Dave Bryce Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 So, has anyone else seen it yet? I saw it last night, and was just blown away. I expected to like it, but I didn't expect to be amazed. I've never seen a movie that looks like this does...it absolutely heralds a new age as far as GC. No wonder this film took 12 years to make... I do have to put in a disclaimer that the gentleman in charge of the CG (Joe Letteri) is a good friend - he's my son's godfather - but I've seen some other films he did before that looked excellent but didn't didn't knock me out anywhere near as much as this one did (King Kong, for example). To date, my favorite piece of his work was Lord Of The Rings, but Avatar outdoes that significantly, IMO (from a CG POV). Outstanding score by James Horner as well... dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linwood Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 I can't wait to see it. I'll go next week. School's out and I can take Jake (turns 7 on Sunday) and make his day. The trailers look fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pale Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Outstanding score by James Horner as well... dB I watched the movie a few days ago, it was really good. I recognized the music author to be the same as the guy who did Troy, and Enemy at the Gates. I didn't know what was his name until 2 days ago. I looked him up on the interent, cos I immediatelly recognized him by a small lick he puts in all his scores. It's a small trumpety lick, always appearing when something exciting is about to happen. Troy, Enemy at the Gates, Avatar... the same lick for exciting situation. I don't know if he is recycling his ideas, or it's just a "trademark" lick he puts in all his movie scores, but it's something I immediatelly noticed. Custom handmade clocks: www.etsy.com/shop/ClockLight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanS Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 It's a small trumpety lick, always appearing when something exciting is about to happen. Troy, Enemy at the Gates, Avatar... the same lick for exciting situation. I don't know if he is recycling his ideas, or it's just a "trademark" lick he puts in all his movie scores, but it's something I immediatelly noticed. At least it's not a penny whistle lick, then we couldn't get Celine to shutup! My oldest daughter has expressed interest in going to see it, so I'm going to take it in over the holidays. Looks awesome. What we record in life, echoes in eternity. MOXF8, Electro 6D, XK1c, Motif XSr, PEKPER, Voyager, Univox MiniKorg. https://www.abandoned-film.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahZark Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 I read that Avatar uses new camera and CG technology that was developed specifically for purposes of this film (although now it will obviously be used more broadly). In an interview in last week's Entertainment Weekly magazine, James Cameron was quoted as saying that if he wanted to use the technology to make the "Na'vi" look human instead of like 9-foot tall, blue aliens with pointy ears, he could have done it. He specifically said that the technology is now good enough that if Clint Eastwood wanted to make one more Dirty Harry movie but wanted to look exactly like he did 30 years ago, it could be done, and no one would know the difference from reality. That's really friggin' cool. Noah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill H. Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 If anyone has seen Avatar in IMAX 3D - what did you think? I haven't seen it yet in any form but am interested in watching it first in a theater that will blow my socks off. I would especially like to know if it's presentation in that format makes you nauseous. I'm not into vomiting while watching a movie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richwhite9 Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Cameron's been accused of ripping off the Smurfs, Jar Jar Binks, Fern Gully: The Last Rain Forest and Roger Dean. The latest charges are more serious as the summary of 'Call Me Joe' a classic sci-fi story from 1957 is pretty much spot on. Synopsis of Call Me Joe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_me_joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorgatron Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Cameron's been accused of ripping off the Smurfs, Jar Jar Binks, Fern Gully: The Last Rain Forest and Roger Dean. The latest charges are more serious as the summary of 'Call Me Joe' a classic sci-fi story from 1957 is pretty much spot on. Synopsis of Call Me Joe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_me_joe hey,always steal from the best,am I right? I won't be seeing this,as it looks to be a huge steaming pile of dung. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonksDream Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Well we have tickets to see that dung-pile steam in IMAX tomorrow evening! I'll report back on whether Cameron gets the smell right, Instrumentation is meaningless - a song either stands on its own merit, or it requires bells and whistles to cover its lack of adequacy, much less quality. - kanker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SK Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 I'd want to see it for the technology, and how it aids the storytelling. I at least expect 'that' to be impressive. CD: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevekessler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJUSCULE Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 I'm hoping to see it in IMAX with friends during the holidays. Eric Website Gear page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted December 19, 2009 Author Share Posted December 19, 2009 I won't be seeing this,as it looks to be a huge steaming pile of dung. Based on what - TV commercials? They don't begin to do this film justice. Hey, if you don't like sci-fi fantasy in general, this may not be the film for you...but I'm here to tell you, this is so far from a steaming pile of dung it's not funny. In terms of filmmaking, it's one of the most amazing things I've ever seen...and I'm typically not prone to superlatives, and am fairly citical of movies....I'm a big fan - I see lots of 'em. I don't understand what makes people condemn stuff they haven't experienced.... I'd want to see it for the technology, and how it aids the storytelling. I at least expect 'that' to be impressive. It is, in fact, impressive. dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfD Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 I plan to see "Avatar' the moment I can get out from under this snow. From the trailers I saw at the movie theater, I expect it to be an amazing movie from a production standpoint. Watching Cameron's interview on '60 MInutes' a few weeks ago, he mentioned this movie will be a game-changer. Based on dB's superlatives, Cameron must have succeeded on some level. I'm checking it out. PD "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackandWhite Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Yeah, it does look like a must-see, for me, in the theater. Locally, it's showing in 3 formats, including 3D and Imax 3D. Anyone have any recs as to which format to see? THanks. "I never knew that music like that was possible." - Mozart ( Amadeus movie) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richwhite9 Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I don't know if it's a game changer or not. Overused term. 3-D without the glasses would change the game. Avatar will be released on 3-D Blu-Ray requiring SOTA hardware and glasses. Reminds me of the Virtual Reality gloves and glasses of the 90s that went nowhere. 