Author Topic: What sexual dysfunction best explains Avatar fandom? (Read 165803 times)

Barry Egan · « **Reply #540 on:** January 24, 2010, 11:00:02 AM »

i c u Willco

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #541 on:** January 24, 2010, 12:34:04 PM »

$36 Million in it's 6th Weekend FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!

The Harrison Ford/Brendan Frasier movie that they've been advertising the living crap out of on TV made $7 Million. wow

Raban · « **Reply #542 on:** January 24, 2010, 12:36:23 PM »

Quote from: Great Rumbler on January 06, 2010, 12:48:19 PM

blahblahblah opinions blahblahblah

Lock this thread.

Signed.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #543 on:** January 24, 2010, 12:46:24 PM »

Quote from: Joe Molotov® EDGE™ on January 24, 2010, 12:34:04 PM

$36 Million in it's 6th Weekend FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!

The Harrison Ford/Brendan Frasier movie that they've been advertising the living crap out of on TV made $7 Million. wow

A lot of people were saying that The Tooth Fairy had a good chance of knocking Avatar off this weekend.

CHOW CHOW · « **Reply #544 on:** January 24, 2010, 12:54:10 PM »

Quote from: Great Rumbler on January 24, 2010, 12:46:24 PM

Quote from: Joe Molotov® EDGE™ on January 24, 2010, 12:34:04 PM
$36 Million in it's 6th Weekend FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!

The Harrison Ford/Brendan Frasier movie that they've been advertising the living crap out of on TV made $7 Million. wow

A lot of people were saying that The Tooth Fairy had a good chance of knocking Avatar off this weekend.

:hippo

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #545 on:** January 24, 2010, 01:24:33 PM »

Still haven't seen it!

Olivia Wilde Homo · « **Reply #546 on:** January 24, 2010, 01:35:09 PM »

Neither have I.

I came close; a couple weeks ago, it was the big buzz where I worked because everyone I work with saw it around that time. I figure I'd crack but now that they've moved onto other things, the desire to see it has subsided.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #547 on:** January 24, 2010, 01:35:15 PM »

My parents saw it last night. Dunno my mom's reaction yet, but from my dad's text:

"avatar is the most amazing thing i've seen in years. see it in 3d, it looks so good my head still hurts"
:'(

And he has good taste in action/sci fi stuff, whereas my mom likes just about anything with action/sci fi.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #548 on:** January 24, 2010, 02:44:02 PM »

Sounds like your parents are pretty smart, PD.

Edit: By the way, I was wrong about Avatar's worldwide numbers. It's actually only $6 million behind Titanic.

ManaByte · « **Reply #549 on:** January 25, 2010, 12:37:03 AM »

It has now toppled Titanic. This is what the Mayans were predicting.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #550 on:** January 25, 2010, 01:42:29 AM »

For a little history lesson, since it's late and I'm a bit bored, here's the movies that have held the top spot for worldwide gross over the years:

Titanic [1997] - $1,842 million
Jurassic Park [1993] $914 million
E.T. [1982] - $792 million
Star Wars [1977] - $775 million
Jaws [1975] - $470 million
The Exorcist [1973] - $441 million
Gone with the Wind [1939] - $400 million

That's probably not entirely correct, since some of those movies had multiple releases, but it's close enough.

brawndolicious · « **Reply #551 on:** January 27, 2010, 01:52:35 AM »

That would certainly have given ME more enjoyment. You can't doubt that that was a better (written) movie, right?

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #552 on:** January 27, 2010, 10:15:11 AM »

Quote from: am nintenho on January 27, 2010, 01:52:35 AM

That would certainly have given ME more enjoyment. You can't doubt that that was a better (written) movie, right?

D9 still had 2D villains and a human main character who starts out thinking aliens are nothing but stupid bugs but sympathizes with them and helps them in the end.

And a lot of the scenes in the first half, at District 9, were improvised.

Mupepe · « **Reply #553 on:** January 27, 2010, 10:22:13 AM »

Quote from: Great Rumbler on January 27, 2010, 10:15:11 AM

Quote from: am nintenho on January 27, 2010, 01:52:35 AM
That would certainly have given ME more enjoyment. You can't doubt that that was a better (written) movie, right?

