Avatar

[DuWayne Steurer]

Frankly, I think you're not giving Keanu enough credit. Far from a great actor, but I'd put him as a net plus in the Bill and Ted movies, Parenthood, Speed, and The Matrix. That's more than I can say for Worthington, although maybe Clash of the Titans will change my mind. So far, I'd say he's no better than Vin Diesel.

 

Robert

Oooooooooh, snap!

 

Ok, I'll give you that. I was just trying to find a comparison for a lifeless performance, and for me, Neo is 'that guy'.

[jjfanec]

I will put down this movie because the plot, dialogue, and acting were all subpar at best. Cameron had 15 years or something to wait for the technology to be ready to make the movie so he could spent a little time work on the plot and dialogue. I do not really think of Star Wars as a best picture type movie either, by the way. Formulaic plots (and yes this was very formulaic) in my mind are not what best picture movies are all about. Give it all the cinematography oscars available, but it is not best picture.

You make good points, but I don't think anyone here was even discussing it in terms of a best picture. I was simply saying that for what it is (a blockbuster action movie) it does really well. Besides Titanic (which is my least favorite Cameron movie) Cameron hasn't really done anything to make me expect good dialogue and acting. The plot for the two Terminator movies was pretty good, but beyond that what were people expecting besides great special effects, awesome action sequences, great imagination, and lots of explosions. Its not like the plot in True Lies, Aliens, or Titanic were anything original.

 

And Cameron's past serious dialogue? "I came back for you Sarah." "On your feet soldier." When its satire it works thanks to Tom Arnold in True Lies.

My main point was that it is overrated in my mind. I have heard people call it the best movie ever and I just do not see it. It is one of the favorites for Best Picture and I just do not see it. In terms of blockbuster action it is worth watching but I said in another one of my posts those are not usually my type of movies unless they have great acting and a unique script - like the The Dark Knight. I see why people like it, I just left the IMAX underwhelmed.

[Katuluu]

Keanu totally rocks in Thumbsucker. He actually chews scenery, who knew he could do that?!?!

 

Also, he's also pretty damn good in A Scanner Darkly.

[Oldcity]

One thing I really took away from this movie that hasn't been mentioned is the sheer creativity that was put into the planet and ecosystem. The lighting, the reaction of the plants, the way they could all connect, and of course the floating islands. Obviously the Navi were a knock off of the Masai, but aside from that the amount of imagination that went into the creatures and plants was awe inspiring.

That's the point I was trying to make. I thought the depiction of Pandora was awesome.

[thebruce44]

Keanu totally rocks in Thumbsucker. He actually chews scenery, who knew he could do that?!?!

 

Also, he's also pretty damn good in A Scanner Darkly.

I suppose he was good in My Own Private Idaho, but that movie just creeped me out too much when I had to watch it for a film class.

[pitchleague]

"The River's Edge" is Keanu's masterpiece.

[MJLiverock]

Both my wife and I actuallly like the plot and story of the movie. We felt the story moved along without what seems like filler in many 3 hour movies (First Incredible Hulk movie I'm looking at you) . The story gave enough background on the setting/science/why they are there, who these people are that I felt I understood the story without going into so much detail that I started questioning everything. Enough to entice me and allow my suspension of disbelief if you will.

 

In addition to the story, part of the movie going experience is the visuals othewise just go see a play on a black stage. This movie nailed it on the visuals, I wouldn't even bother with the 2D version in the theatre, I've seen clips in HD on my TV at home right after we saw the movie in 3D at the IMAX and there was absolutely no comparison to how visually stunning the 3D version was. This wasn't 3D like many movies where 2 seconds of a ball coming at you or some forced images are embedded in the movie every 15 minutes. It was beginning to end better than any 3D done before.

 

The movie was everything I expected and more since they didn't make the plot so full of holes or full of filler that I was bored . My wife was skeptical of the movie and came out ranking it as one of the best theatre experiences she has had. She is not a big Scifi fan but does indulge me on a few movies of that genre. Sure I pretty much knew how it would end but part of me had just enough skepticism that just maybe it would end differently so that I was intrigued up until the end. I don't think the plot was some revolutionary storytelling that has no comparisons but there really aren't all that many movies that provide that level of originality, including many Oscar winning pictures.

 

We also both liked that the characters were portrayed by non A-List mega stars. Some movies seem to lose their way or the characters just aren't believable or likable when the mega stars are featured. This movie didn't need Tom Cruise or Tom Hanks or Leo playing the hero. Plenty of movies filled with stars leave me thinking the movie plot took a backseat to making sure each star got enough screen time no matter how forced it seemed.

 

I realize people have different tastes but I don't see why a movie has to be full of dramatic prose dialogue flowiing from an actor playing one of the sterotypical Oscar nod roles of addict, insane, disabled, destitute, gender reversal, or historical figure in order to be considered a good movie. Neither do slow plot liines mean a great movie to everyone, I'll admit two movies I found absolutely dreadfully boring were Gosford Park and the English Patient both of which win or are mentioned among great films by the "critics". I went in knowing the type of films they were and I can really get into a slow developing dramas but these two left me bored to tears. Or the Cohen Brothers, The Man Who Wasn't There, absolutely soul sucking boring.

[logan82]

I don't think they made the Na'vi human enough if that makes any sense. I never felt any connection to them so when bad things started to happen to them I was just an observer instead of actually caring what happened to them. Of course I may just be a big jerk also. It wasn't a boring movie, though I did find myself looking at the DVD player to see how much of the movie was left. I will not watch it again and I am normally a fan of science fiction movies. I was just not entertained.

 

The most entertaining thing about this movie was when I told my wife this movie along with Titanic are the only 2 movies I wish I could claim that I never watched and she told me this was made by the same guy who made Titanic. I really don't keep track of directors and writers. Not much point when every one is likely to have a stinker at some point.