film. BRAVO and ENCORE!!!
Ferngully for this generation!! Totally awesome!