D9 still had 2D villains and a human main character who starts out thinking aliens are nothing but stupid bugs but sympathizes with them and helps them in the end.

And a lot of the scenes in the first half, at District 9, were improvised.

I'll give you the villains. But main character's are barely comparable. One is a do-good hippie fuck, while the other is a selfish, somewhat evil prick who only helps for his own gain really. Hell, he even betrays the alien after they helped him! Not Jake's "I didn't tell you". I'm talking knocks that fucker and steals his fucking ship and yells "FUCK YOU".

District 9 is totally the superior film. Totally. I loved Avatar. It was fucking incredible. But District 9 smacks it with its dick and cums on its lips as far as pure entertainment and writing goes.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #554 on:** January 27, 2010, 10:27:25 AM »

Quote from: Rob Thomas on January 27, 2010, 10:22:13 AM

Quote from: Great Rumbler on January 27, 2010, 10:15:11 AM
Quote from: am nintenho on January 27, 2010, 01:52:35 AM
That would certainly have given ME more enjoyment. You can't doubt that that was a better (written) movie, right?

D9 still had 2D villains and a human main character who starts out thinking aliens are nothing but stupid bugs but sympathizes with them and helps them in the end.

And a lot of the scenes in the first half, at District 9, were improvised.
I'll give you the villains. But main character's are barely comparable. One is a do-good hippie fuck, while the other is a selfish, somewhat evil prick who only helps for his own gain really. Hell, he even betrays the alien after they helped him! Not Jake's "I didn't tell you". I'm talking knocks that fucker and steals his fucking ship and yells "FUCK YOU".

District 9 is totally the superior film. Totally. I loved Avatar. It was fucking incredible. But District 9 smacks it with its dick and cums on its lips as far as pure entertainment and writing goes.

I'll give you the first half of D9, but as overall package I'd give the edge to Avatar.

Not that any of that matters a bit though, since Moon annihilates both.

Mupepe · « **Reply #555 on:** January 27, 2010, 10:45:35 AM »

Moon

Diunx · « **Reply #556 on:** January 27, 2010, 10:50:31 AM »

District 9 was great and moon was good, but they don't come even close to

Avatar

brawndolicious · « **Reply #557 on:** January 27, 2010, 01:46:53 PM »

What Mupepe said, but I don't think Moon and D9 are really comparable. They're pretty different movies. I would also say that Avatar is more of a fantasy movie than a sci-fi though.

Ichirou · « **Reply #558 on:** January 30, 2010, 02:03:42 AM »

Raban · « **Reply #559 on:** January 30, 2010, 03:30:24 AM »

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #560 on:** January 30, 2010, 05:33:30 PM »

Just in case anyone still cares about Avatar box office news, it's going to be #1 again this weekend.

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #561 on:** January 30, 2010, 05:50:52 PM »

The Rock and Mel Gibson couldn't knock off Avatar, will John Travolta be able to?

CajoleJuice · « **Reply #562 on:** January 30, 2010, 05:59:53 PM »

It's going to get knocked out of the top spot by VALENTINE'S DAY.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #563 on:** January 31, 2010, 10:51:53 AM »

Another $30 million this weekend, now Avatar's up to $594 million [about $6-$7 million behind Titanic].

archie4208 · « **Reply #564 on:** January 31, 2010, 11:36:43 AM »

[youtube=560,345]uJarz7BYnHA[/youtube]

[youtube=560,345]dLzKwTcGO_0[/youtube]

Eric P · « **Reply #565 on:** January 31, 2010, 12:03:19 PM »

i was at some industry party for Beach House's release of Teen Dream and I was talking to the GF about how I rode a shark to Mars and freed the Martian Proletariat with the help of Jon Carter, and this dude joined our conversation, his interest piqued by the mentioning of Jon Carter and he started to talk to us about Avatar. He said it was absolutely horrible.