3-D without glasses is on the horizon and being demoed. Likely 3 or 4 years before prices and a standard are developed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted December 20, 2009 Author Share Posted December 20, 2009 My friend Joe says it's unlike any other 3D film. No stupid gratuitous shots to show off the technology, which is cool because I hate those. He says when you see it in 3D it's like you're there. He says they had the premiere in 3D Wednesday night, and they got a standing ovation.... dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SK Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Your last post makes me want to see it more, Dave. I saw the only showing of the first ever 3D movie in Boston in 1981, Hitchcock's "Dial M For Murder." It was shot in the 50's in 2D and 3D, but no theaters existed with 3D tech at the time to show it. And there were no gratuitous shots at all, it was subtle and just immersive - but on a much lower tech scale than Avatar of course. CD: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevekessler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogberto Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I don't understand what makes people condemn stuff they haven't experienced.... dB hype. lots of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJUSCULE Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 I plan to see "Avatar' the moment I can get out from under this snow. From the trailers I saw at the movie theater, I expect it to be an amazing movie from a production standpoint. Watching Cameron's interview on '60 MInutes' a few weeks ago, he mentioned this movie will be a game-changer. Based on dB's superlatives, Cameron must have succeeded on some level. I'm checking it out. I saw Sigourney Weaver on the Daily Show from the 14th. She said the same. It seems Cameron needed a much smaller crew because of the way it was filmed (at least the 3D alien part). That makes me wonder though, along with your Cheapening of art thread: Willthis kind of technology ever trickle down? Will some schmuck ever be able to make a 3D home movie? Eric Website Gear page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Saw it in 3D tonight. The animation was the most lifelike I've ever seen, they finally got the humanoids' eyes to not be dead, the aliens and creatures moved very naturally, and the vistas and ecology were breathtaking. The plot was serviceable but made up of themes you have seen before in other movies or stories. This doesn't bother me because there are very few story ideas that have never been tried. The human computer technology and military hardware was well done and believable too. The 3D effect was not overdone, and after awhile you didn't overtly notice it any more. I enjoyed it a lot! Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Italian premiere is middle January. Aaarrgghh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mogut Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Well I guess I better go see this movie. Based on all the feedback. -Greg Motif XS8, MOXF8, Hammond XK1c, Vent Rhodes Mark II 88 suitcase, Yamaha P255 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Stanfield Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 I'm waiting for the BluRay on this one. I've read spoiler-rich reviews, and in terms of story and theme I'm not attracted to it. Jason Stanfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BP3 Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Based on what - TV commercials? They don't begin to do this film justice. dB There are huge problems with the trailers. I can't even tell if there is a plot I can care about. I love the tech side but that when done well is maybe 20% of enjoying a movie. The story is the king. The trailers show nothing but tech. I hope there are all of the elements of a great movie. Dean (if a subliminal influence or not) does shoe up in much of the bits I've seen. If all the tech serves the story, then it is gonna be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 They do in fact take the time to develop characters - the open warfare you see in the trailers is the climax of the movie, not the focus of it. Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonksDream Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 I just saw Avatar in IMAX 3D tonight and was stunned! Forget the story, you've seen it before, but you've NEVER seen any story done like this. James Cameron and Henry Selick (Coraline) are the only directors I've seen that truly understand how to direct a film in 3D. Bloody brilliant! Instrumentation is meaningless - a song either stands on its own merit, or it requires bells and whistles to cover its lack of adequacy, much less quality. - kanker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moog_Man Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Just got back from seeing it- really incredible. Didn't mind at all the length, it was completely engaging the whole time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonysounds Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Just got back too; it was GREAT! I think Roger Dean should be getting some credit though: seems like a lot of YES album covers were inspiration. Hitting "Play" does NOT constitute live performance. -Me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanS Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 That makes me wonder though, along with your Cheapening of art thread: Will this kind of technology ever trickle down? Will some schmuck ever be able to make a 3D home movie? I don't see why not, there's lots of schmucks making home recordings.... What we record in life, echoes in eternity. MOXF8, Electro 6D, XK1c, Motif XSr, PEKPER, Voyager, Univox MiniKorg. https://www.abandoned-film.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richwhite9 Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Home 3-D? They will bring back digital versions of the 1960s era classic View Masters for home photos and home video. Available in red plastic for the Nord fans and Indigo Blue for Avatar fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.