Avatar 2D
Mikey 4 comments
A few weeks ago I reviewed Avatar 3D, where I acknowledged James Cameron's talent for producing ground-breaking cinema technology but also his tired plot-by-formula approach to story telling.
I suggested that Avatar 3D was more a technology showcase more than a movie, and I stand by that assessment. And I also mentioned that Avatar would never find a place among my ever-expanding Bluray collection.
I'm not normally one to back-flip, but I will confess that I did buy the Bluray edition last week. I am a technology geek after all, and I was able to reconcile parting with my hard earned clams for a sub-par movie by convincing myself I was really buying a technology demo.
And now that I've watched it again (twice), I have to say that with the right hardware, Avatar is a much better experience in 2D than it is in 3D at a cinema. Fortunately for me I have the right hardware, and Avatar looked absolutely stunning.
I'm lucky enough to have a 65" Sony Bravia LCD, 1080p which runs MotionFlow at a staggering 400hz, and a Pioneer 5.1 surround solution.
This is the sort of movie this technology was designed for. The motion is perfectly smooth and looks as crisp as life itself, and there is the feeling you can really touch the characters. I didn't have that feeling at all when we watched it at the cinemas.
The best part though, was the apparent lack of distracting 3D gimmicks we were forced to endure at the cinemas. This means your senses can 'concentrate' on enjoying the actual movie, or in my case marvelling at the CGI.
To summarise, if you have a good home theatre Avatar on Blueray is worth the price for the fantastic visuals alone. Ignore the Cameron-esque clichés and yawnful story and just enjoy the visuals.
Visuals: 9 out of 10
Story: 3 out of 10
Papa
Tuesday 4th May 2010 | 02:44 PM...in response to this comment by Trent Greguhn. I agree completely. In only goes to show how much marketing and advertisement plays into the societies opinion of a certain object. Like I have said in your thread Trent, its a product. If you market it well enough, you can make millions...
Marvin the Martian
Tuesday 4th May 2010 | 03:20 PMJust Pocahontas in space.
aries
Thursday 6th May 2010 | 11:04 AMWell, I saw it in iMax 3D with the really big goggley type glasses that cover your entire range of vision and I thought it was utterly mintox!!! (3 times no less!!!)
I found myself reaching out to try and touch things, ducking instinctively from time to time and I even got a little bit of vertigo/motion sickness at the beginning.
Maybe the kind of 3D you watch it in makes all the difference? Either way I am going to enjoy it just as much on my blue ray, 50" 1080 plasma tv thingy I'm sure!!!
Peace...
Trent Greguhn
Tuesday 4th May 2010 | 01:52 PMNot joking, JUST came back from watching Avatar 3D in the theaters not twenty minutes ago. My whole problem with the 3D glasses is that it darkens everything-- darkening the vibrant colors that are so important in the film.
I 'pfted' and guffawed at people saying how good Avatar is before I saw it. I do not do that anymore. The movie was incredibly creative, the entire planet was alive for me. If you get rid of some scientific "whatnows?" like the floating mountains and concentrate on the common ancestors of the creatures of the planet, the movie is really engaging. I couldn't help but think how lighter gravity might evolve more reinforced bones and harder plating in the populace.
The story is Pocahontas, plain and simple. I thought that the whole time. It was mentioned that it has similarities to Fern Gully, and I agree with that as well, but it's just Pocahontas in an alien skin; literally. The story's not original, yes, true, but the environment is so alive and the characters and creatures so well made. It stands not only as a technological marvel, but an artistic marvel as well with a decent story.
I saw it in 3D and I'm going to buy it on Bluray so I can enjoy the movie with all its vibrant color and 1080p resolution. My problem with 3D as well is you're not able to focus on things that aren't focused on in the movie like you'd be able to in real life. So you can't tell if it was intentionally unfocused or there's something wrong with you. That was giving me a headache. I don't think I'm one of these 3D goers. Give me my high definition over the top colors please.