I found it funny that this dude came out of nowhere, quite literally, to discuss how much he disliked the film.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #566 on:** January 31, 2010, 01:08:54 PM »

Did you punch him in the jaw for mentioning Avatar in a conversation about John Carter of Mars, even if it was to hate on the former?

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #567 on:** January 31, 2010, 01:09:30 PM »

That guy was me.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #568 on:** January 31, 2010, 01:12:32 PM »

Jinfash gets angry at people who dislike stuff he irrationally puts on a pedestal, news at eleven

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #569 on:** January 31, 2010, 01:18:48 PM »

Ah, I see. Playing the whole, "I'm way into these pop-culture markers but am trying to downplay it by looking down at people that like them more than me" angle. Pretty smooth, Jinfash.

Eric P · « **Reply #570 on:** January 31, 2010, 02:32:29 PM »

Quote from: Great Rumbler on January 31, 2010, 01:08:54 PM

Did you punch him in the jaw for mentioning Avatar in a conversation about John Carter of Mars, even if it was to hate on the former?

nah, there was free alcohol, i was into that

Olivia Wilde Homo · « **Reply #571 on:** January 31, 2010, 03:31:10 PM »

I've had an itch recently to see Avatar. I haven't seen it yet but it feels like I might be missing out. I'm trying to make sure I'm not a curmudgeon as I get into my mid-late 20s. Like I might be missing an event, regardless of whether it is overrated or not. I just can't be bothered to invest 2 1/2 hours to see it though.

Maybe I'll buy a ticket and walk out halfway through.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #572 on:** January 31, 2010, 03:37:42 PM »

Quote from: T EXP on January 31, 2010, 03:31:10 PM

I've had an itch recently to see Avatar. I haven't seen it yet but it feels like I might be missing out. I'm trying to make sure I'm not a curmudgeon as I get into my mid-late 20s. Like I might be missing an event, regardless of whether it is overrated or not. I just can't be bothered to invest 2 1/2 hours to see it though.

Maybe I'll buy a ticket and walk out halfway through.

Buy a ticket and walk in halfway through.

Diunx · « **Reply #573 on:** January 31, 2010, 03:53:16 PM »

Quote from: T EXP on January 31, 2010, 03:31:10 PM

I've had an itch recently to see Avatar. I haven't seen it yet but it feels like I might be missing out. I'm trying to make sure I'm not a curmudgeon as I get into my mid-late 20s. Like I might be missing an event, regardless of whether it is overrated or not. I just can't be bothered to invest 2 1/2 hours to see it though.

Maybe I'll buy a ticket and walk out halfway through.

The movie is awesome, go see it.

brawndolicious · « **Reply #574 on:** January 31, 2010, 04:08:14 PM »

Quote from: T EXP on January 31, 2010, 03:31:10 PM

I've had an itch recently to see Avatar. I haven't seen it yet but it feels like I might be missing out. I'm trying to make sure I'm not a curmudgeon as I get into my mid-late 20s. Like I might be missing an event, regardless of whether it is overrated or not. I just can't be bothered to invest 2 1/2 hours to see it though.
Maybe I'll buy a ticket and walk out halfway through.

well this video review basically points out everything the movie does right or wrong, and it's honestly way more entertaining.

Quote from: archie4208 on January 31, 2010, 11:36:43 AM

[youtube=560,345]uJarz7BYnHA[/youtube]
[youtube=560,345]dLzKwTcGO_0[/youtube]

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #575 on:** January 31, 2010, 04:19:18 PM »

That review is great.

Best Avatar review ever.

Flannel Boy · « **Reply #576 on:** January 31, 2010, 04:37:41 PM »

awesome review.

CajoleJuice · « **Reply #577 on:** January 31, 2010, 04:46:53 PM »

That guy is a genius.

archie4208 · « **Reply #578 on:** January 31, 2010, 05:24:02 PM »

If you liked the Avatar review I would recommend his Star Wars Ep 1 review.

etiolate · « **Reply #579 on:** January 31, 2010, 08:32:16 PM »

oh god the garbage pail kids movie

Mandark · « **Reply #580 on:** February 01, 2010, 02:43:47 AM »

Everybody recommends that guy's review of Ep1, but I can't get into "guy yammering in a Youtube" videos anymore than I can podcasts or talk radio. He's on point about the Navi's design, though.

