Avatar and the Avatar Cadence (James Cameron, 2009-2031)

[Movie-Brat]

I imagine his answering machine message is akin to this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrXqPIFsZSI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[hearthesilence]

Cameron sez the Avatar sequels will be "bitchin" and "You will shit yourself with your mouth wide open"

That quote, language and all, pretty much says everything you need to know about him as a filmmaker.

[flyonthewall2983]

It's weird because he used to be a bit more intelligent with his sound bytes, or at least appeared to come off that way.

[colinr0380]

That's quite a claim given that the third Human Centipede film will presumably be out around the same tme.

[flyonthewall2983]

Forbes: Five Years Ago, 'Avatar' Grossed $2.7 Billion But Left No Pop Culture Footprint

[hearthesilence]

Not true - they forced 3D and digital projectors into all theaters, thus gauging most viewer goers at the box office from here on out over a useless, expensive, unwanted gimmick.

[aox]

I don't remember a single scene from the entire film. It certainly didn't have a "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.", "forget it Jake, it's Chinatown", "May the force be with you", or "Hasta la vista, baby" moment.

[Werewolf by Night]

I didn't see the movie, but I remember this scene.

[bearcuborg]

Not true - they forced 3D and digital projectors into all theaters, thus gauging most viewer goers at the box office from here on out over a useless, expensive, unwanted gimmick.

No one is forced to see a movie in 3D, films were going digital with or without Avatar, and Hollywood had already been doing "modern" 3D stuff before Cameron.

Polar Express in 3D was a blast. I also dug Hugo, TS Spivet and the 3D of Avatar. If it fits the movie I don't mind it, plus I'm a lifelong photography nut...

That said, like AOX, I don't remember a single thing about the film, nor will I likely see the sequels.

[Murdoch]

Not true - they forced 3D and digital projectors into all theaters, thus gauging most viewer goers at the box office from here on out over a useless, expensive, unwanted gimmick.

That's actually stated almost verbatim in the article. I think the author meant more in terms of its cultural cache. It may have grossed billions, but it's fans are far less existent nowadays when compared to the most ardent fandoms.

[Drucker]

I don't remember a single scene from the entire film. It certainly didn't have a "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.", "forget it Jake, it's Chinatown", "May the force be with you", or "Hasta la vista, baby" moment.

And Cameron himself is also responsible for dozens of classic moments from his earlier films!

[hearthesilence]

No one is forced to see a movie in 3D, films were going digital with or without Avatar, and Hollywood had already been doing "modern" 3D stuff before Cameron.

That's not entirely true. During the holiday break, I kept hearing people over and over again complain that they had to buy tickets to a 3D screening of Star Wars because most theaters (at least here in the NYC) chose to run those far more times than the 2D screenings. Hell, I remember going to see the Avengers (a film I had no interest in) and everyone in my entire group having to buy 3D tickets because that was the only one screening at the AMC multiplex we went to in Chicago. They don't have to put a gun to your head to push you into buying a 3D ticket, theaters can book accordingly and leave little choice for the ticket buyer.

And the 3D stuff before Cameron was a joke and certainly NOT ubiquitous - another friend, a huge Superman fan, wanted to check out Superman Returns in 3D and we had to go out of our way to the one screen in Chicago that played it. We were one of maybe ten people in the audience at an evening screening. It would've remained an obscure novelty if it wasn't for Avatar.

[who is bobby dylan]

I'll bite. Can people, really not remember anything from Avatar?

I've only seen Avatar once and that was five years ago during its theatrical release. Sam Worthington plays Jake Sully. He's drafter into a mission meant for his twin brother following his brother's death. Zoe Saldana is the love interest. Giovani Rabisi is an evil capitalist. Stephen Lang is an evil imperialist with scars on his face. Sigourney Weaver is a good hearted scientist on the side of the natives. Michelle Rodriguez is a military grunt who defects to the native's side and gets killed during the aerial battle at the end. Worthington double crosses Lang by siding with the Na'vi, Lang double crosses him by using him as a spy. The scientist rescue Sully and set him free to warn the Na'vi. Sigourney Weaver's character gets wounded and the Na'vi are unable to resurrect her in her Avatar. The natives have to prepare for battle by bringing all of their warring tribes together. The bad guys destroy the native's tree of life. There is a large aerial battle, during which Sully's Na'vi rival in love for Saldana dies. The final fight is a confrontation between Lang (wearing a mech suit) and Sully. A dangerous predator (the Pandora equivalent of a black panther) intervenes and is killed by Lang. Sully gains the upper hand and with Saldana's help kills Lang. They send the surviving soldiers defeated back to Earth. In the end Sully's mind/spirit is transferred into his Avatar. Other stuff, all the creatures on Pandora can connect to each other. There's a floating island. They use their avatars to play basketball.

[hearthesilence]

Not true - they forced 3D and digital projectors into all theaters, thus gauging most viewer goers at the box office from here on out over a useless, expensive, unwanted gimmick.

That's actually stated almost verbatim in the article. I think the author meant more in terms of its cultural cache. It may have grossed billions, but it's fans are far less existent nowadays when compared to the most ardent fandoms.

That's what I get for posting before reading the whole article.

[domino harvey]

I'll bite. Can people, really not remember anything from Avatar?

I remember Giovanni Ribisi stroking his mustache and twirling his cape before killing Little Nell and Bambi's mother

[swo17]

All I remember about Avatar is that it's the one movie that I've made a conscious effort to illegally download and then watch on a phone.

[Trees]

I remember this guy drinking coffee while he was blowing stuff up.

[Shrew]

This may fall more in the "Movie Theater Experiences" thread, but the theater I saw it in screwed up and played 10 seconds of L'il Wayne's "Lollipop" over the speakers during Angry Space Marine General's first scene. That was memorable.

But if nothing else, it did give us the lasting cultural gift of "unobtainium".

[knives]

But if nothing else, it did give us the lasting cultural gift of "unobtainium".

Which was a joke in sci-fi circles for at least a few years before the movie meaning it just popularized the joke.

[beamish13]

Sure. I recall it being almost identical to the 1992 animated film Ferngully: The Last Rainforest (which is also distributed by Fox), albeit with a sci-fi as opposed to fantasy bent.

Also, Sam Worthington is one of those horrid actors whom studios seemingly pick at random based on their headshot and try to make as ubiquitous as possible despite their total lack of charisma, talent and name bankability (see also Colin Farrell).

[domino harvey]

No, see Jai Courtney or Chris Pine (literally the blandest human beings alive). Ferngully is awesome though, why couldn't that be the biggest film of all time?

[jindianajonz]

But if nothing else, it did give us the lasting cultural gift of "unobtainium".

Which was a joke in sci-fi circles for at least a few years before the movie meaning it just popularized the joke.

It actually goes back further than that; I've heard it used by defense department engineers enough to get a sense that it's been used by the military for quite some time.

[domino harvey]

Cameron should've used "upsidaisium" instead

[thirtyframesasecond]

No, see Jai Courtney or Chris Pine (literally the blandest human beings alive). Ferngully is awesome though, why couldn't that be the biggest film of all time?

Yes. As much as I disliked Sam Worthington, who was in every big movie when Avatar came out, Jai Courteney is much worse. And he also seemed to be in a run of movies at the same time too - Jack Reacher, A Good Day To Die Hard.

[Robin Davies]

I remember Avatar as being one of those films that is only worth watching for the spectacular special effects.
Like the original Star Wars.