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And there is now a trailer out:

 

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/avatar/hd/

 

 

For some reason it kinda reminds me of Halo... or Cats in space on acid.... Dunno how I feel about the whole look of it from this. It's almost plastic feeling; akin to how I felt about the last Superman movie on the genesis.

I recall reading, somewhere, that it's supposedly the evolution of 3-D movies away from gimmicks, but if that's the case, I don't feel the trailer is selling it for me. Any other thoughts?

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And there is now a trailer out:

 

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/avatar/hd/

 

 

For some reason it kinda reminds me of Halo... or Cats in space on acid.... Dunno how I feel about the whole look of it from this. It's almost plastic feeling; akin to how I felt about the last Superman movie on the genesis.

I recall reading, somewhere, that it's supposedly the evolution of 3-D movies away from gimmicks, but if that's the case, I don't feel the trailer is selling it for me. Any other thoughts?

 

My guess is, that unlike most trailers, which give away the farm and reveal all the best elements and shots of the movie, that Cameron is showing some restraint here with this 2D trailer. My bet is that this trailer is nothing but the tip of the iceberg in terms of the awesomeness we will all behold in December in 3D.

 

I have been waiting for DECADES for a good Sci-Fi movie that deals with outer space and alien worlds. The last good one was back in the 1970s/80s - Star Wars - so I am incredibly excited about this!

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See I was quite excited with the first few shots of the trailer and then the creature effects, I dunno; just don't quite sell for me. Still I'll be in line at the theater as I have a super soft spot for sci-fi as a former owner of far too much star trek paraphernalia (and really want to get one of the plushy vibrating tribbles I saw at FYE). Here's hoping you're right that there is something a lot more than the seeming love story/main control/war vibe going through the trailer.

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Unless the story is something amazing, I'm afraid this looks like nothing more than a very expensive computer game.

 

It's true. It looks like a very realistic cartoon. In a few years it'll look as dated as everything else.

 

What's really impressive how well a movie like "Blade Runner" holds up in comparison.

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It's still just a trailer...

 

I think James Cameron has earned our trust, don't expect a complicated, twisted story but one thing he has proven: his stories work! Aliens wasn't too sophisticated on paper, either but it propably was one of the most effective, scariest roller-coaster-rides in cinematic history!

 

This man has done seven movies, except for a "akschn"-comedy-remake (True Lies) and Piranhas 2 ( :P ) all of them were ground-breaking! Who else has achieved that? Not even Scorsese and Spielberg are this constant!

 

The only thing that worries me is the technical aspect, he used Super35 because it was convenient in the 80s/90s, when it was still way behind anamorphic (grainy stock, soft lenses, optical transfer), now he uses some pretty primitive 2/3"-CCD-cams with about 600-800 lines resolution (Super16 can do that!) for a 300Mio$ IMAX-spectacle! He is the F/X-specialist who says you need to mix technologies to avoid catastrophies like Lucas'-work, wouldn't it be better to add a realistic touch to this "fantastic" pictures with proper cameras? He wanted to shoot 48fps, but that didn't work yet for his first movie since 12 years... :blink: But he HAD to use HD-cameras, because they're somehow the future and like 70mm (I can see even CA in the 720p-trailer!) :angry:

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There has been quite a lot of "it looks like this film + this video + this book + this album cover + on this drug" type statements so far regarding the film on the internet. I'm curious if this is an attempt to classify the film - to put it in a readily acceptable and known box.

 

I'm very excited about this film and I think it looks fantastic.

 

There are only a couple of films that I've worked on which I've being excited to see in the cinema - this is one of them.

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People certainly are picking it apart a bit:

 

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/...58.photogallery

 

For me, I don't know; I am trying to put the film into a "box" of sorts for my own benefit so I can then choose whether or not I should spend my money and my time to go see it. It's a tough question to answer, and while I can respect the filmmaker and all the people who worked on the film (such as yourself will) that doesn't necessarily mean that the film proper is very good. Hell, 95% of the stuff I've worked on has turned to that too.

I think the problem with Avatar, also, might not be the film, but the marketing, especially this specific trailer which caught me for a moment then I wound up lost as it continued.

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The negative reaction (well at least as far as the Internet goes) seems to be either "Is that it? I thought this was supposed to be ground breaking?" or "It looks like...".

 

I can understand the first reaction, but the later is a bit harder to figure out. I mean I doubt anyone who watched the Wolfman trailer sat down yesterday and made comparisons with From Hell - thriller set in Victorian England, Dr Who - because they had a werewolf episode, Che - Benicio Del Toro with lot's of hair and a beard, Queen Victoria - Emily Blunt in Victorian England, Harry Potter - they also had a werewolf transformation scene that was done by MPC.

 

Perhaps because I know what Avatar is about I'm less inclined to make these types of comparisons with it. Oh well.

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I think with other films there are perhaps fewer references to be made from trailers and the viewer has an idea what to expect. I think that, from this, we are left more-so grasping at straws as to what exactly is going on hence we begin to pull in the cultural references of "this is like," to help us not only understand but then re communicate it to others. (wanna share what it's really 'bout Will?)

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I had to stop myself, because the first thing that I thought was "It's like...". I guess you've helped me answer my own question.