Getting the feeling that Avatar arguments all over the net are going to peter out, as the fans will just link to its massive box office take and inevitable Oscar win as validation. I do hope this doesn't become something young filmmakers aspire to, though.

Ichirou · « **Reply #581 on:** February 01, 2010, 02:47:27 AM »

I like that guy's reviews. They're funny. He tends to be a little too nitpicky, though.

Mandark · « **Reply #582 on:** February 01, 2010, 02:58:42 AM »

Seems good by the standards of the format, but that still includes some really cheesy gags and either way I WANT TEXT DAMMIT, not some honkey talking into a cheap mic.

Too bad GS isn't defending the movie's honor anymore. I've got an itch to overanalyze and would totally take him up on the "argue with me when you've seen it" raincheck.

Green Shinobi · « **Reply #583 on:** February 01, 2010, 03:08:29 AM »

There's this great anecdote about when Paul Thomas Anderson was in film school, and one of his professors said on the first day "Anyone who is here to write Terminator 2, just get out." And PTA said something like "What if you want to make Terminator 2? It's an awesome movie."

I like that quote because it shows that there are others who agree with my belief that it takes just as much ability to make a top-notch genre film as it does to make the more high-brow stuff.

Mandark, fire away. I can't guarantee timely responses, but I'm probably up for a discussion.

Cormacaroni · « **Reply #584 on:** February 01, 2010, 03:10:19 AM »

All that suggests is that PTA likes Terminator 2, which isn't shocking. It says nothing about anyone's relative ability.

Green Shinobi · « **Reply #585 on:** February 01, 2010, 03:13:32 AM »

It represents a rejection of the "genre films are at the bottom of the artistic totem-pole" mindset. That much seems pretty clear.

Cormacaroni · « **Reply #586 on:** February 01, 2010, 03:18:20 AM »

Quote from: Green Shinobi on February 01, 2010, 03:13:32 AM

It represents a rejection of the "genre films are at the bottom of the artistic totem-pole" mindset. That much seems pretty clear.

If they aren't at the bottom, what is?

Green Shinobi · « **Reply #587 on:** February 01, 2010, 03:20:53 AM »

There is no totem-pole.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

insert stupid Matrix joke

[close]

Mandark · « **Reply #588 on:** February 01, 2010, 03:24:48 AM »

I don't think something being "awesome" necessarily means that. Jackie Chan has starred in more awesome movies than anyone else, but I wouldn't consider any of them an artistic achievement.

But this isn't about whether top-notch genre movies get unfairly slighted by establishment criticism and awards committees, because Avatar isn't top-notch. It's a mediocre movie with good visuals and bad everything else.

When someone says that Avatar is an objectively great movie despite the acting, plot, theme, and dialogue, it sounds like they're just making up the criteria as they go along to validate it (and by proxy validate their nerd habits as Real Art), rather than just saying "sure it was really cheesy, but I had a great time."

Green Shinobi · « **Reply #589 on:** February 01, 2010, 03:33:40 AM »

Quote from: Mandark on February 01, 2010, 03:24:48 AM

But this isn't about whether top-notch genre movies get unfairly slighted by establishment criticism and awards committees, because Avatar isn't top-notch. It's a mediocre movie with good visuals and bad everything else.

That's where a lot of people would disagree with you. I'm certainly not alone in saying that I felt that the story-telling, pacing, acting, characters and music were handled quite well. The conservationist, anti-corporatism, anti-military themes were fairly blunt at times, but outside of a few incidental lines of dialogue "shock and awe" "fight terror with terror," there was nothing too bad about them.

Quote

When someone says that Avatar is an objectively great movie despite the acting, plot, theme, and dialogue, it sounds like they're just making up the criteria as they go along to validate it (and by proxy validate their nerd habits as Real Art), rather than just saying "sure it was really cheesy, but I had a great time."

