Comments on: Avatar

By: Rakesh Malik

Rakesh Malik — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:13:13 +0000

I came out of it wanting to take a photo safari on Pandora

The story reminded me a lot of “Princess Mononoke” more than any other film. (If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend it.)

It is refreshing to see an incredibly high-tech film that uses the special effects to tell a story rather than merely to create spectacle. And WETA Digital outdid themselves with the performance capture and synthetic actors.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:43:03 +0000

I loved the movie as well, and also saw it in 3D. I agree that the 3D effects were not overdone. One part I thought was visually quite fitting for it were the holographic computer displays. I can just imagine editing photographs on screens like that someday. The landscapes were quite immersive as well.

I was hoping for a bit more character development for such a long movie, but overall it was fine. The storyline and morals can apply to so many situations of human history as well as our present.

I would say the movie was a little predictable because perhaps we are all too familiar with the story and parallels with reality (unfortunately).

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:50:05 +0000

Well, it wouldn’t be a Hollywood movie without a political statement, now would it? You bring up and interesting point about the hero. It would have been nice to see the hero come from the Na’vi, instead of one of the transformed ‘bad guys’.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:48:03 +0000

Well, if Peg doesn't like crowds, I'd suggest a 9:30 AM showing. The kids are still asleep! We tried to see it in IMAX, but that show was continuously sold out, so we did the regular 3-D. They are showing it 3 different ways: 2-D, 3-D, and IMAX 3-D. I would suggest the 3-D just for the added depth. As I said, there is no trickery involved, but it is nice to have the depth. Also, there are some cool 3-D animated movies coming, like Despicable Me, which I certainly want to see. As a storyteller, I certainly want to see your take on it. I'm very much interested in what you have to say.

By: Cedric

Cedric — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:00:52 +0000

I ‘ve just come home from seeing this movie. It’s definitely entertaining and beautiful to look at. I came out thinking it was very much “Dances with Wolves” (minus Costner thankfully). My kids compared it to “Atlantis”.

I like your interpretation though. I also picked up on similar themes plus a few political ones. As you pointed out it follows the usual Hollywood formula which was the one thing that disappointed me. I had hoped that for once the hero would come from the underdogs, in this case the na’vi. It would have been nice to have been shown a whole new perspective on this age old story.

By: Chris Klug

Chris Klug — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:31:00 +0000

Thanks, Paul. I had mentioned to my wife that Avatar might be one film we need to see over the holidays. As I teach storytelling, and as someone who makes (made?) his living in the ‘new media,’ Avatar certainly sits in my wheelhouse, so to speak. And if Cameron really was wrestling with some of those issues, I will have to see it before it leaves the theaters. It is so easy in that type of film (as you point out) to let the technology overshadow the film’s soul. The trick for us will be trying to see it when the theater isn’t crowded, as my wife doesn’t like to sit in a very crowded theater.