 

To me I'd say it's a story about colonization.

 

I doubt that'll give you a new perspective on the trailer. But I don't really want to say too much, otherwise I'd be adding to the already over-established hype.

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After all of the Cameron hype I'm sure the look may underwhelm (whatever happened to photorealistic cgi?). For the most part I've tuned out the hype and the trailer got me excited to see this movie. I am familar with the general concept of the story so I knew what was happening in that lab, I'm not sure the general public would get it though. Aliens, space travel, portable consciousness, cool to see this stuff in a big epic movie.

 

Anyone else think the producers of 'Surrogates' are freaking brilliant? It's the same general conept as Avatar, excpet for robots ... or am I out in left field here.

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I bet some of the people dissing this trailer are going to change their tune significantly once the film comes out.

 

 

The online version doesn't do it justice. I got to see the 3D IMAX version of cut scenes tonight at The Bridge. It truly was amazing. It's more than a movie. It's an experience. I can't wait for the whole thing. :)

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I bet some of the people dissing this trailer are going to change their tune significantly once the film comes out.

 

I'd put money down on that. The bigger picture of what has been accomplished here isn't yet visible.

 

Phil, will you have some fries (or chips, as you know them) with those words? A little salt and pepper? ;)

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I've figured the main reason why the trailer didn't impress me: the design. Near everything in the movie will be CG and a lot of it looks uninspired. The blue cat people (Na'vi), in my mind, look ridiculous. The twin-rotor gunships and 'walkers' look goofy (the first word that came to mind when I saw the trailer). There's more but I'll pace myself.

 

As for the 3D, I've seen maybe half a dozen movies like this (both animated and live action) and it's never more than a distraction and later a headache (IMAX 3D being the big exception). It should work in 2D just as well as it does in 3D; a beautiful image is a beautiful image regardless of dimensions.

 

Last thing, James Cameron has said the technology to make the film is revolutionary. How much does this contribute the viewer's enjoyment? At $200 Million+ of Fox's money, isn't Cameron being over-indulgent? Who expects this to make back its budget and promotional costs at the box office with the potential for a franchise like 'Star Wars' or 'Harry Potter', like Cameron expects it to?

 

After all this, I may still go see it in December and change my mind.

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I've figured the main reason why the trailer didn't impress me: the design. Near everything in the movie will be CG and a lot of it looks uninspired. The blue cat people (Na'vi), in my mind, look ridiculous. The twin-rotor gunships and 'walkers' look goofy (the first word that came to mind when I saw the trailer). There's more but I'll pace myself.

 

As for the 3D, I've seen maybe half a dozen movies like this (both animated and live action) and it's never more than a distraction and later a headache (IMAX 3D being the big exception). It should work in 2D just as well as it does in 3D; a beautiful image is a beautiful image regardless of dimensions.

 

Last thing, James Cameron has said the technology to make the film is revolutionary. How much does this contribute the viewer's enjoyment? At $200 Million+ of Fox's money, isn't Cameron being over-indulgent? Who expects this to make back its budget and promotional costs at the box office with the potential for a franchise like 'Star Wars' or 'Harry Potter', like Cameron expects it to?

 

After all this, I may still go see it in December and change my mind.

 

 

See it in IMAX 3D and you will (likely) wish that you'd not have posted this. :) It IS different that any other 3D movie I've ever seen. I can't speak to the story, but after having seen the online version (which left me with "meh") and then seeing the IMAX 3D (which is like "WOW!"), I understand now why James Cameron deserves to be a billionaire.

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I bet some of the people dissing this trailer are going to change their tune significantly once the film comes out.

Not likely. Wouldn't see it today - won't see it in December. Weak. I like my video games and films the way they should be - separate.

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I think the problem with Avatar, also, might not be the film, but the marketing, especially this specific trailer which caught me for a moment then I wound up lost as it continued.

 

I was bothered by earlier marketing for Cameron 3-D:

 

 

This contains lies about earlier systems used to make his system seem innovative,

if not down right "revolutionary".

 

 

Polaroid glasses were used in the 50s systems and they were able to bring the lenses closer together; usually with mirrors, some with one of the cameras mounted up-side down.

 

& obviously they automatically produced a 2-D version too. Just use one of the two strips.

 

Too much disengenuous hype.

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The blue cat people (Na'vi), in my mind, look ridiculous. The twin-rotor gunships and 'walkers' look goofy (the first word that came to mind when I saw the trailer).

 

The blue cat people look like creatures I've seen in other films - or was it a production of Webber's "Cats"? So I was underwhelmed when I saw them in the trailer preceding Inglorious Bastards. Regarding the gunships and other technology, they are to me, the same "look" Cameron used for futuristic technology in Terminator and Aliens. As for the trailer, the images were impressive, but what's the story? I'm not somebody who wants a trailer to give away a movie, but I expect a trailer to give me some kind of synopsis of what the movie is about.

 

So I'm still waiting to be impressed in a manner that matches the hype. Right now it could be a brilliant story and it'll be Cameron's Sci-Fi masterpiece or it'll be "Waterworld".

 

The story is most important for me. I'll watch a 2 hour film on Super 8 if the story is compelling.

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