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-   -   Avatar: Predictable or not? (https://forum.dvdtalk.com/movie-talk/571226-avatar-predictable-not.html)

Troy Stiffler 03-27-10 02:07 PM

Re: Avatar: Predictable or not?
 

Originally Posted by jfoobar (Post 10073373)

That is funny. At first, I expected it to be a fan-made straight-faced Avatar 2 trailer. Then I thought it was going to be a stupid SW fan parody or something. And then it starts taking on the 'script'.

Avatar's story is on par with many other Hollywood movies. It's just getting the 'lashing' because of it's popularity. If I really had the time, I could probably sit down and do five hundred of those Pocahontas-type summaries.

All stories have been told before. It's how you tell them that matter. And it's whether or not the film has a 'fresh' feeling to it. 'n stuff

Fist of Doom 03-27-10 02:11 PM

Re: Avatar: Predictable or not?
 
Someone will post that same fuckin' Avatar/Pocahontas story pic in every Avatar thread: Predictable or not?

Spoiler:
predictable

jfoobar 03-27-10 02:42 PM

Re: Avatar: Predictable or not?
 

Originally Posted by troystiffler (Post 10074510)
Avatar's story is on par with many other Hollywood movies. It's just getting the 'lashing' because of it's popularity.

Because of its popularity? Yes. Because it actually got nominated for the Best Picture Oscar? Hell yes. Because James Cameron spent an estimated 237 million dollars and God knows how much of his life and effort making a film which has a very average, formulaic and rather unoriginal script? Dear God yes.

Avatar is hardly the first film worthy of this sort of criticism, just the latest. It is just hard for me and many others to fathom sinking that much time, money and effort into something (not to mention recruiting a pretty solid array of actors) and not spending a few extra days making sure the script, which is the single biggest factor in the overall quality of almost all films, was terrific.

Idioteque... 03-27-10 02:49 PM

Re: Avatar: Predictable or not?
 

Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt (Post 10074309)
Nah.

It's not a good comparison at all. Harry and Hermoine aren't sisters. Voldemort wasn't Harry's father. Ron never got Harry out of a jam like Han Solo did with Luke. The differences go on.

The Last Samurai is pretty identical to Dances With Wolves but in my opinion, no story takes another story so much as Avatar takes from Pocahontas.

Even though Last Samurai has the same formula, it takes its own liberties to give it a unique identity. Avatar really didn't do much, just had visuals going for it. It's clever how he came up with a new language and new animals but that's about it. At least Star Wars was original in concept.


Originally Posted by jfoobar (Post 10074552)
Because of its popularity? Yes. Because it actually got nominated for the Best Picture Oscar? Hell yes. Because James Cameron spent an estimated 237 million dollars and God knows how much of his life and effort making a film which has a very average, formulaic and rather unoriginal script? Dear God yes.

Avatar is hardly the first film worthy of this sort of criticism, just the latest. It is just hard for me and many others to fathom sinking that much time, money and effort into something (not to mention recruiting a pretty solid array of actors) and not spending a few extra days making sure the script, which is the single biggest factor in the overall quality of almost all films, was terrific.

Basically. Cameron hyped this movie up way too much saying it would change movies. Okay it changes the experience but his film is hardly the most amazing movie ever and what's worse yet is, he's proud of himself because of it.

Solid Snake 03-27-10 07:47 PM

Re: Avatar: Predictable or not?
 

Originally Posted by Idioteque... (Post 10074560)
Even though Last Samurai has the same formula, it takes its own liberties to give it a unique identity. Avatar really didn't do much, just had visuals going for it. It's clever how he came up with a new language and new animals but that's about it. At least Star Wars was original in concept.



Basically. Cameron hyped this movie up way too much saying it would change movies. Okay it changes the experience but his film is hardly the most amazing movie ever and what's worse yet is, he's proud of himself because of it.

As much as I love Star Wars (that's if you're talking about A New Hope), it's concept is not original...far from it. BUT it's execution of it's plot made it pretty cool and in my opinion a damn good film.

Troy Stiffler 03-27-10 08:09 PM

Re: Avatar: Predictable or not?
 

Originally Posted by jfoobar (Post 10074552)
Avatar is hardly the first film worthy of this sort of criticism, just the latest. It is just hard for me and many others to fathom sinking that much time, money and effort into something (not to mention recruiting a pretty solid array of actors) and not spending a few extra days making sure the script, which is the single biggest factor in the overall quality of almost all films, was terrific.

Well, you can't 'buy' a good script. I enjoyed it. It was James Cameron-ey. It was unique, crowd-pleasing, with his regular touch of philosophy, science and (my favorite part) mechanics.

jfoobar 03-27-10 10:10 PM

Re: Avatar: Predictable or not?
 

Originally Posted by troystiffler (Post 10074848)
Well, you can't 'buy' a good script.

I neither stated nor implied that you could. However, since you mention it, you can 'buy' the time of some proven screenwriters to go over your working script and suggest improvements.


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