- Joined: March 1999
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Story seems meh, effects look outstanding. I'll reserve judgment until I see it, but so far I'm underwhelmed with the apparent cliches of the storyline.
I'm really impressed with the design of the gunships. They not only look freaking
cool, they look like something we could build today. (And yes, I know we have
various VTOL vehicles, but this design just seems really elegant.)
David Forbes
Read excerpts from book three in my fantasy series at www.davidforbes.net.
- Joined: June 1999
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There are, what, 7 basic stories, it's not just about the overall plot, but the execution.
"Jee-sus, it's like Iwo Jima out there" - Roger Sterling on "Mad Men"
Patcave | 2006 Films | 2007 Films | Dragon*Con 2009 | Heroes Con 2009
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Storywise I still have negative feelings, but from a visual standpoint this film looks like it could be amazing, even with all of the uncredited anime' rips. For some reason, I thought his choice to make the Navi four fingered was interesting.
When you have to shoot...shoot. Don't talk!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
TonyD 
Why is that?
probably just easier to animate.
Possibly: although, I doubt that it could be all that difficult to animate a fifth finger. Even some of Pixar's characters have five digits nowadays. I just thought it was a small touch to differentiate the "Avatar" character from a true Navi, since the Avatar has five fingers, indicating the human origins of the character.
When you have to shoot...shoot. Don't talk!
- Joined: September 2005
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
RobertR
Is even the Terminator all that original? Cameron was forced to acknowledge a Harlan Ellison story as the basis for it.
I think that has more to do with Ellison being a dick though. A normal human being would have let the passing similarities go.
"Because he's the hero that Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now... and so we'll hunt him... because he can take it... because he's not a hero... he's a silent guardian, a watchful protector... a DARK KNIGHT."
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Patrick Sun
There are, what, 7 basic stories, it's not just about the overall plot, but the execution.
True, but there's an awful lot of cliched and tin-eared dialog in this new preview. Don't get me wrong, I
like Cameron, and I'm looking forward to seeing this regardless. I just think the plot/dialog is going to be substandard. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised, but I'd rather that than to go in with mile-high expectations and be disappointed.
David Forbes
Read excerpts from book three in my fantasy series at www.davidforbes.net.
- Joined: September 2005
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
RobertR
I don't disagree with you about Ellison, but the point is he couldn't have gotten away with being a dick about it if the story was truly original.
Why not? Dicks get away with shit all the time.
I believe the only reason Ellison was able to threaten a suit in the first place was because Cameron publicly praised Ellison's work as "inspiration," that doesn't make it subject material though. Ellison used Cameron's words as basis for a shake down, and the studio obliged to keep the film out of jeopardy.
"Because he's the hero that Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now... and so we'll hunt him... because he can take it... because he's not a hero... he's a silent guardian, a watchful protector... a DARK KNIGHT."
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Cameron's gift has always been story construction. He builds his stories to resonate, to be internally consistent, and to work for a large audience. You will not find a more ardent supporter and defender of Titanic, and that film has dreadful dialogue. But it does not have a dreadful story, nor does it misstep in the flow of the narrative and presentation of themes.
I think David is correct to be cautious in his optimism. The dialogue in the trailer isn't very good. But I still have hope that the well-trod story will be well told. I'm not worried about the visuals (and I hope Adam is correct about the 3D IMAX presentation...I want that to be something special). I'm worried about Jim not being the director he once was or getting lost in the technology. I don't see evidence for that (and I'll be both surprised and very disappointed if it turns out that way).
But it never hurts to be be cautious in your excitement and optimism.
Hey buddy...did you just see a real bright light?
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^^ And the idea of a human taking on the form of an "avatar" is nothing huge either. Hell, Avatar will be at least the 3rd film just this year to feature such a premise as a major plot point.
I theorize that if you ask an average non-scifi person if these ideas sound similar they would say "absolutely yes." But for the genre, surrogate beings and time travel are like lawyers and planes.
"Because he's the hero that Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now... and so we'll hunt him... because he can take it... because he's not a hero... he's a silent guardian, a watchful protector... a DARK KNIGHT."
- Joined: November 2004
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I trust in Cameron's abilities as a storyteller. Personally, I think it's stupid to get worried about a film based on a trailer -- a trailer I really like, by the way. For example, I think the trailer for Legion sucks eggs but I trust that the premise is strong enough to get me in the theater to see it.
As I watched the trailer for Avatar, I noticed something. Most of the "dialog" is voice over -- watch it and see. I think they tried to create a mini-film to set us up so we would understand the story. All of the lines are out of context. Words and visuals -- that's it.
Edited by Brett_M - 11/17/09 at 6:17am
Many Shubs and Zuuls knew what it meant to roast in the depths of the Sloar that day I can tell you.
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The last part just reminded me of music from "The Lion King". In fact, the whole clip could have been music for a Lion King sequel.
When you have to shoot...shoot. Don't talk!
