James Cameron's Avatar

[Warhorse]

How successful you all think this movie is going to be. So far, only film buffs and James Cameron fanatics seem to be talking about it. Ask a regular joe off the street about it, and he'd think you were talking about the cartoon.

[That Matt Guy]

it will suck and nobody will care, the end.

[Cure]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

Ask a regular joe off the street about it, and he'd think you were talking about the cartoon.

A "regular Joe" wouldn't know anything about the cartoon.

[Warhorse]

A regular joe who has kids would know about the cartoon. Nickelodeon is actually pretty popular with many adults, hell, when I take my great aunt to the nearby century village hangout for a night of BINGO, it's not uncommon to see them having Nickelodeon on.

And as for this movie becoming a success, I hope you're right, and that it bombs. I'm kind of sick and tired of hearing how James Cameron is this directing God, when except for one movie, most of films had the typical success as any summer blockbuster. Not to mention at what they are trying to achieve with this film. Trying to make CGI humans as realistic as possible. Don't know about you, but I don't care for the style of 300 and Bewolf. Why not keep using the real flesh and blood human?

[The Stryker]

What the hell are you talking about?

[Cure]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

Trying to make CGI humans as realistic as possible. Don't know about you, but I don't care for the style of 300 and Bewolf. Why not keep using the real flesh and blood human?

300 had real actors in it.

[Mr. Snackpants]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

A regular joe who has kids would know about the cartoon. Nickelodeon is actually pretty popular with many adults, hell, when I take my great aunt to the nearby century village hangout for a night of BINGO, it's not uncommon to see them having Nickelodeon on.

And as for this movie becoming a success, I hope you're right, and that it bombs. I'm kind of sick and tired of hearing how James Cameron is this directing God, when except for one movie, most of films had the typical success as any summer blockbuster. Not to mention at what they are trying to achieve with this film. Trying to make CGI humans as realistic as possible. Don't know about you, but I don't care for the style of 300 and Bewolf. Why not keep using the real flesh and blood human?

WTF do you know about directing or good movies at all?

[Warhorse]

Originally Posted by Mr. Snackpants

WTF do you know about directing or good movies at all?

And what do you know about a "good director" or a "good movie?

As for 300, one of James Cameron's interviews has him commenting about how they had to use real actors to get the stylistic results for 300, Beowolf or to get as realistic as they could with Gollum in the Lord of the Rings, but with his new technology, he's changing all of that. He's supposedly creating the actors out of thin air for Avatar, and I am guessing the cast that is listed is for voice overs only. I've seen people on this board talk about how they liked the old fashioned movie magic of puppets and real stage sets instead of blue screened stages and CGI, so wanted to ask people's opinion on the matter, in a civilized manner. There's no reason to go acting like a butt head.

[Mecha Cow]

You've said yourself you're hoping the movie bombs, so don't go acting like you're objective all of a sudden. Also, seeing as the movie is going to be a mix of live-action and CG (ie. no blue screens and "creating actors out of thin air") and absolutely nothing has been shown yet, it's obvious that you have no idea what you're talking about - as usual.

[Cure]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

And what do you know about a "good director" or a "good movie?

As for 300, one of James Cameron's interviews has him commenting about how they had to use real actors to get the stylistic results for 300, Beowolf or to get as realistic as they could with Gollum in the Lord of the Rings, but with his new technology, he's changing all of that. He's supposedly creating the actors out of thin air for Avatar, and I am guessing the cast that is listed is for voice overs only. I've seen people on this board talk about how they liked the old fashioned movie magic of puppets and real stage sets instead of blue screened stages and CGI, so wanted to ask people's opinion on the matter, in a civilized manner. There's no reason to go acting like a butt head.

Beowulf was all CGI using the likeness of the actors. Again, 300 had REAL actors.

[Mr. Snackpants]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

And what do you know about a "good director" or a "good movie?

I loved how you re-asked my questioned. Great reply.

I'm not going to sit here and say I'm an expert because I'm not. However I like to think I know a thing or two about cinema...probably more than your casual movie-going ass. I definitely know enough not to dismiss James Cameron as an "overrated" director. That shows your lack of understanding, right there.

Why even start a thread about a movie(and director) you don't care about?

[Ra]

The Live Action Avatar Movie series?

I'm pretending it doesn't exist right now.

YAY FOR TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THINGS!

[Krang]

Enough of the arguing, please. Let's get back on topic.

[Sewer Bull]

Originally Posted by Warhorse

I'm kind of sick and tired of hearing how James Cameron is this directing God, when except for one movie, most of films had the typical success as any summer blockbuster.

Which is that one movie - "Terminator" or "Titanic"?

Originally Posted by Warhorse

Not to mention at what they are trying to achieve with this film. Trying to make CGI humans as realistic as possible. Don't know about you, but I don't care for the style of 300 and Bewolf. Why not keep using the real flesh and blood human?

... says the person with CGI TMNT in her avatar/signature.

Originally Posted by Ra

The Live Action Avatar Movie series?

I'm pretending it doesn't exist right now.

YAY FOR TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THINGS!

It's not the movie based on that anime, you can start to breathe again.

Originally Posted by Warhorse

I've seen people on this board talk about how they liked the old fashioned movie magic of puppets and real stage sets instead of blue screened stages and CGI

I wonder what's all that with people loving the puppet actors. There's no real logical explanation for sticking to the obsolete techniques of movie-making, other than nostalgia, perhaps.

[Ra]

*breathes a sigh of relief*

[Canadian Turtle]

In reply to one recent question, James' big hit was with Titanic, but if one was to look at his history of film making he has broken the boundaries almost every single time with maybe one exception.

I happen to be a big time Cameron fan. Aside from him being one of the hardest directors in history to work with he makes some of my favorite movies ever.

Take a look at each achievement: Terminator break through technologies on a wicked small budget with a bad ass story!, T2 first use of CG to create human like characters as well as amazing effects, Abyss amazing use of set and largest underwater scenes to date with some of the first CG ever used on the big screen, Aliens first time ever to have a puppet that large hold up on screen with such amazing use of miniatures and a wicked ass story and overall feel. (mind you most of these examples are as a result of the now late Stan Winston may he rest in peace).

Bottom line is what do you do after Titanic? What is challenging to anyone after pulling that off? Until the technology caught up. As far as I know this movie is using inferred technologies without traditional film optics so not "just a blue screen" But as I would understand it actually scanning the actor and the environment in 3D.

Just my 2 cents.

[Warhorse]

Originally Posted by Mr. Snackpants

I loved how you re-asked my questioned. Great reply.

I'm not going to sit here and say I'm an expert because I'm not. However I like to think I know a thing or two about cinema...probably more than your casual movie-going ass. I definitely know enough not to dismiss James Cameron as an "overrated" director. That shows your lack of understanding, right there.

Why even start a thread about a movie(and director) you don't care about?

Well, a couple of years ago, when I first heard about the Avatar movie coming out, I looked into it, and had genuine interest in it. Over the years, the interest comes and goes, but I'm still curious to see what other people would have thought of this upcoming film. I didn't realize it was a crime to get other people's points of views on this forum.

As for me dismissing James Cameron as a director, than I guess I gave out the wrong impression. I apologize for that. I love The Abyss and Terminator 2. I like Aliens and True Lies. I don't care for Terminator 1 or The Titanic. He's definitely an excellent director, probably in my top 5.