What if someone says that Avatar is an objectively great movie and doesn't apologize for the acting, plot, theme and dialogue because he/she thought those aspects of the film were all pretty good?

OptimoPeach · « **Reply #590 on:** February 01, 2010, 03:34:53 AM »

inb4 three pages of debating what constitutes art

Mandark · « **Reply #591 on:** February 01, 2010, 03:36:16 AM »

Quote from: Green Shinobi on February 01, 2010, 03:33:40 AM

Quote
When someone says that Avatar is an objectively great movie despite the acting, plot, theme, and dialogue, it sounds like they're just making up the criteria as they go along to validate it (and by proxy validate their nerd habits as Real Art), rather than just saying "sure it was really cheesy, but I had a great time."
What if someone says that Avatar is an objectively great movie and doesn't apologize for the acting, plot, theme and dialogue because he/she thought those aspects of the film were all pretty good?

I'd assume that person was either very young or hadn't been allowed to watch movies for most of their lifetime, and would treat them with the utmost patience and sympathy.

Green Shinobi · « **Reply #592 on:** February 01, 2010, 03:41:30 AM »

I thought you were interested in having an actual discussion, Mandark.

Mandark · « **Reply #593 on:** February 01, 2010, 03:50:48 AM »

Well how am I meant to respond to that?

There's an amazingly strong consensus among reviews (both good and bad) that the story elements kinda suck, so I don't feel like I have the burden of proof here. If you want, I can walk you through the basics of why they're not good, but I'd rather you just explain why they are.

Green Shinobi · « **Reply #594 on:** February 01, 2010, 04:03:55 AM »

No, the consensus is that it's a well-told story that relies on traditional and possibly overused archetypes.

Ichirou · « **Reply #595 on:** February 01, 2010, 04:07:04 AM »

smh GS, falling into this old trap again. Want me to repost that Pocahontas/Avatar jpeg so I can demolish your defense of the story before you can even start?

CajoleJuice · « **Reply #596 on:** February 01, 2010, 04:07:41 AM »

Let's just get the Rotten Tomatoes consensus out of the way: It might be more impressive on a technical level than as a piece of storytelling, but Avatar reaffirms James Cameron's singular gift for imaginative, absorbing filmmaking.

brawndolicious · « **Reply #597 on:** February 01, 2010, 04:09:07 AM »

Quote from: Green Shinobi on February 01, 2010, 04:03:55 AM

No, the consensus is that it's a well-told story that relies on traditional and possibly overused archetypes.

No, it's shit. It goes for every emotional cheap shot in the book and yet it takes 3 hours tell the story. Even if you were entertained, and most people were, this movie doesn't do anything right that hasn't been done before.

And it has the gayest hippy message ever.

ToxicAdam · « **Reply #598 on:** February 01, 2010, 04:32:47 AM »

Quote from: Mandark on February 01, 2010, 03:24:48 AM

I don't think something being "awesome" necessarily means that. Jackie Chan has starred in more awesome movies than anyone else, but I wouldn't consider any of them an artistic achievement.

But this isn't about whether top-notch genre movies get unfairly slighted by establishment criticism and awards committees, because Avatar isn't top-notch. It's a mediocre movie with good visuals and bad everything else.

When someone says that Avatar is an objectively great movie despite the acting, plot, theme, and dialogue, it sounds like they're just making up the criteria as they go along to validate it (and by proxy validate their nerd habits as Real Art), rather than just saying "sure it was really cheesy, but I had a great time."

Seems like the argument of a guy who hasn't watched the movie yet.

Green Shinobi · « **Reply #599 on:** February 01, 2010, 04:57:36 AM »

Quote from: Ichirou on February 01, 2010, 04:07:04 AM

smh GS, falling into this old trap again. Want me to repost that Pocahontas/Avatar jpeg so I can demolish your defense of the story before you can even start?

So a story that's similar to something that's been done before can't be well-told?

Guess Romeo and Juliet was a real piece of crap then.

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What sexual dysfunction best explains Avatar fandom?

Author Topic: What sexual dysfunction best explains Avatar fandom? (Read 165803 times)