Thanks Darky. I asked for two reasons. One is that I don't much care for IMAX presentation in most cases, partially because the optimum seating is very limited. The other is that the IMAX shows are sold out.
The ancient, should-be-banned "not in Kansas anymore line" in the trailer is enough to put me off it.
Saw it on Saturday night in 3d. It was so worth seeing. Amazing It's the first 3d movie i've seen since the 80's so it probably impressed me more than most. Man, things have come a long way since Friday the 13th Part3... Movie runs around 3 hours long. Took me about half an hour to get totally comfortable visually. From then on you forget about the way you are watching. It's set on a jungle planet called Pandora. The depth of field and detail of the jungle is incredible. Right down to bugs, lush alien plant life and tiny title light particles floating in the air. A totally immersive experience. Story was as predictable as everyone mentioned but it worked well. I will definitely be going back for a second viewing. Alice in Wonderland trailer was shown in 3d as well.
Just got back from seeing Avatar in 3-D (my first 3-D movie in a theater, I think), and I really enjoyed it. There's nothing unexpected, story-wise, but the visual aspects more than make up for this. Ten years ago Episode 1 pushed new boundaries in special effects, this is the next big push. I read that Ridley Scott wants to use this technology to develop The Forever War (if he ever gets around to making it). I'd like to see that. All through the movie I was thinking how awesome it would be to have a series of toys that were in scale with each other, including those big hammerhead dinos and the "queen" dropship (is that the Scorpion?), but I'm not holding my breath. (Seriously, though, "unobtainium?")
Sounds great visually. I can't wait for a movie with a script to be released using the same technology since it's been created now.
As it turns out I'm glad I saw it in IMAX. Nothing like big scope to get lost in. Loved it for the spectacle, beauty, and fantasy. Don't you wish all Earth life glowed like tropical tree frogs under black light, too?
Saw it, Wasn't bad. Granted I was expecting a train wreck, BUT I liked it. Oh and I felt like I was on peyote THE WHOLE FUCKING TIME Let me go plug my head stem into my mother tree and sleep it off.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/dec/21/avatar-shows-cinemas-weakness Interesting piece in the Guardian today, saying that Hollywood is getting less and less dependant on story, plot etc. and more on wowing us visually. I'm seeing this tomorrow, quite looking forward to it. No IMAX though
I dunno, seems to have been doing that forever. SciFi B-Movies with horrid plots and bad acting but (at the time) stunning visuals? What about gimmicks like "SMELL-O-VISION" or "QUAKE-O-VISION" or whatever? It's about getting butts in the chairs, always has been always will be. Doesn't seem new. There's another set of films, can't remember, from back when....hmm...having a hard time remembering though....bad plots....crap acting....fun but generally void of substance.....obvious agenda towards war or environment.....what were they again.......big monsters....crushing junk....most of the movie big monsters crushing crap......lots of these movies made. Well I'm sure I'll remember later, SOMETHING on this board will spark my memory.* *(I think I ran out of sarcasm)
saw this in 3d yesterday, and wished i would have seen it in 2d. visually impressive, but i was bored, and kept wondering why the horses evolved an extra set of front legs, like right on top the regular ones.
The horses had extra legs? I was shown it by less then legal means and the resolution was awful, I HAD NOW CLUE!
Here's a serious question to everyone that says its mindblowing and visually amazing etc. Why? I understand cgi for videogames and how playing a game and having it physically responding and being rendered as I play mind blowing. But watching some pre made cgi.. no matter what, to me it just lacks a feel or magic or art... it just is ... fake. It lacks emotion for me and I just don't care how crazy it looks it just falls short for me. Give me some crazy hand made 2-d stop animation or something that took love and time not coding. The more i see of this "amazing world" on previews and tv etc, the more I just think.. oh great there is a bunch of cgi generated weird people and helicopters and water and..